Going to the Disney Ko Olina resot in Hawaii any budget tips?

[nelson84]

I am going to the new disney resort in Oahu in Ko Olina I plan on stocking up on snacks and breakfast stuff at Walmart and loading up my fridge in the room. It is a 1 bedroom suite that will sleep the 5 of us. The regular rooms only sleep 4 people. I also plan on getting some takeout once in a while to save on meals. Is there any coupon books or good cheaper restaurants I should try. We like good burgers if we can find them and good seafood. Any help would be appreciated first time in Hawaii, we usually work over Orlando but not this winter, November 18 to December 4 2011.

 

[LindyN]

Hawaii and Budget are not two words I usually associate together.

I'm interested in reading what others have to say.

 

[australiankaren]

hey there
we are staying in feb 2012, and doing some research there are 2 shopping centres over the road [within walking distance] with great cheap food shops.

looking forward to trying the resort out

 

[cpster]

The exit before the one you will take for Ko Olina should be for the town of Kapolei. I think it is labeled Kapolei/Makakilo. Anyhow, Kapolei has a ton of stuff like a Loco Moco (like L&L), Pizza Hut, KFC, and lots of sit down places to eat. There is a Safeway and and Target too I think. Whenever we went to Ko Olina we would just hop in the car for a quick drive to go eat.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

It's important to remember that "cheaper" places in HI are still more expensive than their mainland counterparts. Budget accordingly!

 

[DiznyDi]

If you are there over a Saturday night, the JW Marriott right next door has a fabulous seafood buffet. It is pricey (49.99 per person IIRC) but if you go early, the price is discounted. If you walk up the beach, Marriotts Ko Olina Beach Club has a very nice outdoor cafe with reasonably priced items. Try their Mai Tai. The little grocery across the street is full of reasonably priced items including beer, wine and spirits. Have a great trip! I'm looking forward to a return trip myself someday.

 

[SarahD]

Last time I was there (about 2-3 years ago) a gallon of milk was over $9.

 

[undertheradar]

We were at Ko Olina 4 years ago and the better grocery prices were at Longs Drug Store. You will do a lot of driving to get to Waikiki, so plan your drive wisely. The prices for fast food and chain places were pretty close to what we pay here in CA. We were advised by locals who worked in Ko Olina to avoid going further west, as those areas are not as tourist friendly.

 

[rnorwo1]

Last time I was there (about 2-3 years ago) a gallon of milk was over $9.

Reading this caused me actual, physical pain.

I think we're going to have to save a few more years before going...

 

[rparmfamily]

Aloha!! We live in Honolulu. We are DVC owners ourselves and look forward to spending time at Aulani.

Yes, milk is expensive there, but in Kapolei (the nearest shopping area to Aulani, exit before the Ko'olina exit) has a Target (milk is $5-6) and Costco (milk is $5) and I'd buy food/bread/eggs/milk there WAY before using the shop across from Aulani. Those little shops are made for tourists, though there is an ABC store there and they tend to be quite reasonable but not as good as Target/Costco. I do have to chuckle, as I've gotten used to the Hawaii prices, so when we "home" to visit in FL, everything seems SO cheap!!!! LOL

I'd look into a Hawaii Entertainment book if you can catch one on sale too.

The good news about Hawaii is most of the "outdoor" stuff to do is free. The beaches are all free. Hiking is free, except for parking in a few spots. There are lots of yummy food trucks on the North Shore and scattered around the island that are cheaper and much better than most average restaurants. I will recommend Zippy's, it's like a local Denny's type place but much better and MUCH loved by the locals!! Try their chili, plus it has a bakery in it and Zippy's is very reasonable!

I know you'll be on vacation, but for a quick lunch on the way somewhere, we do have McD's and Wendy's,etc and they have $1 menus LOL. We use them on Maui (which is more expensive than O'ahu!) for when we need a quick breakfast, can't beat a $1 parfait LOL!

 

[chris31997]

I recommend Blazin Steaks Good meal and resonable priced. Look for a terri burger You can also get a "meal" out of the yogurt shops. They have several that you self serve, then they get weight and you pay. Another option, is to look up the farmer's market. You can get dinner there and find fresh fruit that you can keep in your room.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

They did a podcast on Aulani on July 21
Here is a link to it.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disney-podcast/archives.htm
It has lots of info about the resort.

 

[we3peas]

We are ultimate cheapskates. We bought a cooler at the store (styrofoam) and filled it with ice from the ice machine everyday. Then we bought lunchmeats, cheese,. bread, milk, juice, etc and put it in there. The hotel we stayed at on Oahu and the Big island didn't have breakfast included (most don't) so we made sure we fed ourselves breakfast and lunch. We than ate an early dinner that wasn't fancy.

We splurged one night and had a meal out and paid almost $100 for 2 adults and a 5 yo. It wasn't even super nice either. Hawaii is great but watch your pennies!

 

[swilshire]

We joined Costco for a year when we went to Hawaii even though we don't have one at home. It was well worth the cost. The biggest savings there was on gas.

Sheila

 

[scanmom]

We have been to Maui twice. once just DH and I, the next time with 2 of our children (age 20 and 16 at the time). Both times we stayed in a condo with a full kitchen. We never really "cooked", just went to the safeway and stocked up on soda, bottled water, sandwich fixings and snacks. I was so scared about food and gas prices! I had heard all kinds of rumours about the outrageous costs of these things online! Well, it wasn't nearly as expensive as I had read about. It was higher than at home (Oklahoma), but our state, and our area, has a very low cost of living (average home is between 100 and 150 K). I wasn't any more shocked by Hawaii prices than I am Florida/Disney prices. Don't stress it, you will find many cheap places to eat, and be sure to ask the locals where they eat out... that will be the best way to find the cheaper, and better food!
One bit of advice... be sure to invest in the book "Oahu Revealed". We used the Maui version, and it was SOOO helpful! It made our vacation 100 times better! It gives you all the info about sites to see, hotels, food, renal cars, just everything! And it's written like "at mile marker 14, stop on the side of the road, hike 1/2 mile to the left, and find a waterfall that few tourists ever see"----stuff like that! It is WONDERFUL!!!!
Have a great trip! You have made me want to go back!!

 

[rparmfamily]

I absolutely recommend any of the "Revealed" series! But use common sense...don't get yourself killed hiking some random trail,etc! (You would be surprised how many tourists die each month here from outdoor activities, usually drownings or falls while hiking)

 

[nelson84]

Thanks for the advice. One other question where are the best burgers on the island?

 

[hereyago]

Thanks for the advice. One other question where are the best burgers on the island?

Kua Aina. There is one right down the street from Matsumoto's shave ice at North Shore, Haleiwa. and one in Honolulu Ala Moana.

Speaking of food: try as much as you can, there is a place called Big Kahuna's pizza right near the airport. different pizzas, and they have this garlic cheese balls that is to die for.

 

[rparmfamily]

Teddy's is great too, and we personally like Burgers On the Edge. Friends rave about The Counter. (which I think Pres Obama ate there?)

 

[shortbun]

Last time I was there (about 2-3 years ago) a gallon of milk was over $9.

Yikes! Beer is probably cheaper, lol! I'd have been the milk police.