Got our "Welcome to Aulani" booklet!

[dianeschlicht]

Aulani does great customer service for booking there! We received a very nice little booklet telling us of all the amenities that can be booked ahead. Earlier we also had an email offering the same service for the spa. I think it's just a little bit of extra customer service that would be nice from some of the other resorts as well. This feels a lot like when you book CL level at AKV.

 

[Bellecruiser]

Never stayed at the concierge levels, but we loved Aulani. We went in March, and it rained the entire week - hard. Still, we loved the resort. The hotel is beautiful...world class. The restaurants are beautiful,the food is very good, and the hotel is exceptional. I would recommend it to anyone, and we will go back. Enjoy!!!

 

[moredisneyplease]

we were there in May and I was so excited when we received our book! Have a great trip!!!

 

[dvc_john]

Aloha Diane!

I'm at Aulani now, and this place is great!
Right now, construction is barely an issue. But they haven't started the new pool yet.

And customer service here is probably the best of any Disney/DVC resort.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Aloha Diane!

I'm at Aulani now, and this place is great!
Right now, construction is barely an issue. But they haven't started the new pool yet.

And customer service here is probably the best of any Disney/DVC resort.

John, can you find out when construction will be finished? I don't really care if it's done when we are there or not, but I was curious. They didn't mention anything about it in any of my communications with Aulani, so I'm thinking it will be done by February.

Oh, and what category room do you have? Tell me more!

 

[Pakey]

I just got home a few days ago from Aulani and I'm trying to figure out if I can go back next year!!!! We usually go to Maui but I thought this area of Oahu was very nice.

According to the CM we spoke to, construction on the expansion of the quiet pool and the expansion of the main pool deck will begin next month. I felt we were so lucky to have only had the construction for the shade cover on the restaurant outdoor seating. It was only noticeable while riding the tube through the front section of the lazy river so not a big deal. The pool expansion construction will be a lot more obvious but I would think it should be done by February. With that 3rd phase opening, it's obvious that they are going to need more pool area.

Disney really got it right with this resort. We had a 2 bedroom pool view and the villas are gorgeous. The CMs/customer service is incredible and I thought the prices were reasonable. I rented a cabana every day and I would be happy to spend the rest of my life sitting at that pool!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Glad to hear others find the customer service at the resort to be as good as it is before we get there. I think it is what is needed when the location is such as it is.

We aren't really beachy people, so no real need for a cabana, but I do want to hear all about the other activities around the resort. I'm especially interested in the snorkel area and the sea turtles.

Oh, and John, are you using the spa? I am trying to talk Dick into it, but he says I'm on my own for that unless our DS wants to join me.

 

[CocosMeme]

We leave in 30 days! I find myself looking through the booklet regularly. We already have dinner reservations for Ama Ama and the buffet restaurant and I am in process of booking a spa treatment!

 

[dvc_john]

I'm in a 1-br ocean view. Unfortunately it's probably just about the worst ocean view unit in the resort. (Mostly view of the J.W.Marriott hotel and parking garage, with the ocean beyond.) It's not a big deal since I'm getting 2 days of points back. I probaby could have moved, but didn't bother. The room 1 floor below is classified as 'island view'. So, unless you can guarantee one of the real ocean view units, I don't think it's worth the extra points. They do have a model 2-br lock-off that's open 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon. And it has a spectacular ocean view. And it would be worth the extra points. But for me, I'll probably just go with island view next time since I'm not spending any time on the balcony anyway. I really think they shoud add one more room category: Partial Ocean View.

The snorkle area is neat. Lots and lots of tropical fish. They have a one-time ticket ($20), and a length-of-stay ticket ($39). There is a 10% discount for DVC members.

The new pool is going in where the Starlit Hui was, and the sting-ray Makai Preserve (which is closing). That's a pretty big area, so the new pool should be good size. The Starlit Hui is moving to the other side of the resort to a larger lawn area. Starlit Hui will be back when you're here.

Anyway, the resort is so nice I don't want to leave. It's a good thing I had a week in Waikiki earlier this trip, then Kauai and Maui. Didn't do Kona this trip, and I'm kind of regretting it.

I'm not a spa person, so no info on that (although it does look pretty elaborate.)

I'll see if I can get any info on when the new pool will be completed.

 

[dvc_john]

I did ask about the new pool. They will start in October, and estimated completion is next June or July. All other construction (Makahiki Buffet expansion, Starlit Hui lawn, etc.) should be completed long before you get here.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, Aulani sounds like it should be on my bucket list!

 

[DiznyDi]

Diane, we received our Aulani welcome book in todays mail!
We arrive Feb 15 and leave Feb 24. What are your dates? I'm also trying to talk DH into an afternoon at the spa. What a great way to beat a cold Ohio winter!

 

[El&Asmom]

We just got ours yesterday. Too bad we cancelled our trip a few weeks ago.
Going to WDW on works dime instead for a conference so I can't complain too much.

Have fun.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm in a 1-br ocean view. Unfortunately it's probably just about the worst ocean view unit in the resort. (Mostly view of the J.W.Marriott hotel and parking garage, with the ocean beyond.) It's not a big deal since I'm getting 2 days of points back. I probaby could have moved, but didn't bother. The room 1 floor below is classified as 'island view'. So, unless you can guarantee one of the real ocean view units, I don't think it's worth the extra points. They do have a model 2-br lock-off that's open 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the afternoon. And it has a spectacular ocean view. And it would be worth the extra points. But for me, I'll probably just go with island view next time since I'm not spending any time on the balcony anyway. I really think they should add one more room category: Partial Ocean View.

ARGH!!! I was worried a bit about that. Looking at the map and where the other buildings are, it just looks to me like ocean view means mostly higher up. Oh well, we'll have to see what we get. What floor are you on, John?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Diane, we received our Aulani welcome book in todays mail!
We arrive Feb 15 and leave Feb 24. What are your dates? I'm also trying to talk DH into an afternoon at the spa. What a great way to beat a cold Ohio winter!

We will be arriving on the 14-21, and from the 21-28 we'll be in a condo at Kona. Maybe you and I will have to have a DIS meet and greet at the spa. I doubt I'm going to talk my DH into it.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The snorkel area is neat. Lots and lots of tropical fish. They have a one-time ticket ($20), and a length-of-stay ticket ($39). There is a 10% discount for DVC members.

The new pool is going in where the Starlit Hui was, and the sting-ray Makai Preserve (which is closing). That's a pretty big area, so the new pool should be good size. The Starlit Hui is moving to the other side of the resort to a larger lawn area. Starlit Hui will be back when you're here.

Anyway, the resort is so nice I don't want to leave. It's a good thing I had a week in Waikiki earlier this trip, then Kauai and Maui. Didn't do Kona this trip, and I'm kind of regretting it.

I'm not a spa person, so no info on that (although it does look pretty elaborate.)

I'll see if I can get any info on when the new pool will be completed.

Yeah, I didn't figure you were a spa person, John! Glad to hear Starlit Hui will be back by the time we arrive. I hadn't planned on doing a luau on Oahu, but was planning on the one in Kona.

Glad to hear the resort makes you not want to leave. Do you have a car, and are you sight seeing other things on the island?

We are probably going to hike Diamond Head, do Pearl Harbor, and maybe the Palace and Bishop museum. Our DS is along this trip, and he has not done any of those things, so they are on the must do list this trip.

 

[WonderinAland]

We were there this summer and it was so wonderful. We only left the resort to go to Pearl Harbor one day and the North Shore and Dole Plantation another. Most time was spent by the pool! We usually go all out with site-seeing and the change from our norm was welcome.

You must go to the spa. My husband and I did a couples package one (entire) morning and loved it so much we booked the O'hana package with the kids a couple days later. One of the highlights of our stay.

We had a pool view and enjoyed our balconies several mornings. Especially as we were adjusting to local time - it was very peaceful.

Enjoy!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

You must go to the spa. My husband and I did a couples package one (entire) morning and loved it so much we booked the O'hana package with the kids a couple days later. One of the highlights of our stay.

I'd love to do that, but there is no way DH is agreeing to the spa! When we first planned the trip, we thought our DD was going along, and she and I planned to do the spa together, but she's not going now, and I feel selfish taking that much for myself when it's a family trip. Oh well, maybe I can talk my son into something. He at least likes hot tubs, so maybe he will do one of those special ones with me.

 

[dvc_john]

Glad to hear the resort makes you not want to leave. Do you have a car, and are you sight seeing other things on the island?

Yes, I have a car, and ran up to the North Shore and Haleiwa. But I'm only at Aulani 5 nights, and am spending most of the time at the resort. I did have a week at a Hilton timeshare on Waikiki earlier this trip, and did my Oahu sightseing then.

What floor are you on, John?

I'm on the 8th floor of the Waianae building on the north side, not the pool side.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Yes, I have a car, and ran up to the North Shore and Haleiwa. But I'm only at Aulani 5 nights, and am spending most of the time at the resort. I did have a week at a Hilton timeshare on Waikiki earlier this trip, and did my Oahu sightseing then.



I'm on the 8th floor of the Waianae building on the north side, not the pool side.

So if your view is not so good, what would you suggest I request? I haven't made a request yet, because I assumed "ocean view" would automatically be better than pool or island. Now you have me wondering if it really is.