(Can I just say that smiley took me a few minutes to pick out? First one since the conversion!)
... were you able to "drink around Polynesia"?
Thanks. It was fun for us and worth the half price admission!
Haha, yeah, the upcoming stuff was not my favorite part of the trip.Uh oh! Mommy meltdown!
Haha. Yeah, she was just not feeling patient that day.
Luckily, the show got her attention and held her interest.I am really enjoying following your posts! We are heading to Aulani in May andI really enjoy learning through your stories and pics! I am interested if you will posts some pics of the daily IWA from your trip?
Your trip is just around the corner! It's such a wonderful destination! Good question on the Daily Iwa's. Before our trip, I know that I was looking for them too, so I understand. I can tell you that we do have them (I know we packrat-ed them home...), but I will need to track them down. I will post them if I can. No promises, though. Heck, I just realized we got a free PP print that I was going to hang in Izzy's room and I have no idea where it is (but probably with the IWAs). Clearly, we are not terribly organized. 
Nice smiley choice!The cultural center looks really interesting!! And what a fun parade! It all sounds very festive!
It was really fun to watch - lots of eye (and ear) candy.Yeah, that duck was scary. I wish I had a better picture, but it's face was just disturbing. And it was so aggressive.
Ironically, no, because the PCC is run by Mormons!... were you able to "drink around Polynesia"?
BYU college students are the staffers. No drinking allowed. We lived, though! 
(Although, frankly, I could have used a drink during the time in the next update).I'm glad we saw it. Definitely different than a normal parade. More of a dancing/singing/chanting show moving along the water. Like if the electrical water pageant was made of people instead of lights, I guess.
Yeah, this was not a fun part of the day for me.
It was also a VERY aggressive duck that wanted peoples’ food, no matter how close it had to get.I found it fascinating to watch, as we were far enough back from the crowd that it didn’t bother us (it was hanging out near the fish food dispenser). I did see a dad letting his toddler boy approach it, which scared me, since I had seen it act rather aggressively already (hissing, etc.)
Sure, you can play it off that way...And a Mommy meltdown?!
Looks like a fun tour - though I think of all the movies referenced I have only seen Jurassic Park and then Lost for TV shows. Obviously not really toddler friendly but the ATV tour looked pretty cool
Just to help Dug out a bit ....
looking forward to hearing about lunch
You got some wonderful photos of Kualoa Ranch. I think the one above is very nice! And those mountains in the background. Can't get enough of 'em!
Thanks for coming over!
Hawaii is so awesome, as is Aulani. I'd love to go back. Why no Aulani - will you be on Oahu? If so, even if you're not staying there, you could have a meal and wander the place. Of course, Willow would probably want to use the pools...[/QUOTE]
No, when we go, we won't stay on Oahu - probably the Big Island, possibly Maui. Oahu just isn't vacation to me - I have been there a few times and it's always been for work; it's too "business" for me because of that. I have considered adding a night or two at Aulani just to experience it. It just isn't financially worth it though, I don't think, unless I rent points. Rack rates just seem extreme.
Maybe it's just me and my poor sense of direction.Uh...sure.
That duck should have been wearing that warning on a sign around it's neck.
They played it off very well, because I truly could not tell if it was an accident or something they always do.
Oooops.
It was a fun stop and that parade was entertaining!
I love that picture!
Let's see if Doug can top that! Too, too funny! Love it!
There have been just a ton of movies filmed there. They had dozens of posters, but some were pretty obscure movies.
It was a fun touristy place and, as with much of the island, lots of pretty stuff to see.
My poor stomach was just so unstable. I'd think I was over it and then it would come back again with little warning. Darn stomach bugs!
I really liked the views around the ranch (and on the drive there, for that matter). Really breathtaking scenery everywhere.
Thanks, figured I should share what I learned with others that may need it. I kind-of did a crash course myself when I saw it was happening.
It was pretty neat. Not a huge loss that you didn't get there or anything, but a fun activity.
One of those grand husband/wife miscommunication moments that doesn't go over well with me...seems like we have one every trip!You have me curious about this impending mommy meltdown....Oh, no....
It was a neat place to visit. All the homes and things from the cultures were cool. And explanations they provided on how people lived in those homes, etc.
It was one of those, "Did that just happen?" kind of moments for me. But, seriously, I don't know how they do their wild dancing routines on those little rafts.I'm glad Izzy let you guys watch the parade. I admit, I likely would've laughed if I saw people fall in the water.
Sadly, no, as the place is run by Mormons, so no alcohol.I hope you were able to find a drink sometime after the mommy meltdown...
It was actually a really fun day. We did a lot, but just for relatively short periods, so it was all very manageable for us. I suppose it's a job hazard to fall in the water when you're dancing on a raft all day.
Those giant leaves were quite a thrill for Izzy!Uh oh, a mommy meltdown?!
Yeah, not my favorite part of the day, for sure.Hmmm, that's strange. I have a Macbook Pro and I just go to print, then save as PDF and it all shows up when I open it after and check.
Very pretty!
It was such a weird and freaky looking duck!Yikes, that duck looks like it caught a disease!
Leaves are awesomesauce when you're two, I guess!
No worries! You must manage the DIS differently than I do, though. I never have a clue what board something is on, I just have them all in my "watched threads" (formerly "subscriptions").
Yes, you need to get yourself out there again soon! Especially because you have a much shorter flight from the West Coast!
If you do end up on Oahu (cheaper flight or something), I think the ONLY way to do Aulani is to rent points. The rack rates are INSANE. Everything is over $500/night (even hotel rooms) and discounts are minimal (30% tops). With renting, I would expect more like low $200s/night for a Studio. We actually were about $175/night, as there was a special point offer during our stay (used fewer). Also, the $35/night parking fee is waived if you stay on points, so big savings there too!No, when we go, we won't stay on Oahu - probably the Big Island, possibly Maui. Oahu just isn't vacation to me - I have been there a few times and it's always been for work; it's too "business" for me because of that. I have considered adding a night or two at Aulani just to experience it. It just isn't financially worth it though, I don't think, unless I rent points. Rack rates just seem extreme.
):
And they waved us in and asked us to take a seat, so despite not planning to sit for a show (Izzy’s patience was low at this point), Dug felt obligated to grab a seat and Izzy and I followed in confusion. 
I assumed he knew that he was going into a show, as he had the map and was generally aware of more than I at the PCC. I was baffled why he would go in without even mentioning to me that it was a show or asking what I thought. So, this was my mindset and I didn’t find out until later that he hadn’t intended to take us to a show. With that mindset, you can imagine I was already a bit on edge and ill prepared to manage Izzy through a long show.
She needed MORE. In fact, she wanted them ALL. So, here they are talking to the crowd and getting the show started, but Izzy is up at the bin trying to pull out all the sticks. I went up to grab her and she was NOT pleased with the intervention. She was unhappy and loud about it. 
Basically the start of a tantrum and I felt that everyone in the crowd was staring at us. I mean, she was noisy and next to the stage. Clearly, the only option was to leave this show that we hadn’t intended to see anyway, right? 
First, he’d taken us into a show without consulting me. Then Izzy had caused a scene and forced me to take her out, feeling rather humiliated with the eyes of the crowd on me. And he had the nerve to just sit there and enjoy the show like he didn’t even know us. 
Despite having all of our belongings. Which I am pretty sure included my phone, as I remember feeling completely helpless. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr…… Oh, not to mention that I was still feeling mildly sick to my stomach. 
Good times.
, shooting Dug a dirty look, I’m sure. She’s pretty neat and tidy for a 2-year-old. The other mom and I laughed about it and Izzy and I headed back out. I apparently got my phone back and took a selfie/we-sie:
But I didn’t, so now you know the whole ugly story. Truth in trip reporting, haha!)
