Hawaii Help, Please :-)

[bamagirl@hrt]

Hello, fellow DISers!

I am planning my family's first trip to Hawaii this October. I've always wanted to go to Hawaii, and Disney building a resort there just adds to the draw for me. Usually when planning non-Disney vacations, I rely heavily on TripAdvisor reviews and forums. The reviews for Aulani seem to be one extreme to the other. And the contributors on the Oahu forums seem to strongly dislike Aulani and the entire area in which Aulani is located. It leaves me a bit perplexed and wondering if I'm missing something.

I have read most (if not all) of the Aulani threads I can find on the DISboards. I'd still love to hear more personal experiences. We are planning to spend 9 nights. I had contemplated spending the first couple in Waikiki to be convenient to Pearl Harbor and Diamondhead before heading to Aulani. What's holding me back there is that my first two full days will be just before fall break begins in Hawaii. I thought we might have the advantage of a couple of quiet days before crowds pick back up. Should I think about staying in Waikiki at the end of my stay? Or is it really not a big deal to drive in for the day from Aulani? We plan to have a rental car the whole time. While I don't love paying for parking, we do like the convenience of having a car to explore when we want to go.

My kids will be 17 and 14 when we go. Neither are strong swimmers, so the idea of the calmer lagoons is appealing to us. I wouldn't be afraid to let them try paddleboarding there. I think they will also enjoy the resort activities - my son is already looking forward to ukulele lessons! They enjoy all things Disney and are good travelers, so I don't think we'll have "this is so boring!" issues with them. We are not DVC members, but we plan to reserve a 1 BR villa so that we have laundry and a full kitchen. I'll either try to rent points, or hope for the 4th night free plus $100/night resort credit like last fall.

My thoughts for are to spend the first two full days (a Thursday and Friday) at the resort. Then spend Saturday and Sunday exploring the island. We will be leaving on the following Friday, so we'll be open to relaxing and exploring on Monday - Thursday.

Any opinions? I guess I'm looking for assurance that's not only possible, but probable, to have an amazing trip that encompasses relaxing and touring Oahu while based at Aulani. Thanks so much!!

Christy

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Any opinions? I guess I'm looking for assurance that's not only possible, but probable, to have an amazing trip that encompasses relaxing and touring Oahu while based at Aulani. Thanks so much!!

Christy

Absolutely! Aulani is on the dry side of the island (all the islands have that) so it's not as lush and tropical as other areas but the plus is that it will probably be raining somewhere else but you'll be dry. It's also in an area that is getting newly developed for tourism so you'll see some odd mixes as you're going to the resort but again, if you travel to all areas of all the islands you'll run into similar things other places.

Personally Honolulu itself doesn't do a lot for me - it's a large city so I prefer being in a more "remote" area but honestly it isn't that far from Honolulu. Overall the negatives I've read I can understand what they are talking about but for me they aren't detriments. Disney has done a very good job with this resort.

What I will say is that all the islands are different and since it's your first trip (likely to be your only?) I'd think about spending part of it on another island to experience that as well.

Sorry but I can't help with the question about Waikiki and the break affecting when you stay there.

 

[BrotherBear]

When booking your Aulani room, remember that the Four Seasons just took over the next door property and will be building a residential tower in 2015/2016. Therefore, I would insist on a "pool view" so that you are not stuck in a room with a view of construction your entire trip.

I have been to Aulani three times, and it is wonderful. Once I arrive, I never want to leave. I do pick up groceries at Safeway & Costco on the way in (they are about 3 miles away from resort). This saves considerable $$ from the high-priced restaurant food. Also, across the street are fun dining options.

If it were me, I would stay at Disney the entire time, and just make day trips to the places you want to visit. Remember that traffic can be bad heading into Honolulu M-F in the morning.

Enjoy!

 

[xlxo]

What I will say is that all the islands are different and since it's your first trip (likely to be your only?) I'd think about spending part of it on another island to experience that as well.

I have to agree... I'm a city guy and love the Oahu amentities... but my close second choice is the volcanos found on the big island. I took an inter island flight for a couple days in Hilo to check out the sites there.

• http://www.bluehawaiian.com/bigisland/ (glowing lava sightings are not guaranteed)
• http://www.bluehawaiian.com/oahu/tours/
• http://www.bluehawaiian.com/kauai/tours/
• http://www.bluehawaiian.com/maui/tours/

Another way to get around the islands on the cheap would be on an NCL cruise. I would fit perfectly into your 9 day travel plans. Weekly Saturday departures...
http://www.ncl.com/vacations?ships=Pride_of_America

 

[Meemoo]

We have visited Hawaii 5 times, and stayed in Waikiki the first 3 times. The 4th time was our first trip to Aulani, we had our final 3 nights booked for Waikiki again (first trip with our kids) - we missed Aulani so much that we checked out after the first night and went back to Aulani! Waikiki with kids was too hectic, kind of like taking kids to Las Vegas and Aulani is simply paradise. Our last trip, we hired a car the whole trip and stayed at Aulani, it was perfect No troubles getting around, it is an island after all, nothing is too far away! Waikiki is about a 40 minute trip but if you think you would only want to venture there once or twice it wouldn't be an issue we certainly didn't mind the drive (avoiding peak time traffic - read up on that because surprisingly peak traffic in Oahu is an absolute shocker!!) The lagoon at Aulani is perfect if you want beautiful flat water! You will have a great time

 

[mariafh]

We were in Aulani last August. It is northwest of Wakiki. Pearl harbor is between Aulani and Wakiki, so it is accessible from either. Aulani almost feels like a suburb area in that there is less traffic and less business/buildings. There are other hotels nearby and golf courses. It is a pretty easy highway drive to Wakiki. Wakiki is extremely busy with lots of traffic. Once we saw what it was like, I was so glad we were at Aulani. Aulani is absolutely one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen. Nearby Aulani is the Paradise cove luau - you can walk to it. Pretty cheesy, but I like cheesy and had a blast. Also there is the big fleamarket at the stadium which is also between Aulani and Wakiki. If you like to be in the action and near the upscale/fancy/crazy restaurants, then Wakiki is better. If you want to do some surfing and water activities, then Wakiki is better. If like quiet outside of town with a pretty good lazy river, then Aulani may be better. The ocean at Aulani is very calm, may be too calm for those that like water sports.

 

[cleophus12]

I, too, would recommend staying at Aulani the entire time if you can do that. Having a car will make the entire island easily accessible to you. Have fun. It is a beautiful resort. I can't wait to return.

 

[marx]

I disagree with the majority and believe a stay of 10 nights or less should be entirely on Oahu (if the trip includes Aulani). There is just so must do do on the island and when coupled with Aulani - which IMO should have dedicated days - there just isn't enough time to justify going to another island.

My wife and I toured the islands twice before our children were born and two more times with the kids. Our last two visits included Aulani. Our first trip with the kids to Hawaii was only to Oahu (4 days Waikiki and 10 at Aulani). There was just so much to see and do. We tried doing most of the touring while at Waikiki (including Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and Pearl Harbor), but 4 days were not enough and so we also toured from Aulani. I would recommend a stay exclusively on Oahu for you with time split between Waikiki and Aulani. The more days at Aulani the better. Aulani is convenient for tours of the North shore and also for Pearl Harbor and the flea market at Aloha stadium.

Our second family trip to Hawaii was 3 weeks split between the Big Island, Maui and Aulani. This time we spent only a couple of days touring on Oahu as we had seen most sights on our first trip. IMO dedicating days to Aulani is a must. I mention this second trip to show I do have some perspective when it comes to deciding whether to dedicate a Hawaii trip to just Oahu or whether to visit other islands. Whatever you decide you will have fun!

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

Thank you so much for all of your replies! We did wrestle with trying to stay longer and visit two islands. On vacations, we tend to go hard in sightseeing and wind up needing a vacation when we get home. I'm determined to slow down on this vacation. I want a good blend of sightseeing/"doing" and relaxing/"being." Therefore, we have decided to stay on Oahu. This will be our first trip, but I won't say it'll be our only trip ever. It will most likely be the only trip there with both of the kids.

I am also glad to hear so many positive reports about Aulani. I wonder, sometimes, if many of the negative reviews on TA are from people who just don't do their homework and don't know what they're getting. I think this trip will be a glorious way to celebrate my daughter's senior year!

 

[minnie10]

In 2012 we did a split stay between Waikiki and Aulani.. We stayed a total of 8 nights. The one thing that I would do for sure is to end your trip at Aulani..We did most of our sightseeing and touring during the Waikiki portion of our trip. When we got to Aulani, we could not get our teens to leave. The one day we did get them up to the North Shore the entire time they were not happy being away from Aulani. One day we left them and did some sightseeing on our own. We are returning this year at the end of March. We will spend the first night and last night in Waikiki. The other six nights will be at Aulani. We will use the day lounge at Aulani on the last day and stay late. We will basically only sleep back in Waikiki to save a little money before flying out the next morning. I thought Aulani was absolutely beautiful.. It was a dream come true for us. We thought it would be a once in a lifetime trip, but here we go again and hopefully will return in two years for my son's senior trip. I do think a car is a must. We are thrifty when it comes to eating. I couldn't imagine having to eat all the meals at the resort . We will tour from Aulani this trip. The kids know in advance that by staying more nights at Aulani leaving the resort and being ahoy is a must. Whatever you decide I can almost promise it will be a trip of a lifetime for you. Hopefully you can rent DVC points and utilize the free parking.

 

[bnk1120]

We spent 7 nights at Aulani in August 2013 (and 2 nights off-site). We had planned to do a lot of things off-site, but couldn't drag ourselves away from the resort! We basically alternated between resort days and busy days. The resort was beautiful and relaxing and we just loved being there! Although traffic can be slow near Waikiki, we didn't mind driving. We went spent 2 days at the beach in Kailua, which was absolutely beautiful; snorkeled at Haunama Bay and went twice to Pearl Harbor.

We are returning this August. We will be staying 9 nights at Aulani. We will split our time between the resort and off-site activities. We never made it to the North Shore, so that's at the top of the list along with a dolphin excursion and Pearl Harbor again- it was the highlight of trip for DD then 10 and she can't wait to go back!

We loved Monkey Pod and being able to just walk across the street to go to dinner. We also found a wonderful Thai restaurant in Kapolei that we can't wait to go back to.
I think you will be very happy at Aulani! Enjoy!

 

[dreaming4disney]

We went to Aulani last summer with our teens. We spent 9 nights. We explored the island with 1/2 day trips. The traffic can be bad during the week but not unmanageable. There were also activities at the resort. The pools and lagoon are perfect for non-ocean swimmers. The surrounding area is pretty quiet compared to Waikiki but I liked that.

 

[kyton]

We love Oahu and Aulani. We aren't DVC however will be going on our 5th visit to Aulani (and 17th visit to Oahu) in April.

We do tend to split our stay into half Waikiki and half Aulani but that is because I adore Trump and it is my splurge part of the trip.

Ko Olina is a way out of Waikiki but within driving distance. Try to not drive up or back between 7-9am and 2-3pm as the traffic is s nightmare.

 

[Lynxxilo]

We've been to Oahu twice. Stayed in Waikiki at Hilton Hawaiian Village and at Aulani. On both visits our stays were long enough to enjoy the resort and tour the island. Oahu offers a lot to do. Our favorites include:

1. Pearl Harbor - check the National Parks website to reserve your tickets ahead of time. The tickets are free (I think there might be a small charge to cover the administrative costs of maintaining the reservation system). On both of our visits we reserved tickets ahead of time so I'm not sure if walk-up tickets are available all the time. Do some research ahead of time on the tickets if you plan to visit Pearl Harbor.
2. Diamond Head - there are walking trails that take you to the top of Diamond Head. The view is beautiful. Go early in the morning to avoid the heat. There is a small community college just outside of the Diamond Head park that has a farmers market on the weekend. The market had lots of local goodies - we stopped on the way into the park and got some snacks for the hike. Farmers markets are a great place to find local fruits, honey, etc.
3. Aloha Bowl "Flea Market" - I'm not sure I would go back here again, but it was a good one-time-experience. If you are looking for cheap souvenirs, there are plenty here. We found a beautiful hand-made ukelele - it was kinda cool to meet the guy who made it.
4. North Shore - if you are headed to the North Shore, a stop at Matsumoto's is a must-do. We were there at 10:00 am and had their famous shave ice for breakfast!! The lines started to build as we were leaving - the wait is worth it if you end up having to wait in a line!!
5. Shrimp Trucks - there are numerous Shrimp "trucks" on the central-north side of the island. While a bit pricey, the shrimp was yummie - if you are driving on that side of the island, these "trucks" are a good place to stop for lunch. We have stopped at Romy's twice and loved it both times. Be prepared for picnic tables, plastic forks, and take-out containers - no fancy dining here - just good food.
6. Pali Lookout - Pali Lookout provides a great view of the windward side of the island. If you are headed to the windward side of the island, take the time to stop in and enjoy the view. Be warned - there are bees fluttering about. I'd say flying, but they really aren't flying - they are being tossed about by the gusty winds.
7. Hanauma Bay - we've checked this one off our list. Not sure we would go back again. The park is beautiful, but the snorkling is not pristine - I suspect there are better places on the island to snorkel. To avoid the crowds, we were there when the park opened. Parking can be problematic if you get there later in the day. Unless you are dying to check this off your list like us, do some research if you are looking for better snorkeling.

Other tidbits:
1. Costco, Costco, Costco - there is a Costco not too far from Aulani. We did most of our shopping there. We cooked most of our meals in our villa. It was nice to be able to run upstairs and grab a snack. This Costco also sells liquor/beer/wine if you are in need of such. We discovered the pre-mixed Pineapple Margarita!! Costco's gas is probably the cheapest on the island.
2. Coffee/Soda Mugs at Aulani - you can buy a refillable mug from the gift shop or the restaurants. You have to drink a lot of coffee or soda to make it worth it, but the convenience of being able to fill up at soda stations located throughout Aulani was nice.
3. "Pool View" - I find the description of these rooms kinda funny. When we first arrived, we had a poolside room on the first floor that looked at the back of a building. Not exactly what I "paid" for - I had chosen to use more DVC points to get the "pool view" room. The front desk was kind enough to move us to a 3rd floor room. While the view was better, "pool view" was a stretch. The palm trees and other foliage has grown so tall, that I suspect most "pool view" rooms look at trees rather than the pool. If you have reserved a "pool view" room ask for one on the upper floors (I think floors 1-5 are considered "pool view" floors).
4. Shows on the Aulani lawn - there's a nice outdoor space where Aulani does several evening shows. They provide "grass" mats for you to sit on. Get there early to get a good location. While waiting on the show, they offer activities for younger kids.
5. Like Disney Cruises, Aulani has a daily schedule of events. These schedules are typically available the evening before so you can plan your day.
6. Aulani poolside chairs - there are lots of chairs located around the various pools. Since we were there in the middle of summer, we found that one had to get down to the pool early to "reserve" chairs. It was not uncommon to see folks at the pool at 7:00 with belongings spread across numerous chairs. There are lots of chairs with umbrellas - if you are planning to be at the pool all day and you want some shade, choose your chair wisely to avoid sitting in the sun all day long The Cast Members do go around and check for chairs that have not been occupied. Similar to marking tires in a one-hour parking spot, they will fold your towel and place it on the back of the chair - if the towel has not been moved in an hour, they will come back and remove your belongings thereby freeing up the chair for others. Your belongings are taken to a secure location where they can be retrieved. We witnessed several people coming back to their chairs to find their belongings gone.
7. Aulani wrist bands - to prevent people who are not Aulani guests from using the facility, wrist bands are offered each day. The wrist bands are handed out at the towel station; you need your room key to get a wrist band. Each day offers a new color. It was kinda funny to see folks outside of Aulani with an arm full of wrist bands - it was easy to see your fellow Aulani guests when out and about the island.

Sorry for the long reply. We absolutely loved Aulani!! Can't wait to go back again.

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

This is a great thread to read...I was a little worried about the Trip Advisor reviews too!

 

[alohamom]

We were at Aulani this August with our teens and our whole family just loved it. More than we expected to actually. I will say it was VERY busy on a couple of the days we were there so what we did is similar to one of the above posters-we used the resort in the morning, traveled out and about in the afternoon and then returned about dinner time to the resort again. One other thing I must mention is that I was disappointed in the man made lagoons, they were pretty to look at but the sand was just weird and when you have some of the most incredible beaches in the world scattered around the island, it is a bit of a let down to have this at the resort. The pools more than made up for it and we balanced it off by day tripping to Kailua beach, North Shore beaches, Waimanalo etc

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

Oops! Duplicate post!

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

I am loving all of the great advice and reading about your wonderful experiences! You are all so very generous and helpful in your sharing - thank you!

 

[Dean]

For most situations I would not go for less than 10 days unless it were direct from the west coast or close to it. For 10 days or more I'd do 2 islands but for first timers concentrate on Oahu due to the history and one time activities.

 

[Mduff]

We're going this August - 1 BR villa booked and airfare booked! We're all excited to go and I getting all this feedback!!!