Here now,,quick observations

[mort1331]

So hope to do a trip report later,,but some quick updated comments
Arrived Mon night approx 1030pm local time...no one else in lobby check in,,so late flights sort of advantage
Some people out at 530am!!!! To reserve chairs...but if they leave b4 8am staff does collect their things and chairs are free....ouch thats how we got our great seats...down about 720am...no towels or anything,,staff came by to let us know they moved stuff from our seats so when those upset people come back..direct them to him....Glad he was there 15min later to explain to the upset people. Ouch..so big heads up they do move things b4 8am if no one around.
Bands and towels..just wait till a 20 mins after 8am if no rush..then no line...once you show your dvc membership once..no need again..they have on file after that..just need to scan room card...thats all for now will update as things come up.

 

[SueInBoston]

I was really bummed that our flights changed and now we don't get in until 7pm, thanks for the one advantage of arriving late

 

[mort1331]

Coffee for refill mugs opens at 630am,,,or for east coast thats1230pm,,,uggg...coffee pots in room are mr. coffee with flat bottom for filters...yes they provide some but its ok coffee...

 

[mort1331]

Waze app is a saving grace for getting around...learn your rental car if its different from home...BIG...if 1st time here like us and coming in at night,,,the exit has 2 small signs...better landmark is when the highway ends and goes to 2 lanes. You will come across 2 sets of lights..less than 1mile to exit from there..at night hard to see the sign...
Also after exit when going over the bridge,,speed bumps..these are not small..go slow..dont have my mistake..lol..but tires didnt pop..whew

 

[SueInBoston]

Since I am also arriving late, will pack coffee and filter to get through the first few days. Thanks

 

[2Gma]

Also there this past week, and has been mentioned here before, pool chairs fill up quickly, walking around at 8:30 I noticed most pool chairs occupied, but plenty remained on the beach (with umbrellas) still at 9am. The pool chair policy is posted many places. I didn't see any cast members monitoring it as closely on the beach though. Didn't have a problem finding a raft for the lazy river. Wait for water slides varied throughout day but not bad. Usually a line for towels, reef and other kid activities right away in morning. Mornings start really early in Hawaii 5-6am, I'm guessing mostly due to time zone change for most people.

 

[mort1331]

Just sitting in the Ko Olina lounge now...highly recommend..quiet..not busy..as per Jessica who checked us in it never is. Coffee,tea water comp...relax and recharge in AC. We booked when we booked our flights so months in advance. Located in Term 2 main floor.

 

[SueInBoston]

Thanks for the reminder. I completely forgot about it. Booking Ko Olina now.

 

[mort1331]

Down on 1st level across a court yard...as one worker told us when we asked for directions...its the one on the left,,,the pretty one...lol..it was

 

[scroogie]

Also there this past week, and has been mentioned here before, pool chairs fill up quickly, walking around at 8:30 I noticed most pool chairs occupied, but plenty remained on the beach (with umbrellas) still at 9am. The pool chair policy is posted many places.

We had the displeasure of being seated next to a family one morning that came back to find their seats with folded towels on top, and even though it hadn't got to the point of their things being taken, they refused to believe an hour is the time limit and made it well known to everyone around them. Like, come on, there's signs literally everywhere! Same with the adult hot tub, you have to walk past signs in the middle of the walkway that clearly state it's an 18+ area, and there were still guests arguing over taking their kids in there.

We were there for 9 nights, first ever visit, and found that the pools, lazy river, water slides were never insanely busy (maybe a 15 min wait at most for the slides) - certainly not enough to justify why almost all lounge chairs were claimed yet empty.

 

[Cheburashka]

almost all lounge chairs were claimed yet empty.

This is probably my single biggest travel pet peeve. Lounge chair hogs who aggressively claim chairs as "theirs" for endless amounts of time without hardly using them.

 

[Kwami]

This is probably my single biggest travel pet peeve. Lounge chair hogs who aggressively claim chairs as "theirs" for endless amounts of time without hardly using them.

Gotta put your stuff somewhere while you're swimming, though. Where else would you put it? I suggested that Disney offer lockers and got shot down because that would somehow ruin the atmosphere and make everything seem cheap.

 

[Cheburashka]

Gotta put your stuff somewhere while you're swimming, though. Where else would you put it? I suggested that Disney offer lockers and got shot down because that would somehow ruin the atmosphere and make everything seem cheap.

There's a big difference between parking items on a chair while you swim, and putting token items on multiple chairs to lay claim to them for your family all day, and then getting angry at anyone else who dares to sit there, even though they're never all occupied at once and most of them are never occupied at all.

I've never been to Aulani, but DCL has cubbies by the pool, Yacht and Beach club has lockers, and the Disney water parks (and every other water park I've ever been to) has lockers, etc. Yet certain people still hog the chairs.

 

[Kwami]

There's a big difference between parking items on a chair while you swim, and putting token items on multiple chairs to lay claim to them for your family all day, and then getting angry at anyone else who dares to sit there, even though they're never all occupied at once and most of them are never occupied at all.

Oh, I agree. But sometimes it's hard to tell what's happening. The attendants at Aulani are supposed to clear chairs after two hours of not being used, but they don't always do that. And honestly, checking in once every two hours to keep your chair doesn't really solve the problem, anyway.

I've never been to Aulani, but DCL has cubbies by the pool, Yacht and Beach club has lockers, and the Disney water parks (and every other water park I've ever been to) has lockers, etc.

Indeed! I think it's ridiculous that Aulani doesn't have a place to lock away my stuff while I'm out on the lazy river or something. Plus, I wouldn't be wasting chairs while I'm not using them.

 

[mort1331]

This is probably my single biggest travel pet peeve. Lounge chair hogs who aggressively claim chairs as "theirs" for endless amounts of time without hardly using them.

Gotta put your stuff somewhere while you're swimming, though. Where else would you put it? I suggested that Disney offer lockers and got shot down because that would somehow ruin the atmosphere and make everything seem cheap.

There's a big difference between parking items on a chair while you swim, and putting token items on multiple chairs to lay claim to them for your family all day, and then getting angry at anyone else who dares to sit there, even though they're never all occupied at once and most of them are never occupied at all.

I've never been to Aulani, but DCL has cubbies by the pool, Yacht and Beach club has lockers, and the Disney water parks (and every other water park I've ever been to) has lockers, etc.

Oh, I agree. But sometimes it's hard to tell what's happening. The attendants at Aulani are supposed to clear chairs after two hours of not being used, but they don't always do that. And honestly, checking in once every two hours to keep your chair doesn't really solve the problem, anyway.

Indeed! I think it's ridiculous that Aulani doesn't have a place to lock away my stuff while I'm out on the lazy river or something. Plus, I wouldn't be wasting chairs while I'm not using them.

So just back and can give you updates.....they do have 2 sets of cubbies,,,not lockable to put items in if you dont have or want chairs,,,and people do use them.
For the chairs,,,before 8am,,,if someone is not there with their items or towels,,they are removed,,I witnessed it many times. After 8am,,once per hour the attendant goes around and folds a towel over the back of chairs,,,like chalking tires,,,and if its still there an hour later,,items removed. again witnessed this....they try and do a good job,,,,not only that but all around where there are chairs there are multiple signs stating the fact,,and have readable qr codes on them for more explanation if needed. Before 8am the attendant would actually tell people what was up if they looked like they were leaving.
I would go down at 7 am since I was up at 5 am anyway and hang and save a couple of chairs for my family. But I always got a kick out of the ones that would be down there at 5am,,,I would go walk then,,and be saving some,,,my god sitting there for 3 hours just for some chairs...oh well if they were up like me and some looked like they were working on their laptops,,then why not.

 

[Boopuff]

I'll never understand the chairhog thing. Where did it all start? I have a family of 4. When my kids were younger, we never took 4 chairs. Why? the kids (at least mine) never, ever sat in them. I don't get why families insist upon taking chairs for every, single family member. Is the entire family going to sunning and reading at the exact, same, time? I think not. Geez. Share a chair. I feel bad for the CM's that have to attempt to deal with this boloney. I remember one hotel I stayed at beachside, had attendnats "seat' you. You showed your room key, he handed out towels and escorted you to your seats. There wasn't any crazy seat saving. If you left for lunch, they told you to take your stuff and your seats were given to the next person. Easy peasy, everyone got to sit.

 

[MGoAway]

so the lei greetings just aren't coming back are they?

 

[Kwami]

so the lei greetings just aren't coming back are they?

We don't know. A lot of folks said that 'AMA'AMA wasn't coming back, too, but now it is. We'll just have to wait and see.

Apparently, there are some material shortages right now and many places have stopped doing lei greetings or have switched to something else.

 

[cgattis]

We don't know. A lot of folks said that 'AMA'AMA wasn't coming back, too, but now it is. We'll just have to wait and see.

Apparently, there are some material shortages right now and many places have stopped doing lei greetings or have switched to something else.

We got leis all over Maui. It’s purely a cost-cutting measure.

 

[mort1331]

We were given nut leis at the dvc morning,,,flower leis at the TAO luau..so not sure if coming back on check in