How many nights would you recommend at Aulani?

[tripletsmama]

We found round trip air to Aulani for $350. I've been watching fares for months and this seems like a great deal! We would have to move our Aulani dates, but I just checked the member website, and what we would need is available. Anyway, we have a 10 night reservation right now. We've never been to Hawaii and I thought that would be a good length of time to do some sight seeing and also relax and enjoy the resort. However, if we take this flight, we can either stay 9 or 12 nights. Is 9 nights enough? 12 too much? Thanks for any input!

 

[NC State Tigger]

Please tell !!!

Details of $350 airfare to Aulani?

We leave next week for 9 nights at Aulani. Hope it is enough. No island hopping for us this trip, so I think the 9 days should be fine. If we are able to go again in the future, I would want to see other islands. With airfare like $350, that might be possible.

 

[Psychodisney]

That's an awesome airfare! We stayed 7 or 8 nights. Would have liked a couple of more. Obviously significant difference from 9 to 12 days in costs: lodging, food, rental car. If you can swing the time off and the extra expense, go for it!

 

[Discomom703]

9 days is enough. It's a small resort. But nevertheless amazing!!!! You'll be able to see everything in a few days but you might want to do touring or rent a car for a day and do shopping spree whether its Costco of target or Waikiki shops.

 

[tripletsmama]

It is on allegiant. Departs February 3, returns February 12 or 15. LAX to HNL. In looking into it further it looks like it's $50 for a carry on and $70 for a checked bag. So you essentially have to add $120 to each fare. So now I'm looking at $470. I guess it was too good to be true! I expected to have to pay around $25 for each checked bag, but $70 seems a little crazy. And $50 for a carry on is ridiculous! It's also $50 total to pick your seats ahead of time. With 4 kids we would probably need to do that, so I guess I'm up to $520!

 

[dsneygirl]

We stayed 9 nights (10 days we had a red eye back to LAX) and I could have stayed more.

 

[tripletsmama]

We stayed 9 nights (10 days we had a red eye back to LAX) and I could have stayed more.

I can't see your signature (on my phone) to see if it says how old your little one is, just going off the picture by your name and wondering how the time change worked with kids. I'm curious as to if we're going to lose a lot of time adapting to time changes or if the kids adjust pretty easily. DDs will be 9 and DS will be 1. Would love to hear how that worked or any tips you can share to make the transition easier!

 

[vandy]

I would recommend the same number nights at Aulani as I would any other DVC resort...365! Whether that is feasible or not is the issue I guess

 

[dsneygirl]

I can't see your signature (on my phone) to see if it says how old your little one is, just going off the picture by your name and wondering how the time change worked with kids. I'm curious as to if we're going to lose a lot of time adapting to time changes or if the kids adjust pretty easily. DDs will be 9 and DS will be 1. Would love to hear how that worked or any tips you can share to make the transition easier!

My ODS was almost 6 and my little one was 7 months. I don't think we ever fully adjusted. We were ready to go at 6am every day and usually had a place at the pool by 8. the kids would crash by 7 or 8 and DH and I were usually done about 9. I think most east coasters are like this as the place was pretty quiet after 9pm and bustling by 7am every day. I didn't mind it at all. We loved the early mornings and made full use of our days.

Coming home the kids adjusted fine but it took DH and I a good week, I think we were worn out from the whole trip but would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Anal Annie]

It is on allegiant. Departs February 3, returns February 12 or 15. LAX to HNL. In looking into it further it looks like it's $50 for a carry on and $70 for a checked bag. So you essentially have to add $120 to each fare. So now I'm looking at $470. I guess it was too good to be true! I expected to have to pay around $25 for each checked bag, but $70 seems a little crazy. And $50 for a carry on is ridiculous! It's also $50 total to pick your seats ahead of time. With 4 kids we would probably need to do that, so I guess I'm up to $520!

Wait!! Do you live in CA now? On your bio it looks like you live in NY. Don't you still have to get to CA too?? That can't be too cheap either...

Allegient is one of those "gotta read the fine print" airlines who probably will charge for the bathroom next. They recently started flying out of a small airport near my hometown in WV and my cousin who lives 10 min. from there (also DVC) was all excited to see that they were offering flights to FL for next to nothing...would save them from driving to Charleston or Pittsburgh - BUT when I told her to look at the fine print she said they may as well drive!!!

(PS) back to your question about the length of time....we had to cancel our trip to Aulani this past summer and hope to re-plan it for next August BUT I have been to Hawaii 4x before. I would recommend a week at Aulani and a few days on another island. Each island is different and it's so far to go - it is a shame not to experience more than 1 island if you have that much time to spend.

 

[tripletsmama]

My ODS was almost 6 and my little one was 7 months. I don't think we ever fully adjusted. We were ready to go at 6am every day and usually had a place at the pool by 8. the kids would crash by 7 or 8 and DH and I were usually done about 9. I think most east coasters are like this as the place was pretty quiet after 9pm and bustling by 7am every day. I didn't mind it at all. We loved the early mornings and made full use of our days. Coming home the kids adjusted fine but it took DH and I a good week, I think we were worn out from the whole trip but would do it again in a heartbeat.

Thanks for the feedback! We are doing 3 nights at Grand Californian on the way out, so maybe the more gradual time change will help. I'm fine with early nights and mornings, but hate when I can tell the kids are exhausted and out of sorts and thought the time change might throw them for a loop and make them miserable.

 

[sissy_ib]

It is on allegiant. Departs February 3, returns February 12 or 15. LAX to HNL. In looking into it further it looks like it's $50 for a carry on and $70 for a checked bag. So you essentially have to add $120 to each fare. So now I'm looking at $470. I guess it was too good to be true! I expected to have to pay around $25 for each checked bag, but $70 seems a little crazy. And $50 for a carry on is ridiculous! It's also $50 total to pick your seats ahead of time. With 4 kids we would probably need to do that, so I guess I'm up to $520!

I keep seeing their commercials about how other airlines give you "free" soda but it is not free built into the cost. $50 for a carry on is insane. Do you get a free personal item?

 

[tripletsmama]

I keep seeing their commercials about how other airlines give you "free" soda but it is not free built into the cost. $50 for a carry on is insane. Do you get a free personal item?

Yes, free personal item. So I guess we could just do 1-2 carry ons. We have 4 kids, so I know I'm going to need lots of options to keep them occupied on a plane for 6 hours.

I priced out Hawaiian air where the only 'extra' you have to pay for is a checked bag. That is $25. And Hawaiian came out cheaper even though their base fare was $548 and allegiant was $350. And we'll get free meals and free soda!

 

[tripletsmama]

And yes, we live in New York. Flights from la guardia to lax have already been purchased. Those were $350. We budgeted $1000 per person for air, so as long as we make it under $650 for the Hawaii portion we're looking good.

 

[islandtimect]

And yes, we live in New York. Flights from la guardia to lax have already been purchased. Those were $350. We budgeted $1000 per person for air, so as long as we make it under $650 for the Hawaii portion we're looking good.

Yes, I've also been seeing airfare from NY to Honolulu around $900-$1000 for next June. I have to wait until the 7 month mark to make sure we get a room before buying airfare. Kinda nervous that prices will go up by then.

 

[KristiP]

We stayed 6 nights and 7 days and that was not enough we were just getting used to the time difference and it was time to come home. My inlaws stayed for another week so 2 weeks total and they were very happy with the amount of time spent in Hawaii.

 

[dsneygirl]

Thanks for the feedback! We are doing 3 nights at Grand Californian on the way out, so maybe the more gradual time change will help. I'm fine with early nights and mornings, but hate when I can tell the kids are exhausted and out of sorts and thought the time change might throw them for a loop and make them miserable.

We did 3 nights in San Diego (zoo, Sea World) on the way and 5 nights at DL on the way back. The DL portion was harder as we were on Hawaii time, so 7am early entry was really 4am. Won't make that same mistake again.

 

[mikron]

We had 2 weeks for our second time and it was still not to long. IMO you will enjoy Aulani and not want to leave.

 

[travelbug]

We stayed 8 nights at Aulani in June. We did tons of sightseeing around the island, yet still had a nice amount of pool and down time. I think I'd have loved to stay another couple nights. In your shoes, I think I'd probably go with 9 nights because you also have a few vacation nights in CA. Either way, have a great time! Aulani is gorgeous.

 

[TagsMissy]

We stayed 10 days last trip and are doing the same in May but we could always do more! Definitely was one of those trips we were NOT ready to return home.