I feel so lost with planning Aulani. (Updated with answers and tips)

[VGCgroupie]

Okay so I finally got everything booked and figured out. Thought I would update here with some advice and tips.

My 1st advice is before settling on your visit days checkout all the calendars and see if what you really want to do is offered on those days. For me I booked Tuesday to Saturday and Im now finding out that Monday is full of great stuff I will miss, especially if you are a DVC member. Another example is Ukulele lessons are not everyday. On our trip its only available 1 day (its also available on our checkout day but too late in the day for us). Star gazing is also not every day. There is not an advanced calendar that I could find so the only way I could figure it out was by look at past weeks on the booking calendar and hoping it would follow the same pattern. I did call and they were somewhat confused and did what I did by looking at the past calendar.


This is the link to book activities. 30 days out at 7am Hawaii time. I could not ever book in the app only via this link. It day by day not beginning of reservation. So you have to set an alarm to be ready to book each day. Also it's a rolling 30 days not trip calendar day, example reservation Aug 1 and book on July 1, so be sure to count out the days on your calendar. Tip: Ukulele books the quickest so try for that before any others. Also, some activities release before others and often before 7am like mickey ears, so if you don't see what you are looking for right away refresh again.

Star Gazing ($), Ukulele Lessons called ‘Ohana Ho’okani Pila (free), Thingamabobs Mermaid (free), Painting Party ($), Mickey Ears ($), T-Shirt Stamping ($).

https://na.spatime.com/abh96707/515...WsS27VFM-h3hHWwggQ_aem_VY26BFs-su7b39oMt9wchg

This is the link to book Aunties Beach House 90 days out. Both free and $. Free Aunties Beach House time is title "themed experience". Again online via this link not in app.

https://na.spatime.com/abh96707/51552930/home

Dining easy peasy just like the theme parks. In Aulani app at Midnight Hawaii time.

Rentals for Cabanas is 90 days out midnight Hawaii time. You have to call in for this as well.
https://www.disneyaulani.com/activities/shaded-retreat/

Im not a spa person so I didnt do any booking but it seems that you have to call and its 90 days out.

Luau 180 days out. I did not book this. Online
https://aulaniexcursions.pleasantactivities.com/page/product/11583

Rainbow reef is on person day of. All other daily IWA stuff seems to be just show up. ( I havent taken my trip yet so I cant be 100% certain)

Original post EDIT above
I figured out dining, that was easy. 30 days out in the app.

I see the Auntys offerings but I’m only seeing premium experiences. Do the complimentary offerings only get booked in person day of?

Ukulele lessons and other complimentary offerings are those advance reservations? If so where and when?

I mainly need to figure out what needs to be booked in advance, where and when I can do that.

 

[PoppyJ]

From one of the Facebook groups I'm in.

I see recent reports are that activities are opening 7 am, Hawaiian time, but are almost immediately full, which is unfortunate. When I went last year, we had to sign up in person when we arrived and had no problem getting all the activities we wanted to do. We did the t-shirt stamping, Mickey ears, ukulele and drawing class. Loved them all.

 

[VGCgroupie]

From one of the Facebook groups I'm in.

I see recent reports are that activities are opening 7 am, Hawaiian time, but are almost immediately full, which is unfortunate. When I went last year, we had to sign up in person when we arrived and had no problem getting all the activities we wanted to do. We did the t-shirt stamping, Mickey ears, ukulele and drawing class. Loved them all.
View attachment 875727

Thanks!

 

[VGCgroupie]

From one of the Facebook groups I'm in.

I see recent reports are that activities are opening 7 am, Hawaiian time, but are almost immediately full, which is unfortunate. When I went last year, we had to sign up in person when we arrived and had no problem getting all the activities we wanted to do. We did the t-shirt stamping, Mickey ears, ukulele and drawing class. Loved them all.
View attachment 875727

This is super helpful, which FB group is this? Do you know if you can book non premium auntys online?.

 

[PoppyJ]

These are the two groups I'm in.

I'm not sure about Aunty's b/c we don't have kids but I remember seeing a thread about it, not sure if this info is still current...

https://www.disboards.com/threads/auntys-beach-house-reservations-time.3911707/

 

[SleeplessInTO]

Don’t worry. I didn’t book a single thing before we showed up, just make sure you check the day of with Aunty’s / the community hall. Get to Aunty’s early, you’ll get on the waitlist and have your pick of times for the free experiences. We did ukulele, drawing x2, the thingamabobs, stargazing, plus various free crafts at the community hall. There’s also a scavenger hunt with a tablet if you’re into it. My 8 year old liked it, it was a fun way to explore the resort.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I figured out dining, that was easy. 30 days out in the app.

I see the Auntys offerings but I’m only seeing premium experiences. Do the complimentary offerings only get booked in person day of?

Ukulele lessons and other complimentary offerings are those advance reservations? If so where and when?

I mainly need to figure out what needs to be booked in advance, where and when I can do that.

A lot of activities fall under the Pau Hana room (community hall) - their page will take you to this link where some things can be booked up to 30 days ahead like Mickey ears, t shirt stamping, I think ukulele lessons too. https://na.spatime.com/abh96707/51584824/activity

 

[VGCgroupie]

Don’t worry. I didn’t book a single thing before we showed up, just make sure you check the day of with Aunty’s / the community hall. Get to Aunty’s early, you’ll get on the waitlist and have your pick of times for the free experiences. We did ukulele, drawing x2, the thingamabobs, stargazing, plus various free crafts at the community hall. There’s also a scavenger hunt with a tablet if you’re into it. My 8 year old liked it, it was a fun way to explore the resort.

This makes me feel better in case I don’t get it all figured out ahead of time. I actually prefer day of bookings if it’s available

 

[Van@Disney]

There used to be paperwork you could fill out in advance. We just took it to Aunty’s got the id bracelet, then dropped off in the mornings. The paperwork was on the web page. This may have changed post covid.

 

[VGCgroupie]

There used to be paperwork you could fill out in advance. We just took it to Aunty’s got the id bracelet, then dropped off in the mornings. The paperwork was on the web page. This may have changed post covid.

I did online and they emailed paperwork to fill out.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I got the complimentary auntys bookings figured out. Somehow my brain didn’t register them as the complimentary ones even though it said $0.00 because it was titled “themed” experiences.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I am approaching my 30 days. So dining is midnight HI time, and activities are 7am HI time?

Edit: I think I got it figured out. Dining midnight HI time. Activities 7am HI time.