Impressions of the Grand Wailea? Other Hawaii recommendations?

[JimV]

DW and I are planning our 25th anniv trip for next summer and are thinking about going to Hawaii. Since we just bought into DVC, we were thinking about the GW using the Concierge Club benefits.

Has anyone gone? What were your impressions? Would you recommend someplace else?

Thanks,

 

[rafliz]

We stayed at the GW in 2001 for two weeks and loved it! The spa was very nice. The hotel was beautiful and the beach is great. We also enjoyed the pools. They have changed companies since we stayed I believe but I don't think they would change that much. We are planning on returning in 2010.
I would recommend it to someone else- our stay was a dream vacation. We did not find a single fault in the hotel or grounds- there is nothing I can complain about except maybe the price! (But it was so worth it...)

Hope that helps a bit!
Elizabeth

 

[Laurabearz]

The GW is lovely. Very very lovely.

But very expensive. Not only the rooms, but one day I joked with my husband that all I had on me was $70 and I wondered if that would be enough to get 2 sandwiches, chips, drinks and a pack of smokes for it... Guess what... 68 bucks for 2 prewrapped turkey sandwichs, chips, cokes and smokes...



The Pool area is beyond great... the Spa was over the top! It was the first spa I had ever gone too, and now, with over 15 spa's under my belt, it's still the best! OMG the visshe showers... it was heaven! Nothing like getting a good massage and scrub down.

I also visited the hair salon there and had them chop my -too my butt - hair off into a cute bob.


If there wasn't such a wicked time change (5 hours for us) we would go back all the time... but coming home and trying to readjust our clocks took forever (my kids 2 and 6 months at the time didnt deal with it well)

 

[BCV23]

We're members at the GW and absolutely love it. Beautiful grounds, incredible pools and usually great service. Very large rooms with great bathrooms. The Shops at Wailea have been a great addition with good and varied shopping as well as many restaurant choices.

We stayed on the club level on our last two trips there and really enjoyed that as well.

This past Saturday we returned from our first stay on Oahu. We all missed Maui and the GW.

 

[Anal Annie]

We have not stayed at the GW property before - but rather stayed right next door and were able to use their beach (since all beaches in HI are public). It was indeed a beautiful property - but so are MOST properties on Maui. I simply cannot imagine spending that much (in cash or points) when there are so many other fine choices available there. But if you have points to burn then it would be a lovely choice.

 

[BCV23]

We have not stayed at the GW property before - but rather stayed right next door and were able to use their beach (since all beaches in HI are public). It was indeed a beautiful property - but so are MOST properties on Maui. I simply cannot imagine spending that much (in cash or points) when there are so many other fine choices available there. But if you have points to burn then it would be a lovely choice.

Ah, but no other resort has an activity pool like the GW. Water elevator, slides, winding creek, rope swings, etc..

I assume you were at what is now the Marriott if you were next door but used the GW beach. The property on the South side is the Four Seasons. We have friends who prefer it. The staff addresses you by name there, spritz you with Evian while you're sunbaking, etc.. But then our friends don't really swim much.

Anyway, we spent two nights at that Marriott before our GW reservation a few years back. It is nice but doesn't compare IMO. We've also spent a night or two at the Marriott and Hyatt in Kaanapali and a few nights at the Sheraton up there although that was in '79. Anyway, they are all nice but not the GW....IMO.

And although the beaches are open to everyone, the lounge chairs are not these days.

 

[tarheel]

We went to Maui this past June. We have two kids. Since it is your anniversary, I assume no kids going, right? I had my heart set on GW--saw it on the Travel Channel and just had to go. But when we really started looking at cost, we ended up next door at the Four Seasons( sounds crazy, I know!). Room price was about the same, but at GW you'd pay extra for chairs with umbrellas--which my husband really wanted, and several other things that I can't think of at the moment. Oh, we had a 1 hour free outrigger canoe ride which was really cool. Plus we got light snacks throughout the day like popsicles and fruit cubes. The staff would bring ice water around. There was sunscreen available even. It just didn't compare. We walked over to GW many times. It looked fun, but it was much louder and had a more crowded feel.

 

[BCV23]

Our friends would agree with you 100% for a trip for just two.

 

[pampat]

Interesting thread. We have been trying to book Concierge at GW for August this year and DVC can't seem to get any bookings for us at all at any level, any room. We have had to book elsewhere for now, but will try with DVC again later in the month. Are they (GW) moving away from Disney, do you know?

Trip Advisor has some very mediocre reviews about the GW since it changed ownership.

Pam

 

[JimV]

But I trust the people on the DIS!

How many of you have stayed there in the last few months? We are planning on a trip for summer 2009 so we can book at the 11 month mark. We are thinking about this since we just joined and are considering the point totals for the next few years for planning purposes. We bought in at 320 points plus developer points of 160. We won't stay the whole time at the GW, since we also want to see Pearl Harbor as well.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Anal Annie]

Ah, but no other resort has an activity pool like the GW. Water elevator, slides, winding creek, rope swings, etc..

I assume you were at what is now the Marriott if you were next door but used the GW beach. The property on the South side is the Four Seasons. We have friends who prefer it. The staff addresses you by name there, spritz you with Evian while you're sunbaking, etc.. But then our friends don't really swim much.

Anyway, we spent two nights at that Marriott before our GW reservation a few years back. It is nice but doesn't compare IMO. We've also spent a night or two at the Marriott and Hyatt in Kaanapali and a few nights at the Sheraton up there although that was in '79. Anyway, they are all nice but not the GW....IMO.

And although the beaches are open to everyone, the lounge chairs are not these days.

Yes, we stayed at the Marriott property back when it was still an Outrigger. Last time (summer '06) we stayed at the Sheraton Ka'anapali at Black Rock and were quite pleased with it for the rate that we paid. We stayed once in some very unmemorable condo and also at the Maui Marriott Ocean Club property...I would stay there again as well. Perhaps it's just my frugal side - I cannot justify using that many points when there are other properties that are quite nice - maybe they're NOT the GW or the Four Seasons (which I would try over GW based on the Conde Nast ratings) but they're still NICE properties. They're not slums! You can get a whole week for 160 points at the Westin if you plan your trade right...I would just have to try that route first. But that's me. We are usually snorkeling or something so aren't in the room that much...........and we usually don't dine on the property too much either...........but that's us..........

 

[chris1gill]

We stayed at the GW 2 years ago. Anyhow, we went on points and booked a full ocean view room. We were upgraded to the Presidential wing or whatever they call it (it does have a different name), we had concierge service. We found the resort to be DIVINE... I'm going to book it again on points, we have kids and they were just over the top at the GW.... We've also stayed at several hotels along the Kaanapalli Beach area, the Westin has very small rooms, the Sheraton was nice, Westin Villa's, too far from the action, the Marriott was great if you weren't too picky with location... The GW was totally a great use of points as the room would have cost something like 1250.00 plus tax.... Personally I wonder if they upgrade all the Disney DVC'ers?

 

[BCV23]

Chris, it's called Napua Tower. Very nice breakfast served as well as hors d'oeuvres and an open bar in the evening.

Annie, we're too frugal to use points there too.

JimV, our last stay there was 14 months ago. The new management seemed hard at work to give the hotel some TLC. The top two floors of Napua Tower were closed for renovations when we were there and I though they had plans to redo all rooms. They were also painting the outside and were always polishing the brass of which there is a great deal.

BTW, although our good friends prefer the Four Seasons, we also know two young couples who honeymooned at the GW and absolutely loved it. One bride cried when it was time to leave.

 

[disneydenisel]

You might consider renting a villa at Westin Ka'anapali from an owner, or else doing a private exchange? It might work out to cost you less $$ or points in the long run. On the other hand, GW is really wonderful (we've only walked the grounds many times, though), but the rooms are hotel rooms. We are spoiled by larger accommodations in timeshare villas.

Here is an example of what rental prices might be if you rented privately. A studio (450-500 sq. feet) could cost $1500-1800 and a one bedroom (800-950 sq feet) could cost you $2300-2500. How many DVC points will you use to stay at the GW?

 

[blueroses]

We were there last month and loved it. The grounds are incredible. Wailea is a great location.

I would definitely stay there on a cash reservation again, but wow the points requirement to book it is steep!

We're members at the GW and absolutely love it.

Could you tell me what it means to be a member at the GW? They slid an offer under our door about it during the stay, but we never had a chance to ask anyone what it entails.

 

[BCV23]

blueroses, when we joined the requirement was a deposit of either $1K or $2K...sorry, my DH arranged it and I just don't remember which as it was over ten years ago. GW enjoys the interest on our deposit but we get 50% off rooms (limit two) for our own use.

A few years back, annual dues started being assessed but it's only been in the low $100s so far....haven't received the bill yet this year.

I think the deposit required has increased. Not sure if there are other changes for new members.

Tell us more about your stay, please. Was your room in good shape? What was the color scheme and what wing were you in?

BTW, I would not book a mountainview room at the GW. Our friends who prefer the Four Seasons stayed in one (maybe why they prefer the 4S). Their room sounded smaller and the bathroom was certainly smaller. That wing is also the farthest from the lobby, restaurants, etc..

 

[PBader]

We went to Maui this past June. We have two kids. Since it is your anniversary, I assume no kids going, right? I had my heart set on GW--saw it on the Travel Channel and just had to go. But when we really started looking at cost, we ended up next door at the Four Seasons( sounds crazy, I know!). Room price was about the same, but at GW you'd pay extra for chairs with umbrellas--which my husband really wanted, and several other things that I can't think of at the moment. Oh, we had a 1 hour free outrigger canoe ride which was really cool. Plus we got light snacks throughout the day like popsicles and fruit cubes. The staff would bring ice water around. There was sunscreen available even. It just didn't compare. We walked over to GW many times. It looked fun, but it was much louder and had a more crowded feel.

We stayed at the Four Seasons in 04 for 5 nights after a DVC stay at the Mauna Lani. While the Four Seasons was very nice it was too ritzy for us.