Is Aulani Worth It?

[Santana5]

We are cruising to Hawaii in October. We have never been to Hawaii and would like to spend a couple of extra days there. We are looking at staying 3 extra days and thought that staying at Aulani would be the perfect ending to our cruise however it will add on an additional $3500. Is it worth it? What are the pros and cons? Any comments are welcomed. TIA

 

[ronandannette]

We are cruising to Hawaii in October. We have never been to Hawaii and would like to spend a couple of extra days there. We are looking at staying 3 extra days and thought that staying at Aulani would be the perfect ending to our cruise however it will add on an additional $3500. Is it worth it? What are the pros and cons? Any comments are welcomed. TIA

Having visited the resort but never stayed, I honestly don't see how it could be, unless you have absolutely no budget constraints and will only stay on Disney property. It's a beautiful resort, and for the price you mention, you must be looking at Villa-level accommodations, but the location is isolated and to see any of Oahu you will need to be away from it for most of your stay. There are many lovely places in or very near Honolulu and I'd definitely be finding one. Have a lovely time, whatever you decide.

 

[cgattis]

I would ask…what does cruising TO Hawaii mean? How many days do you visit Hawaii on the cruise and on what islands. “Worth it” is very subjective, just like asking if Disney theme park and hotels are…but knowing what you want to get out of it can help us answer a little more specifically.

 

[tankin]

@Santana5 "Worth it" is very relative. What are you looking to do? How long? What is the $3500 for (seems high)?

For example ... If you were going to spend 3 nights in a 3 bed and just wanted to lay on the beach ... maybe ... If you wanted to spend all three days in and around Waikiki and that a studio, I'd say no.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have cruised to Hawaii twice from Vancouver and stayed a week afterwards in Aulani. We are DVC members. Perhaps it would be less expensive to rent points from a member to stay there. We thought Aulani was wonderful and would stay there again.

 

[anxioustrisarahtops]

Would staying just a day be worthwhile?

 

[shoes99]

We are cruising to Hawaii in October. We have never been to Hawaii and would like to spend a couple of extra days there. We are looking at staying 3 extra days and thought that staying at Aulani would be the perfect ending to our cruise however it will add on an additional $3500. Is it worth it? What are the pros and cons? Any comments are welcomed. TIA

We are on the Wonder cruise that finishes in Honolulu On Oct 13th We are staying in a DVC studio four nights post cruise. Family members who own at AULANI are generously letting us rent their points. They will join us at Aulani after the cruise. They live in California so the will meet us there after they spend a few nights in Maui
this adventure is very expensive but worth it for us old folks from NJ

 

[Lilsia]

Depends on what you want out of your Oahu vacation. If you like being in the busy city, with all that comes with it, including sirens all night, then stay in Waikiki. If you want to be in a quiet area, with a protected cove, at a nice resort, stay at Aulani. Or there are are options on the N Shore. It all depends on what is "worth it" to you. Most hotels at that level are about the same. So I would compare your options and see what works best for you. I love Aulani but some people hate it.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Given the pricing you are quoting, if you don't absolutely need to be at Disney look around Ko'olina and also at Turtle Bay.

 

[Arguetafamily]

We are cruising to Hawaii in October. We have never been to Hawaii and would like to spend a couple of extra days there. We are looking at staying 3 extra days and thought that staying at Aulani would be the perfect ending to our cruise however it will add on an additional $3500. Is it worth it? What are the pros and cons? Any comments are welcomed. TIA

My family of seven, 2 adults, 5 kids, ages 11yrs-25 yrs just arrived home from Aulani. We stayed 7 nights in a 2 bed, DVC owners.

It is a gorgeous, and clean resort. Beautiful to relax in the lazy river, enjoy the free small offerings, such as Ukelele lessons, or animation classes, character meet and greets. Food is very good but expensive. Many, many, many small children so if you’re looking forward to peace and quiet, don’t stay there.
$3500 is high for a studio, but like someone else said, it’s relative. Next door at the Four Seasons will probably be the same price and that resort is very quiet just as clean, has a couple restaurants, shares the lagoon with Disney and they seem to have free water activities. Price is about $800 nightly.

P.S. If you want to do any activities, free or otherwise, especially the Disney Luau, reserve early on the Aulani app. Most free activities and the Luau are booked well in advance.

 

[mort1331]

you dont mention what size or view of room your looking for. You could rent points for a whole lot cheaper as well.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Would staying just a day be worthwhile?

IMO, no. Well, maybe it's not fair to say no. I feel you wouldn't get a ton of time to explore the resort and enjoy what it has to offer, and in that case, it would be a fairly pricey one night hotel stay that is also fairly out of the way on Oahu.

 

[jimmymc]

What room does that $1100+ per night get you, and how many people do you have? Aulani is a great resort, but I also wouldn't pay that much unless you're getting a 3 bedroom villa.

 

[OKW Lover]

What room does that $1100+ per night get you, and how many people do you have? Aulani is a great resort, but I also wouldn't pay that much unless you're getting a 3 bedroom villa.

I've often wondered what the price would be for one of those. I would guess its higher than that.

 

[lilsonicfan]

What room does that $1100+ per night get you, and how many people do you have? Aulani is a great resort, but I also wouldn't pay that much unless you're getting a 3 bedroom villa.

I'm not OP but when I was looking at Aulani, that was the price of a 1 bedroom villa for a cash stay. It might even have been $1200.

 

[WillGan]

We are cruising to Hawaii in October. We have never been to Hawaii and would like to spend a couple of extra days there. We are looking at staying 3 extra days and thought that staying at Aulani would be the perfect ending to our cruise however it will add on an additional $3500. Is it worth it? What are the pros and cons? Any comments are welcomed. TIA

First and foremost, welcome to Hawaii! I hope it lives up to all of your expectations. As someone who was born and raised in Hawaii, attended college on the mainland, and worked in the tourist industry, I hope to shed some light with my response compared to others already posted.

If you're a Disney fanatic, then yes it is worth it! You won't be able to live with yourself passing up a night at Aulani being basically 30 mins. away (port). Not too sure how many people are in your party but if it's just you and your partner, the deluxe studio would be perfect but depending when your stay is, I'm sure those are booked! DVC is the most affordable way to stay at Aulani. Try renting points or booking a confirmed res. Why is it worth it? You see Aulani up close and personal. A walk through the property is nice but you don't experience the vibe of being a guest. Hearing the staff interact and engage with you as someone who is actually staying on property and saying "Welcome Home". Also, you get to see the smiles and hear all the laughter of all the children, the joy of young parents watching their kiddos walk up to Mickey, Minnie, and Moana (in Hawaii). Grandparents supervising their grandchildren in the pool or splash area while their own enjoy a 20-minute break from their chaos of life.
If you're not a Disney fanatic, a simple walkthrough of the property and half of a day at the lagoon on the beach should suffice. You can buy shave ice, swirls, and all of the food that is offered but just not the pools (which is what makes Aulani special for our Ohana).

Being a first-timer to Hawaii, I recommend staying in the heart of Waikiki. That is what makes Hawaii so special! That is what you see on Magnum PI, Hawaii 5-0, NCIS Hawaii, etc. Staying at a quality Hotel will also play a big role. If you're military, Hale Koa is automatic. You won't get anything more reasonable than there! Other places in Waikiki that I would recommend so you can get the full Tourist feel, Outrigger Reef on the Beach. It's on the outskirts of the Waikiki strip (Kalakaua Ave.). If you want something smack-dab in the middle, Outrigger Waikiki. There are other hotels you could check out but the Outrigger name has always done well and is very reputable. The Hilton Hawaiian Village has always been a caterer to our Asian guests. A rental car isn't necessary especially with parking being absolutely ridiculous for our guests! A ride-share or public transportation (Bus) is as good as it gets and the City Bus Drivers are always very helpful getting you to and from. Including to and from the airport if needed. If you're heading out to the North Shore, perhaps a tour would be best just because it'll take care of your drive and plan out most of the activities our visitors like such as food trucks, Laniakea Beach (Turtles) and Polynesian Cultural Center. A ride-share on that side can be a headache with all the stops you'd take. Must visit spots should be the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet (Wed, Sat, Sun), Pearl Harbor, and probably a beach out of Waikiki like Kailua Beach. You also would want to take a visit to Kailua town while visiting one of the beaches out there (either Kailua or Waimanalo area). The hidden gem out there is Kaiona Beach Park). Lastly, a hike. If you're staying in Waikiki, you may want to venture out to do the Diamond Head Lookout and check out the Kapiolani Community College (KCC) Farmer's Market on Saturday. Time this right and it should work out perfectly! Aulani is out on the west side and even though the beaches and water are better out there (where I am from originally), there's not much to experience besides Aulani.

Next, the food! Waikiki area has the spots (at least nearby) so be ready to venture out. You gotta eat! That's what makes Hawaii special! The people, the food, the experience! Kapahulu Ave. has a lot to offer! Rainbow Drive-Inn, Shimazu Shave Ice, Ululani Shave ice (preferred), Leonard's Bakery, Side Street Inn, Tenkaipen. Up towards Waialae Ave., you have Fresh Catch and St. Louis Drive Inn. You also have Whole Foods by Kahala Mall to get your Made in Hawaii treats. Nearby supermarkets such as Times Supermarket on Waialae Ave. or down by Kahala Mall has Poke that would satisfy your taste buds for that.

Sorry for sharing so much but I can go on and on.. but to answer your question, I think it just boils down to how crazy are you about Disney. If not, there are other ways to get the full Hawaii experience in 3 days! =) But nonetheless, congratulations on getting here and I hope that you have a memorable experience!

Aloha!

 

[jimmymc]

I've often wondered what the price would be for one of those. I would guess its higher than that.

That would be my guess too. $1200 sounds like an ocean view 1br or an island view 2br, with the 3br in the $2000 range.

 

[Great3]

I own DVC at Aulani, so to me, an Aulani stay is cheap. But I would never pay cash prices at Aulani, just not worth it with so many other options of places to stay in Oahu. I also own HGVC and stay at Hilton Lagoon HGVC often. As far as area, I like Ko Olina where Aulani is located much better. More peaceful and relaxing. But I love the food options out near Waikiki and the convenience factor.

Only you know yourself better. I think you will be very happy skipping out on Aulani, which while nice, is not enough to me to justify the cost/value differences for cash price required. And since it's your first time to Hawaii, you probably want to go out and explore the islands more, so now it's just a place to sleep versus spending time and enjoying all the various amenities.

Great3

 

[llachance]

Only you can decide whether it is worth it or not. Decide what you would do during those extra days and compare the cost of staying at the Aulani vs staying somewhere that would be more in the range of what you would like to pay. People love the Aulani, people love Wakiki, people love the North Shore. Doing your research will help you make the decision that works for you.

 

[Great3]

Only you can decide whether it is worth it or not. Decide what you would do during those extra days and compare the cost of staying at the Aulani vs staying somewhere that would be more in the range of what you would like to pay. People love the Aulani, people love Wakiki, people love the North Shore. Doing your research will help you make the decision that works for you.

Exactly, I love all 3, Aulani, Waikiki, and North Shore, all for different reasons. But one thing for sure for me, I don't love Aulani at $3500 for 3 days only. For others, that may be money well spent, and that's okay too!

Great3