Live Blogging Aulani Jan 7-15!!!

[living20057]

Somehow through Alamo we got a jeep for 8 days for $263. I think my wife applied the DVC discount but I'm happy. We originally had a ford focus for $200 but what the heck we are on vacation!

I was just wondering where you rented the Jeep from. Where do you find the DVC code for the rental?

Your trip report is great!

 

[mgodfre3]

Got the jeep from Alamo and dvcmember.com has the discount info

Today was very low key! We stayed at the resort all day and did nothing! We ate bfast on our balcony in our robes again. We then went to the pool and enjoyed the morning. I decided to try snorkeling in the actual ocean today and was disappointed. I saw about 20-25 fish total and was just not excited as I was with Rainbow Reef. I did not venture past the lagoon though because I am not a confident diver by myself. maybe ISPs just lazy but the RR is just convient, there and fun. It is a great controlled diving experience that I just have grown to enjoy after more then 5 trips into it so far. We then went though the pool, slides and lazy river the rest of the day, stopping for a pool side lunch, grilled chicken fingers and fries and kids mini cheeseburgers and fruit each was $6.95. We had shave ice later and then I went to RR for the 139 feeding. We made olelo necklaces in the Pau Hana room and then tried real snorkeling again in the ocean with the same result only fewer fish. We had dinner with friends in Hawaii Kai at the Kona Brewing Company Pub, they should stick to beer, I know I will stick to buying their bottles.

As a local and a guest I and my DW have noticed a few things. A lot of locals come to the resort which is to be expected. The thing that is getting annoying is they are getting in and getting wristbands from the friends who are cast members. Which is a little annoying. lso the cast members don't have the same professionalism that their park counterparts do and the whole resort feels like a franchise of Disney with they're standards and guidance but Hawaiian attitudes of no worries at times. Don't get me wrong we are in love with this resort we are just noticing a lot of growing pains.

They started work on some cement in the zero entry of the main pool which is in the way and an eyesore but it should be gone soon. Other then that the resort is fantastic and I encourage all members to come here and experience a relaxing vacation, but be sure to voice your concerns so we can make this experiment a success and get Disney to make this resort a 10/10 and build more resorts like is in other places.

 

[taaren]

As a local and a guest I and my DW have noticed a few things. A lot of locals come to the resort which is to be expected. The thing that is getting annoying is they are getting in and getting wristbands from the friends who are cast members. Which is a little annoying. lso the cast members don't have the same professionalism that their park counterparts do and the whole resort feels like a franchise of Disney with they're standards and guidance but Hawaiian attitudes of no worries at times. Don't get me wrong we are in love with this resort we are just noticing a lot of growing pains.

Also as a local and a guest we were there last month. Noticed this too: a ton of locals, particularly hanging out at the pool on the weekend. Some were obviously related to CM's (saying hi to the employees, etc), which I assumed were taking advantage of their auntie/uncle/cousin/sibling's employee rate on the room, since many of us here on Maui do this for birthdays, etc (I miss being related to someone who works for the Grand Wailea). Did not think they just got the pool bracelet for free, but they might have ... we talked to many of the locals (or they talked to us), and several mentioned that they were staying there on SSR or AKV points, using them for staycation weekends. There were substantially fewer locals on Monday, we spent that day at the resort and flew home on Hawaiian's last flight.

I'm hoping that all of them were there "legitimately" ie they had paid for a room either by points or a CM discount ... and in retrospect its logical that we ran into so many since we were not interested in the "other things" Oahu has to offer, we were interested in the resort so stuck close to the pool and other amenities that Aulani had to offer. People from Oahu would similarly be interested in just hanging out at the resort, where many of the tourists will be off exploring the island for large portions of their vacation days. It would be unfortunate if CMs were handing out bracelets to friends and family without rooms.

Also note that I called and said I'd be coming in for the weekend with family for my graduation, and most were just coming for 1 night in Waikiki, not staying at Aulani and I asked if I could get 4 pool bracelets, or buy a couple more for 1 day of our 3-day stay, they said no they weren't set up to sell extra bracelets. They did say, however, that our guests were welcome to use everything except for the pool slides without wearing a bracelet and if they were questioned to just give our room number. We ended up not taking advantage of this as my family chose shopping after the ceremony then heading straight to the airport rather than coming to see the resort with us, but its interesting that they have a policy allowing more people than the room allows to spend time in the resort area.

 

[mgodfre3]

Day 5
Roys is still closed until further notice. I honestly have been enjoying the heck out of is trip. I am so relaxed! Today was another lazy pool day with lunch at target snack bar because we were craving a pizza. They need a chipotle, earl of sandwich and a Wolfgang puck express over here, maybe I need to look into some investments haha. Tonight we will go to the original Roy's that is 40 minutes away. I can't wait. Sorry but no pics but I don't feel safe taking my iPhone to the pool. Construction was done and I have noticed some cast members have began checkling into the hotel, as I see thm coming out of rooms and discussing it in the valley. Haha. Guess they get to see it from a guest perspective.

I am honestly just taking the next couple of days slow and easy and it is such a great trip after all the years of Disney park trips. I will totally come here every few years. See you all later.

 

[rmonty02]

Great TR You're having the vacation I'm trying to plan on having! I would love to see a pic of your Island View. Also, after you check out, perhaps the room no.? I love your 'native' perspective, keep those touring tips comn

 

[SuperRob]

That's an amazing rate on the Jeep. You probably stayed over a Saturday. I'm having a hell of a time finding a decent rate on a Jeep for a Sunday through Friday. Best I could find is a 10% discount, plus a two car class upgrade to a full-size. That's a GREAT discount, but just not what I want. (The DVC discount is only 10%, so it's doubtful that was the entirety of the discount your wife got on the Jeep. It was probably the Save $30 and 25% off discount I've seen.)

The DVC discount is pretty much the same as you'd get with any other corporate ID, but if you want to check it, the code to use is 309397.

 

[mgodfre3]

I uploaded some photos of the view onto Flickr, the link is in the first post. We are in the Waianane Tower on the 7th floor. I will tell you the room number when we get back.

Roy's in Hawaii Kai is excellent and I highly recommend you go there it is so worth the drive. The pineapple upside down cake and chocolate souffle are to die for. This morning we are running to the Disney store at Ala Moana to get some Animation 2 and tiki vinylmations then it's pool day again with a movie night on the lawn.

I asked my wife about the jeep and she said she just looked every day and got lucky. The next day the jeep was 550 for the same dates. I don't know but she said she only used the DVC discount but it was only like $19 off or something like that. I liked Alamo because they have self checkout kiosks. And I didn't haver spend half my vacation waiting to rent a car. Ok I'm out so see you all later.