Looking for your best Aulani advice.

[MinnieGirl33]

Please share your best tips, tricks & what you know now that you wish you knew then...

Staying May 20-27
2BR Ocean View
Oldest son's college graduation trip (travelling with 2 sons ages 21 & 18).
Will have rental car.

Already have MonkeyPod/Duke's/Roy's/Makahiki/Ama Ama booked & planning Costco/Target stop.

Obviously doing Pearl (but which Pearl tour?). Interested in zip lining & ATV tour at Kualoa Ranch, climbing Diamond Head, Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, Ted's (or Leonard's??) Bakery for Malasadas. Possibly Valley of the Temples.

What did you like?
What were you disappointed in?
Is Starlight Hui a fair substitute for a formal luau?
How difficult to secure a casabella?
Experience renting beach equipment? (paddleboards/kyaks, etc.)
Your best "Not to be missed" item? (food, drink, sight, experience?)

Thanks!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I was not impressed with Starlight Hui. I thought it was particularly good for children. I will defiantly go to a luau the next time we are lucky enough to book Aulani. Breakfast with the characters was delicious and fun. We would do that again.

 

[juncker]

Rent the executive lanai for a day and watch the sunset. Perfect day at the beach!

 

[BobNed]

You should probably go here: http://www.disboards.com/forums/aulani-a-disney-resort-spa.198/ and read the hundreds of threads all looking for the same information. A wealth of thoughts, ideas, likes, dislikes, etc.

 

[jimmytammy]

Checking this out too. Going for our 1st time in Sept.

 

[mommy2eee]

@MinnieGirl33 we are going in about a week and a half so I don't have all the answers yet. There is a luau next door to Aulani called Paradise Cove. We booked due to close proximity to Aulani. If you order the Entertainment coupon book for Hawaii there is a coupon for 25% The book was on sale for $17 and it saved me $150 on the 4 adult deluxe packages. Totally worth it! Plus a few other coupons we can use.

Please share your best tips, tricks & what you know now that you wish you knew then...

Staying May 20-27
2BR Ocean View
Oldest son's college graduation trip (travelling with 2 sons ages 21 & 18).
Will have rental car.

Already have MonkeyPod/Duke's/Roy's/Makahiki/Ama Ama booked & planning Costco/Target stop.

Obviously doing Pearl (but which Pearl tour?). Interested in zip lining & ATV tour at Kualoa Ranch, climbing Diamond Head, Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, Ted's (or Leonard's??) Bakery for Malasadas. Possibly Valley of the Temples.

What did you like?
What were you disappointed in?
Is Starlight Hui a fair substitute for a formal luau?
How difficult to secure a casabella?
Experience renting beach equipment? (paddleboards/kyaks, etc.)
Your best "Not to be missed" item? (food, drink, sight, experience?)

Thanks!

 

[im4pacers1]

We loved the ATV tour at Kualoa. Definitely do the 2 hour option. I was also disappointed in the Starlit Hui. It has tons of interaction for kids but we left before it was over. Definitely do a luau. We did the walking tour with the headphones at PH. We ended up buying the tickets to tour the battleship when we got there. DH was not at all impressed with PH but if you've never been, I would at least go to see the memorial. The park rangers(?) were the most interesting they offered a lot of side information that was really interesting. One of our best days was driving up to the North Shore for golfing at Turtle Bay and then shopping at Hale'iwa which is also where you can find the food trucks. If you are a coffee drinker, you have to try the Coffee Gallery , seriously, YUM! The coffee and pastries were so good. We also did the underwater scooter things. That was a super cool day. I loved it. Oh the food at the resort was ok, but we preferred to eat elsewhere. We ate by the pool a few days and also got Dole Whips/shaved ice. We ate across the street at Monkey Pod at least 3 times. We loved that. We also ate at a KOA pancake place. The pancakes there were amazing. Everything else was pretty blah. We went into Waikii and ate at Ruth's Chris on restaurant row. We had an amazing time at Aulani and absolutely can't wait to go back.

 

[tlh]

We did not care for the night Buffett at Aulani. I would not do it again for the price not worth it. We did like Ama Ama breakfast. The vanilla sauce mac nut pancakes are very good. Both Ted's and Leonard's were good. My husband enjoyed the mac nut filling for the flavor of the month at Leonard's. We ate lunch and dinner throughout the week at Teds. They also have slices of pies that are great. We did the helicopter tour through blue Hawaiian and it was good. We did the volcano tour to the big island though Roberts and out was good but the weather did not cooperate at jaggar museum to see the crater and glow. Pearl Harbor is great but if you do the other stuff with the Arizona plan for an all day event. You can do the swap meet at the stadium across the street Wed, Sat, and Sun.

 

[CaliAdventurer]

We're here on day 8 of a 10 day 2 bdrm Oceanview stay. First time at Aulani not Oahu.

Ama Ama is fab- gorgeous view, great food. We had dinner and breakfast several times Breakfast walk ups at 7-8am no problem at all. Loco moco actually full of flavor! Otherwise as good as any meals in the mainland.

Breakfast buffet is a must do at least once and it's good. Lots of options and fresh fruit. The "Aunty" with the mic is annoying. Dinner buffet is good quality but once is enough.


Roy's across the street is one of the Roy's not franchised and it's great flavor! Get the ribs and be ready to weep.

Island vintage roasters has a crazy peanut coconut butter you'll want to bathe in.

The spa at Aulani is a must! Did deep tissue, Thai massage, reflexology, scalp treatments and a few blow dries. All excellent!!! And I'm usually disappointed. Be sure to make a good hour for the gardens before. They are nirvana. A little construction noise but no bigs.


north shore - pipeline is the place for an amazing day with a stop at dole for whips and maze on the way and a burger and shaved ice in Haleiwa on the way back. Waimea beach is probably the right spot for boys your kids age though. Just around the bend.

Tommy Bahama cafe finally opened in Waikiki. I adore those cafes full stop buy this is one of the best. Bills does a great Australian style breakfast in Waikiki also. Tonight we are doing breakout Waikiki and it is supposed to be a terrific time! (Solve puzzles to get unlocked from a room with your friends.)

Waikiki beach is a check box, Leonard's OF COURSE.

We had to make a couple trips to urgent care. Not far and pretty easy. One was an urgent care and the other a minute clinic at cvs in kapolei.

Four Seasons is aiming for a soft opening in May.

As for Aulani, be prepared to get up by 5:00 am if you want poolside or Oceanview chairs. Don't leave them I unattended for more that an hour and don't be a jerk and reserve more than 6 or so. We have a large party but no one is all sitting at once.

Cabanas, you gotta rent from home way ahead. There are few and frankly, not a good investment unless you don't or can't get up and get good seats with umbrellas. Since the time is 3 hours behind, those from the mainland have a good head start.

We rented a car ahead and valet'd because, vacation. It was so fast to get our car to the front.

Don't worry about towels in the room. you can get towels from the pool whenever so it's no thing but it is worth it to pay for a few extra trash service days. Since you're staying 6-7 days, you won't have a cleaning but the sand isn't a big deal it doesn't seem to make it to the room.

Bring a blanket or order some to the room. There are no actual blankets on the bed, just sheets. And the pillows are super tall and springy so if you have a certain squishy kind of pillow you need/love, best to smash it into your suitcase.

View from the rooms are great. They feel a little more compact and less private than VGF 2 beds. But great.

We are very pleased to have purchased here and can't wait to return!

 

[cedricandsophie]

We are arriving may 20 too! Our fourth time. We at DVC members there as well
as several other resorts. We love it. We have been all over the island many times so we never leave. It's our fav place. We always get one bedroom ocean view. We have never gotten a casabella. I'm an early riser and get our chairs about 730 or 8 when I go to work out.

The starlight hui is not a luau like you know. No food. But our daughter loves it, We have a adult daughter with Down syndrome and her friend. I always get them a frozen pizza that night that they take with. My husband and I go to ama ama.

We love it but your kids may get a bit bored in the evening. Not much to do and all Hawaiian music. monkeypod has more modern rock and roll music across the street. I'm hoping the new four seasons which will open about then will have a Couple more venues for music. Also, there is a great sushi place across the street. And in Kapolei just down the hghway there are several restaurants.

The breakfast buffet with the characters is really fun EVEN for adults. Great pictures.

Just hanging out on the lazy river is a blast. My husband and I spend a good part of the day there.

The four seasons, like the Marriott before it, has tennis courts. My husband and I bring our rackets. At the Marriott we used to play every morning. I hope we can at the four seasons too.

There is an excellent beach workout every morning.

We can't get our room cool enough. So you will have to gauge how warm or cool your room is. We like to freeze at night. We're in Chicago and keep our bedroom windows Open all year. So the coldrr the better for us!

Get beach towels the night before. The towel shack doesn't open until 8.

We park free because we ar DVC.

See you there. My daughter and her friend will be the ones chasing the characters all week!

 

[lucy0558]

We loved our stay at Aulani. Dream about Oahu actually! My not to miss are:
Oahu Photography Tours - This was fantastic! No need to worry if you are not into photography, Alex will show you how take pics with your iPhone or your DSL. It was an absolute beautiful tour of the island and sites. We did the Sunrise tour but will do the all-day tour next trip!
Pearl Harbor tour- we only did the PH tour with head phones and were pleased, very emotional.
PunchBowl - Cemetery of the Pacific. We happened to be there close to Memorial Day and it was especially beautiful.
On our balcony dancing with my sweetheart to the Hawaiian music...priceless!
Enjoy your stay in paradise!

 

[darly2004]

We are going the week after yours and are so excited! We love Kapolei and Ko Olina. This is our 4th time in Oahu and 3rd time with kids. We usually stay at the Marriott since we have a timeshare there, but have recently became DVC member. Can't wait to experience Aulani in the future. Our audience is a little different than yours (girls 8,5, 8 months), but will try to remember what we did when we went as a couple in our early 20s.

Attractions: Pearl Harbor was a very humbling and unforgettable experience. We actually just rode the bus from Waikiki if I remember correctly. If you have a car, I think you can just go get tickets early in the morning? We have not gone in a long time so not sure if it has changed. Kualoa Ranch movie set ATV was fun, according to DH. He went with a friend while I went with the girls (at that time 4, 1 1/2) on a movie set bus tour. They loved their ATV experience but I can tell you, DO NOT do the bus tour! Luau is definitely a must do if it will be a trip of a lifetime. We have been to 4 luaus: PCC, Germaine's, Paradise Cove, and Marriott's. PCC was a long day. Can't remember much about Germaine's. I thought the activities were the best at Paradise Cove, but food was best at Marriott's. Definitely, do the Diamond Head hike. Gorgeous! There is also a hike to a waterfall that I have not done, but heard it was nice too. Don't know if the boys have significant others, but the swap meet was a really fun place to buy souvenirs for cheap. Also maybe fun for you for same and also had reasonably-priced cooking items (oils, butters, jellies, etc). I have not been able to find those elsewhere. Hanauma Bay was awesome for snorkeling. I know there are probably better places but for first time snorkelers, I remember it was pretty fun! DH also liked taking a surfing lesson in Waikiki. One of the best memories I have of Oahu was renting a convertible and driving around the island with DH for a day. It was so much fun and so wonderful to be able to take in the beauty of Hawaii like that.

Food: This is what we have planned for this trip... Helena's: it is in Honolulu and super busy but OMG, food is delicious. Great lau lau and fried butterfish collar. Great haupia too! We usually pick up to go on the way from airport to hotel since the restaurant is usually packed. We also pick up on the way to airport as our last meal on the island. Not sure if you are adventurous, but must try if you are. This time I am going to try the squid luau there. Leonard's: there is one in Waikele shopping center which is closest to Kapolei. Great thing is it is on the way to North Shore, Waikiki, and everywhere! We usually stop by for breakfast! I went on 3 trips to Oahu and did not try malasadas until our last trip. What were we thinking?!!! Definite DO NOT MISS. So yummy, especially the haupia one. Dole Plantation: this is my must do every trip for my Dole Whip soft serve fix. My girls still enjoy the train ride and my 8 year old wants to try the maze if it doesn't rain this year. They also sell the ornaments that you can personalize there. I let the girls choose one for their yearly ornament when we go there. Shrimp truck: I don't know if there is a huge difference in taste. I feel like they all taste the same honestly. When I went with DH 12 years ago, there was this truck that had a little shrimp pond and you can catch your own jumping shrimp! Have been trying to look for that one for years since the girls would like it, but have not been successful. Duke's: very nice place to eat. Used to be a place I look forward to, but too many fearless birds. I have this very intense dislike for birds and there were just way too many roaming around last time, so we will not go again. We are also going to try this time a hot pot place since we don't have too many of those in our area, Sushi Bay in Kapolei, Fresh Catch, Mike & Billz Fire Grillz and a food court at this Japanese store at Ala Moana. For breakfast, we may try My Cafe and maybe the character breakfast at Aulani.

I am not very helpful with the activities at Aulani since we have not stayed there yet. However, their lazy river definitely looks really nice. Hope you have a lot of fun during your trip and maybe you can share some of your experiences at Aulani with me when you get back!

 

[darly2004]

Oh the food at the resort was ok, but we preferred to eat elsewhere. We ate by the pool a few days and also got Dole Whips/shaved ice. We ate across the street at Monkey Pod at least 3 times. We loved that. We also ate at a KOA pancake place. The pancakes there were amazing. Everything else was pretty blah. We went into Waikii and ate at Ruth's Chris on restaurant row. We had an amazing time at Aulani and absolutely can't wait to go back.

Wait... what???? You can get Dole Whips at Aulani?!!! I guess that makes sense. Well, I know where I will be a couple times that week!

Also, the character breakfast... is it outdoors or indoors? I have read some reviews about lots of birds roaming around. If there is an indoor seating option, I am in. If not, I guess the girls will not get to eat with the characters Not spending over $100 if I cannot even enjoy my breakfast.