Mai-Tai lovers at Aulani: try this tip

[snackyx]

We stayed at Aulani for five nights over New Years and then moved to the Marriott Ko Olina resort (not the JW next door) where we are also owners. Disney points plus the Ko Olina week make for a great 12 day vacation just a short walk from each other.

Here is my tip for the Mai-Tai lovers out there (and who can go to Hawaii without having a few Mai-Tai’s? The sunsets are great, but after a few of these Hawaiian staples they are even better): The Mai-Tai’s at Aulani were good, but not great, and at $11 a pop—I’m looking for great. At the Marriott Resort is a Chuck’s Steakhouse, a terrific high-end steakhouse with locations in Hawaii. They have a great restaurant with some nice views of the sunset if you are seated outside. Here’s the good part: every day from 4:45 to 6pm, and 9:30 to 11 (10:30 weeknights) they have HAPPY HOUR—two words you will never find together at any Disney resort—because “happy hour” means cheap drinks, and nothing at Disney is cheap or discounted. Mai-Tai’s at happy hour are $4.00 and they are terrific, not water-down “discount” drinks. So at about quarter after four, take the oceanfront stroll from Aulani over to the Marriott and be prepared for the best sunset you have even seen. Enjoy your evening. If you are still awake, revisit the romantic and scenic ocean walk around 9pm and re-enjoy Hawaii’s favorite drink at a measly $4 a pop. Trust me—you’ll sleep like a baby. (I do understand that kids, teatotallers and days/evenings booked with activities can alter this game plan, but if it fits in your schedule, give it a whirl.) We were doing this BEFORE we moved from Aulani to the Marriott!

 

[SmilingGrump]

Great tip! We'll be taking advantage of this in a week

 

[oktracy]

Too bad I don't drink however, I love a great tip. Thanks for the info!!!

 

[mouseaider]

Thanks for the tip.

We will be sure to go there and if you are ever at WDW the same time as us, your first drink will be on us.

 

[TagsMissy]

Good tip!

 

[ddhoeg]

Love it!! Thanks for the great info on how to save a few bucks while at Aulani. This is just the type of information I'm looking for. We will be there at the first part of June. Any other sage advice or tips??

 

[downontheBW]

Thanks for the great tip! I can't think of a better experience - sipping a Mai-Tai while watching the sunset in Hawaii. Planning a trip for next year

 

[SueTGGR]

I will be toasting you over and over again (or getting toasted ) this August!!! This is the best tip since we read we could take alcohol on our DCL trip. Not that we drink normally but we do on vacation because it is...vacation!

 

[bostontim]

Thanks so much for the tip! I love mai tai's and I'll be sure to try this!

 

[nuts]

Too bad I don't drink however, I love a great tip. Thanks for the info!!!

At that price, you need to begin

 

[snackyx]

Glad to see my fellow rum-soaked DVC travellers will be enjoying the Hawaiian "nectar of the gods".

We stayed at Aulani before we moved over to the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club for a week there, and had a memorable night at the Off The Hook lounge: four adults (two were college students with minors in mixology), about two hours, one order of garlic fries, and a bar bill, with tip, of over $160. Mai-tai's at Aulani run $11, and the consistency was all over the map (they did seem better during the day--the night shift must have been trying to meet their liquor cost quotos). At these prices, the drinks HAVE to be good--at the Marriott down the beach the $4 drinks were BETTER than the $11 Aulani's--I would have paid $11 for these!

...and to all the posters who offered to buy me a drink, I'll take you up on it...and I'll buy the second round...then you buy the third...then I'll buy the fourth...you get the (blurry) picture.

 

[snackyx]

At that price, you need to begin

At $4 a drink you are losing money by staying sober.

 

[DisneyMomJen]

Thanks so much for this advice! Great to know!

 

[mdsd8700]

At $4 a drink you are losing money by staying sober.

I laughed out loud and then read it to my husband who found it very funny as well. I may quote that sometime


Great tip Snackyx! This is the kind of advice you can't find anywhere else, thanks for sharing!

 

[tbay]

thanks so much for the tip
will be there in july to enjoy the drinks ,sunset
and beautiful weather

 

[ddhoeg]

Stackyx, I am REALLY hoping you put together a top ten list for Aulani.

 

[ImNarek]

Thanks for the tip! This is just the sort of thing I likely would have discovered on my own on the very last day of our trip. since we're heading out tomorrow, I will be utilizing your tip very, very soon!

 

[msp2mco]

I love this tip! Thanks!

 

[podsnel]

AWESOME tip!!! Thanks!

 

[bluedoggy]

As soon as I saw the Heading of your post "Mai-Tai's" I had to read... We are having our 1st ever trip to Hawaii in Sept. Spending a week on Maui and a week at Kona on my cousin's timeshare. Then going to Aulani for several days. We don't normally drink, but this is a 39th Wedding Anniv trip so... time to start.. If anyone has any other suggestions about Aulani (or the other islands) we'd appreciate it. This may be the one-and-only time we make it to Hawaii.

Thanks!