New booking for Hawaii

[disneykins]

Just starting to plan for Oct. 2012 to Aulani. Want a studio oceanview, I checked here and I think I need a room in Ewa building ending in 54 or 56, is that right? I know its only a request but I should at least know what to ask for.

We are arriving on Carnival Spirit from Vancouver. How do we get to Aulani? How much is a taxi? Is there a shuttle? How do we get around on Oahu if we dont rent a car? Is there a city bus? Is it easy to get to Waikiki? And home again in the evening?

I know the answers to my questions are somewhere on here, so I'll start reading posts but just thought I'd put some of my questions out there.

Thanks,
Tony

 

[taaren]

Just starting to plan for Oct. 2012 to Aulani. Want a studio oceanview, I checked here and I think I need a room in Ewa building ending in 54 or 56, is that right? I know its only a request but I should at least know what to ask for.

We are arriving on Carnival Spirit from Vancouver. How do we get to Aulani? How much is a taxi? Is there a shuttle? How do we get around on Oahu if we dont rent a car? Is there a city bus? Is it easy to get to Waikiki? And home again in the evening?

I know the answers to my questions are somewhere on here, so I'll start reading posts but just thought I'd put some of my questions out there.

Thanks,
Tony

I'd guess that a taxi would be in the neighborhood of $70 each way, though some have reported finding a flat-rate taxi or shuttle for less. There is a city bus, its a hassle to take to Aulani (think 3+ hours, multiple connections) or from Aulani from anywhere, but easy to get from the cruise ship to Waikiki, since the ship port is in Honolulu, just a couple of miles down from Waikiki.
As a DVC member you get free parking so renting a car is probably best. Koolina, the resort area that Aulani is built on is pretty isolated (over a half hour drive from Honolulu where most of the island's attractions are).

I stayed in the Ewa building in 1054 (OV studio), the pics are in my sig mini-TR). It was lovely. But the Waianae building OV studios would be equally lovely if you were on the inside of the "V" facing the pool. There's an Aulani views thread on this board somewhere.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[wdrl]

There's an Aulani views thread on this board somewhere.

Here is the thread on Aulani Villas and Views: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2907389


Hope this helps.

 

[disneykins]

Thanks for the link, great info there. $70 for a taxi! I guess we'll be renting a car. Checked DVC online and they have night 1 and 3 to 6 available but nothing for night 2 (a Monday). Should we book the first 2 nights in Waikiki and 3 to 6 at Aulani or waitlist the whole 6 nights. Never had to do a waitlist in 20 years of DVC.

Thanks again,
Tony

 

[Dean]

Thanks for the link, great info there. $70 for a taxi! I guess we'll be renting a car. Checked DVC online and they have night 1 and 3 to 6 available but nothing for night 2 (a Monday). Should we book the first 2 nights in Waikiki and 3 to 6 at Aulani or waitlist the whole 6 nights. Never had to do a waitlist in 20 years of DVC.

Thanks again,
Tony

Unless you plan to stay at the resort the entire time, a car is a must anyway for HI. I'd wait list and look at a backup on cash at the resort.

 

[taaren]

Thanks for the link, great info there. $70 for a taxi! I guess we'll be renting a car. Checked DVC online and they have night 1 and 3 to 6 available but nothing for night 2 (a Monday). Should we book the first 2 nights in Waikiki and 3 to 6 at Aulani or waitlist the whole 6 nights. Never had to do a waitlist in 20 years of DVC.

Thanks again,
Tony

I think a split stay with a few nights in Waikiki is a great idea. Waikiki is near the center of Honolulu, so there's a lot of fantastic restaurants and attractions in this area, so you could launch from there to get to Haunama Bay, Polynesian Cultural Center, Diamond Head, etc, then when you get to Aulani you can tour the North Shore, etc. Pearl Harbor is kind of halfway in between (though closer to Waikiki).