Online Check In & Photo Pass ??

[msaseifert]

We leave next friday for our long trek to Aulani! I did the online check-in but was unable to make room requests. I'm going to call member services today but was wondering if this was the normal check in for Aulani...the screen looked weird. I was able to click on the room requests but was unable to type anything and more any selections.

Also....I would like to get some pics of my family while we are there using the photo pass option. Are there photographers set up every night? My family is all adults so I doubt that I will get many photos beyond the "staged" ones. Also...is it a benefit to me to purchase photo pass prior to leaving? I have never done photo pass...I'm a DVC member and we have been to disneyworld many times....no need to photopass there but this is our first trip to Aulani. I would like to get the CD of pics so that I may reprint what I like at home. Any help will be appreciated. THANKS!

 

[scrappydew]

About Photopass, we purchased it before we left, but I don't think there is any price difference. Our experience was positive, we got lots of pics in the lazy river, the hot tubs, on the beach etc. Plus there were professional pics of the resort on the CD.
The benefit is I get in the pics also!

 

[lizard1]

I would wait to see what pictures you actually have taken prior to purchasing the photopass, especially since there isn't a discount for pre-purchasing it. I have always been happy with my pre-purchase of the photopass at WDW, but I would have been disappointed at Aulani. While I noticed a photographer on the beach nightly and there was usually one around the statue of Stitch, I never really saw them elsewhere. Plus, I noticed that since the pictures are taken outside, there are a lot of times where our photos are just not good because of the angle they are shot at. I know you don't have little ones using the kids club, but I didn't find ANY of my 3 kids in the kids club activities that I would have actually paid to have. THANKFULLY, my parents (who were on the trip with us) have a WDW DVC Gold AP so we can download the couple I do like for free.

 

[Sepo]

few similar notes:

1) if you and/or kids are at activities that had photopass involvement, remember to go to the gift shop/PP desk with one of your PP cards and have them find the event and the pictures you want. They then scan them to your card. This is for Aunty's, Hula lessons, etc.
2) the Gold and Platinum annual passes do indeed work for free downloads. This is a relatively new benefit to APs and the Aulani PP staff are unaware of this, or even frankly deny it. But yes it does work.
3) the Aulani PP folks seemed quite enthusiastic to me and took numerous photos. Some are better than others. Bob is quite popular, for example. Collectively, they hope to makes guests happy enough to buy the CD and they share some commission. For this reason, we did not advertise that we knew we were getting free downloads with the Annual Pass. Didn't want to lose their motivation. They are very enthusiastic and friendly and often ask if you are ready to buy the CD (when you add photos at the desk), and those same folks are stationed as photographers elsewhere during your stay. Didn't want to burst their bubble. Already seeing less motivated PP folks at the parks, though not sure if this is a related reason.
4) Apart from special events, there are 8 supposed spots the Aulani PP folks rotate around: 1) the beach, 2) the Stitch statue, 3) the Northshore surfing set by the Lava shack, 3) the main pool on the beach side, 5) the bridge by the Ewa elevator doors, 6) the lobby, 7) the lazy river on the north side... and I cannot think of the 8th... possibly 8) the lawn, up from the beach.
5) the PP app on the room TVs may not have the special event photos, but they will appear on the photopass website. Also, remember to clear your card inputs in the TV on checkout unless you don't mind the next guests inadvertently seeing your family photos. I guess they're G-rated. Housekeeping had not cleared the two TVs in our room on our check-in. And... we ourselves forgot to clear ours on checkout.
6) In July, we had technical issues and it took a week for Disney PP tech team to add 3 of our 4 Aulani PP cards to the website. But they DID get it done. PP was a mess everywhere that week apparently, across the system.

hope this helps.