Phase I visit to Aulani... what to expect?

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Hubby and I were just talking about the opening last night and it occurred to me... will it really be that difficult to get a reservation for Aulani during the early months of opening? And, would we really want to go then anyway? Phase I (which is the back of the resort from what I've read) is all that will be open for our 30th anniversary, which means that Phase II and Phase III will still be under construction. That means we would have a pretty awful view... construction equipment and workers... plus construction noise and areas that are not yet accessible.

Did other DVC projects open in stages... and did the construction activity interfere significantly with your enjoyment? Since the primary feature of Aulani is the beach environment, it seems like a visit during the early phase opening could be problematic.

Ideas/feedback on this, please.

 

[drusba]

If Aulani owner booking when first allowed to do so unlikely to have any problem getting in. If non-owner, booking after owners are allowed to, there may be some issues but if it is like any past openings it should not be that difficult for times shortly after opening -- they will likely have more units declared into DVC for use than what will actually be sold by time of first opening. However, it will be for only Phase I rooms. That means Phase II and III will still be under construction, although likely almost all that will be internal construction. That situation existed at AKV Jambo when it first opened and it was not really much of an issue (you could hear some construction noise sometimes off somewhere else in the distance) but then Jambo was only a one-floor issue as the rest of the floors below were in-use hotel rooms and thus most of the hotel really had no construction going on. It also existed at Kidani when it first opened as the northern wing was only about 30% complete. Nevertheless, everything outside other than Pembe savanna (which was to the north) was done and construction was essentially internal on the remaining rooms and not much of a noise issue.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

And, would we really want to go then anyway? Phase I (which is the back of the resort from what I've read) is all that will be open for our 30th anniversary, which means that Phase II and Phase III will still be under construction. That means we would have a pretty awful view... construction equipment and workers... plus construction noise and areas that are not yet accessible.

The villas at the back of the of the resort will have the best views because they look straight toward the lagoon and ocean instead of being perpendicular to the coastline.

All exterior construction should be complete by the time the Aulani opens. So no cranes, cement trucks, or anything like that. There may be interior construction underway within incomplete sections of the resort. Or those sections could just be walled off until it's time to proceed with the next phase.

I'm sure Disney will make sure the resort looks and feels complete to guests, even if there are entire wings that are nothing but empty, unfinished space inside.

The added bonus is that the pool area and restaurants will be uncrowded.

Did other DVC projects open in stages... and did the construction activity interfere significantly with your enjoyment? Since the primary feature of Aulani is the beach environment, it seems like a visit during the early phase opening could be problematic.

You really can't compare a campus like OKW or SSR with a megastruture like the Aulani. In a campus, buildings are built in phases. In a meagstructure, the whole shell and exterior has to be built at one time.

 

[dizfan]

Didn't part of Kidani open in May 2009 while they worked to complete the remainder? I think the second phase completed September 2009.