Question About Auntie's

[Mommyof3inVA]

Can we leave the children at Auntie's and go to Pearl Harbour for a tour? I know my children will not enjoy doing this and it would be a great way to not have to drag them along . Also, if that is not allowed, has anyone used the babysitting services at Aulani? Would love to hear experiences.

 

[jtba]

DH and i left DS9 and DD5 at auntie's to go have dinner at roy's last weekend. i signed them up for "surf's up with chip & dale", a 3-hr-long premium activity. checked in at 5 and picked up at 8:30 (you have to bring them in 30 minutes before the activity starts). it worked out well.

since you're most likely to go to pearl harbor during the day, you'll want to ensure there are spots in aunty's for your kids. i see your kids are 8, 6, and 4. are they used to being left on their own in a different (new) environment? make sure you pre-register them for at least a complementary activity (1 hr long) 90 days before you arrival as well as lunch or dinner, then you can plan your pearl harbor visit around that. kids who are signed up for an activity can stay as long as they want in aunty's after it concludes, so if you pair it up with a lunch/dinner, then you're all set.

 

[crystal1313]

HI,

I have not been to Aulani yet but am seriously considering using the babysitting service. The premium activities are 3.5 hours and the babysitting you have to reserve a minimum of 4 hours, but it should be cheaper with 3 children. Here is the link for babysitting:

https://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/rooms-offers/in-room-options/childcare/

Here is a great thread on Aunty's and some brief talk of the babysitting service too:

http://disboards.com/threads/auntys-free-activities-registration.3489715/#post-55308016

 

[jtba]

that is a good point. cost-wise having a babysitter is probably much better than paying $75 (+tax?) x 3.

 

[crystal1313]

Yeah, for 3 kids it's $40 an hour for the babysitting service. I didn't think that was bad. And it says they can play in the sand and walk around the resort, but no going in the ocean or pool. So they wouldn't be stuck in the room. We are thinking of doing this one night so all the adults can go out to Roy's. I figure on checking out some movies for them to watch.

 

[Mommyof3inVA]

It would be a lot cheaper to use the baby sitter services for 3 kids vs $75 each at Auntie's.
$75 + tax x 3 kids = $225 + tax
$40/hour x 4 hours = $160 (do you tip on top of that?!)

But I just wonder since baby sitters are outsourced by Aulani if they are CPR certified, back ground checked, etc. I am paranoid about leaving my kiddies. I would think they would be CPR certified but it does not say.

 

[crystal1313]

I worried about that too...........here is the link to their page:

http://www.kamaainakids.com/hotel-and-conventions/sitter-services

Says they are CPR certified and background checked. I tried to look up reviews for them as well, but did not find many. Totally understand your worry...I am in the same boat!

 

[twodogs]

Another consideration is that I think the earliest you can drop off at Aunty's is 930am? We have 9am USS Arizona tickets, so I have booked the babysitter for a 0630am arrival at Aulani. If you can't drop off at Aunty's until 930, I think the earliest Arizona time you would be able to do might be noon. People say taking the later times for the Arizona carries the risk that wind/surf/weather stops the boat service for the rest of the day, and you can't do the Arizona.

 

[Mommyof3inVA]

Thanks for the link @crystal1313 Good to know the sitters are CPR certified and background checked!

That is a GREAT idea about booking a sitter at 6:30 am then having the sitter drop off at Aunty's @twodogs I might do that. Depending on the time we are able to get tickets. Are you planning to drive a rental car to the USS Arizona? I wonder how parking is? I have not done any research on that aspect of the trip yet.

 

[twodogs]

We are renting a car through Costco. I've read parking is fine early but difficult as the morning goes on. That, plus traffic, are my reasons for getting an early start.

Note that there is a 4 hour minimum for the sitter, so you would be paying for that time either way. We elected to do the sitter all day rather than have her drop them at Aunty's but I think you could do either one. But, I think if the kids are at Aunty's for lunch and/or dinner, you have to wait in line the day-of to get them on the meal list (even though they may be registered for a free activity that day, meals are not included unless it is a premium (paid) activity). I don't think you can sign up for the meals until Aunty's "opens" at 8am, so that blows up the plan of you leaving early for PH. One option would be to pre-register them for the preimium Fish are Friends, if offered on your PH day, as that includes lunch. Then babysitter 0630-1030, sitter drops at Aunty's, you pick them up before dinner. So no standing in line that morning.