Questions about Aunty's & other activities

[AngPNW]

Hi all! We fly out in just over 2 weeks for our first trip to Aulani. I pre-registered our kids online yesterday (late, I know) for Aunty's and they emailed me within the hour that they had 2 activities reserved for our kids. If they are already registered for an activity, do I need to worry about getting turned away for free play time that day if it's packed? I've read so many mixed reviews!

Any advice or tips on the Shake-a-Shaka Pool Party? My kids saw a video clip of this and are excited for it. I assume the pool area gets to be very crowded around that time. I know we'll have to check the Daily 'Iwa of when it will be, as I see it's not any every day occurrence.

 

[crystal1313]

Hi! We were there in July and our boys had 3 activities (the free ones). Each time we dropped them off for the activity, they said they could play afterwards for free play if they wanted and that we did not need to pick them up. We also stopped in quite a few times, when we did not have an activity, to see if there was space for free play and there always was room for them. I have read others who had difficulty getting their kids in for free play too. We never encountered that.

We never did the pool party, but walked by a couple times. Looked fun! And yes, it was crowded, but not terrible. It was at the pool with the beach entry, so the littles could stand at the shallow part (and Goofy). Hope that helps!

 

[cmph]

Hi all! We fly out in just over 2 weeks for our first trip to Aulani. I pre-registered our kids online yesterday (late, I know) for Aunty's and they emailed me within the hour that they had 2 activities reserved for our kids. If they are already registered for an activity, do I need to worry about getting turned away for free play time that day if it's packed? I've read so many mixed reviews!

We were there Memorial into June, and they did try to turn us away at Aunty's - the day of our spa appts. The kids were pre-registered for an activity that started in an hour. Originally I had booked our massages to coordinate with that activity (I think it was space goo), according to the spa phone scheduler telling me we needed to be there 30min early. Then the confirmation email said to be at the spa 45min prior... so I shrugged my shoulders and thought ok, we'll just check them in earlier than anticipated. Got there, and they told me sorry - we're full, and please come back exactly 30min prior to the scheduled activity. This was via the CM standing outside the door to prevent people from coming in. I sorta skirted her and went in anyway, and I just politely told the Aunty's desk CM that both DH and I had spa appointments we'd be late for if we had to wait and was there anything we could do? She called the spa to confirm that we BOTH had appointments at the time I stated. Seriously. We didn't have any issues with the other 2 activity days, but my kids weren't interested in drop-ins, so I'm not sure what availability was like. They can't boot kids out AFTER a pre-registered activity (well, except for closing time), but they obviously can prevent you from dropping them off early! If we had been doing anything other than the on-site spa, I'm sure we wouldn't have gotten the kids checked in early.

 

[ktlm]

DD enjoyed the pool party. The pool does get crowded. There aren't really any tips for it. Probably the best would be to be in the pool before it starts so your kids can get closer to the front, but it doesn't really matter much as once it starts the kids all head for the pool and move up front. If you have a kid that is sensitive to splashing, be aware that they have a splash contest at one point that basically makes the pool a giant splash. If you don't have an underwater camera, I would suggest picking one up. We thought about it about 2 days before our trip and picked up the Fuji one. It was great to have the camera in the lazy river, pools, ocean, etc. DD had a blast taking pictures of herself and the friends she made at Aulani underwater.

 

[iheartjily]

If anyone did the Space Goo, Coconut Kings and Queens of Comedy, or Aunty's Aloha How Party.. do you recall how long the activities actually were, each? I only got totals for the 2 paid experiences. Thanks!

 

[AngPNW]

We also stopped in quite a few times, when we did not have an activity, to see if there was space for free play and there always was room for them.

When you did stop in, was it later in the day? Wondering if a lot of complaints about availability come from the timing of drop-off (early AM vs later in the day).

They can't boot kids out AFTER a pre-registered activity (well, except for closing time), but they obviously can prevent you from dropping them off early!

I was hoping to do just as you did, visit the spa while they're at their activity, so I will definitely keep this in mind. Thank you!

If you don't have an underwater camera, I would suggest picking one up.

I thought about buying one of those waterproof bags for my cell phone, but your idea is probably better. Did you buy a cheapie disposable or a digital camera?

 

[heaven2dc]

We were there Memorial into June, and they did try to turn us away at Aunty's - the day of our spa appts. The kids were pre-registered for an activity that started in an hour. Originally I had booked our massages to coordinate with that activity (I think it was space goo), according to the spa phone scheduler telling me we needed to be there 30min early. Then the confirmation email said to be at the spa 45min prior... so I shrugged my shoulders and thought ok, we'll just check them in earlier than anticipated. Got there, and they told me sorry - we're full, and please come back exactly 30min prior to the scheduled activity. This was via the CM standing outside the door to prevent people from coming in. I sorta skirted her and went in anyway, and I just politely told the Aunty's desk CM that both DH and I had spa appointments we'd be late for if we had to wait and was there anything we could do? She called the spa to confirm that we BOTH had appointments at the time I stated. Seriously. We didn't have any issues with the other 2 activity days, but my kids weren't interested in drop-ins, so I'm not sure what availability was like. They can't boot kids out AFTER a pre-registered activity (well, except for closing time), but they obviously can prevent you from dropping them off early! If we had been doing anything other than the on-site spa, I'm sure we wouldn't have gotten the kids checked in early.

Too bad the kids' club was at capacity when you tried to check them in! I can understand why the CM at the door would not allow kids in prior to the 30mins before the activity if Aunty's was at capacity and also having to confirm the spa appointments. I'm sure the CM was just keeping in line with making certain the kids' club doesn't go over capacity for the safety and welfare of the children. To the OP - it is possible for Aunty's to get to full capacity at any given time but you can always come back a little while later to see if there is space. In any case, Aunty's Beach Club is a great experience with amazing counselors and lots of fun activities to partake in!

 

[crystal1313]

We went at all different times and never had an issue.

We bought the Fuji XP80 refurbished on Amazon for around $120 I think. Totally worth it! I kept my phone in the room in the safe. So nice to be phone free! My DH didn't want to chance ruining our expensive phones and the Fuji was awesome. You can check out my photos in my trip report in my signature =)

 

[ktlm]

We bought the Fuji waterproof digital camera which I think we spent $175 for at best buy. I think they had them for around $160 on Amazon prime, but since we first thought about it at the last minute we grabbed it in the store. It even has a float strap that comes with it to wrap around your wrist which was great for the ocean. We saw a lot of people using the waterproof cell phone bags, but I would be scared it would leak or come open somehow and I certainly would not have let DD submerge it in the water or probably even play with it. The camera was a lot cheaper than replacing an Iphone.

 

[cmph]

Too bad the kids' club was at capacity when you tried to check them in! I can understand why the CM at the door would not allow kids in prior to the 30mins before the activity if Aunty's was at capacity and also having to confirm the spa appointments. I'm sure the CM was just keeping in line with making certain the kids' club doesn't go over capacity for the safety and welfare of the children. To the OP - it is possible for Aunty's to get to full capacity at any given time but you can always come back a little while later to see if there is space. In any case, Aunty's Beach Club is a great experience with amazing counselors and lots of fun activities to partake in!

Well, they DID let the kids in after confirming the spa appt times. My issues were primarily that I had tried to circumvent this problem by coordinating spa/Aunty's times - so it was a little weird that they changed the check-in time for the spa from 30min to 45min prior suddenly (yes, I did have emails for both the initial appt confirmation plus the reminder once we were already at Aulani - wasn't just faulty memory!) - and I wanted to make sure the OP knew how to avoid that problem. And it's a little odd to tell people to arrive 30-45min before a scheduled Aunty's activity... and then turn away those who arrived 30+ min early. Just say 30min early exactly. If they had firmly stated the 30min thing - I would have tried to shift the spa appts. But this was the 2nd pre-registered activity we had, and we'd dropped off 45min early for the 1st... so it wasn't a problem I anticipated. ultimately, no big deal. But it does make you wonder what they do if they're at capacity that close to pre-reg activity drop-off, right before an influx of additional kids.

 

[cmph]

We saw a lot of people using the waterproof cell phone bags, but I would be scared it would leak or come open somehow and I certainly would have let DD submerge it in the water or probably even play with it. The camera was a lot cheaper than replacing an Iphone.

We have/use the waterproof cell phone things. Ours works great as a waterproof containment system, but DH is too nervous to use his LOL! Even though you test them out in advance to confirm it's waterproof. Ours has survived water parks, Aulani, etc.

Anyway - to the OP - it isn't ideal to use them and take photos, in any case. I'm sure there are many brands, but my see-through plastic was kind of thick. i could push the button to see my home screen for the time and if I had messages, but there was no way I could have done anything more than that without taking it out of the waterproof case.

 

[joy327]

I got emails from them said my kids has assigned two free activities. I also called and booked the two premium ones. The first thing I did when we got there was to confirm all the reservations. And through out the trip, I never had any problems of sending them there. I also went there a little before 8am to reserved one more activity for the day and server time I went there early to pay lunch/ dinner there for them.