Disneylovers
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Nov 29, 1999
- Messages
- 568
Hi All!
I wasn't going to do a trip report, but after replying to a few threads on here, decided I'd try to write a quick report.
Aulani was the last leg of our vacation to celebrate DH and my 25th anniversary, we spent four nights on the big island, and 4 nights on Maui. Our flight from Maui was delayed, so we didn't arrive at Aulani until 6:30 p.m. I forgot to do online check in, but after our lei greeting and a brief explanation of the lobby, we were escorted to check in and greeted right away! Since we didn't have enough points to get a better view room, we had to deal with island view. We're on the 10th floor, in a 2 BR. DH went to park the car while I called bell services for our luggage to be brought up. When it arrived, we started talking to Jonathan. DD asked about the taping of "Live with Kelly". At the front desk, they indicated that taping was yesterday and today, which bummed out DD. When Jonathan mentioned that they were taping again tomorrow, DD asked if there was ANY way to get tickets? Jonathan said he'd check and give us a call. Sweet!!!
Once DH came back, we decided to grab supper. There is an Island Market across the street. We had gone to an Island Market on the big island, so we figured we'd go there. We got sandwiches and a salad for supper, some breakfast stuff, even a couple of bottles of wine (FYI, Pineapple wine is very yummy, if you like a pinot grigio type of wine).
When we got back to the room there was a message from Jonathan that he was able to locate one ticket for the 4:00 or the 9:00 taping. If we were interested, we could call the bell service desk. Well, no one wanted to go by themselves, so we didn't call back.
When I woke up Monday morning, there was an envelope at the front door. It was from Jonathan, and it contained two tickets for the 11:30 taping, and two tickets for the 4:00 taping! When DD woke up and I showed them to her, she was SO EXCITED!!!!!
Our travel on the other islands was organized by a travel company that DH and I used on our Honeymoon and again when we traveled with my mom 22 years ago. They provide a complimentary breakfast the morning after you arrive on an island, to offer the opportunity to book excursions. We had to be at the Hard Rock Cafe in Waikiki at 7:30. Thank goodness Monday was a holiday, so traffic wasn't horrible. The company also offered a tour of Maui Divers Jewelry, which I wanted to check out. Since we weren't staying at a hotel in Waikiki, we were able to drive ourselves there. While the tour itself was kind of interesting, the hard sell afterwards in their showroom was very unsettling.
We got back to the resort at 10:50, we had to line up at 11:00 for the taping. Problem was, I hurt my knee Sunday, it had swollen up and was really painful to walk on, and we had NO idea where we were going, and no one in the lobby could give us correct info. We walked over to where we saw the stage set up, and there they told me we had to go outside the resort to line up. I asked them if there was any way I could get to the line without going outside the resort, as my knee was really hurting, and the guard not so politely told me no. So we walked outside the resort (at this point I was ready to let DD just go on her own!), get in line and wait. At 11:15 we start to be let in. There was a bag check, which, I couldn't resist, I said "reminds me of being at Disney" to which the guard said "you ARE at Disney". We got our seats, and at 11:45, they started the taping. It was hot, no shade, but they did have water in the back. They were selling hats, but I don't wear a hat. DH and our younger DD were at the pool (DH and I were texting before the show started). He sent a text during the taping that we were loud! He and DD were walking around the beach, and saw the camera crew at one point. The taping was a lot of fun!
When it was over, DD and I went to the concierge and returned the 4:00 tickets, as we had tickets to the Paradise Cove Luau at 5:00, so we knew we wouldn't make it in time. We then met DH and DD at the pool (water was chilly!) We got sandwiches from One Paddle-Two Paddle. It took a long time for a server to come by, then even longer for her to get our order. But the food was pretty yummy!
The Paradise Cove luau was enjoyable. We had done the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui, so it was fun to compare the two. The food at Paradise was a bit yummier, but there was some things that I wasn't impressed with. But you can't beat the convenience of walking there!!!
Tuesday, we went to Pearl Harbor, to the USS Missouri, and the Arizona Memorial. We tried to get there early, but we got caught in traffic. When we did arrive, after checking our bags (you can't take any type of bag/purse in) we got our tickets for the Arizona, in the 12:30 group. Since we had time, we did the Missouri tour first. It is a very informative tour (but it killed my knee!!). The Arizona is very moving, and it is amazing that oil is still seeping from it after 70 years.
After Pearl Harbor, we headed into Waikiki to show the girls Waikiki Beach. We found a park and lock for $7.00 for four hours one block past the main street (Kuhio Street). We started walking and found Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville,
and since DH is a parrot head (and he's converted me into one) we had lunch there. It was really good! We showed the girls where we stayed when we were there 22 years ago, showed them Waikiki Beach, walked around the International Marketplace (not what I remembered from our honeymoon - yuck!). Then headed back to the resort with a stop at Island Market to pick up a pizza for a small supper.
On Wednesday, we asked bell service to hold onto our luggage as our flight wasn't until 7:24 p.m. We then headed up to the North Shore. One of DD's patients had told her about a shave ice place (Matsumoto?) that's very popular, so we went there. Then we headed up the coast to the beaches. The surf wasn't very high, so we didn't get to see the amazing waves. Stopped at Sunset Beach, to look around, then on to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, which was another place DD's patient recommended (and I saw here on the boards). GREAT shrimp! The shrimp scampi is amazing! On our way back, we stopped at the Dole Plantation and DD got me a Dole Whip, which I shared with the family. Headed back to Aulani to claim our luggage, then headed to the airport.
Resort is AMAZING! The pictures that I've seen here on the boards helped to prepare me, but seeing it in person is breathtaking!
Any questions, please ask. I must get to bed now!!!!
Pat
I wasn't going to do a trip report, but after replying to a few threads on here, decided I'd try to write a quick report.
Aulani was the last leg of our vacation to celebrate DH and my 25th anniversary, we spent four nights on the big island, and 4 nights on Maui. Our flight from Maui was delayed, so we didn't arrive at Aulani until 6:30 p.m. I forgot to do online check in, but after our lei greeting and a brief explanation of the lobby, we were escorted to check in and greeted right away! Since we didn't have enough points to get a better view room, we had to deal with island view. We're on the 10th floor, in a 2 BR. DH went to park the car while I called bell services for our luggage to be brought up. When it arrived, we started talking to Jonathan. DD asked about the taping of "Live with Kelly". At the front desk, they indicated that taping was yesterday and today, which bummed out DD. When Jonathan mentioned that they were taping again tomorrow, DD asked if there was ANY way to get tickets? Jonathan said he'd check and give us a call. Sweet!!!
Once DH came back, we decided to grab supper. There is an Island Market across the street. We had gone to an Island Market on the big island, so we figured we'd go there. We got sandwiches and a salad for supper, some breakfast stuff, even a couple of bottles of wine (FYI, Pineapple wine is very yummy, if you like a pinot grigio type of wine).
When we got back to the room there was a message from Jonathan that he was able to locate one ticket for the 4:00 or the 9:00 taping. If we were interested, we could call the bell service desk. Well, no one wanted to go by themselves, so we didn't call back.
When I woke up Monday morning, there was an envelope at the front door. It was from Jonathan, and it contained two tickets for the 11:30 taping, and two tickets for the 4:00 taping! When DD woke up and I showed them to her, she was SO EXCITED!!!!!
Our travel on the other islands was organized by a travel company that DH and I used on our Honeymoon and again when we traveled with my mom 22 years ago. They provide a complimentary breakfast the morning after you arrive on an island, to offer the opportunity to book excursions. We had to be at the Hard Rock Cafe in Waikiki at 7:30. Thank goodness Monday was a holiday, so traffic wasn't horrible. The company also offered a tour of Maui Divers Jewelry, which I wanted to check out. Since we weren't staying at a hotel in Waikiki, we were able to drive ourselves there. While the tour itself was kind of interesting, the hard sell afterwards in their showroom was very unsettling.
We got back to the resort at 10:50, we had to line up at 11:00 for the taping. Problem was, I hurt my knee Sunday, it had swollen up and was really painful to walk on, and we had NO idea where we were going, and no one in the lobby could give us correct info. We walked over to where we saw the stage set up, and there they told me we had to go outside the resort to line up. I asked them if there was any way I could get to the line without going outside the resort, as my knee was really hurting, and the guard not so politely told me no. So we walked outside the resort (at this point I was ready to let DD just go on her own!), get in line and wait. At 11:15 we start to be let in. There was a bag check, which, I couldn't resist, I said "reminds me of being at Disney" to which the guard said "you ARE at Disney". We got our seats, and at 11:45, they started the taping. It was hot, no shade, but they did have water in the back. They were selling hats, but I don't wear a hat. DH and our younger DD were at the pool (DH and I were texting before the show started). He sent a text during the taping that we were loud! He and DD were walking around the beach, and saw the camera crew at one point. The taping was a lot of fun!
When it was over, DD and I went to the concierge and returned the 4:00 tickets, as we had tickets to the Paradise Cove Luau at 5:00, so we knew we wouldn't make it in time. We then met DH and DD at the pool (water was chilly!) We got sandwiches from One Paddle-Two Paddle. It took a long time for a server to come by, then even longer for her to get our order. But the food was pretty yummy!
The Paradise Cove luau was enjoyable. We had done the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui, so it was fun to compare the two. The food at Paradise was a bit yummier, but there was some things that I wasn't impressed with. But you can't beat the convenience of walking there!!!
Tuesday, we went to Pearl Harbor, to the USS Missouri, and the Arizona Memorial. We tried to get there early, but we got caught in traffic. When we did arrive, after checking our bags (you can't take any type of bag/purse in) we got our tickets for the Arizona, in the 12:30 group. Since we had time, we did the Missouri tour first. It is a very informative tour (but it killed my knee!!). The Arizona is very moving, and it is amazing that oil is still seeping from it after 70 years.
After Pearl Harbor, we headed into Waikiki to show the girls Waikiki Beach. We found a park and lock for $7.00 for four hours one block past the main street (Kuhio Street). We started walking and found Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville,
and since DH is a parrot head (and he's converted me into one) we had lunch there. It was really good! We showed the girls where we stayed when we were there 22 years ago, showed them Waikiki Beach, walked around the International Marketplace (not what I remembered from our honeymoon - yuck!). Then headed back to the resort with a stop at Island Market to pick up a pizza for a small supper.
On Wednesday, we asked bell service to hold onto our luggage as our flight wasn't until 7:24 p.m. We then headed up to the North Shore. One of DD's patients had told her about a shave ice place (Matsumoto?) that's very popular, so we went there. Then we headed up the coast to the beaches. The surf wasn't very high, so we didn't get to see the amazing waves. Stopped at Sunset Beach, to look around, then on to Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, which was another place DD's patient recommended (and I saw here on the boards). GREAT shrimp! The shrimp scampi is amazing! On our way back, we stopped at the Dole Plantation and DD got me a Dole Whip, which I shared with the family. Headed back to Aulani to claim our luggage, then headed to the airport.
Resort is AMAZING! The pictures that I've seen here on the boards helped to prepare me, but seeing it in person is breathtaking!
Any questions, please ask. I must get to bed now!!!!
Pat
