Some Aulani Disappointments

[Van@Disney]

Our 2 bedroom was in good shape, but it was filthy. Kitchen not properly cleaned, signs of surfaces not being properly wiped down everywhere. But that’s more of a sign of poor management not hiring enough cleaning staff so they have time to do the job properly.

Also, I really miss the leis. It was a beautiful welcoming gesture and I loved it.

 

[tfc3rid]

We have reserved seating 1 day. The other days we will just have to wing it and hope for the best, we will probably be okay with just being on the beach on a towel tbh. Its not really the 6:30am thing, its the staying there til 8 that isnt awesome

We've had no problem getting a line of 6 seats at the beach all week at around 10 am.

 

[tfc3rid]

I am curious , if you have gone 5 times in the last 10 then where else do you use your DVC points?

WDW for long weekends. We take other vacations as well, mainly cruises.

 

[tfc3rid]

We booked our first stay because I had read that Aulani is better maintained than other DVC resorts, so even though Aulani is due for a hard refresh, we thought it wouldn't make us enjoy the resort any less. But OP if you're saying that there's visible wear and tear in the rooms, you've got me second-guessing spending the premium to stay at Aulani

We booked our first stay because I had read that Aulani is better maintained than other DVC resorts, so even though Aulani is due for a hard refresh, we thought it wouldn't make us enjoy the resort any less. But OP if you're saying that there's visible wear and tear in the rooms, you've got me second-guessing spending the premium to stay at Aulani.

It is. Again normal wear and tear you'd see at DVC properties. But since there hasn't been a hard goods refurb here since it opened, it's in need of the modernization. Hopefully won't remove the charm that sets it apart.

 

[J-Dog]

Our 2 bedroom was in good shape, but it was filthy. Kitchen not properly cleaned, signs of surfaces not being properly wiped down everywhere. But that’s more of a sign of poor management not hiring enough cleaning staff so they have time to do the job properly.

Also, I really miss the leis. It was a beautiful welcoming gesture and I loved it.

Or, it could just be a sign of a single poor employee.

Maybe our room was an exception (or not), but ours was immaculately clean. And that is something that my wife is anal about.

 

[tfc3rid]

Or, it could just be a sign of a single poor employee.

Maybe our room was an exception (or not), but ours was immaculately clean. And that is something that my wife is anal about.

No complaints on the cleanliness of the room from us. And we've needed some extras brought up (broom/dustpan, soap replenishment, light replaced) and the folks have been quick.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Or, it could just be a sign of a single poor employee.

Maybe our room was an exception (or not), but ours was immaculately clean. And that is something that my wife is anal about.

I get it. My wife makes us all not touch anything while she does a massive Clorox wipe down of everything she thinks we will touch when we first get in a room.

1) It’s harder to find enough able bodied people who can afford to work on hospitality wages compared the past.

2) Owners could treat their DVC rooms like owners and try and take care of the property that we all use and don’t leave housekeeping with a “disgusting” mess to clean up.

3) Room operators should surcharge people who leave rooms behind in a state that requires above and beyond house keeping. This compensates the staff for their extra labor and discourages future suboptimal behavior.

We are all in this together folks.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I get it. My wife makes us all not touch anything while she does a massive Clorox wipe down of everything she thinks we will touch when we first get in a room.

My kind of woman. I do exactly this.

 

[Van@Disney]

There is a certain level of dirty that is only caused by an accumulated filth. It’s not a one off it’s a systemic problem with housekeeping services. People don’t generally enjoy doing a substandard job because they want to.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Our 2 bedroom was in good shape, but it was filthy. Kitchen not properly cleaned, signs of surfaces not being properly wiped down everywhere. But that’s more of a sign of poor management not hiring enough cleaning staff so they have time to do the job properly.

Also, I really miss the leis. It was a beautiful welcoming gesture and I loved it.

I don’t think the membership would vote to increase dues to bring back the lei’s and it certainly isn’t going to come out of the DVC marketing budget.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Did th

I don’t think the membership would vote to increase dues to bring back the lei’s and it certainly isn’t going to come out of the DVC marketing budget.

Did they decrease dues when they went away?

 

[AstroBlasters]

Did th

Did they decrease dues when they went away?

They went away in 2020…. so it’s a weird year to baseline…. and then inflation hit all over the world because of scarcity…. but it definitely is a cost… so any additional cost would be added to dues.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I was in the elevator with a family that had just checked in and headed down to the pool when a very confident 5 year old was proud to tell me that she could go swimming because she was wearing her floaties.

I asked which pool she was gong to go to and she said she didn’t know because they had never been to Aulani before. I recommend the infinity pool and she told her Dad that is where they were going to go.

As we exited the elevator I noticed that none of them had wristbands and I asked the Dad if he knew about the wrist band rules and he said that he did not.

I let him know about the towel huts and the trick to get the next days bands at the end of the current day after 1pm and they went straight to a hut to get the bands.

The reason for my story is that without me giving them a heads up they probably would have just continued to find a seat and got in the pool since it’s not gated.

I also kept a look out today for people without wrist bands and didn’t see anyone before my interaction outside the elevator.

So, perhaps the very rare occasion where someone doesn’t have a wrist band is because they just arrived and are figuring the place out.

 

[mikkle]

We had a great time at Aulani when we visited, but we very much struggled to find any chairs so we could sit together as a family of two adults and two kids. It was a constant struggle, and marred what would otherwise have been an exceptional trip.

One thing that helped somewhat was asking one of the Cast Members if they could help us find some chairs. They would keep an eye out for folks vacating their chairs, and were successful in seating us together a couple of times during the week.

 

[J-Dog]

There is a certain level of dirty that is only caused by an accumulated filth. It’s not a one off it’s a systemic problem with housekeeping services. People don’t generally enjoy doing a substandard job because they want to.

But if it was a systemic problem, then it would be resort-wide. And, according to multiple people on this thread, you seem to be the only one with such bad luck

 

[VandVsmama]

Some food for thought:

• Just because the OP reports that they had a negative experience doesn’t mean they’re wrong if the same thing didn’t happen to you as well. Your room might have been fine and it’s totally possible that somebody else’s room had issues. Stuff happens.
• If one feels frustrated with the overall Aulani experience the recent times one has visited, then consider vacationing at a different DVC location next time. Take a vacation from your regular vacation. Try something different.
• If receiving a lei right at check in is going to make or break your vacation, then don’t go to Aulani. Do some research and find a different resort in Hawaii that offers it included in the price per night. One might find that there’s not a whole lot of options in that category.
• Or think outside the box and go to one of the lei stands right at the Honolulu airport after you collect your bags. Buy them yourself.
• Or go to a grocery store or ABC Store and buy a lei there.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Some food for thought:

• If receiving a lei right at check in is going to make or break your vacation, then don’t go to Aulani. Do some research and find a different resort in Hawaii that offers it included in the price per night. One might find that there’s not a whole lot of options in that category.
• Or think outside the box and go to one of the lei stands right at the Honolulu airport after you collect your bags. Buy them yourself.
• Or go to a grocery store or ABC Store and buy a lei there.

Not sure anyone said it broke their vacation. It used to be offered, and is a very Hawaiian thing and it adds extra magic to your vacation, Disney is known for its magical experiences. So people have every right to complain about it, without being accosted for doing so. Does that mean they have to now stay at a different brand hotel? People spend the price of a car on these DVC contracts and shouldn't have to go somewhere else to feel special. Having someone place a Lei around your neck upon arrival is special and not nearly the same thing as going to the ABC store and buying one. Yes you can buy the service to be greeted at the airport with a lei, I actually just paid for it... I also just spent nearly $100,000 on DVC and had to spend more for a special service that Disney used to provide. Since I bought DVC after the Lei greeting stopped I have less of a right to complain than others. Yes the terms of DVC say they can take things away, still doesnt mean people cant be disappointed by those things.

Lastly I remember you complaining about the suggested $5 tip per bag WRITTEN on a bell luggage tags. I thought that was super petty to be mad about a suggestion not even verbally told you yet I didnt at the time feel the need to come at you about it, because people have a right to their feelings. Maybe you should stay at the Hilton where that suggestion isnt on the bell hop tags.

You also said Aulani felt "low rent" due to no Leis, so you have changed your tune or will be staying elsewhere? https://www.disboards.com/threads/g...first-timers-july-2024.3949583/#post-65612540

 

[eandt]

Not sure anyone said it broke their vacation. It used to be offered, and is a very Hawaiian thing and it adds extra magic to your vacation, Disney is known for its magical experiences. So people have every right to complain about it, without being accosted for doing so. Does that mean they have to now stay at a different brand hotel? People spend the price of a car on these DVC contracts and shouldn't have to go somewhere else to feel special. Having someone place a Lei around your neck upon arrival is special and not nearly the same thing as going to the ABC store and buying one. Yes you can buy the service to be greeted at the airport with a lei, I actually just paid for it... I also just spent nearly $100,000 on DVC and had to spend more for a special service that Disney used to provide. Since I bought DVC after the Lei greeting stopped I have less of a right to complain than others. Yes the terms of DVC say they can take things away, still doesnt mean people cant be disappointed by those things.

Lastly I remember you complaining about the suggested $5 tip per bag WRITTEN on a bell luggage tags. I thought that was super petty to be mad about a suggestion not even verbally told you yet I didnt at the time feel the need to come at you about it, because people have a right to their feelings. Maybe you should stay at the Hilton where that suggestion isnt on the bell hop tags.

You also said Aulani felt "low rent" due to no Leis, so you have changed your tune or will be staying elsewhere? https://www.disboards.com/threads/g...first-timers-july-2024.3949583/#post-65612540

Nobody is allowed an opinion that goes against the ‘family’ … omertà

 

[J-Dog]

• Just because the OP reports that they had a negative experience doesn’t mean they’re wrong if the same thing didn’t happen to you as well. Your room might have been fine and it’s totally possible that somebody else’s room had issues. Stuff happens.

Not sure anyone said it broke their vacation. It used to be offered, and is a very Hawaiian thing and it adds extra magic to your vacation, Disney is known for its magical experiences. So people have every right to complain about it, without being accosted for doing so. Does that mean they have to now stay at a different brand hotel? People spend the price of a car on these DVC contracts and shouldn't have to go somewhere else to feel special. Having someone place a Lei around your neck upon arrival is special and not nearly the same thing as going to the ABC store and buying one. Yes you can buy the service to be greeted at the airport with a lei, I actually just paid for it... I also just spent nearly $100,000 on DVC and had to spend more for a special service that Disney used to provide. Since I bought DVC after the Lei greeting stopped I have less of a right to complain than others. Yes the terms of DVC say they can take things away, still doesnt mean people cant be disappointed by those things.

Lastly I remember you complaining about the suggested $5 tip per bag WRITTEN on a bell luggage tags. I thought that was super petty to be mad about a suggestion not even verbally told you yet I didnt at the time feel the need to come at you about it, because people have a right to their feelings. Maybe you should stay at the Hilton where that suggestion isnt on the bell hop tags.

You also said Aulani felt "low rent" due to no Leis, so you have changed your tune or will be staying elsewhere? https://www.disboards.com/threads/g...first-timers-july-2024.3949583/#post-65612540

I noticed that you conveniently cropped-out the PP's quote that didn't fit your attack agenda, so I replaced it for you.

 

[VGCgroupie]

I noticed that you conveniently cropped-out the PP's quote that didn't fit your attack agenda, so I replaced it for you.

I cropped out the part that didn’t pertain to Leis what I took issue with and was specifically responding to. Also, the “stay elsewhere”, “think outside the box” comments is what I was responding to. I, as well as many other crop out much of the original post to make the reply less lengthy. It was only the post above mine so it’s not like I somehow hid it from everyone.