The Dreams Unlimited Travel Podcast is all about traveling to Aulani this week!

[JJZMgailey]

From flights to picking the most perfect room, and even shuttles to and from the airport; you don't want to miss this show if you're planning a vacation to Aulani - A Disney Resort & Spa!

 

[OKW Lover]

Haven't watched yet but really looking forward to this one as we head there in exactly 2 months!

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Haven't watched yet but really looking forward to this one as we head there in exactly 2 months!

Wow, awesome! First time?

 

[OKW Lover]

Wow, awesome! First time?

No, it will be the third time for us.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

Can't wait to hear about it! Would love to go there someday!!

Laurie

 

[Disney Enabler]

I am so excited to go to Aulani. Can't wait to hear the show.

 

[superme80]

I have a love/hate relationship with this podcast. I love hearing about all the places, but my season of life and bank account remind me it is going to be awhile before I can go!

 

[pjweaver]

I loved the show, but I just spit my scotch out hearing some of the prices. $7 hot dog without fries?
I know it isn't the same, but we have a place at the Jersey shore where we can be on the beach all day, then grab some happy hour specials like 99 cent drafts. Aulani represents 3-4 trips to WDW for us. I am not sure that I can justify it. Maybe if I won powerball this week, but I just don't see the value.

 

[skunkvette]

We leave for our first trip to Aulani in two days, great timing for us. loved the podcast.

Learned a lot about the resort including a new word " Starbuckish", is that a little like Tim Hortonish?

Thanks to Tracey and the team, good job.

Will report back on the seven dollar hot dog situation.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I loved the show, but I just spit my scotch out hearing some of the prices. $7 hot dog without fries?
I know it isn't the same, but we have a place at the Jersey shore where we can be on the beach all day, then grab some happy hour specials like 99 cent drafts. Aulani represents 3-4 trips to WDW for us. I am not sure that I can justify it. Maybe if I won powerball this week, but I just don't see the value.

With that line of thinking....there are rides and places to eat on the boardwalk all along the Jersey shore. Why come to WDW at all when the boardwalk and Six flags are so close?

Don't get me wrong...I have professed my love of Stone Harbor, Avalon, Wildwood and Cape May...but the comparison to Hawaii is just silly.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

For us, we have to get past the cost of airfare. I just checked and the cheapest I can find is just under $1,200. That's more than Europe (I get that it's farther than Europe) and $6,000 for our family. I'm not sure that Hawaii will be a significant enough difference to them than any other warm climate like Florida, where we can drive or fly for under $1500. So I think we will be waiting until the kids are older and then go without them

Laurie

 

[mcd2745]

I had to shake my head when Tracey talked about how the chair hogs are out in full force there as well. It seems to be one huge problem - for the entire hospitality industry (whether resorts/hotels or cruises), as they noted - for which the entire industry just can't seem to come up with a good solution.

Anyway...we'll get to Aulani eventually. It probably will have to wait 2-3 years though before it can be scheduled properly (planning anything around the kids' schedules - nevermind ours - is a logistical nightmare). First, it's difficult coming from the east coast. With all the time flying, we would probably want more than a week total for the vacation. It will probably have to be a 2-week (or close to it) total trip. I know the team talked about how they like to fly straight to Hawaii, but when we went to Maui for our honeymoon, we spent 2 nights in San Francisco before Hawaii and 2 nights in Vegas after to break op the flying. I thought that worked well. Especially since the thought of 11-12 straight hours on a plane with the kids scares the bejeezus out of me. So, seems like the perfect excuse to finally spend a couple of days in Disneyland. Has anyone ever rented points to stay in Aulani? I wonder if that can help bring the cost down a little.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Chair hogs are DEF out in full force - you have to scramble to get one however I will say that they patrol the chairs pretty well.

 

[OKW Lover]

if the chair hogs are out that early, they should have CM's out there that early going right behind them and picking up the towels.

 

[ThisIsJason]

Listened to this podcast today, as my wife and I are heading to Aulani for the first time this May. On the parking being $37 a day: that is for hotel/day guests only correct? If you are staying on DVC points isn't it free? If it is that price for DVC as well, I might rethink having a rental the whole trip.

 

[Mel.I.Am]

I'm definitely waiting on my winning lottery ticket to stay at Aulani. But when we do go to Hawaii, Leonard's Bakery is always the one of the first places we go after we settle in.

 

[OKW Lover]

Listened to this podcast today, as my wife and I are heading to Aulani for the first time this May. On the parking being $37 a day: that is for hotel/day guests only correct? If you are staying on DVC points isn't it free? If it is that price for DVC as well, I might rethink having a rental the whole trip.

Correct that the parking charge is for those staying on cash reservations. DVC members staying on points get free parking.

 

[ThisIsJason]

Correct that the parking charge is for those staying on cash reservations. DVC members staying on points get free parking.

Thanks for the info!

 

[pjweaver]

With that line of thinking....there are rides and places to eat on the boardwalk all along the Jersey shore. Why come to WDW at all when the boardwalk and Six flags are so close?

Don't get me wrong...I have professed my love of Stone Harbor, Avalon, Wildwood and Cape May...but the comparison to Hawaii is just silly.

I can't compare Wildwood to Hawaii at all, nor would I compare Six Flags to Disney World. I guess I won't see the difference in money until I actually go there, but it seems like beach time or pool time then dining. I'd love to see Diamond Head and Pearl but can't justify the time and money.
I suppose WDW is my half way point between the shore and Aulani, but it is the best I can do at this point. I guess my questions for @DisneyKevin would be how it compares to similarly priced ABD trips such as France or The British Isles?

 

[DisneyKevin]

I guess I won't see the difference in money until I actually go there, but it seems like beach time or pool time then dining. I'd love to see Diamond Head and Pearl but can't justify the time and money.
I suppose WDW is my half way point between the shore and Aulani, but it is the best I can do at this point. I guess my questions for @DisneyKevin would be how it compares to similarly priced ABD trips such as France or The British Isles?

Aulani is resort on Oahu.

It's a fairly expensive option. I'd equate it to the "Grand Floridian" of Oahu. You could also stay at a Motel Six, but it's not a Disney Motel Six.

Oahu has an amazing amount of things to see and do. I can't begin to list everything that there is to see and do around Honolulu. Beach and pool time are great, but a fraction of whats available.

I'm not allowed to conduct business on the DIS Boards, so if you are interested in pricing for an ABD Adventure, I would suggest you look here, as you can find real time pricing:

http://www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/reservations/abd_input.cfm