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

[FoodieFriend]

Being an Oahu local I can see how some people can't understand the cost of living here in Hawaii. It's dreadfully expensive since almost everything has to be shipped in. But I love living here & I accept the pricing on everything as the "cost of living in paradise". A trip here is definitely not for everyone, but it was great to hear that the Dreams Unlimited group all have wonderful things to say about Aulani which is a resort close to my heart. I've stayed at Aulani a few times & found it really beautiful & relaxing. We definitely find value in preparing some of our own meals & we've tried both Monkeypod & Pizza Corner across the street as mentioned in the podcast. The lounge chair situation has been a problem ever since they opened the resort for full occupancy & everyone tries to find their own way to work thru/around it. But it's still a great time & hopefully everyone will bite the bullet & fly on over.

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

A trip to Hawaii in general, specifically Aulani, is not a small investment. Like everyone, our family decides how much of our income will be dedicated to travel on an annual basis. I would say that we probably decide more goes to travel than the average family, but that is the choice we are fortunate enough to be able to make. Wasn't always the case, I can't tell you how many trips to WDW my son and I had on a shoestring budget. (asking for a free cup of water and adding our own drink crystals or ordering a double burger and an extra bun because it was cheaper than 2 burgers !) We LOVED every second of those trips. We were excited to be staying onsite...prior to that we travelled with family and rented a condo for a week to save money. As my circumstances changed, so did my vacations. Often people are at different "life stages" where the financial responsibilities differ. We have several friends that are at a different life stage than we are....they will more than likely be going on the ABD china trip as that trip is a fantasy for me at my current life stage!!

My point is, I completely understand that a trip to Aulani is not in the cards for everyone. For some it is, for others it may be in the future, and for others maybe not at all. Sometimes the choice is how best to divide that travel budget. For example, when cruising we would often stay in inside cabins so we could do 2 a year as opposed to a more expensive cabin on one cruise. If your travel budget allows for an annual trip to WDW, maybe it would mean saving for 3 years to go to Aulani. That's a big decision and not one I or anyone else could make for you. I also think one of the differences is there are ways to go to WDW with varying budgets. Multiple levels of resorts at different price points, they don't always have to be the Grand Floridian. That's the difference with Aulani....it is basically Grand Floridian or higher pricing. Not a lot of options to get it less than that. There was no way my son and I could have went to WDW every year if the Grand Floridian was our only choice.

Aulani is expensive, so is Hawaii. With reason, as a previous poster mentioned, it is hard to get product to the island. The parking at Aulani is expensive...but again, it is in most Hawaiian resorts. My guess is because space is also at a premium. My goal with the Podcast was not just to say "Aulani is awesome, everyone go now". While I believe it is awesome and would like everyone to go, my goal was to give an honest, realistic view on what one can expect when deciding on an Aulani vacation.

 

[pjweaver]

I suppose my question was what else do you do there? A great hotel/resort and a great beach, but what sets it apart from a chain hotel and renting a car to explore the island?

 

[OKW Lover]

I suppose my question was what else do you do there? A great hotel/resort and a great beach, but what sets it apart from a chain hotel and renting a car to explore the island?

That's a difficult question to answer. We've stayed at other hotels on the island and some can come close to Aulani but you'll find their cost also comes close. You could also go to Oahu and stay at a "motel 6" kind of place (which will cost you much more than on the mainland), forgo the resort amenities and drive to the beach every day. Its a value vs dollar question that only you can answer.

 

[DSNYDREAMER]

I suppose my question was what else do you do there? A great hotel/resort and a great beach, but what sets it apart from a chain hotel and renting a car to explore the island?

The same question could be asked regarding the All Star Music VS The Grand Floridian. Aulani is a first class (deluxe) resort, more than that it is a Disney resort. With that name comes a level of service and commitment to the details and the story of Hawaii and its people. Aulani is the destination, a chain hotel is the accommodations. The island is amazing no matter where you stay. I talked on the show about some of the things to do at the resort, some for free, some extra cost. The kids programming, water activities, classes for adults, kids and families. Aulani doesn't charge a resort fee, that is a common charge in other resorts.

These are the tangibles....what I can't put into words is the feeling of Aulani. I am lucky enough to travel to many places and have stayed in many hotels, resorts, villas...nothing compares to Aulani. Not sure I could explain it without sounding crazy, but she feels like a living, breathing thing. There is a feeling of peace, tranquility and overall joy that I get when staying at Aulani.

 

[PoohBelle]

I've really been enjoying the Dreams Unlimited shows. I hope to be able to travel there someday, but I'll have to save up to make it to Aulani. But that's okay. It will build up the excitement.

 

[Phdmama06]

Thank you for a super helpful podcast! We have been tossing around the idea of an Aulani vacation in 2017. You've definitely given me a great picture of how this resort works and what to look out for when planning.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Aulani should be on everyone's bucket list - I did a whole trip report in it. My only negatives is at least during the time I was there the resort kinda dies at 8:00 pm.

I'm 29 I like a bit more offered for adults to enjoy as well. Having the adults hot tub with bar service open until 11 would have been a killer winner for me.

Also Ama Ama at sunset is one of the most at peace meals you'll have the scenery there is amazing

 

[mcd2745]

Aulani should be on everyone's bucket list - I did a whole trip report in it. My only negatives is at least during the time I was there the resort kinda dies at 8:00 pm.

I'm 29 I like a bit more offered for adults to enjoy as well. Having the adults hot tub with bar service open until 11 would have been a killer winner for me.

Also Ama Ama at sunset is one of the most at peace meals you'll have the scenery there is amazing

Do they close the all the pools real early there also? That is one of my biggest (if not THE biggest) pet peeves with DCL - and more & more lately, WDW, as they seem to be closing resort pools earlier and earlier as well.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

8pm ALL closed.

 

[FoodieFriend]

interesting. the last time we were there in '15, the biggest pool & hot tubs in the same area were open until 10 or 1030pm. it was best time to swim!

 

[Cousin Orville]

I suppose my question was what else do you do there? A great hotel/resort and a great beach, but what sets it apart from a chain hotel and renting a car to explore the island?

I heard Joe Rohde (Lead Imagineer for Aulani) discuss Aulani's purpose. He said when you travel so far, you want to feel like you've arrived somewhere fundamentally different from where you left. You want to experience something fundamentally different. Aulani's purpose is to tell the story of Hawaii and its people. It does that remarkably well. Most Hawaiian hotels are devoid of Hawaiian culture. They're big white beachside hotels that you could pick up and move to the Caribbean and they'd fit right in. Aulani is distinctly Hawaiian. The art, the design/decor, the cast members who work there all tell the Hawaiian story. Gorgeous hotel.

Hawaii is absolutely worth going to regardless where you stay. So, it all comes down to budget. If you can swing Aulani, it's an amazing hotel.

 

[mcd2745]

8pm ALL closed.

That's ridiculous. I have to guess it's all (early pool closings at Aulani, DCL, WDW) a result of their fear of lawsuits if something should happen at the pools in today's over-litigious society. Damn lawyers - except Jack, of course . [Apologies for getting political for a moment, but...] We seriously need tort reform in this country, and one of the solutions is simple...loser pays all court costs.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Aulani is mostly a family resort and even then most of the adults who were in the hot tub at night it was their unwinding period until the guard came and shut it down at 8.

Really amazing people you meet there but it was a major major negative for me.

 

[KingLlama]

Nighttime swimming is of utmost importance to me because I fully realize that none of the other resort guests want to see me shirtless in broad daylight.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Aulani is mostly a family resort and even then most of the adults who were in the hot tub at night it was their unwinding period until the guard came and shut it down at 8.

Really amazing people you meet there but it was a major major negative for me.

You're allowed to leave the resort.

Monkeypox, which is across the street, was hopping until later in the evening.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I suppose my question was what else do you do there? A great hotel/resort and a great beach, but what sets it apart from a chain hotel and renting a car to explore the island?

I kind of understand where you're coming from. While I want to island hop whenever we go and am more into snorkeling and touring than relaxing at the beach, I'm still trying to figure out why so many Disney fans say Aulani is a must over any other Hawaiian resort. I only have friends and family experiences to go from, so lack of first-hand experience doesn't help. Still, there are many highly regarded Hawaiian luxury resorts with a variety of Hawaiian flair and touches, and a number of those also rank ahead of (or right around) Aulani for resorts on Oahu or the Hawaiian Islands in general. I know...rankings can be biased and most reviewers haven't stayed at everything, but it adds to my -why? Aulani looks pretty, but I still haven't seen anything that screams to me that it's vastly superior to the other options. I'm sure I would enjoy a stay there, but if I were to pick just one island or spend some time on Oahu...why Aulani over things like one of the Four Seasons, Fairmonts, or something like the Grand Wailea (Waldorf) on Maui? Just examples... but questions I'm asking myself should I plan for Hawaii at some point.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Nighttime swimming is of utmost importance to me because I fully realize that none of the other resort guests want to see me shirtless in broad daylight.

I think that's supposed to be a no swimming warning.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

You're allowed to leave the resort.

Monkeypox, which is across the street, was hopping until later in the evening.

I'm well aware I can leave the resort.

The discussion is about nightlife at the resort not what's being offered across the street.

Furthermore, I'm not so sure what's hopping over there as the live music stopped at 9:45 at Monkeypod.

Again, I think I went during February which the cast members say is typically a "slow season" however there wasn't anything slow - it would have been nice for the adults only areas to get a bit more than a 8 pm cerfew.

Anyone without kiddos if you're a chatterbox like me or even if you're not the hot tub was a great place to meet so many wonderful people...the DVC members are also super excited about the product, and gave me quite the sales pitch, made me even consider

 

[DisneyKevin]

I'm well aware I can leave the resort.

The discussion is about nightlife at the resort not what's being offered across the street.

Furthermore, I'm not so sure what's hopping over there as the live music stopped at 9:45 at Monkeypod.

Again, I think I went during February which the cast members say is typically a "slow season" however there wasn't anything slow - it would have been nice for the adults only areas to get a bit more than a 8 pm cerfew.

Anyone without kiddos if you're a chatterbox like me or even if you're not the hot tub was a great place to meet so many wonderful people...the DVC members are also super excited about the product, and gave me quite the sales pitch, made me even consider

I was joking about being able to leave the resort.

And Monkeypod was packed at 10:30 - 11:00pm when we were there.

I didn't pay attention to when the live music ended, but as you were discussing hot tubs closing at 8:00 and there being nothing to do....I thought I would point out that there was a very busy night spot 200 yards away.

I didn't realize that you didn't want to leave the property.