What do I need to know in planning a trip to Aulani?

[Debs Hill]

Hi guys! we are planning a possible trip for the summer of 2012 but need some advice re my son (age 11). Do you think there will be enough to do at the resort/generally to keep him happy and occupied!!?

This year when we went to WDW he loved Bay Lake Towers (arcade, pool, community hall etc),Universal, Aquatica, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove but had lost his interest in the Magic Kingdom and struggled to keep really occupied at Hilton Head, being neither a teenager or young enough for a lot of the other activities! Difficult age!

All advice gratefully received!!!! It will be a 20+ hour expensive trip and we want to make sure it's right for us!!! Now if it were just me and hubby.....no problem!!!
Debsx

 

[DisWitt]

1. Pearl Harbor - a must-see experience. Having done it a few times, absolutely see the Bowfin submarine next-door. It gives a great perspective on life on a sub!

2. Dole Plantation - an awesome tour, train, and pineapple place. I had no idea before going!

3. Plan your trip NOT to fly on Saturday or Sunday. Those are the most popular (read $) for travel from LA, so you'll save by going on weekdays.

4. There is a huge luau place next-door to the JW Marriott by Aulani. Germaine's, I think. Look up reviews on yelp.com

5. Enjoy Aulani! Having visited and toured just about a month ago, it looks fantastic! At least two to three days just poking around the resort.

6. Look into the little Hawaiian train in Ko'Olina. Goes right by the hotel.

7. Diamond Head. Way cool volcanic crater and killer view!

8. Get a coconut (smooth one), write a message in Sharpie, write an address on one side, and mail it to friends or family from the post office. No wrapping required! Goes for about $5. Best thing we do! We spend hours on the beach writing and drawing on coconuts and send them home as souveniers/postcards. People LOVE THEM!

9. Eat your fill of pineapple, mango, and kiwi. It's just better there.

10. Have a Hawaiian "plate lunch". There's a really good Hawaiian
BBQ across from Aulani in the shopping center where the current sales office is. It's where all of the construction workers from Aulani seemed to lunch every day, too.

11. Have a Mai tai at the original Mai tai bar at the Royal Hawaiian (the Pink Palace of the Pacific) if you go into Waikiki. They are awesome here.

12. Snorkel. Aulani will have its own tank filled with fish.

13. If you bring a pre-teen, there is a big water park nearby. Look into it.

14. Shop at the Ala Moana Center mall and eat at the Nieman Marcus Mariposa restaurant. Great food, great view.

15. Make a reservation at Alan Wong's at least 2 weeks before your trip. An awesome meal from a real Hawaiian culinary legend. Well worth it!

 

[stefsko]

We also would like to plan a trip next summer sometime and hopefully get a 2 bedroom ocean view at the 7 month mark...has anyone successfully done that yet? Our dates our flexible, as are the days of the week we're there, so I'm hoping that will help.

I just booked a 2 bedroom in April for a November trip. So yes, the 7 month mark worked for us. Good Luck!!

 

[2tink4u]

Get him a paddle board lesson and a surf lesson. Teach him to snorkel you can snorkel at the resort. Buy him an underwater camera. Canon sells cases for their point and shoot cameras. My 10 year old loved these things. Take him to snorkel at Hanauma Bay and see the surfing at the North Shore. Take a very expensive day trip to the Big Island and see the active Volcano. Go to the Dole Plantation, take a lost tour, Got to the water park and the Aquarium. My son loved the Polynesian Culture Center there are cool games from the original Hawaiians.
Research on Trip Advisor .com and ask all sorts of questions just like this forum.

No worries he'll have a ball.

 

[downontheBW]

You already have a lot of good suggestions but thought I'd point you to a post that I did a couple of months ago that has some more about Oahu activities. It's here: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=40175845&postcount=12

I think that amazing pool complex looks awesome! Can't wait to see it.

I'm beginning to plan now - I think we'll go in fall 2012.

 

[DenLo]

Per GoHawaii:

Weather in Hawaii is very consistent, with only minor changes in temperature throughout the year. There are really only 2 seasons in Hawaii: summer (called Kau in Hawaiian) from May to October and winter (Hooilo) from November to April. The average daytime summer temperature at sea level is 85º F. (29.4 C) while the average daytime winter temperature is 78º (25.6º C). Temperatures at night are approximately 10º F. lower.

What the article doesn't mention is water temperature. I think after months of cooler nights the ocean feels colder in March. U.S. NODC Coastal water temps range from 76 degrees in January through April to 81 degrees in September and October, slowing heating up to the 81 degree mark over the summer months. I think that a 5 degree difference can make a difference in how long you can stay in the water.

If you travel during the winter months bring a rain poncho or jacket just in case you actually hit a day with a lot of rain. We traveled around Oahu in the rain for a couple of days one year in March. We brought our rain jackets just because it was cool at home and we were glad we did. Other trips in March the rain was sporadic and very light and it would only rain for a few minutes and then the sun would come out.

 

[lmb]

We were hoping to go the first week of April next year and book at the 7 month mark. Am I crazy? Any thoughts as to whether this will be a busy time? Also, will there still be construction then, with the pools be completed, etc.

 

[Podgieree]

While looking online about our upcoming trip I found this site and, while it is for another resort in the area, provides great information and links:

http://www.koolina.com/things-to-do

I can't wait!

 

[MdmMim]

my husband and i have been to maui three times and are going again with our almost 2 year old in may. we've been to oahu for one day when we did the LOST tour. not sure if you're into that show or not but it was an AWESOME way to see the whole island AND indulge in our favorite show!!

have fun! we love hawaii. sure, we're more familiar with a different island but, come on, paradise is paradise!!

I just want to mention my experience going to HI with a toddler. Our son was 18 months old when we traveled there to visit a family member. Unfortunately, he stayed on DST the entire trip, waking up for the day around 2 a.m., and totally wiped out by 1-2 p.m. (We are from the east coast.) We really couldn't do much.

It is a beautiful place, that's for certain. But we sure missed a lot!

 

[MinnieGirl33]

For those in the know, if you had a choice between the week after Easter (April 8, 2012) or the week after Fathers Day (June 17, 2012) what would you choose?

Had thought of trying for Christmas this year but thought we might opt for Spring/Summer instead since we didn't know how difficult getting a 7 month res would be for that week considering all phases won't be finished.

Thoughts

 

[disneydenisel]

For those in the know, if you had a choice between the week after Easter (April 8, 2012) or the week after Fathers Day (June 17, 2012) what would you choose?

Had thought of trying for Christmas this year but thought we might opt for Spring/Summer instead since we didn't know how difficult getting a 7 month res would be for that week considering all phases won't be finished.

Thoughts

April wins with me hands down. The weather is less hot and humid. However, Easter week is a super busy time so I am not sure what availability will be like. The timeshare we own on Maui is 100% occupied that week every year. Summer is also a busy time because everyone is on vacation. At least Spring break varies from year to year. Generally speaking, Hawaii is busy all summer and from Christmas-New Years, February-April.

We go every Easter week, which can be as early as late March, or like this year, as late as April 23-30. It was already getting a bit warm and felt like summer then.

 

[bmalonef45]

Great thread. We are hoping to book for March 2012 at the 7 month window. So far it seems like its working out as I've yet to read that its been hard to book. It will be our first trip to HI. Can't wait.

 

[Podgieree]

We bought our airfare today. We had thought about using milage points, but it worked out better for us to buy this flight and use the other miles for more flights within the 48 contiguous states.

When we booked our flight we were given the option to buy a "Go Oahu" card. We decided to try it. I will write back after our trip to let everyone know how it works out.

I can't wait!

Paula

 

[phyllisnnj]

Definitely pick up the Oahu Reveal book - http://www.wizardpub.com/oahu/oahcontents.html
Pages Samples - http://www.wizardpub.com/oahu/oahsample.html

Here's some additional info that I previously posted on TUG..

Examples of what you'll find mostly around Waikiki
Various Dining options covering every type of cuisine (see http://akueats.com/Default.asp) including various fine dining options (Alan Wong, Roy’s, La Mer, Chef Mavro, Hoku's, Hy's Steak House, etc) and familiar major chains such as Cheesecake Factory, Morton’s, Ruth Chris, Macaroni Grill, P.F. Chang’s, Senor Frog, Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Todai, Outback, Red Lobster, Dave and Busters, Yard House, Benihana, IHOP, Denny’s, etc.

Various Shopping options - malls/shopping centers/shopping strips/specialty shops covering every spectrum from various well know brand names to inexpensive trinkets - http://www.oahu.us/oahu_shopping.htm

Museums, Aquarium & Zoo - http://www.gohawaii.com/oahu/guidebook/topics/museums-of-oahu & http://www.gohawaii.com/oahu/guidebook/topics/waikiki-attractions

Performing Arts - http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oahu/activities/performing-arts.htm


Examples of things to see and do outside of Waikiki

Hiking Trails - http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oahu/attractions/trails.htm & http://hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov/island.php?island=Oahu

Horseback Riding - http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oahu/activities/horseback-riding.htm

Bird watching - http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oahu/activities/bird-watching.htm

Scenic coastal drives - http://gohawaii.about.com/od/oahuactivities/tp/scenic_oahu.htm

Beaches - http://www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/default.htm & http://www.traveltohawaiireviewed.com/oahu/beaches/

Botanical Gardens - http://www.honolulu.gov/parks/hbg/

Volcanic Craters - Diamond Head, the Punchbowl and Koko Carter - http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oahu/attractions/diamond-head-crater.htm, http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oahu/attractions/punchbowl-crater.htm, http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/oahu/attractions/koko-crater.htm &

Pearl Harbor - USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri Battleship, USS Oklahoma Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine and Museum and Pacific Aviation Museum - www.nps.gov/usar/

Whale Watching - http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/involved/ocoahusites.html

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I am new to DVC and I really want to do this HI trip to Aulani, I am looking at middle May of 2012, can someone tell me what 8 nights with a 2 bedroom would need for points?? Thanks, I have no point chart thing yet!!

 

[SoCalDCLfan]

I am new to DVC and I really want to do this HI trip to Aulani, I am looking at middle May of 2012, can someone tell me what 8 nights with a 2 bedroom would need for points?? Thanks, I have no point chart thing yet!!

Points depend on the view. 8 nights in 2 bedroom in mid-May:
standard view = 408 pts
island view = 480 pts
pool view = 504 pts
ocean view = 560 pts

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

Points depend on the view. 8 nights in 2 bedroom in mid-May:
standard view = 408 pts
island view = 480 pts
pool view = 504 pts
ocean view = 560 pts

thanks much!!