Trip Report A little bit of Disney and a lot of luaus!

Hello all!
We're back from our "Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa" stay, and I'm finally able to get this trip report started!
(And fyi the closest I came to a spa was getting a water bubble foot bath at the kids splash area!)

Our party of 6 and a 1/2 consisted of myself Cindy, husband Gary, son Seth, daughter Aleisha (and the half), SIL Julio and our 20 month old granddaughter Una. (You may remember her as crazy girl from our Oct. 2021 WDW trip report.) Nothing has changed there!

Same cast of characters except in a different location!

We left home 9/24/22 and returned 10/5/22.
On Saturday the 24th we flew from Pittsburgh to Sacramento via Dallas. (That is a big airport)!

Before we left I bought myself a new (larger) suitcase for the trip. Someone may or may not have packed one and a half suitcases full of kid crap treasures and needed more space! When I retired my partners bought me the smaller version of this and I love it so much (and it's held up for 4 years of Disney adventures) so it made sense to buy the matching larger one! I'm glad they still offer the same pattern.

We packed up all of said stuff and headed to the airport. Our flight was at a reasonable 1:30pm so we didn't have to kill ourselves to get there.
I put this photo in to remind myself to never do this again. I wanted to save $3/day and so I parked in the economy lot. @riverside will be able to tell you how silly this decision was. There are no shuttles and it was a full on 20 minute walk with my annoying hip back to the terminal. You see that strip of brown there past my car? That is the highway surrounding the airport! But hey, I saved $3/day!

We got through security no problem that time of day and got on the monorail type thing that takes you from the land to air side.
And ps, I'm with every other human on the planet that is sick of mask wearing but Gary's oncologist has asked him to keep wearing them indoors as much as possible due to his immunocompromised state with ongoing chemo and so we do.
I tell everyone it's not going to be his cancer or covid that takes him out, it's going to be me.
See post of family fracas that occurs in a few days.

We had time to grab an early lunch so we shared Chick-fil-A nuggets, waffle fries and some Auntie Anne's nuggets.
He's happy, honestly! He doesn't earn those Grumpy shirts for nuthin!

And then on to what started out as one of the most controversial subjects of this trip.
As his illness progresses and he gets more tired (and grumpy) I try to figure out how to make things less stressful and easier for him.
Flying has become something he detests. So I proposed for the first time in our life that we try to fly first/business class and see if it is any easier for him. If you hate it or feel it is not worth it, never again I tell him.
(Remember I'm the person too cheap to park closer, I don't throw money away either).
Oh boy did the grumping and complaining begin. That's too expensive, I don't want to do that and on and on. I finally wore him down and he acquiesced.
So, how do you think it went?

Give you a little hint, that's actually a smile behind that mask as he sits in his nice wide soft seat!

Do I get to do a wifely eyeball roll yet?!
Hope you'll stay tuned for more of our adventures!

 

[MickeyCB]

I don’t dislike dole whip. I just far prefer the superior citrus swirl at MK. Also of all the dole whip flavors, pineapple is definitely my least favorite. Very odd considering my love of pineapple.

You sound like a bit of a connoisseur of sweet treats. I'm thinking maybe we should start consulting you!

 

[MickeyCB]

Loving the report! Can’t wait to see the character breakfast and the rest of your resort day!

Thanks, and the characters were awesome, a little taste of Disney in a tropical environment!

 

[Loco_driver]

You sound like a bit of a connoisseur of sweet treats. I'm thinking maybe we should start consulting you!

I am constantly on the hunt for the best sweet treats. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it!

 

[pkkurz]

I don’t dislike dole whip. I just far prefer the superior citrus swirl at MK. Also of all the dole whip flavors, pineapple is definitely my least favorite. Very odd considering my love of pineapple.

Have you tried the orange/habanero dole whip? Weird combination, but it’s great. it’s usually on the menu at Swirls on the Water at Disney Springs.

 

[Loco_driver]

Have you tried the orange/habanero dole whip? Weird combination, but it’s great. it’s usually on the menu at Swirls on the Water at Disney Springs.

Adding it to the list.

 

[MickeyCB]

Day 4-Let's meet Mickey (and friends)!

We wandered back up to the restaurant which is located on the ground level and once we were all gathered they had us head out to meet Mickey and get some photos. (Sorry there will be quite a few Mickey photos here).
Just as it was our turn Mickey had to take a short rest, but came back pretty quickly.

Waiting for Mickey to return. That by the way is one of the grandpap dress purchases.

And here he is, the big cheese himself!

Una is not even a little bit afraid!

I just met you and I love you!

We do high fives and knuckles (fist bumps)!

They have a photopass photographer taking photos and oddly they use the Disneyland app to upload their photos on.
You could buy the pass for 7 days for about $80 and get all of your photos taken around the resort.
One of my favorite photos of the trip. One of the versions is already framed and on display at home in a frame we bought there.

Aleisha asked me if I wanted a pic with Una and Mickey, and I said it was ok, because she was about maxed out by then.
In retrospect I wish I had tried to get one with her.

After that they had us take a seat and wait to be called to our table.

 

[MickeyCB]

Day 4- character breakfast continued...

When they call you back you walk through an area where Minnie is hard at work.

Again, no hesitation here!

Minnie was awesome with her and Una was cracking up about something!

The CM was super nice and tried to take some pics for us but unfortunately the cutest one of Una laughing and looking at Minnie is fairly blurry.

We said goodbye to Minnie and were seated outside but underroof. It was beautiful there! Gary and Seth and POG Juice!!!

This is a copy of the menu for the character breakfast. They offer a character dinner also but we didn't do that one.
They bring a bread basket and lots of wonderful fresh fruit prior to your entree.

Through the course of breakfast Chip and Dale came through and as I am not an expert on identifying them I'll let you all do that.
They were very sweet and took their time at the table, and I think they may have come through twice.

I think you're cute and all of that, but you can't have my muffin!

Can you imagine the germs on that poor plastic nose!

A few more breakfast photos coming up.

 

[Loco_driver]

I am not an expert on identifying them I'll let you all do that.

Just remember that Chip’s nose is brown like a chocolate chip. That’s how I tell them apart!

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

Fantastic family pictures. The character breakfast looks good and nice character interactions too.

 

[RememberWhen]

Such cuteness!

 

[MickeyCB]

Just remember that Chip’s nose is brown like a chocolate chip. That’s how I tell them apart!

Thanks, one had that dark nose in the pics above. Is that the choc chip color you are referring to? I'll see if I have a pic of the other guy. It was more reddish.

 

[MickeyCB]

Fantastic family pictures. The character breakfast looks good and nice character interactions too.

Thanks! I think there were multiple things contributing. It was a beautiful morning, Mickey was colorfully dressed, the environment is lovely and all members of the traveling party were cooperating for once!
I have a few food pics coming up.

 

[MickeyCB]

Such cuteness!

Thanks, this is definitely a fun age when they are cooperating. Further along there was less cooperation!

 

[MickeyCB]

Day 4-more character breakfast photos and commentary.

Chip stops by to say hey to Seth and Gary while Una looks on!

While we waited for our food I took Una over to the koi pond for a few minutes. It
was beautiful and right below our room so we were able to see it from above also.

Selfie with grandma!

Once we were seated again Una wanted to watch Moana.
She's showing Chip "Mwana"!

I just realized that all of the plates of food had started to be demolished by the time I thought to grab any photos.
It was excellent and there was a ton of food. Since we had the 2 bedroom several of us took our leftovers and put them in the fridge. We had bought some eggs and cheese and Julio who could be a chef used our leftovers the next several mornings to add potatoes and bacon to what we bought from Costco. What was really fun too, is we bought a gallon of pog juice at Costco and enjoyed that with our in room breakfasts (out on the balcony)!
Most of us had an omelet of one sort or another. Gary had the pancakes and said they were delicious.

After breakfast we went back up to the room to get ready for our beach/lazy river day!
Before we went back down though, We gave Una a doll we bought at home that she could play with, but we were also hoping to run into Moana at some point during our stay.

After applying copious amounts of sun screen we headed down to the beach because look what awaits! Sun, sand, and sailboats!

 

[MickeyCB]

Day 4-beach and bumming around day, cont...

But before we head to the beach we had a momentous moment!
Gary and I received our official grandparent monikers.
Think the Lion King music when Rafiki holds Simba up.

Aleisha said to Una, "where's grandpap"? and she points to him. Then she says "where's grandma"? Una points to me. Keep in mind we haven't seen her since March so each time we see her she has to relearn who we are.
But today...
Aleisha said, "who's that"? pointing to Gary. She says, "Poppop"!!!
Aleisha points to me and says, "who's that"? And she says Gamma!!!

We're official!! We have names!

We headed down to the beach and put our gear on our casabella's and enjoyed some wonderful time just floating and playing out in the water. I don't have any pics because we were all out there.
Because it was already headed to noon Hawaii time, Aleisha wanted to take Una on the lazy river before she conked out. They had a huge kids play, climbing, splash area but Una was having none of it. It was too big, busy and loud for her.

So we got rafts and got ready to climb into the lazy river. Notice Gary has on his bucket hat and a long sleeve
SPF shirt! Mwwahaha....

I hope you can see Una's face in this photo (and her leg). She was not having Uncle Seth hang onto the side of the raft!
Little witch.

Trying to make Gary feel better about the bucket hat.

You can see our room/balcony above the tree tops on the left.

Everyone just chillin. The water was a wonderful temp., not too warm not too cold.

Me who detests water could seriously have just gone around again, but Una was actually falling asleep in the raft!
I offered to babysit if Aleisha put her down so I didn't have to hear the screaming and squawking.
Because....

Ill take one for the team.

I got me a book, my phone and a cherry coke in my resort mug, I'm in pig heaven!

Those travel baby monitors are awesome. I sat out here with all of the fun water, ocean and resort noises and didn't have to worry about her waking and me not hearing/seeing her.

The rest of the crew is casabellaing and enjoying the beach.

 

[MickeyCB]

Day 4-beach bumming and book reading conts...

While I was relaxing baby sitting, the rest of the crew was sunning and sleeping on the beach.

Seth sent me these pics as he ordered food. They have staff that comes by and will take food and drink orders for people that have rented the casabellas, I don't know if that service extended to the regular beach chairs.
I knew the prices at Aulani were high and to expect that but Seth didn't. He said later he was sorry but his lunch was $50.
He had the chicken, fries and the Caesar salad you see and a drink and with tip was $50.
I told him it was ok as I expected those costs.
Better than his $120 or so worth of Gideons cookies he bought that I reported on in my Oct. trip report.

Inside view of the casabellas. And Seth doodling. Don't know if those were passerby's or what.

Aleisha and Julio decided to take advantage of the the snorkeling reef near the pools. It is open all day and they have a deal where you can rent for I think $25, gear for a one time swim. Or $45 for the week. The all love to snorkel, I detest putting my face in the water, and Una was too little so I got it for the 4 of them. Turns out, Aleisha and Julio were the only ones to take advantage of it. And I was surprised because Gary loves to snorkel. He said it looked too small.

They called me and told me they were going to go in and I could see the reef from the room so I grabbed what Aleisha calls a paparazzi shot. That's the 2 of them at the gate. She has on the red suit.
Then they headed into the little hut.

They have an observation window on the proximal side if you just want to see the fish or the snorkelers.
There was so much we didn't take advantage of while we were here. It was nice to see other parts of the island, but I think in retrospect we should have built in another full resort day and maybe one less outing.

Everyone slowly made their way up from the beach and we decided to go eat dinner across the street at a restaurant called Monkeypod Kitchen. It is the equivalent of about a 2 block or less walk out the front door of the resort. It is located in a little mall of sorts that also has an ABC store called Island Country Markets. It's a grocery, sundries etc. type store.
I put this pic in to remind myself of Una and my little daily thing. (This pic is actually over by the restaurant).
Every time I would put her in the stroller and we would head out of our room we would say, in a sing song voice, Heereee we goooo!

When we got there they said the wait would be 45 minutes, and because there aren't really any other options we looked around the shops while we waited to be called. The buzzers they give you have a range that extends throughout the complex so you can go look around while you wait.
I actually don't have any photos of our meals. We were really hungry and while it was only about 7 pm Hawaii time, it was much later body clock time!
We ate our meals and headed back to the resort to crash.

Tomorrow would be our first adventure away from Aulani and then our first Luau!

 

[Darstarr]

I don't know if that service extended to the regular beach chairs.

It does. We had Christmas day lunch there on the beach one year. Heaven!
(Drinks too)

 

[MickeyCB]

It does. We had Christmas day lunch there on the beach one year. Heaven!
(Drinks too)

 

[Darstarr]

OH MY GAWD!
I was looking for our Christmas lunch on the beach pictures, I didnt find them but I did find our room…

I am not kidding.

 

[MickeyCB]

OH MY GAWD!
I was looking for our Christmas lunch on the beach pictures, I didnt find them but I did find our room…
View attachment 674031
I am not kidding.

No freakin way!!!! That's awesome!!!
And how did all of you get to that post before me?!