The Spirit Takes the Fifth ...

[GoofGoof]

Never been to HI. Coincidentally, just a few hours ago (before I even saw Soaring's post), I was having a conversation with my mom about how seeing HW should be on our bucket lists. She said she has no desire to see it. And I said it looks beautiful from Google Earth (I took a virtual tour of all the islands). "Breath taking" is what I should have said. Even from a satellite, the images took my breath away! Any way, she said why go there when you have the Caribbean islands here. I mentioned the diversity of scenery there, such as mountains. She said there's mountains in the Virgin Islands and PR - and PR even has rain forests. I said, "but, there's no volcanos in the Caribbean!" She said, "That's true." And the conversation ended.

The Caribbean is great and much closer and cheaper. It is however a lot different. First you are still in the US. In these times with all the BS going on in the world it's nice to know you are still in a US state and you don't need a passport or different money (most of the Caribbean takes US dollars too anymore). The weather is different too. We visited HI for the first time on our honeymoon. Since we got married in the beginning of Oct during Hurricane season so most of the Caribbean was out.

The beaches are amazing. I don't surf, but the huge waves were crazy to see. Watching these guys go out and surf or wind surf those waves was really cool. If you do go to Aulani the north shore of Oahu has the best big waves.

The big Island has the volcano park but It also has the largest cattle ranch in North America, black sand beaches and a mountain peak high enough that you can ski certain times of the year. It's the least developed of the 4 major islands if you are away from the towns or resorts it's really cool to look up and see the stars with no distractions. Kona coffee is amongst the best I've ever tasted. We stopped at a place on the side of the road in Kona that grew their own coffee beans and macadamia nuts. Amazing. The volcano was ridiculous. You can stay at the lodge at the top of the volcano or if you drive down the road to the coast the lava flows right over the road. You can get out of your car and walk across the hardened lava right up to a new lava flow. When the lava hits the ocean it hardens and new land is formed. Where else can you go to literally watch new land being created (maybe Dubai).

Kauai has the most natural beauty and is so laid back. The locals there were so friendly and the beaches were the best I've ever seen. We rented a car and then rented snorkeling gear for the week and just carried it in the trunk. Every beach had good snorkeling, some was excellent. There are amazing mountains with cliffs that drop down to the beach below and some famous waterfalls. They have a canyon area that rivals the Grand Canyon. Lots of movies, like Jurassic Park, had scenes filmed there. It's probably my favorite of the islands.

Maui is a close 2nd. Lots of rustic beauty like Kauai but with some of the high end luxury and development of Oahu. They have some big mountains there too. You can do a bike tour where you start at the top of one mountain in a parka because it's crazy cold and end up at the beach in shorts and a t-shirt. They actually follow you with a van and collect layers of clothing on the way down. There is also an amazing drive called the road to Hanna. Twisting, winding, narrow roads through beautiful rain forests with plenty of stops to see waterfalls and views of the beaches. Hanna is a cute little town, but it's not the destination for this trip that really matters.

I can tell you it's not like a Disney vacation. No magic bands or ADRs or crowds. When we were in Kauai there were days where there were maybe a half dozen people or less on the beach with us. You end up on island time. The only real exception was the congested city area of Honolulu.

 

[GoofGoof]

Never been to HI. Coincidentally, just a few hours ago (before I even saw Soaring's post), I was having a conversation with my mom about how seeing HW should be on our bucket lists. She said she has no desire to see it. And I said it looks beautiful from Google Earth (I took a virtual tour of all the islands). "Breath taking" is what I should have said. Even from a satellite, the images took my breath away! Any way, she said why go there when you have the Caribbean islands here. I mentioned the diversity of scenery there, such as mountains. She said there's mountains in the Virgin Islands and PR - and PR even has rain forests. I said, "but, there's no volcanos in the Caribbean!" She said, "That's true." And the conversation ended.

One last thing...if you are looking for monorails there is a huge Hilton resort on the big island that has both boats and what they call trams to get you around the resort. The trams aren't really monorails and are ground level, but they look cool. Here's the website, scroll down for some pictures.
http://www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com

 

[PeterAlt]

The Caribbean is great and much closer and cheaper. It is however a lot different. First you are still in the US. In these times with all the BS going on in the world it's nice to know you are still in a US state and you don't need a passport or different money (most of the Caribbean takes US dollars too anymore). The weather is different too. We visited HI for the first time on our honeymoon. Since we got married in the beginning of Oct during Hurricane season so most of the Caribbean was out.

The beaches are amazing. I don't surf, but the huge waves were crazy to see. Watching these guys go out and surf or wind surf those waves was really cool. If you do go to Aulani the north shore of Oahu has the best big waves.

The big Island has the volcano park but It also has the largest cattle ranch in North America, black sand beaches and a mountain peak high enough that you can ski certain times of the year. It's the least developed of the 4 major islands if you are away from the towns or resorts it's really cool to look up and see the stars with no distractions. Kona coffee is amongst the best I've ever tasted. We stopped at a place on the side of the road in Kona that grew their own coffee beans and macadamia nuts. Amazing. The volcano was ridiculous. You can stay at the lodge at the top of the volcano or if you drive down the road to the coast the lava flows right over the road. You can get out of your car and walk across the hardened lava right up to a new lava flow. When the lava hits the ocean it hardens and new land is formed. Where else can you go to literally watch new land being created (maybe Dubai).

Kauai has the most natural beauty and is so laid back. The locals there were so friendly and the beaches were the best I've ever seen. We rented a car and then rented snorkeling gear for the week and just carried it in the trunk. Every beach had good snorkeling, some was excellent. There are amazing mountains with cliffs that drop down to the beach below and some famous waterfalls. They have a canyon area that rivals the Grand Canyon. Lots of movies, like Jurassic Park, had scenes filmed there. It's probably my favorite of the islands.

Maui is a close 2nd. Lots of rustic beauty like Kauai but with some of the high end luxury and development of Oahu. They have some big mountains there too. You can do a bike tour where you start at the top of one mountain in a parka because it's crazy cold and end up at the beach in shorts and a t-shirt. They actually follow you with a van and collect layers of clothing on the way down. There is also an amazing drive called the road to Hanna. Twisting, winding, narrow roads through beautiful rain forests with plenty of stops to see waterfalls and views of the beaches. Hanna is a cute little town, but it's not the destination for this trip that really matters.

I can tell you it's not like a Disney vacation. No magic bands or ADRs or crowds. When we were in Kauai there were days where there were maybe a half dozen people or less on the beach with us. You end up on island time. The only real exception was the congested city area of Honolulu.

I haven't finished reading your post yet, but I just got to the part about being in the US and had to comment before continuing to read. PR and the US VI are part of the US, and PR wants to become the next US state! Okay, I will continue reading now....

 

[PeterAlt]

The Caribbean is great and much closer and cheaper. It is however a lot different. First you are still in the US. In these times with all the BS going on in the world it's nice to know you are still in a US state and you don't need a passport or different money (most of the Caribbean takes US dollars too anymore). The weather is different too. We visited HI for the first time on our honeymoon. Since we got married in the beginning of Oct during Hurricane season so most of the Caribbean was out.

The beaches are amazing. I don't surf, but the huge waves were crazy to see. Watching these guys go out and surf or wind surf those waves was really cool. If you do go to Aulani the north shore of Oahu has the best big waves.

The big Island has the volcano park but It also has the largest cattle ranch in North America, black sand beaches and a mountain peak high enough that you can ski certain times of the year. It's the least developed of the 4 major islands if you are away from the towns or resorts it's really cool to look up and see the stars with no distractions. Kona coffee is amongst the best I've ever tasted. We stopped at a place on the side of the road in Kona that grew their own coffee beans and macadamia nuts. Amazing. The volcano was ridiculous. You can stay at the lodge at the top of the volcano or if you drive down the road to the coast the lava flows right over the road. You can get out of your car and walk across the hardened lava right up to a new lava flow. When the lava hits the ocean it hardens and new land is formed. Where else can you go to literally watch new land being created (maybe Dubai).

Kauai has the most natural beauty and is so laid back. The locals there were so friendly and the beaches were the best I've ever seen. We rented a car and then rented snorkeling gear for the week and just carried it in the trunk. Every beach had good snorkeling, some was excellent. There are amazing mountains with cliffs that drop down to the beach below and some famous waterfalls. They have a canyon area that rivals the Grand Canyon. Lots of movies, like Jurassic Park, had scenes filmed there. It's probably my favorite of the islands.

Maui is a close 2nd. Lots of rustic beauty like Kauai but with some of the high end luxury and development of Oahu. They have some big mountains there too. You can do a bike tour where you start at the top of one mountain in a parka because it's crazy cold and end up at the beach in shorts and a t-shirt. They actually follow you with a van and collect layers of clothing on the way down. There is also an amazing drive called the road to Hanna. Twisting, winding, narrow roads through beautiful rain forests with plenty of stops to see waterfalls and views of the beaches. Hanna is a cute little town, but it's not the destination for this trip that really matters.

I can tell you it's not like a Disney vacation. No magic bands or ADRs or crowds. When we were in Kauai there were days where there were maybe a half dozen people or less on the beach with us. You end up on island time. The only real exception was the congested city area of Honolulu.

Yeah, I actually "drove" around the Hawaiian islands, following the roads up close around the islands with Google Earth and I was breath-taken by the waterfalls that came up from out of nowhere and the misty ride on bridges that crossed valleys... I was amazed by towns that are now under lava and the fast rebuilding of some of those towns...

 

[HakunaMatata89]

maybe hawaii will build a monorail for touring purposes


never really wanted to go to HI, ive been able to visit most the Carribean islands thanks to taxpayer's dollars though. loved it all.

 

[Darth Sidious]

Hawaii is definitely one of the most beautiful places on Earth. I'd say that Kaui was particularly beautiful and natural. They filmed Jurassic Park on Kaui but they only allowed it on the condition that the roads and the buildings built for the movie be torn down after so that Kaui was left in its natural state.

 

[GoofGoof]

Yeah, I actually "drove" around the Hawaiian islands, following the roads up close around the islands with Google Earth and I was breath-taken by the waterfalls that came up from out of nowhere and the misty ride on bridges that crossed valleys... I was amazed by towns that are now under lava and the fast rebuilding of some of those towns...

What's crazy is how the lava destroyed most of a town, but randomly a building or 2 were spared. We did a helicopter tour over the volcano and the pilot showed us a house out in the middle of a lava flow. It somehow survived while the rest of the town was burried. The owner now operates it as a bed and breakfast but there are no roads to get out there so the only way in our out is on a quad or by helicopter. Must be amazing at night when the only light is coming from the glow of fresh lava.

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Aulani is the best Disney resort in the United States. No other Disney resort comes close, except maybe the Grand Californian, but even then it lacks the Disney operated spa and some nicer Aulani magical touches at night.

In fact, compared to Aulani, the Grand Floridian is a joke. Really. That's how nice Aulani is.

If you get the chance, go to Aulani. However, I wouldn't stay there for an entire Hawaii trip. Aulani is in a bad location, isolated from most of Oahu, but luckily with easy highway access. The point is, Aulani is a place to spend a couple days and just stay there. If you want to leave the resort, you should be staying somewhere else for cheaper and in a better location.

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Why the hell would I travel all the way to Hawaii and stay at a disney resort? I never understood the concept of "see Hawaii, disneys way!" But I guess I'm just not the target audience. I'd rather do real snorkeling, island exploring and night scene done the real way rather than LILO and stitch hula dancing. Again, I guess I'm not the target audience here. And that's ok.

You are the target audience... you need to understand that Aulani isn't really a Disney resort. It's a Hawaiian resort owned by Disney. It's themed to Hawaii with very subtle Disney touches... In fact, it's the only resort on Oahu that is actually themed to real Hawaii. Every other resort on the island feels like a mix of Polynesia and Asia. Aulani is amazing just because of that. It's still overpriced though.

 

[PeterAlt]

maybe hawaii will build a monorail for touring purposes


never really wanted to go to HI, ive been able to visit most the Carribean islands thanks to taxpayer's dollars though. loved it all.

You know, there are uninhabited islands further SW of Key West? I've thought about a nature sight-seeing monorail. These islands are a US nature reserve under the jurisdiction of Florida. People would pay to ride it and that should cover at least part of the expense to pay off the bonds to build it!

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

The Caribbean is great and much closer and cheaper. It is however a lot different. First you are still in the US. In these times with all the BS going on in the world it's nice to know you are still in a US state and you don't need a passport or different money (most of the Caribbean takes US dollars too anymore). The weather is different too. We visited HI for the first time on our honeymoon. Since we got married in the beginning of Oct during Hurricane season so most of the Caribbean was out.

The beaches are amazing. I don't surf, but the huge waves were crazy to see. Watching these guys go out and surf or wind surf those waves was really cool. If you do go to Aulani the north shore of Oahu has the best big waves.

The big Island has the volcano park but It also has the largest cattle ranch in North America, black sand beaches and a mountain peak high enough that you can ski certain times of the year. It's the least developed of the 4 major islands if you are away from the towns or resorts it's really cool to look up and see the stars with no distractions. Kona coffee is amongst the best I've ever tasted. We stopped at a place on the side of the road in Kona that grew their own coffee beans and macadamia nuts. Amazing. The volcano was ridiculous. You can stay at the lodge at the top of the volcano or if you drive down the road to the coast the lava flows right over the road. You can get out of your car and walk across the hardened lava right up to a new lava flow. When the lava hits the ocean it hardens and new land is formed. Where else can you go to literally watch new land being created (maybe Dubai).

Kauai has the most natural beauty and is so laid back. The locals there were so friendly and the beaches were the best I've ever seen. We rented a car and then rented snorkeling gear for the week and just carried it in the trunk. Every beach had good snorkeling, some was excellent. There are amazing mountains with cliffs that drop down to the beach below and some famous waterfalls. They have a canyon area that rivals the Grand Canyon. Lots of movies, like Jurassic Park, had scenes filmed there. It's probably my favorite of the islands.

Maui is a close 2nd. Lots of rustic beauty like Kauai but with some of the high end luxury and development of Oahu. They have some big mountains there too. You can do a bike tour where you start at the top of one mountain in a parka because it's crazy cold and end up at the beach in shorts and a t-shirt. They actually follow you with a van and collect layers of clothing on the way down. There is also an amazing drive called the road to Hanna. Twisting, winding, narrow roads through beautiful rain forests with plenty of stops to see waterfalls and views of the beaches. Hanna is a cute little town, but it's not the destination for this trip that really matters.

I can tell you it's not like a Disney vacation. No magic bands or ADRs or crowds. When we were in Kauai there were days where there were maybe a half dozen people or less on the beach with us. You end up on island time. The only real exception was the congested city area of Honolulu.

We've been to the Bahamas. Once was enough. It's beautiful, but there's so much poverty, that it was depressing and not conducive to a "peaceful" mindset. I'm sure there are other areas that are beautiful. We still love the Florida beaches too. Been to Hawaii many, many times. One of our favorite places.

 

[ScoutN]

We've been to the Bahamas. Once was enough. It's beautiful, but there's so much poverty, that it was depressing and not conducive to a "peaceful" mindset. I'm sure there are other areas that are beautiful. We still love the Florida beaches too. Been to Hawaii many, many times. One of our favorite places.

Give the Outer Banks NC a go sometime. It is an area frozen in time with so much charm that it is incredible.

 

[GoofGoof]

We've been to the Bahamas. Once was enough. It's beautiful, but there's so much poverty, that it was depressing and not conducive to a "peaceful" mindset. I'm sure there are other areas that are beautiful. We still love the Florida beaches too. Been to Hawaii many, many times. One of our favorite places.

Try Atlantis on Paradise Island if you ever go back to the Bahamas. We stayed for 3 nights and never left the resort. The water park alone is worth the stay and there are tons or restaurants and a pretty good casino on site. The downside is its probably not much cheaper than going to Hawaii, but it's a short flight for me and great for a long weekend.

 

[GoofGoof]

You know, there are uninhabited islands further SW of Key West? I've thought about a nature sight-seeing monorail. These islands are a US nature reserve under the jurisdiction of Florida. People would pay to ride it and that should cover at least part of the expense to pay off the bonds to build it!

Until the hurricane comes and washes it out

By the way, when Spirit gets back he probably isn't going to like that we hijacked his thread for this conversation although he has probably been to most of these places and would probably have good insight to add. He'll blame @Lee anyway for not running a tight enough ship. In our defense is there anything WDW related worth talking about anyway?

 

[RSoxNo1]

It's still up from $32 million 2 years ago.

$34.3 million is up 7% in 2 years, sandwiched between a nice big fat $8 million bump.

The average increase for Americans has been something below 2% for a while now.

Not bad for someone who's had 2 major film flops and a project in central Florida that's gobbling up cash.

What was the ticket price increase during the same time frame?

 

[Darth Sidious]

Until the hurricane comes and washes it out

By the way, when Spirit gets back he probably isn't going to like that we hijacked his thread for this conversation although he has probably been to most of these places and would probably have good insight to add. He'll blame @Lee anyway for not running a tight enough ship. In our defense is there anything WDW related worth talking about anyway?

He can blame me for mocking Visit Aulani parade presented by Magic Bands. That started this conversation lol

 

[asianway]

@WDW1974 - what do you know about a land transfer from WDPR to RCID over at DTD?

Im wondering if they are creating an Enron situation....

 

[Darth Sidious]

@PeterAlt I just took the monorail from the train to JFK Airport in NYC. I figured you'd appreciate it since you love the rail travel. Pretty good system!

 

[luv]

When I think "Disney hotel", I think of small rooms, exorbitant prices, iffy service and low quality stuff (like the pool chairs).

For this reason, I would never consider Aulani. I would figure that I'd get a bigger, nicer, better room, with better service and better stuff somewhere else...and that I'd pay a lot less for it.

Maybe I'm wrong and Disney did Aulani right, but I won't find out, because based on my experience with Disney, I wouldn't stay there.

 

[SJFPKT]

I have a question for y'all, the wife and I were looking at Aulani. In April it would cost 4,777 for a week. Outrigger Reef, where we have stayed before would cost less than $1,400.00. What would be the benefit of 3K to staying at Aulani?