Tips for Aulani?

[KCheatle]

Not sure where this thread should go?!? But, we are in the early stages of planning a trip to DL for a couple days, and then heading out to Aulani for a few days. I've looked at Aulani's website, and it looks like there are some cool things to sign up for. Any tips? Recommendations? Secrets??

Thanks for input!!

 

[polynesiangirl]

Aulani is AMAZING. We went last year and are going again next year. I was basically planning the next trip before we even left. For what it's worth, we LOVE Hawaii and had already been there a few times before going to Aulani.

You can easily spend your whole time at the resort, but particularly if you are a Hawaii first-timer, you will enjoy having a rental car on hand, especially if you are staying in a villa and will have a kitchen. There's also restaurants off property that are within walking distance.

The Aulani food is good; AMA AMA has really incredible beach views. We ate there three times, hahaha. The kids loved the character breakfast.

Splurge for a partial or full ocean view if you can swing it.

The spa is glorious. If you are a person who does spa treatments, do not miss it.

 

[KCheatle]

Aulani is AMAZING. We went last year and are going again next year. I was basically planning the next trip before we even left. For what it's worth, we LOVE Hawaii and had already been there a few times before going to Aulani.

You can easily spend your whole time at the resort, but particularly if you are a Hawaii first-timer, you will enjoy having a rental car on hand, especially if you are staying in a villa and will have a kitchen. There's also restaurants off property that are within walking distance.

The Aulani food is good; AMA AMA has really incredible beach views. We ate there three times, hahaha. The kids loved the character breakfast.

Splurge for a partial or full ocean view if you can swing it.

The spa is glorious. If you are a person who does spa treatments, do not miss it.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. Do you make reservations for the restaurants or are they walk up?

 

[polynesiangirl]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for. Do you make reservations for the restaurants or are they walk up?

We made reservations but we probably didn't need them, except for the couple of meals where we had all 13 of us (we went with a big family group.) However, we went in early November which is a quieter time of year, so if you go at the peak of high season you may want a reservation or two just to be safe.

I was pretty pleased with the quality of the quick service options, too. Even the shave ice stand was decent. Overall I felt it was better quality food than WDW QS, but prices are similar.

The luau show is good too, and included in the price of the room. The kids all got up on stage and danced which was adorable. Oh, and my older son (he had just turned 4) LOVED Aunty's Beach House. You can fill out all the registration paperwork for kids ahead of time (we printed/filled it out at home and brought it with us.) He is dying to go back.

 

[Master Gracey 5]

My wife and I went this past February and loved our time there. We’d love to go back but the long flight is a killer.

We stayed on the DVC side and the rooms were plenty large although the triangular balcony was a bit odd. I understand its set up that way to maximize ocean views but it limits space.

The resort itself is very well done – comparable I’d say to Animal Kingdom Lodge with details and finishes. Take the time to wander around a bit. Also take an hour or so to try the Menehune trail. You have to go to the DVC clubhouse to pick it up but it’s a tablet that requires you to walk around the resort to activate various hidden bits as part of an adventure story. Lots of fun for a round or two, but I can see kids enjoying it for hours.

The pools are great with two waterslides (one using tubes, one fully dark on your back), a lazy river and multiple hot tubs. I'd say the pool area is better in some ways to Storm Along Bay except there is no sand. The lagoon area is nice but since the water felt a bit cool when we were visiting so we didn’t spend much time there. The beach is large and sandy but you share it with the resort next door and the public so we preferred chairs by the pool with drink service.

For restaurants we ate at AMA AMA and enjoyed it very much, one of the best sunsets we’ve ever seen was enjoyed while eating there. We made a reservation to be safe but wanted to eat at sunset. I will say that if you want an upscale meal Roy’s is just up the street and possibly better food, but lacks the atmosphere and view. The small shopping center across the street has some other restaurant options for other nights including a Mexican restaurant and Monkeypod. We enjoyed Monkeypod enough that we went twice and would probably have gone a third time if we had stayed longer! Local fresh foods and great beers. The counter service café at the resort is also enjoyable for some lunch/breakfast but didn’t have much that really stood out to us. Take an evening to spend at Olelo Room – this lounge has drinks for adults and kids, some small dishes that were excellent and most nights they have some live music including some songs for the kids. Also before I forget to mention it, you can get your own Dole Whips by the pool in the shop!

I loved the atmosphere at night; it’s so peaceful and well done with the jungle and soft lighting. I spent a few minutes before bed each night just looking down from our balcony.

You can easily stay just at the resort if it’s just a few days but if you stay longer take some time to experience other parts of Oahu as well if you go! A day on the north shore is lots of fun visiting the Dole plantation, Waimea Falls or just the beaches is awesome.

If you can make it, definitely go. They did an outstanding job and it is a well done resort that I would happily visit again.