Originally Posted By demderedoseguys I know this may get moved to the DVC section, but it really should stay here. My wife and I just got back from 10 days at Aulani and I have to say it is absolutely beautiful. Everything from the cleanliness of the resort to the old school Disney Magic is represented there. The cast members are polite, knowledgeable in their jobs and eager to please. My wife and I both commented how it is a throwback to better days at WDW when everyone was treated the way they should be when paying world class prices at world class resorts. Many of the employees are of Hawaiian descent and they take such pride in welcoming visitors to the island and bend over backwards to make the stay as enjoyable as it can be. This was the first time in 20 years that we didn't come to WDW and after this trip, our only desire is to get back to Aulani. Good job, Disney! PS- Didn't miss the parks or the crowds at all. Just total relaxation!!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Sounds great. But I wonder if I am too "Type A" for that type of vacation. We are thinking of doing a week at Vero Beach sometime... won't be as expensive to get to as Hawaii and I can always hop in the car and head to WDW if I get bored out of my mind. About two hours at a time is the most I can spend laying around on a beach. It is even something of an issue for our planned WDW trip this fall. We will be staying at the Bay Lake Tower and Ann wants to make sure she has swim time each day. I scheduled one day for just hanging out at the resort, but EACH DAY?? That cuts into PARK time. I guess marriage is about compromise, so I will probably let Ann win. Besides, even if they officially close earlier they usually don't kick you out of Disney pools late at night if you aren't making noise.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Sounds like you had a nice trip! How much time did you actually spend at Aulani, and how much was offsite somewhere? From what I've read, it seems like Aulani is pretty isolated without a lot to do nearby (though it seems to be improving) And I also think I'm too Type A for a vacation like this. I know tons of people who take vacations to tropical places each year just to sit at the beach, but that just seems like a waste to me. Whether storming the parks or exploring a new city, I just want to get out and do unique things. I can relax when I get back from my vacation!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Yeah... as I told Ann... "If you just want to swim we can rent a suite in the nicest hotel in Springfield for a helluva lot less money".
Originally Posted By CuriousConstance My kids always pull the same thing with swimming. I'm like, "We're at Disneyland! We can swim when we get home!" But we still take a midafternoon break daily to swim. And my daughter is on a freakin swim team for godsakes!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>And my daughter is on a freakin swim team for godsakes!<< Then she must swim while at DL. You wouldn't want her to fall behind in her training, now would you? ; )
Originally Posted By leobloom >> I know tons of people who take vacations to tropical places each year just to sit at the beach << There's a lot more to do in Hawai'i than just sitting on a beach. I can't imagine being too Type-A to enjoy a vacation there. But then again, I wouldn't vacation at WDW every year either.
Originally Posted By hopemax We spent 2 nights, 3 days at Aulani and found it exactly as you describe. After 4 days on Maui where we hiked Haleakala, drove the road to Hana and hiked down at Kipahulu, a day shopping in Lahaina. Then changing islands and driving up to the North Shore, spending a day at Kailua Beach, visiting the stuff at Pearl Harbor, hiking Diamondhead, visiting Waikiki and the Ala Moana shopping center. And a family luau event... floating around in a lazy river was EXACTLY what we needed.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Part of my problem would be age and health. I can walk all day on relatively level ground. But throw in hills and I run into problems fast.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>There's a lot more to do in Hawai'i than just sitting on a beach. I can't imagine being too Type-A to enjoy a vacation there.<< Oh, I know that there are lots of other things there. I've been to Hawaii a couple times and enjoyed myself doing all sorts of things (actually very little beach time), but it's just not very high on my to-do list for going back when there are so many other places But I also know several people who travel to other tropical places (typically in the Caribbean or Mexico) and do nothing more than sit on a beach for a week sipping fruity cocktails
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips I could never just sit on a beach for even a couple of days....don't even visit a pool while at DL
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys To address everyone's comments here's a list of what my wife and I did on the trip: Days 1&2- Spent at The Outrigger at the Beach in Waikiki; walked along the beach, ate at Duke's, did a bit of shopping around the city- (of note to DVC members is that there is a sales desk in one of the shopping areas where you can schedule a DVC tour and purchase points). renewed our wedding vows in advance of our 35th anniversary coming up in November- and no, we're not ancient- I'm 57 and my wife is 55!!. Those were our low activity days while we acclimated to the time change from New York. Days 3-12- Drove to Aulani in rental car, (which is a must in Hawaii) and checked in. We basically used the resort the same as if we were at WDW, except that instead of the parks, there were the day trips. Partial listing: 1- Visited Pearl Harbor 2- Punch Bowl cemetery 3- Walked up Diamond Head 4- Drove up to the North Shore for shops, shrimp trucks ( Hawaii Five-0 style!) 5-Dole Plantation 6- Waimea Falls 7- Island Hop to Maui for 1 night and took the tour for Road to Hana 8-Drove the Leeward Shore and checked out the beaches, caves, etc. It was great to come back to the resort evey night, but we also managed to spend 3 days or so just laying by the pool, using the awesome water slide ahnd floating aimlessly around the lazy river; the pool area makes the awesome pool at the Yacht/Beach Club seem average, with the aforementioned slides and such, but it also has an infinity pool and hot tub. Also, because we were there as part of our 2nd honeymoon, one night we came back to our room and waiting for us was a plate of chocolate covered strawberries and a nice personalized card which was sent up by the concierge desk- Magical!! As you can see, your trip to Aulani can be whatever you want it to be- either a home base for your sightseeing or as a resort to just hang around and enjoy- or both. Can't wait to go back- much more to see and do.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. When in November? My anniversary is also in Nov.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Looks like you did the research in advance to formulate a "game plan". I always do that with a Disney trip, but I'm afraid if I ever went to Hawaii I'd be so overwhelmed by all the choices I'd end up doing nothing. If I ever go I'll have to read a bunch of good guidebooks before the trip.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys LuvDisney- yes, the trip was awesome. Disneymom- November 3rd, 1979. RT- Didn't plan a thing except Pearl Harbor one week before; and the Maui trip about a week before' including the flight. These are basically "must do's" in Hawaii and plenty of tours available. For the other trips, we stopped by the concierge desk at Aulani and the nice girl pulled out a map and circled 10-12 things we should do- which we did just by jumpimg in the car with my trusty iPhone GPS- and off we went. No worries!
