Aulani: What's the One Thing You Wish You Knew?

[WDW_Diane]

I'd like to know if everyone else has seen a hidden Mickey in the lemon water cooler when you first pull up to the resort. I suspect that lemon slice Mickey is there every day!

 

[carissa1970]

I'd like to know if everyone else has seen a hidden Mickey in the lemon water cooler when you first pull up to the resort. I suspect that lemon slice Mickey is there every day!

We didn't notice it, but it was night, so maybe that is why. I've seen a picture!

How about the Mickey on the fish in the pond? My son learned about it in the Fish are Friends activity. Cool!

 

[frank808]

I believe it is. It must have been in someone's trip report. I want to say it was like $2.98 compared to the $6 at the Dole Plantation.
I plan on looking for it in June

Yes costco sells POG by the gallon. It is right next to the fresh OJ and milk in the refrigerated section.

 

[magiclj]

Bumping up - I arrive on February 27th.

Anything new to add from Aulani experienced travelers out there?

 

[jerseygal]

Thinking of joining Costco. How is the Costco Selection as compared to
Safeway, Target?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mickey Mantle]

One improvement from my first trip to Aulani a year ago (February 4 - 14, 2013) and my current trip, is the water temperature of the swimming pools and the lazy river. A year ago, I didn't spend a lot of time in the pool because it was too cold. Every time I got out of the pool I headed for the hot tub. Same with the lazy river. I did my best not to get sprayed along the way because it wasn't pleasant. Right now the water temperature is perfect. I have hardly been in a hot tub the entire trip and I want to get sprayed in the lazy river.

 

[LisaT91403]

Thinking of joining Costco. How is the Costco Selection as compared to
Safeway, Target?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unless you are staying at Aulani for a long time with a lot of people, I'm not sure it's worth it to join Costco (just for the trip). What kinds of things do you want to buy, and do you want to buy a lot of it?

 

[jerseygal]

We have one locally within 25 minutes and have been thinking of joining anyway....

What is a "long period of time"...Will be at Aulani 7 nights, 8 long days as we have an 8:10 red eye back to New York area....

Looking to pick up cereal, breakfast items, some rolls and cold cuts, snack foods, water, eggs, milk, juice, bread, fruit! Won't be cooking any dinners, definitely most breakfasts and maybe a few lunches....

Can't wait FOR AULANI IN MAY! Back is hurting from shoveling with this NY area storm! SICK OF WINTER!

 

[JOANNEL]

They will not loan you the baggage carts here. I know this because we tried yesterday when we came back from Costco. As per the usual excuse for things around here (like not having the grills on when it's raining), it's a "safety issue".

We had the same issue after returning from the commissar on Hickham. Really didn't need the help unloading groceries!!!

The grills at Aulani are wonderful. We cooked in three nights!!

 

[jerseygal]

Thanks for a reminder about the grills!

Will get some hot dogs, hamburgers, and buns for lunch one day!

 

[Anal Annie]

Thinking of joining Costco. How is the Costco Selection as compared to
Safeway, Target?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wouldn't join just for this trip....but definitely join if you will also use it at home. It is great for stuff like paper towels, coffee, soups, gatorades & vitamin waters, printer ink cartridges, batteries, snacks, vitamins, frozen foods etc. I usually go every 2-3 months since everything is in such large quantities....I will spend several hundred when I go....that's why I try not to go too often.

 

[owensamo]

What is a "long period of time"...Will be at Aulani 7 nights, 8 long days as we have an 8:10 red eye back to New York area....

Looking to pick up cereal, breakfast items, some rolls and cold cuts, snack foods, water, eggs, milk, juice, bread, fruit! Won't be cooking any dinners, definitely most breakfasts and maybe a few lunches....

Muffins/croissants, rolls, and cold cuts are a good bet for a week. Milk is by the gallon so that's the same wherever. Our costco has 18ct and 36ct egg cartons. We can go through a 12 pack of Naked Juice in a week (as we just did) and bread and fruit are just fine there as well. They also have take-and-bake style pizza and entrees that I'm looking forward to getting for our Aulani trip - less time in the kitchen is more time to enjoy Hawaii!

I'd say you might not want to get your cereal there - unless you can find a pack of the small boxes. They tend to sell double-bagged boxes of cereal (or the equivalent of 2-3 normal boxes) so if you don't eat a ton of cereal, I'd skip it and get muffins or pastries instead. Otherwise, for our family of 3, we can shop your list for a week at Costco at home!

Our nearest Costco is about a 20-25 minute drive and we tend to go about once a month to stock up on the necessities (paper products, milk, eggs, gasoline, bread etc) and get our money's worth every year. We've actually stopped on vacations in the past just to pick up something quick and to get lunch - can't beat the hot dog deal, and they've got great pizza!

If you're considering it, check Living Social - a friend of mine just joined with a deal that got them a $20 Costco card at sign-up. Or see if you have a friend you can tag along with sometime to see if it's right for you.

 

[kittyab]

I plan to hit Costco for trip. They are great for picking up quick breakfast & lunch items. Fresh fruit, bagels, bread, lunch meat.

Not to mention it is a great place to stock up on beer & coolers LOL!

I am in Canada and I have used my Costco card in VA... so I know I can use it in Hawaii

 

[KaTFacer]

We just got back and have been in a state of disappointment the whole time. Why did we have to leave? It was perfect. We got there and it was beautiful and sunny and bright... the first day. Cloudy and sprinkled every day after. Who cares? We still had the time of our lives.
You know, you see the pictures, you hear the stories of the resort, but what we were really shocked about was the customer service. We ran into one of the photopass photographers in Target our first night there (his Mom was with him and noticed our Disney shirts we had on) and they stopped us, talked to us for over half an hour about the resort and the area. We bumped into him numerous times over the rest of our stay and it was great having a "friend" there. The rest of the staff was equally amazing. We had a two bedroom ocean view (pics to come on the other thread) but what we will remember the most is the people there.
The one thing I wish I knew was how bad the traffic was in Honolulu. It is so much worse than it was 10 years ago. I went there with these grand plans about what to do on our stay, we cut 2/3 of them and enjoyed ourselves at the resort. Here is the one thing I think you should know when you are there. ENJOY YOURSELF!

 

[jerseygal]

Katfacer, can't wait to see your pictures!

Happy for you and your family that your trip was WONDERFUL!
Must say this is one of the COLDEST days in the east today! WARM THOUGHTS of our May Aulani trip is keeping me going!
Cannot WAIT to spend a week with my husband and 2 adult sons!!!

SO GREAT to hear about Aualnis' superb customer service!

Traffic seems to be a NIGHTMARE! Used to NY traffic, but not on vaca...
Might have to "adjust" our schedule...

We have a 7 night, 8 very long day schedule as we are flying back to Newark non stop on a red eye...Not departing HNL until 8:10 in the evening.
We plan to do ALOT OF R&R...MUCH NEEDED!

As the price of flights are high and the flight time, 11 hrs there and 9 1/2 hours back are long, we want to APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY OF THE RESORT and not cram too much in!

Feel BLESSED that we can go as a family in May! Can't wait for the SUNSHINE!

Enjoy the beautiful memories that you will hold from your trip!

 

[wdwlver]

Another east coaster here and cannot wait till July so we can finally get to Aulani!!
We are also flying home to Newark on the red eye and think we will do Pearl Harbor on that day. We have to check out anyway and will have the whole day before we need to be at airport.
Couldn't handle the flight out all in one chunk so stopping in California for three days before heading out to Aulani.
Literally cannot wait!!!

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

One thing I didn't know the first time I went, but learned before our last trip, is to sign up for Honolulu Group e-mails (and on my app). We found AMAZING deals for restaurants, horseback riding, sunset cruises, snorkeling trips and even one of those underwater scooter excursions! Many of the Groupon deals offered expired after our trip, so we would be able to use them while we were there.

 

[Sur]

Should that have said Honolulu groupon?

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

Should that have said Honolulu groupon?

Dang auto correct! Yes, GROUPON!!!

 

[Sur]

I summized as such.....wanted to be sure I wasn't missing another option.