Something I wish I had brought is...?

[blessed2BaMama]

As we plan for our upcoming trip (1st timers in Hawaii but experienced DVC owners), I am constantly trying to read through each thread to get ideas of what I need and don't need to bring! Any suggestions of something you needed but didn't bring or something you brought but didn't need would be so appreciated!! Thank you already!! I love this forum!!!

 

[KristieGriggs]

Oh that's a great question! I definitely overpacked. But I wore pretty much every swimsuit and coverup I packed though. I also bought a pair of Keens for myself and my kids before our trip and we wore those a lot. (Mostly when exploring the island.) I brought things from home like ziplock bags so I could bring snacks to the pool. Even though we knew we were going to Target I thought we should bring as much as we could from home since I thought everything would be more expensive to buy in Hawaii. However I noticed at the Target there that the prices were the exact same on everything I buy at the Target I shop at in Florida.
I also packed pool floats we never used. (They won't fill them up anywhere at Aulani anymore, but they will at the Island Market across the street.)
Oh and I bought one of those waterproof pouches that you can wear that we never used. I felt okay leaving my phone and room key in a bag under a chair.
I did use my GoPro a lot. That was fun to use.
I also brought a few coffee filters from home which was nice since we wanted to make coffee we bought there.
I bought this on Amazon before we left so we had an easy place to charge all of our phones/ipods/ipads. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0152TMTPM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Oh, and for the flight home, I bought my girls these blank books to journal about their trip. We do this after every vacation and it's so fun to see the things they write about and their drawings.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1Z5508/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[alohamom]

I also brought a few coffee filters from home which was nice since we wanted to make coffee we bought there.

Oh my goodness-THANK YOU! I usually bring my own too but somehow I dont have them on my list. I am going to go put some in a ziplock RIGHT NOW LOL, you are awesome for posting this!

 

[KristieGriggs]

Oh my goodness-THANK YOU! I usually bring my own too but somehow I dont have them on my list. I am going to go put some in a ziplock RIGHT NOW LOL, you are awesome for posting this!

Oh I can't take credit for that. Someone else posted it on another thread and I took note. So yes, that was very helpful for me too!

 

[newdeal]

Oh that's a great question! I definitely overpacked. But I wore pretty much every swimsuit and coverup I packed though. I also bought a pair of Keens for myself and my kids before our trip and we wore those a lot. (Mostly when exploring the island.) I brought things from home like ziplock bags so I could bring snacks to the pool. Even though we knew we were going to Target I thought we should bring as much as we could from home since I thought everything would be more expensive to buy in Hawaii. However I noticed at the Target there that the prices were the exact same on everything I buy at the Target I shop at in Florida.
I also packed pool floats we never used. (They won't fill them up anywhere at Aulani anymore, but they will at the Island Market across the street.)
Oh and I bought one of those waterproof pouches that you can wear that we never used. I felt okay leaving my phone and room key in a bag under a chair.
I did use my GoPro a lot. That was fun to use.
I also brought a few coffee filters from home which was nice since we wanted to make coffee we bought there.
I bought this on Amazon before we left so we had an easy place to charge all of our phones/ipods/ipads. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0152TMTPM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Oh, and for the flight home, I bought my girls these blank books to journal about their trip. We do this after every vacation and it's so fun to see the things they write about and their drawings.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1Z5508/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

What size coffee filters do the coffee makers at Aulani use? We are staying in a studio, I am not sure if the makers are different for the different room types

 

[KristieGriggs]

What size coffee filters do the coffee makers at Aulani use? We are staying in a studio, I am not sure if the makers are different for the different room types

We were in a villa. It was a regular size coffee maker. Not a small one. I would assume they are all the same in the rooms.

 

[Gr8scott]

We just returned from a 2-week stay and never even considered putting on long pants or jacket (wind breaker) that that we packed. We dined at Ama Ama a few times and shorts were fine there. I 2nd the advice to bring coffee filters and purchase coffee while you are there if you like any kind of strength to your coffee as the the pouches provided in your room do little more than color the water regardless how large a pot you make. Also just for reference the coffee makers are the "flat bottomed" Mr. Coffee style makers as opposed to the cone-shaped baskets found in some models.

 

[kelly3kids]

I liked having tide pods. We were in a two bedroom lock off so we had the washer and dryer but even without that I would of had to do at least one load in their laundry room. We had a couple shirts that I didn't want to get stained with shaved ice drippings.

I second the coffee filter idea. I forgot them this time and had to buy a whole pack. We saw the coffee maker in the studio and it was the same size as the one bedroom villa. I also wish I would have gone to the DVC mingle but didn't see it in time because they gave away exclusive hats that my DH really liked. They don't sell them. Just a thought.

 

[lizard1]

I would have packed more snacks like popcorn, etc. While most of the prices at Target were similar to what I pay at home I found that bread, milk, and chips/popcorn were a LOT more (milk here is about $2.29, milk in HI was $5.00/gal, chips/popcorn seemed to be about $2 more per bag/box, and bread was abour $5.00/loaf (Target brand was $3.00)). Also, spices/salt/pepper seemed to run more there, so it would have been helpful to take some seasonings along with us, since we did cook some in the room.

I also found that the over the door shoe holder that I normally take wouldn't fit on the doors and still allow them to close.

I also wish that I had taken less reading material (though I only took 2 books). I spent all of my time enjoying the scenery and never opened a book at all.

 

[Sheila Tenney]

We just got home yesterday. I'm not sure if you enjoy a cocktail or a glass of wine, but I wish I had my own drink ingredients and plastic cups. We were out and about every single day, and didn't return to Aulani until the evening. We usually prepared our own meals in our one bedroom, and then our teen was off to the teen programs. Our little one enjoyed being at Auntie's Playhouse for a an hour or two. My husband and I enjoyed some very nice romantic sunsets while we sat in the lounge chairs that faced the lagoon. We treated ourselves to a cocktail. However, they were very expensive and not all that great. I think we could have saved a ton of money by just preparing our own and taking them in plastic cups down ourselves. However, the bartenders were very nice, and we did have some nice chats with them. So, that made it somewhat worth it and part of the experience.

I also bought a pair of water shoes while I was there. We spend a ton of time at the beaches and some were rocky. I wish I had packed a pair before we went.

I was surprised how little time we spent at the the Aulani. We rented a car, and we're so glad we did. There was so much to see and do on Oahu. We took hikes, snorkeled, our teen took a great surf lesson, and spent a lot of time on North Shore.

We didn't book any Disney excursions, we did everything on our own.

Hope this is helpful! Have a wonderful time!

 

[kelly3kids]

I was just reading another post that was added to the Aulani posts. It made me think about the fact that I wish I would have remembered a couple of my reusable bags. I had it on my list and left without packing them. We did end up buying three at Target and they are really durable. We used them for a few different things while there so it wasn't a complete loss and we did bring them home because they are durable. I just wish I would have remembered to pack the reusable bags from home. I knew I would need them for Target.

 

[DaeHyFoog]

I wish I would have brought my own pillow from home, and I didn't because of how much space it would have taken up in my luggage. The pillows at Aulani were all too big and fluffy for me as someone who sleeps on her back. In retrospect, it would've been worth the luggage space.

One thing I'm really glad I brought was a duffle bag. I packed this inside a suitcase on the way to Hawaii, but it served as an additional carry-on during the flight home. It was great to have extra space for souvenirs.

 

[Sepo]

As we plan for our upcoming trip (1st timers in Hawaii but experienced DVC owners), I am constantly trying to read through each thread to get ideas of what I need and don't need to bring! Any suggestions of something you needed but didn't bring or something you brought but didn't need would be so appreciated!! Thank you already!! I love this forum!!!

1) as others have said: detergent pods for both The dishwasher and laundry. ABC store and hotel shop were out of dishwasher detergent. As with all items, if w car, can also remember to pick up at Target in Kapolei 5 minutes away.

2) The $15 Samsonite 5900D (or similar product) travel safe was fantastic. I got it after reading a prior thread here months ago. Made storing phones and room cards very assuring when at pool or beach area. Easy to lock to chairs.

3) On that note: Aulani is relatively safe but always beware anywhere. Spouse got cart-bumped with obvious attempted pickpocket from second party in a safe-appearing big box store shortly after checkout, pushing toward exit. Thwarted.

4) waterproof phone pouch with neck strap was very helpful in many places.

5) take TP w you if planning on visiting public beaches elsewhere where there are only public bathrooms... Especially north or east.

6) didn't have the telescoping phone/camera thing but in retrospect could've been good on all those lookouts by the roads and hikes.

7) Apple TV or Roku can be helpful. There's a convenient plug in HDMI Aux cabinet in each TV room. Bring your hdmi cable.

8) bug spray if going on hikes.

9) neosporin, band aids.

10) that's all for now...

 

[alohamom]

One thing I'm really glad I brought was a duffle bag. I packed this inside a suitcase on the way to Hawaii, but it served as an additional carry-on during the flight home. It was great to have extra space for souvenirs.

YES-I always do this! You can always just pack it back inside your suitcase if you find you dont buy a ton. But you will my friends, you will-I have been going to Hawaii for years and I always bring home mac nuts, coffee, etc

 

[crystal1313]

Curious, doesn't Aulani provide laundry detergent? We are not renting points, but paying cash and I swear I read that Aulani provides laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent daily...am I wrong? Thanks!

 

[Sepo]

Curious, doesn't Aulani provide laundry detergent? We are not renting points, but paying cash and I swear I read that Aulani provides laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent daily...am I wrong? Thanks!

For us, DVC, there were starter packs. But that was it. We had a family of 5 and ran it often.

If you are not doing points, yes they'll provide daily.

 

[crystal1313]

For us, DVC, there were starter packs. But that was it. We had a family of 5 and ran it often.

If you are not doing points, yes they'll provide daily.

Thank you!

 

[twodogs]

Yes they provide in a cash reservation. At other resorts like AKL, BLT in WDW which we also did cash reservations, I've noticed they sometimes didn't look to see that all laundry detergent had been used and forgot to leave more. So I just leave a nice note with our daily tip for the mousekeepers and ask them to leave whatever we need.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Your Costco Membership - bring it, and use it. You won't regret it.

 

[Gorechick]

More money $$$$$. I'm a souvenir hog and did purchase quite a few things but there was more I wished I could've gotten. Luckily, disneystore.com is starting to carry more Aulani merchandise so I've been able to get a few things that way.