Thanks for all the input and opinions. I'll expand on my thoughts and experiences. I'm not commenting on anything outside of the resort because I don't think its fair to compare offsite Hawaii to WDW. We did lots off the resort. Byodo-In, Pearl Harbor, North Shore, Waikiki, etc. I don't want to compare the experience at Pearl Harbor to Magic Kingdom. It's a completely different experience and I knew that going in. I will never regret experiencing what Oahu had to offer. But I tend not to enjoy spending large amounts to just sight-see a location more than once. If I am returning to Aulani, that resort is what needs to draw me back, otherwise I can go to Europe, Australia, Japan, etc. to sight-see. Hence my comparison of WDW
resorts vs. Aulani
resort.
Coming home, I was left to ask was the amount I spent on this trip worth a return trip to Aulani? Unfortunately, for me that is a no. Glad I did it once. If Aulani is for you, I wish you nothing but joy, but if it is helpful to anyone else here is more explanation of why it wasn't (for me):
- Makahiki- I'm not doing a full review of Makahiki, but my kids are all "Disney Adults". So $68 per person. Add on drinks for 5. And I'm sorry I always do 20% tip unless the waitstaff really messes up. They don't get paid enough for me to skimp on their salary. So yeah, it passed $500. Was the food bad? No. Does price fix menus force me to choose from a limited menu that I might not want to necessarily chose an item from? Yes. Is this restaurant the only sit-down on the resort currently? Also yes. When I have the same amount of money in WDW I have countless options for food. We can head to Flying Fish, Narcoossees, Citricos, etc. All of which have
better food at comparable prices, not on a price fix (at least last time we were there).
- Food overall - We did go to the ABC, Monkeypdod, Tropic Poke, Giovanni's, Leonard's, Ted's, etc. but in large part that was because we found the food there better than on the resort and less expensive. Which goes to my exact point. If I have to leave the resort to get that, then the resort losses out. I was not trying to do Hawaii on the cheap, but that doesn't mean I can't evaluate it afterwards and say, was it worth it? Two salads, 1 glass of wine (house wine, not fine wine) and one appetizer at Off the Hook cost me over $100. For salad. Nope. Sorry. The food on Aulani is not worth it.
- Luau - I'm glad I did it. I enjoyed the show. The history was great to learn about. Would I ever spend $1000 again for it? Hell no. I'm sorry no meal is worth that amount of money. If you have that amount of casual money to spend, power to you. And nobody told me to have three kids. I get it. But for me, that's too much to ever spend again on that experience. I'll take that money and put it towards a full day at the parks, or go see Cirque at Disney Springs.
- Resort - I'll be honest the quality of the room was not better than any other DVC property on WDW. Yes there are definite good things about the resort, but is it
Disney Cruise Line on land? Not even close. If I am coming back to Aulani I need something more than the Four Seasons or Marriot can offer, and that is the full Disney feel. If that isn't at Aulani, and the trip is all about off the resort, I can do a VRBO or AirBNB for a lot less and still eat off property.
For my time and money, it's WDW ahead of Aulani. From the north east cost, say from New York, Boston, Toronto, the time and cost of a flight is a fraction of what it is to Oahu. I can be on resort in WDW after catching a flight, after finishing work on the same day. I have countless dining options for comparable prices. Resorts with rooms that are just as good. I can suntan by the pool just as well. PLUS, for my family, just stepping into the Orlando airport we can feel the Disney magic. Step into the Contemporary and the smell triggers something. Walk into any number of Disney shops and I have limitless shopping. That's not Aulani. For us Aulani was "a resort" on Hawaii. You have to search for the Disney. There is no skin tingles, if that makes sense. For us, for our money, for our time, its WDW. If you are someone in a similar situation, I hope this helps. If you are in a different situation, aloha and have a great time.