What's happening to Aulani??

[jodybird511]

I get that and if you are in that room type anyway, then it makes sense. My point was that people are advising others to spend more on 1bdrm as a way to "save" money by cooking in their room. Which is ridiculous considering the cost.

I've personally recommended this at times to people, but only if they are using points. I wouldn't recommend this option "to save money" if they are paying cash, b/c you're right--it's definitely not a money saver.

 

[mort1331]

I get that and if you are in that room type anyway, then it makes sense. My point was that people are advising others to spend more on 1bdrm as a way to "save" money by cooking in their room. Which is ridiculous considering the cost.

We are booking a 1bdrm not for money savings, but for sanity savings. 4 of us in a studio for longer than a couple of days nope. Plus wife loves doing laundry before we leave so she doesnt do it when we get home. Pack clean clothes and put away when home. win win. And yes I know we can do laundry for free with a studio,,but with a 1bdrm we can put a load and in and walk away and come back when we want to.

 

[Lilsia]

We are booking a 1bdrm not for money savings, but for sanity savings. 4 of us in a studio for longer than a couple of days nope. Plus wife loves doing laundry before we leave so she doesnt do it when we get home. Pack clean clothes and put away when home. win win. And yes I know we can do laundry for free with a studio,,but with a 1bdrm we can put a load and in and walk away and come back when we want to.

I have seen people doing their laundry the night before but that never works for us. Everything seems to still get wrinkled in the suitcase and any time you go to someplace tropical, especially Florida, everything has that slight mildew smell to it. Plus public machines are kind of gross. I like to wash everything at home, it just seems more fresh then it does after sitting in the suitcase for a day.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I have seen people doing their laundry the night before but that never works for us. Everything seems to still get wrinkled in the suitcase and any time you go to someplace tropical, especially Florida, everything has that slight mildew smell to it. Plus public machines are kind of gross. I like to wash everything at home, it just seems more fresh then it does after sitting in the suitcase for a day.

We like doing laundry pretty much every day so we can pack less. Instead of packing for 8 nights, we pack for 3 nights and put a load through every couple of days. But I agree that everything gets nasty all over again once the suitcase gets underneath that airplane. We re-wash everything when we get home, too.

 

[JC1984]

We like doing laundry pretty much every day so we can pack less. Instead of packing for 8 nights, we pack for 3 nights and put a load through every couple of days. But I agree that everything gets nasty all over again once the suitcase gets underneath that airplane. We re-wash everything when we get home, too.

You can wear one pair of underwear for 4 days

 

[Maddysdaddy]

You can wear one pair of underwear for 4 days

There are many things in life that someone ‘can’ do. Whether they ‘should’ is another story entirely…

 

[Lilsia]

You can wear one pair of underwear for 4 days

Or, not at all.

 

[3dog2kidmom]

Was there last week... fitness center open, no mugs, no buffets, no Aunty's, adult pool was still for everyone (though very quiet - only saw a few families in there on our 2 pool days), tons of pool loungers available all over, poolside food service was very good (we were in a cabana but I saw them servicing the people in chairs too).

Housekeeping was non-existent even though I picked "every other day" in my online check-in. Towels were replaced and trash emptied daily; and they were quick to answer when I wanted more coffee, TP, lotion, and body wash.

The luau was great - I can't speak to what it was before. We had to queue up before and stay distanced. Each party was escorted to their table after pictures. Some wore masks in line, most didn't - and no one was told to do otherwise. The performers told us in the opening remarks that we didn't need to wear masks since we were outside. They did remind everyone to stay at their tables, and during the dance-along parts of the show they made you stay at your own table. At the end we were released by table as well.

Hope this helps!

 

[teach22180]

Disney World is bringing back mugs, so I'm hopeful.

 

[kelly3kids]

We just got back on the 23rd and the old adult pool hardly had anyone in it almost every time we went by it. I stood in line to get coffee at the coffee bar right there and a few kids were in it while parents waited for coffee. One time I even asked the lifeguard if he was bored because the pool was empty. The kids prefer the big pool and infinity pool.
We didn’t miss Ama Ama because it wasn’t that good. We had an amazing time and feel like Aulani is doing everything they know how to make it special under the orders they have. I am thankful for smiling staff and the kind people. It was a wonderful trip.

 

[Lilsia]

We just got back on the 23rd and the old adult pool hardly had anyone in it almost every time we went by it. I stood in line to get coffee at the coffee bar right there and a few kids were in it while parents waited for coffee. One time I even asked the lifeguard if he was bored because the pool was empty. The kids prefer the big pool and infinity pool.
We didn’t miss Ama Ama because it wasn’t that good. We had an amazing time and feel like Aulani is doing everything they know how to make it special under the orders they have. I am thankful for smiling staff and the kind people. It was a wonderful trip.

This was our experience too, even back in June. I don't see why they can't go back to making it an adult only pool, other then they don't want the cast members to have to go back to policing it. We did enjoy our Ama Ama meal 3 years ago. The food was actually really good and so was the service. Ama Ama had an issue with consistency and it really depended on what you ordered from what I saw. They really do need to bring back a restaurant in that area. We love Aulani and had a great time. There is so much to do, that we did not miss any of the things that were missing.

 

[Paul Stupin]

This was our experience too, even back in June. I don't see why they can't go back to making it an adult only pool, other then they don't want the cast members to have to go back to policing it. We did enjoy our Ama Ama meal 3 years ago. The food was actually really good and so was the service. Ama Ama had an issue with consistency and it really depended on what you ordered from what I saw. They really do need to bring back a restaurant in that area. We love Aulani and had a great time. There is so much to do, that we did not miss any of the things that were missing.

We had a wonderful time as well last April, and are looking forward to returning in May. Though we don’t have kids, we never really liked the adults pool, which for us seemed stuck on the side in a weird, cramped location that kind of reminded us of what you’d see at a motel. We usually hang out either on the beach or in the loungers in front of the Ama Ama building. We also love Makahiki, and all the restaurants next door at the Four Seasons.

 

[Lilsia]

We had a wonderful time as well last April, and are looking forward to returning in May. Though we don’t have kids, we never really liked the adults pool, which for us seemed stuck on the side in a weird, cramped location that kind of reminded us of what you’d see at a motel. We usually hang out either on the beach or in the loungers in front of the Ama Ama building. We also love Makahiki, and all the restaurants next door at the Four Seasons.

The draw of the adult pool was to have a peaceful area without a bunch of kids running, screaming, and splashing around. It is not really about the quality of the pool. I loved it because I could get a chair there and sit and relax with a book and not have some kid screaming and splashing me with water as they ran by. And the older that you get, the more you appreciate the peace.

 

[Paul Stupin]

The draw of the adult pool was to have a peaceful area without a bunch of kids running, screaming, and splashing around. It is not really about the quality of the pool. I loved it because I could get a chair there and sit and relax with a book and not have some kid screaming and splashing me with water as they ran by. And the older that you get, the more you appreciate the peace.

I totally get it. But I get all the adult benefits on a lounger in front of the Ama Ama building, and even on the beach. And I loved the idea of an adult pool at Aulani…until I saw it. It just felt cramped, boxed in, and low end. That said, though, I‘d still rather it be for adults!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I loved it because I could get a chair there and sit and relax with a book and not have some kid screaming and splashing me with water as they ran by.

Were the chairs ever adults-only?

 

[Lilsia]

Were the chairs ever adults-only?

Yes, the whole area, including the cabanas, where adults only. They would kick kids out that went into that area. I saw several parents who would be sitting there and have their kids off in the main pool but would come to talk to their parents, only to be kicked out by the cast members. Just like they do on the cruise.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yes, the whole area, including the cabanas, where adults only. They would kick kids out that went into that area. I saw several parents who would be sitting there and have their kids off in the main pool but would come to talk to their parents, only to be kicked out by the cast members. Just like they do on the cruise.

Now that you compare it to the cruise, the more I think this is a temporary measure linked to the reopening of Aunty's Beach House. Speaking for my own family, the only time my wife and I made it to the adults-only area on the ship when when our kids were in the Oceaneer Club. I know there are some adults who cruise or go to Aulani without kids in their group, but I feel like the numbers are skewed so heavily that there's just minimal demand for an 18+ space when parents aren't able to send their kids to Aunty's for a few hours.

 

[Lilsia]

Now that you compare it to the cruise, the more I think this is a temporary measure linked to the reopening of Aunty's Beach House. Speaking for my own family, the only time my wife and I made it to the adults-only area on the ship when when our kids were in the Oceaneer Club. I know there are some adults who cruise or go to Aulani without kids in their group, but I feel like the numbers are skewed so heavily that there's just minimal demand for an 18+ space when parents aren't able to send their kids to Aunty's for a few hours.

I think that Aulani has a bit of a different demographic then the cruise. Many people go to Aulani for their honeymoon for example. And I think that the child/adult ratio is much different then on the cruise. When we went 3 years ago, the adult area filled up pretty darn quick at Aulani(it does so on the cruise also).

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I think that Aulani has a bit of a different demographic then the cruise. Many people go to Aulani for their honeymoon for example. And I think that the child/adult ratio is much different then on the cruise. When we went 3 years ago, the adult area filled up pretty darn quick at Aulani(it does so on the cruise also).

I guess my experiences haven't been typical. In 8 nights at Aulani, I've seen maybe three people total in the adult pool, but it was cool (for Hawaii, mid-70s). My only cruise was during COVID and the adult area was EMPTY.

 

[TreAntDeu]

This was our experience too, even back in June. I don't see why they can't go back to making it an adult only pool, other then they don't want the cast members to have to go back to policing it. We did enjoy our Ama Ama meal 3 years ago. The food was actually really good and so was the service. Ama Ama had an issue with consistency and it really depended on what you ordered from what I saw. They really do need to bring back a restaurant in that area. We love Aulani and had a great time. There is so much to do, that we did not miss any of the things that were missing.

Always loved the breakfast at AmaAma. But the dinner was so overpriced compared to the other nice places around there relative to what we were served. Now, that in itself is not a deal breaker, but the kids are so bad at that restaurant and the staff don't care. The buffet staff do better at controlling kids to an appropriate level. AmaAma was always awful with kids running around the restaurant next to our table, screaming, etc. I have no issue with kids, but when eating there costs more than Mina's, you have to at least try to control the guests.

As far as I'm concerned, I hope it gets totally redone with a new staff, adjusted prices or food worth the price compared to the competition next door.