Pretty much as long as I can remember, Hawaii was always my dream destination. I have always seen this as an exotic tropical paradise. Still, up until a few years ago, I would have rated my chances of ever getting there about as high as traveling to the moon. It is just too far away and probably one of the most expensive places in this world.
In 2007, we became in DVC members and early on in our membership, I found out that Disney had announced that they would build a DVC resort/ hotel in Hawaii. Suddenly it felt that this was doable and I started to dream that one day we would go there. Graham did not quite share my conviction. He was still concerned about the distance involved. While we were at
Disneyland in 2011, we were encouraged to have a look at the DVC preview centre, where they had Aulani rooms set up. I made him go over there with me and although he liked the rooms well enough, what focused his mind was the scale model of the resort and specifically the lazy river. Suddenly he decided that this may be fun and we tentatively planned that if we liked what we saw on our Hawaii cruise, we would go to Aulani for my 40th birthday. We also decided that we would break our journey at Disneyland in both directions to make the travelling time more manageable.
Our Hawaii cruise came and went. We really enjoyed this and it was a fabulous taster for Hawaii. However, the balance between the time to get there and back and the time actually spent in Hawaii was seriously skewed. We had seen enough to realize that we definitely wanted to be back, but on a land based holiday and/ or on an inter island cruise. When we started to make more detailed plans for this trip, the plan was to do a cruise for a week and stay at Aulani for a week. We also planned to stop over at Disneyland 3 nights on the way there and 3 or 4 nights going back. This was reconsidered when we were planning our Panama Canal cruise for May. We decided to drop the cruise and rather spend some additional time at Aulani. In the end we have decided on 3 nights at Disneyland, 10 nights at Aulani followed by 8 nights at Disneyland.
To maximize our points, I had decided that I would go for a standard view studio. As much as I love a pretty view, I figured we would spend very little time in the room. When I came to book this at seven months out, there were a couple of nights that were not available in a standard view studio. I did however spot something interesting. The offered standard view hotel rooms on points. When they changed things around for the second phase, DVC lost a few units and were given 8 hotel rooms in exchange. They were actually a couple of points less per night and available for all 10 nights. So that is what I went with. I don't need a microwave and we will still have a fridge. I am not even sure if I will be using this as they offer a refillable resort mug. From what I read, this is more expensive than the ones at Walt Disney World, but as we will spend more time in the resort, it will get more use. It also makes a nice souvenir. Best of all, I have seen in photos that they have orange soda as an option.
Over the last few years, a holiday has not really been a holiday for me unless it included a cruise. Yet I am perfectly content with not having a cruise on this trip. A big part of the reason for this is that from what I have read about Aulani, it is very much run like a cruise ship. They have a drink station (even though you have to buy the resort mug to use it), have scheduled character meet and greets, organized activities for children, families and adults, "shore excursions", an adult only pool and even a version of the Personal Navigator called the Daily Iwa. There will also be plenty of ocean to admire.
This will very much be a resort-based holiday. We will do some excursions, which I will write about in a future installment, but I want to relax and enjoy the resort facilities first of all. Of course, there will be plenty to enjoy. Aulani has three pools, two of which cater to families and one to adults only. One of the family pools has a pool slide, but the other family pool has the strongest draw for me. This pool has an infinity edge and is overlooking the beach. It also features a misty grotto and the website is talking about a star effect after dark. Apart from the pools, they also have 4 hot tubs, two of which are meant to have pretty stunning sunset views. I want to enjoy the sunset from that perspective at least once.
For more watery fun, Aulani also has a lazy river that Graham is rather looking forward to and the Rainbow Reef snorkeling area that I am really excited about. On top of all of this is the beach with a sheltered lagoon. I am pretty sure that swimming and snorkeling in the lagoon and walks along the beach will feature as well. I have seen various reports that people have seen Monk Seals and Turtles while walking along the beach to some of the other resorts in the area.
I am also rather excited about the spa. Although it is very expensive, they have some very unusual treatments and normally booking a treatment is also the only way to access their hydrotherapy garden. They now offer this as a standalone to DVC members one evening per week, but I think I will still probably spend most of another day in the spa. Kula Wai, the hydrotherapy garden, consists of herbal pools, reflexology path, six rain showers, cold and hot whirlpools. The treatment that I am most interested in is Kilikili, which consists of a customized, exfoliating body polish, a Lomilomi massage enhanced with fragrant coconut oil and misting jets of warm water and finish with nourishing Hawaiian body butter. This treatment takes place in their private rainwater suite. This sounds absolutely fascinating and very relaxing.
My inner kid will get a good outing, too. They will have regular character meet and greets and I am sure I will take in some of those. As far as I am aware, Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Stitch and Chip and Dale hang out at Aulani and I have also read some reports that Donald was out and about. My main focus of course will be Stitch. I will try to see him as often as possible.
Something else that is taking my fancy is the Menehune Adventure Trail. I knew from the beginning that Menehune can be found all around the resort, but I thought that this was all quite low-tech like the Hidden Mickeys in the parks. However, I have recently found out that there is actually an interactive game similar to the Agent P World Showcase Adventure. As I really enjoy this, I will definitely play Menehune Adventure Trail.
There is one last thing that I am really looking forward to. They have an evening show twice a week that is a showcase of Hawaiian culture called Starlit Hui. As far as I am aware, it takes place on Mondays and Thursdays. This is perfect timing as we arrive on a Thursday and this will be a perfect welcome to Hawaii.
