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

[MichelleB]

First question: would we still be able to use those points towards booking at Aulani? Second question: how many points would we typically need for a family of 4 to stay during the summer?

I don't see where your points question was answered. It depends on what type of accommodation you would want and for how long. I will use the summer schedule of June 27-Aug 14 for 2016 on the points chart. A studio would be 24-31 points per night and a 1 bedroom would be 46-62 points per night. The range depends on standard, island, poolside, or ocean view.

 

[crystal1313]

Quick question, does anyone know if the pools are open early to swim laps? I was hoping the gym would have a pool, but it is not listed. Just curious. I have a feeling I will be up early with the time difference and would love to squeeze in some swimming if possible. Thanks!

 

[Gorechick]

During my trip last week, the pools were open 8am- 8pm. All pools were roped off until open and after close. I did not see anyone try to use the pools outside of the available times. The lagoon does not have lifeguards on duty or particular hours that I am aware of. I did see people swimming laps across the lagoon early.

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

Quick question, does anyone know if the pools are open early to swim laps? I was hoping the gym would have a pool, but it is not listed. Just curious. I have a feeling I will be up early with the time difference and would love to squeeze in some swimming if possible. Thanks!

I don't really thing the pools are really configured in a way that you would want to swim laps. They would be very short laps. The adult only pool might be a little better, but not by much. The lagoon is perfect for this though!

 

[alohamom]

I don't really thing the pools are really configured in a way that you would want to swim laps. They would be very short laps. The adult only pool might be a little better, but not by much. The lagoon is perfect for this though!

WOW-morning laps in the lagoon is a great idea! It is such a calm body of water, it is the perfect place. Can you imagine it at sunrise? Ohhhh...might have to do this!

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

WOW-morning laps in the lagoon is a great idea! It is such a calm body of water, it is the perfect place. Can you imagine it at sunrise? Ohhhh...might have to do this!

The water is beautiful that time of morning. Totally calm as no one is in there, except for a very small handful of swimmers.

 

[crystal1313]

During my trip last week, the pools were open 8am- 8pm. All pools were roped off until open and after close. I did not see anyone try to use the pools outside of the available times. The lagoon does not have lifeguards on duty or particular hours that I am aware of. I did see people swimming laps across the lagoon early.

Thank you!! I don't know why I wasn't even thinking of that!!

I don't really thing the pools are really configured in a way that you would want to swim laps. They would be very short laps. The adult only pool might be a little better, but not by much. The lagoon is perfect for this though!

I am so looking forward to trying this out. Thank you!!

WOW-morning laps in the lagoon is a great idea! It is such a calm body of water, it is the perfect place. Can you imagine it at sunrise? Ohhhh...might have to do this!

I cannot wait! =) Thank you all for your tips!

 

[Brandy C]

Great tips, Thanks for sharing.

 

[jodistrock]

Something to know if you are staying in regular hotel room (not DVC) is that ULU Cafe has a microwave and toaster to use. I brought indiv cereal bowls for breakfast for my kids, so we just brought those to ULU and bought milk for them. If I had known about the microwave & toaster, I would have brought other breakfast stuff.

Thank you for this information! We will be staying 2 nights in a hotel room & then switch to 2 nights in a DVC room. We leave in ~ a month!

 

[crystal1313]

Hello! We are staying in a villa, paying cash, not points. I know because of this we will get regular everyday housekeeping. My question is this: How often are sheets changed? My parents are joining us in a two bedroom suite and we both want to experience the master bedroom, so thinking of them using the master half the nights and us using the other half. We might just love the other room and not want to change, but I am just trying to find out ahead of time.
Thanks!

 

[richkaryn]

Costco also has liquor (including the premixed margarita bottles available currently across the country) and is a 5min drive from Aulani. For those without a car, there is a "convenience store" across the street but definitely a price gouger. Still beats $10 drinks at the bar though.

For those interested in the USS Arizona, they only give out something like 500 tickets per day (they are free). In June, we showed up on a weekday maybe 20min after they open (7:30 I believe) and all tickets were already given out. I think the prepaid tours may count against this total so maybe we just picked the wrong day.

For those who have never been to Hawaii before, remember the time zone change- you will be waking up at 5am and ready for bed by 8pm the first few days you are there so plan accordingly (see some great sunrises and few people are at the lagoon early in the morning though).

Lastly, the "maze" at the Dole Plantation is a total waste. The train ride is okay especially if you have kids.

You can "prepay" 24 hours in advance at pearl harbor for $1.50 a ticket to reserve a time. Definitely worth doing. We did this so we could get an early time....and we went to Hawaii right after the Navy hospital ship hit the dock of the USS Arizona Memorial, so we were boated out toward it but stopped maybe 100 yards out and you could look and take pics from your seat but not allowed to stand up to take pics. So we have lots of pics with people's heads in them. We plan to go back and stay at Aulani maybe in a couple years so we can actually board the memorial.

 

[sleepymouse]

Quick question, does anyone know if the pools are open early to swim laps? I was hoping the gym would have a pool, but it is not listed. Just curious. I have a feeling I will be up early with the time difference and would love to squeeze in some swimming if possible. Thanks!

I don't have the answer to your question but suggest just calling housekeeping and requesting clean sheets when you make the switch.

 

[crystal1313]

Thanks sleepy mouse! =)

 

[MightyDuck001]

I'm thinking about a trip to Aulani on points, possibly around labor day (Disneyland for the half marathon labor day weekend as an extended layover, then fly LA to Hawaii afterward). My home is the Boardwalk and I know to get a studio I kinda have to book when the 11 month window opens up. At Aulani, how fast do the lower point value studios/hotel rooms fill up? They have a bunch of different categories and I'm trying to figure out how many points to save up.

 

[Soccerluvinmama]

I'm thinking about a trip to Aulani on points, possibly around labor day (Disneyland for the half marathon labor day weekend as an extended layover, then fly LA to Hawaii afterward). My home is the Boardwalk and I know to get a studio I kinda have to book when the 11 month window opens up. At Aulani, how fast do the lower point value studios/hotel rooms fill up? They have a bunch of different categories and I'm trying to figure out how many points to save up.

There are only (I believe) 8 hotel rooms available to DVC, and they book up super super fast. Studios are a little easier.

 

[crystal1313]

Ok. Thought of two more questions. Are there blenders in the rooms? And are their showers near the beach areas to rinse off the sand? Thanks!!

 

[Gorechick]

I don't know about blenders in the DVC rooms but there are none in the regular rooms. There are showers to wash off sand, both overhead and foot ones.

 

[crystal1313]

Thanks gore chick. We have a 2 bedroom villa. A blender isn't listed but I read a trip report on another board and the people made daquris so I was curious.

 

[Girimama33]

Ok. Thought of two more questions. Are there blenders in the rooms? And are their showers near the beach areas to rinse off the sand? Thanks!!

No blenders in the room.
There is an outdoor shower between the beach and the pools that is located next to the adult hot tub (the double decker one).

 

[princessluna14]

My husband and I are planning a trip for September 2017 and we want to rent DVC points to stay at Aulani for 8 or 9 nights... Right now we are having difficulty renting points to stay at the Poly this fall. Is it fairly easy to rent points at Aulani?