You may want to rethink that Aulani vacation.....but not for the reason you may think

[slapwhitey]

We just returned from our second trip to Aulani. The first trip was quite short and took place prior to the resort being 100% complete so we wanted to go back and give it another try.

If you are one of those people who thought it would be nice to check out Aulani for a one time trip....you may want to reconsider. Not because the flight is long, not because the resort has any real issues at all. The problem I have with Aulani is how the heck do I get back there.

Aulani and Oahu in general could very well be my favorite place I have ever been and I can already see myself obsessing about getting back there. This is by far the best themed, most beautiful and most thoroughly themed resort that I have ever seen from the Disney company.

If you have any self control or have an infinite amount of time and money you NEED to spend some time at Aulani and the island of Oahu. If you are the obsessive type then this may affect your job, your personal life....your every waking moment of your life. If that is the case maybe Aulani isn't for you. All I know for sure is that it is DEFINITELY for me.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

You just may have convinced me to try and go some time.

(darn you! )

 

[disney david]

You just may have convinced me to try and go some time.

(darn you! )

day 6 event so tom bell would pay for it

 

[GrassMaster]

You are exactly right. We too went right after opening and have been planning ever since how to get back. We are going summer of 2015 and can't wait. Truly an incredible resort.

 

[OKW Lover]

We're going to be there in just a couple of months. Looking forward to it!!!

[now where is that grass skirt emoticon?]

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

day 6 event so tom bell would pay for it

I LIKE the way you think!!

 

[wallawallakids]

day 6 event so tom bell would pay for it

that is awesome.

 

[lablady]

I thoroughly agree! We went in December of 2012 and are going back this month and I am sooooooooo excited. My DH did not go last time and I can't wait to show him around. We will be there 8 nights and don't plan on doing much running around. Lazy river here I come!

 

[LoloFromNO]

I went last October and it was everything I dreamed it could be. LOVED it!!! I plan on going again in a couple of years.

 

[bamagoofy]

Just finished a trip the earlier part of this month. I love to sight see but had trouble finding a reason to leave the resort. The theming is fantastic. Be sure to leave time to do the resort "tours". I also am trying to plan my next trip.

 

[tstidm1]

Your making me jealous because I won the ABD trip instead of the Aulani trip. I would be looking at $1000 flights to Honolulu instead of $500 flights to LAX. One of my dreams is to go to Hawaii some year.

 

[Iggipolka]

I so agree with the OP. We visited Aulani for 7 days in April 2013 and my 4 year old asks me at least twice a week, when we going back to Aulani. My _4_ year old....

The new pools weren't even in place yet and there was a lot of construction when we were there, but Aulani was fantastic and the island is beyond beautiful. I'd go back tomorrow and stay as long as a possibly could afford to do so. It's really a heavenly place.

 

[CynthiaC925]

I so agree with the OP. We visited Aulani for 7 days in April 2013 and my 4 year old asks me at least twice a week, when we going back to Aulani. My _4_ year old....

The new pools weren't even in place yet and there was a lot of construction when we were there, but Aulani was fantastic and the island is beyond beautiful. I'd go back tomorrow and stay as long as a possibly could afford to do so. It's really a heavenly place.

I went in may 2013. Totally agree. Am obsessing on returning. No need to leave the resort. Heaven on earth!

 

[belle41379]

We are headed there in June. Sounds like we won't want to even think about leaving!

 

[slapwhitey]

We are headed there in June. Sounds like we won't want to even think about leaving!

I would count on it.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Going in June! We have been to Oahu before and prefer the North Shore, so we are renting a house for a week there before going to Aulani for our last two nights/three days. We will do our sightseeing/driving time prior to Aulani. We don't plan to step off property (except for Monkeypod's happy hour).

Can't wait!

 

[wdwlver]

I cannot wait to get there this July...it does look amazing!!!

 

[LilyWDW]

It is on my bucket list! Though it might be a few years.

 

[Pooh2]

We are hoping to do Aulani for our 30th wedding anniversary this year and a few family members have been trying to dissuade us from Oahu (citing crowds and crime levels, the other islands are better..) so was glad to see your post this morning! (Never been off the east coast).
Not everyone seems to understand that the combo of Hawaii with a some Disney sprinkled in is where I want to be!

 

[slapwhitey]

We are hoping to do Aulani for our 30th wedding anniversary this year and a few family members have been trying to dissuade us from Oahu (citing crowds and crime levels, the other islands are better..) so was glad to see your post this morning! (Never been off the east coast).
Not everyone seems to understand that the combo of Hawaii with a some Disney sprinkled in is where I want to be!

We have been twice now to Oahu and that has not at all been the case for us. We've been to the Big Island and although beautiful, I would not trade it for Oahu. If someone was to stay in Waikiki and never really venture from there I could see crowds being an issue. We typically drive into Waikiki once to check things out. We literally drove about every inch of the coastal highways this trip and crowds were never an issue and we never felt like we were in an area we shouldn't be. Especially Ko'Olina where Aulani is. It's a very high end resort area (it's actually a gated community).

Everyone is going to have there own opinion and I realize it's hard not to take advice from friends and family but just know that we did a pretty thorough exploration of the island and it is my new favorite place. To the point that we've already decided that next trip we are not going to check out another island. We love it that much. One thing I will say for sure though is that it is no lie that Honolulu has some of the worst traffic in the country......and I've driven in both Los Angeles and NYC.