“Rooms begin at around $400 a night.” The words made my stomach twist. Yes, it is Disney and yes, it is Hawaii- but $400? Wow.
My family is on a budget (nobody becomes a travel blogger to get rich) so if we were to spend $400+ a night on a hotel after paying for flights to Hawaii, it would have to be worthy of the “big trip”. You know, the trip that you scrimp and save for. The trip that you still talk about 20 years later while you munch on turkey and yams at the Thanksgiving table. That trip.
After spending 3 nights at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, as part of the grand opening celebration and media event I have come to this conclusion- THE AULANI IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE COST. Disney knew that us fans had ridiculously high expectations for the new resort and still managed to exceed every expectation I could have had. Here are some of the highlights of this world class paradise:
The Pool Area
Everyone who has ever traveled with kids (or been a kid!) knows that nothing is more important than a great pool. Disney, who happens to know a thing or two about what kids want, created the Waikolohe Valley- a spectacular recreation area in the center of the resort. Waikolohe is Hawaiian for “mischievous waters” and plenty of water and mischief can be found throughout the valley. Two water slides start atop the resort’s “lava” outcropping and wind through rock formations. The tube slide ends with a refreshing plunge into a shallow pool and the raft slide ends in Waikolohe Stream, the lazy river. Guests floating along the stream will discover fountain springs spouting to life and float through a cavern filled with gurgling water.
Families with small children will love the zero entry pool and the Menehune Bridge, a water play structure featuring 3 slides and plenty of opportunities to get drenched. Adults looking for some quiet time will appreciate the tranquility of the Wailana Pool which is removed from the main hub of activity. Sunset lovers of all ages should definitely find time to experience the fire ball dipping into the ocean from one the resort’s two infinity spas which overlook the lagoon.
More Water Fun
As if the pools and play areas weren’t enough, Disney has given us even more reason to spend time in the water. Young snorkelers will love Rainbow Reef, a 3,800 square-foot snorkel lagoon teeming with tropical fish. For $20, guests are given snorkel gear, a flotation device, and access to the reef. I watched a preschooler float alongside his father with his face in the water, completely delighted by the fish swimming below him. If you have a sea life lover traveling with you, you may want to splurge on some time at the Makai Preserve, a conservation pool where guests can wade in alongside stingrays, starfish, and anemones.
Tip: The best snorkeling near the Aulani can be found by following the waterfront path past the JW Marriott until it ends. Then walk along the rocks at water’s edge and two coves up, just past the Paradise Cove Luau, you will find a protected cove filled with dozens of brightly covered fish. The scuba gear given to you at Rainbow Reef is yours until 5:00PM so why not make the most of it?
Of course, one water feature that can’t be overlooked is the pristine ocean lagoon that Aulani shares with neighboring JW Marriott. The water is calm, warm, and impossibly blue. While the lagoon may not be great for surfing, it is ideal for kayaking or paddleboarding. I experienced the latter and took a one hour lesson for $39.00 which I booked right on the sand at the resort’s rental stand. Paddleboarding in the calm lagoon with Aulani as my backdrop ended up being the highlight of my stay. My friendly and encouraging guide gave me all the confidence and instruction I needed to feel right at home on the longboard. He told me that children as young as six were welcome to take lessons on their own boards and younger children are happy sitting on their parent’s board while mom and dad paddle.
The FREE Kids’ Club
Most resort’s charge close to $100 a day for children to participate in their kids’ club but Aulani is not like most resorts. Aunty’s Beach House is open to potty trained children ages 3-12 and is hands down the best kids’ club I have ever seen. I would literally have to drag my children out of this place! There are games, dress-up closets full of Disney princess costumes, crafts, computers, a backyard playground, and even a movie room featuring classic Disney flicks. Did I mention it is free? There are some premium activities available for a fee, such as professional hula lessons, but kids can definitely find plenty of great things to entertain them that won’t cost a dime.
The Spa
The spa at Aulani, Laniwai, features treatments that reflect the islands such as Lomilomi massages or the Magical Niu coconut scrub and wrap (which the Vacation Gal’s Kara Williams speaks quite highly of). A hydrotherapy garden is sure to make any parent want to move in permanently, but this spa is not designed with just adults in mind. Teens will be heaven at Painted Sky, a spa designed specifically for them (aka: mom and dad are not welcome). This space is meant to be a place for teenage guests to hang out and connect so in addition to spa treatments, teens can also enjoy Xbox Kinect games, mixology stations, and a yogurt station. I am told that contrary to popular belief, the boys seem to like hanging out in the spa just as much as the girls- though they may end up passing on the french manicure.
One unique experience offered at the spa is rental of the Ohana room. Ohana means “family” in Hawaiian and here, families enjoy a group spa experience. While one parent is receiving a massage from a professional, the remaining parent and children learn how to give massage to one another. New parents can even use the Ohana room to receive massage and learn how to massage their newborn which helps aide in digestion and calm baby down for nap time.
The Details
The true Disney magic is always in the details. According to Imagineer Joe Rhode “[Disney] really tried to do things that children will notice before adults”. Case in point- little wooden menehune statues are hidden all around the resort, many of which are at a preschooler’s eye level. Authenticity was also incredibly important to Disney when designing the property. While the average guest may not realize that the hotel room drapes were designed after a traditional Hawaiian kapa cloth created by renowned kuma kapa Dalani Tanahy, the efforts towards authenticity will add an important layer to to the magic of the entire Aulani experience. It is these little details that in combination of one another, make the Aulani experience unlike any other. Here are a few more details that I especially enjoyed:
- The resort is built to reflect the topography of the Hawaiian Islands. The lobby is the high point, or mauna, and the surrounding flora reflects the lush vegetation that would grow in this ecosystem while the recreation area reflects flora that would be seen in the drier valleys. Instead of the typical array of tropical flowers leading up to the entrance, Aulani features taro fields and tropical fruit trees which reflect the island’s agriculture.
- A crib/playpen is waiting for families in the closet of every room, along with sheets and a mini-fridge. Bed rails, bottle warmers, outlet covers, booster seats, and high chairs can also be checked out from the front desk, making packing for the big trip to Hawaii a little less stressful.
- When fully completed, the resort will have 481 Disney Vacation Club (DVC) 2 bedroom suites with full kitchens and plenty of space for families to spread out. While most of the DVC rooms will be occupied by DVC owners, there will be a small percentage of these rooms available to the general public, making Aulani an ideal place (and great value) for larger families to visit.
- Aunty’s House, the Aulani kids’ club, is one of the few kids’ club in Hawaii to accept children as young as 3. In order to accept three and four-year-olds, Disney had to go through additional licensing requirements which include having a credentialed teacher on staff. Another bonus- most of the counselors at Aunty’s House have a background in youth recreation.
- Dozens of excursions can be booked at the Holoholo Tours and Travel desk in the lobby. Many of these excursions were put together by Adventures by Disney and include catamaran cruises which take families snorkeling and dolphin spotting, surf school with real Hawaii fire fighters, a cooking class in Honolulu’s Chinatown with celebrity chef Sam Choy, and sea kayaking off Oahu’s lush windward coast. These tour guides are top notch and use storytelling to add an additional element of fun and education to each experience.
- While the Hawaiian Island and culture are the focus of this resort, touches of classic Disney are still present. Mickey, Minnie and a few of their friends are on vacation at the resort so character breakfasts and photo opportunities are available. There are also a few “hidden Mickeys” to be found in rooms and around the resort. Best of all, the Disney quality that we have all grown to love and expect is present in every last aspect of the Aulani so families can book their trips with confidence.
Disclosure: I visited the Aulani as a member of the media attending the grand opening celebration. My airfare, lodging, and meals were complimentary in order to facilitate the writing of this story. Disney did not request that any specific opinion be expressed and all opinions, as always, reflect my honest opinion.
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Sharlene Earnshaw is the Blog Editor for Trekaroo.
Travel with kids to: CA |CO | DC | FL | HI | IL |MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
This week I had the exciting privilege to head out to Oahu and experience the grand opening festivities at Aulani, Disney’s first Hawaiian resort. As expected with all things Disney, the resort is incredible, and I can’t wait share all the details with you. Alas, today I have to hop on a plane back to reality and don’t have time to give you the complete details off this family paradise just yet but I thought I would give you a sneak peak of the resort with some pictures I took this week.
Participating in Delicious Baby’s Photo Friday.
1. Disney is now cruising to Alaska
Photo courtesy Disney Cruise Lines
This year, the Disney Wonder headed on over to the left coast, delighting those of us in the western half of the country. During the cooler season, the ship will tour the California coast and Mexican Riviera but come summer, the ship heads north, to Alaska! An Alaskan cruise has always been on my bucket list and now that Disney is cruising the glacier lined coast, I have no doubt the cruise will be perfect for families. 7-night sailings call on Tracy Arm Fjord, Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Port excursions include helicopter rides over the Juneau Icefield, sled dog excursions, and panning for gold with Disney characters. Sign me up!
2. The Little Mermaid- Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Photo courtesy Disneyland Resort
On June 3rd, Disney California Adventure will unveil its newest attraction, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. I have been looking forward to this ride since I first saw this movie when I was 11 years old. Disney promises state-of-the-art animatronics, special effects, and, of course, all our favorite Little Mermaid characters. The attractions is set to music from the movie which is sure to make for a great experience for any Disney lover.
3. Star Tours will reopen as Star Tours- The Adventure Continues at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Photo courtesy Disneyland Resort
When Star Tours first opened in 1987, the line seemed to wrap around the park, and for good reason- it was truly a cutting edge experience. Plenty has changed since 1987, including the addition of 3 more movies to the Star Wars saga, so the ride went into “reimaging” for a little over a year in order to make the experience even better than before.
On May 20th, the ride is schedule to reopen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as a 3D journey with different outcomes possible from one launch to the next. The new ride focuses on the earlier Star Wars chapters whereas the old ride focused on the original trilogy. The Disneyland version of the ride is scheduled to open June 3rd.
4. The all new Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Photo courtesy Disney World Resort
If your family has always dreamed of taking an African trek but doesn’t have the resources to head across the Atlantic, Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s new Wild Africa Trek may be the next best thing. Groups of no more than 12 trekkers embark on a three hour tour (a three hour tour…) across diverse terrain, peer over ledges at hippos grazing, and cross over wobbly bridges with crocodiles lurking below. Open air trucks take guests into the Harambe Reserve to get close to the grazing animals of Africa such as rhinos, giraffes, and antelope. Breakfast or lunch is included, depending on the time of your tour. The 3 hour trek is $189 and a Disney Photo Pass CD of pictures from your adventure which are taken by Disney cast members is complimentary.
5. Disney comes to Hawaii via the Aulani Resort
The magic of Disney is coming to 21 acres of Hawaiian paradise on Oahu and its being called the Aulani Resort. The resort will feature a beach, several pools, a snorkel lagoon, an adventure trail, and what is sure to be an incredible kid’s club. On site perks will include pool parties, character dining, fire pit storytelling, and more. The property will have Disney Vacation Club Villas as well as hotel rooms for guests who are not a part of the Vacation Club. The first phase of the hotel is scheduled to open August 29th so start planning your late summer Hawaiian vacation now!
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
2011. It has such a great ring to it doesn’t it? A new year means new resolutions, possibilities, and of course, new vacation plans. It seems as though everyone in the travel industry is making predictions about what the big vacation destinations will be in 2011 and Trekaroo has decided to throw its hat in the ring as well. Instead of trying to predict what trendy new island people are going to be visiting or which newly created adventure sport is going to send adrenaline junkies across the globe to partake, let’s just stick to what we do best- family travel.
A few weeks ago, we asked our readers to give us a glimpse at their 2011 travel plans. Some of the results were expected but there were a couple different spots that surprised us. Sharing your travel wish lists gives us an insight in the places that we should be covering and how our readers like to travel. I predict family travel to continue to be a huge portion of the travel market, and I think the number of us taking vacations this year will be on the rise. So where will families be headed in 2011? Here are Trekaroo’s predictions:
1. Pack those tents and head into the great outdoors: Our survey revealed that the top travel trend amongst families in 2011 will be to head to our state and national parks for some good old fashioned camping. With our country slowly working its way out of a massive recession, it seems as though families are still looking for an inexpensive way to get away from it all.
Besides being pocketbook-friendly, camping allows families to turn off the electronics, relax, and enjoy the outdoors. Parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite are always draw large crowds, but there are plenty of national parks which are incredibly scenic and family friendly. My pick for 2011- Joshua Tree National Park. In 2011, Joshua Tree is celebrating its 74th anniversary with special events all year long. Kids will love the enormous boulder piles which are perfect for climbing, and a carefully timed spring visit should provide a very nice wildflower display given the recent rains. If you have never seen the miracle that is a desert in bloom, then pack up those tents and head out this spring.
2. Disney still reigns as king of family travel: 
Its no surprise to hear many families have Disney vacations in their 2011 travel plans. Both the Florida and California resorts will continue to be extremely popular destinations this year and rightly so- these parks ooze family friendliness. As a Disneyland “local” and season pass holder, I have a true affection for all things Disney and can’t recommend the parks enough, but I also highly recommend taking a break from the theme park madness and spending a day or two exploring the surrounding area. If your family is heading to Orlando, consider spending a day swimming with the manatees on the Crystal River or a day trip to Cape Canaveral. If you opt to visit Disneyland, spend an afternoon in the waves at Huntington Beach or having fun at Pretend City and up in the Great Park Balloon in Irvine.
3. A Gulf Coast tourism revival will occur and families will lead the way: This past decade has been a rough one for the Gulf. Multiple hurricanes and the massive environmental catastrophe that was the BP Oil Spill have devastated residents and damaged the tourism industry. Trekaroo predicts this decade will be one of rebuilding and revival for the tourism industry on the country’s 3rd Coast. New Orleans is my favorite city in America, and I am very excited to be heading back for the Jazz and Heritage Festival, an essential experience for any food and music lover. Besides New Orleans, the swamps of Lake Charles and sugary white beaches of Florida’s Gulf Coast are on my family’s vacation itinerary. In an effort to bring people back to the region, resorts will be offering incredible bargains, so pack your bags, help boost the gulf economy, and fall in love with the South.
4. Families will flock to our 49th and 50th states: The number of people who listed Hawaii and Alaska in their 2011 travel plans excited and surprised me. A trip to these states doesn’t usually fall into the “budget travel” category, which leads me to believe that people are starting to feel a bit more financially stable and eager to explore some of the more exotic regions of our country.
Maui is my top island pick this year. Where else can you watch the sunrise on top of a freezing volcano and then be snorkeling in warm aquamarine waters a couple hours later? There are a multitude of lodging options from high end resorts with fantastic kid’s clubs to vacation condos complete with full kitchens for economical mealtimes.
Alaska’s National Parks are full of dramatic scenery and abundant wildlife, a big draw for families thinking about heading up to the Great White North. Denali NP is always a popular destination, but don’t discount the state parks that flank the park. They are much less crowded and provide equally stunning beauty and wildlife viewing opportunities. Families who are eager to see the glaciers and marine life that call the frigid waters of the northern Pacific home should consider a cruise because the water is definitely the best vantage point. Speaking of cruises…
5. Cruising will become an ever increasingly popular mode of family travel: This year is a big one for family friendly cruising, especially with Disney Cruise Lines. The Disney Dream embarks on its maiden voyage January 26th, and will be taking families on Caribbean sails for years to come. The line will also begin offering cruises on the West Coast with destinations such as the Mexican Riviera and Alaska. There are plenty of options for families planning a cruise this year from massive ships to intimate vessels which visit locals as diverse as tropical islands and glacier rimmed northwestern passages.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
From the first time I saw the GoHawaii.com commercial, I was obsessed. I turned to my husband and exclaimed “I want to go there!”. After a Google search for Akaka Falls, I knew where I wanted to head. Paradise was on the Hamakua Coast, just north of Hilo on he Big Island.
Photo Courtesy HawaiiStateparks.org
Sadly, we haven’t had the chance to make it to the Big Island, let alone walk through lush rain forest filled with orchids and bamboo, but other Trekaroo families have. They have raved about the majestic falls and the family friendly atmosphere. One mother suggested to our readers that families leave the stroller in the car if they want to complete the entire loop due to some stairs on the way back.
After further exploration on Trekaroo, I now know to head to the Hilo Farmer’s Market to pick up some goodies on our way up to the falls. Chich declares “we’re a pretty hardcore farmers’ market family, and this is our favorite farmer’s market that we’ve ever been to. they have lots of great tropic fruits — rambutan, lychees, mangoes and plenty of local fare like spam musubi”.
I also now know to include a side trip to the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens while we are in the area. Trekaroo member Nene raved about them . She said “If this isn’t the prettiest place on the planet, it’s in the top twenty”.
I may not be able to get to Akaka Falls this summer but it will still be in my dreams. Its nice to know that when we are ready to plan our trip, we will have wonderful Trekaroo families to turn to for suggestions and advice.
Do you have an outing that you would like to spotlight this week? Perhaps its a post about a vacation you just took or a day trip that you think our readers should know about. Or maybe its a post about the vacation you are currently planning and going to book through Trekaroo! Spotlight your posts here by following the instructions here and filling out the Mr. Linky Form below.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
