Aulani - Too High Expectations ?

[RunningTink]

Sorry to hear you were less than impressed with Aulani. When I finally get around to my TR I have nothing but love for the place. So much so that we're signing a contract for our own piece of Aulani on Sunday. We loved the place.

Happy trails,
Jennie

[PirateMel]

Originally Posted by ceegibbs

Pirate Mel!

We must have been at Aulani about the same time. While it is a beautiful resort major fail on a lot of the same points for you and me.

I never heard a simple Welcome Home and while people were nice it was not Disney enough for me.

Hugs
Can't agree more!

[PirateMel]

Split Stays - Good or Bad decision on our Part - and no Thanks to DVC

Although i am not overly fond up switching rooms on vacation, in the planning stage it sounded like a good idea at the time.

We were torn with, for the week, just booking a Island view studio, since most of our Disney trips we are never in the room. Depending on the trip we either book a 2 Br with guests or a stuido if it is just us - standard view.

But in Aulani we decided since it would be our only visit we would like to enjoy the space offered in the 1-Br and the use of a washer and drier, but didn't see the need for 7 nights use of the room.

So at our 7 month mark, while we were at WDW
I called members services to see what was available and explain what our needs were. I explained to the DVC CM what i was looking for and she told me not a problem, and we booked our selection based on this. Right!

There needs to be a clearer understanding of the room catagories and locations of the rooms.
As we were later told Standard is back side 3-6, Island 7-16, Pool is 3-6 front side, Ocean 7-16. Too little too late - but hopes this helps someone else.

We booked a stuio with Island view, and the 1 Br standard view - with knowlege that this would not be in the center section of the resort - perfect or so we though. My only issue as I explained is that we needed a higher floor.

(To us the most important thing about the room is not the location being near everything, it is just the opposite. We like a room on the highest floor possible as far away as possible from Noise. My favorite room location at POP is the 50's section in the back building overlooing the lake. Peace and quiet. No Marco Polo, no pitter patter of little feet at all hours of the night!)

As Dinsey always says the requests are just that - a request.
We booked on the premise this would not be an issue - I was not asking for a specific room number just to be up higher.
The on-line checking at Aulani pretty much negated and requests coming through - As we were later told by a not so nice Front Desk Lady.

After being told on Sunday, prior to room switch on Monday, come down early and they would try to accomodate my request - which never did show up there on the reservation, although I contacted DVC two weeks before to make sure they were still all set.

Sunday night from hell - finally had neighbors with a little one who sreamed from 9:30pm - 3:30 am. We had a 5 am wake up call for our Day at Pearl Harbor! Checked out about 5:45am, placed bages with bell sevices, and proceeded to front desk to inquire about our new room and location. We were told in no uncertain terms we would be on the 6th floor, where all the standard rooms were located (levels 3-6) Nice to know now
Since this was the first straight answer we got since arriving, i pleaded my case and hope they would see help to accomodate my anxiety. NOT
They would text me when the room was ready, nothing she could, or would not do for me.

Off to a wonderful day at Pearl Harbor - Emotionally filled day on 2 hours of sleep. We received the text after 4 pm - Room #653
Wow standard view three leves down and 3 doors down from the Island view I paid more point for - such a bargain (Inserts sarcasm here)
Back to the resort to speak with another Front Desk CM to see if there was any way possible to be on a higer floor. After much to do about nothing, I was very nice to them, not their fault no one could be honest before now, was told my only option was to dish out more points and they could put me in a ocean view room.
7 months ago would this would have been an option - before I planned two other trips, and if someone was honest with me we would have booked our rooms differently at the time, but we are out of points on both contracts and not willing to borrow at this time.
SUCK IT UP
But we now had a better view of the Island than we did in the Island view room which boasted a scenic view of the refinery, with a two door balcony I would not be able to use. Thank you very Much DVC.
We proceeded to unpack after a very long day - walk across the street to get a quick bite, toss the EWA I got upon check in on the table, medicate and try to get some decent sleep.
Is it time to go home yet?

[kapeman]

I have never done online check in, and based on ceegibbs' report, I am thinking we want to request as high a floor as possible.

Will I have any (or better) luck checking in online vs in person?

Thanks!

[PirateMel]

Originally Posted by RunningTink

Sorry to hear you were less than impressed with Aulani. When I finally get around to my TR I have nothing but love for the place. So much so that we're signing a contract for our own piece of Aulani on Sunday. We loved the place.

Happy trails,
Jennie

Glad you had a magical visit - best wishes with your purchase!
The resort is really beautiful!

Unfortunately this was not the place for us

[PirateMel]

Originally Posted by Murphy7573

Always interesting when "right" coasters come out to the left coast. Since I wuz active duty and Navy reserve and currently Air Force reserve i've been to Hawaii numerous times. Haven't been to Aulani but Oahu many times. My gripe with Aulani (since i've) never been there is it's location on the Windward side of the island. Being young but old enough to "get my drink on" Waikiki is the place to be especially for night life. If you've never been there and with the location of the resort, you definitely need a rental car to get to Waikiki, Diamond Head, Hunama Bay, Pearl Harbor and the North Shore. Like I said, haven't been to Aulani specifically, but Oahu numerous times. As far as the VGC, love it. I never hear of any negative comments about it. Oh yeah, Hawaii = Expensive ! Everything has to be shipped in so everything is expensive including the groceries... I don't know, maybe they can put in a "Mt Kilauea Coaster" for you and add rides at HHI and Vero Beach? Don't know what to say. I've also been stationed on the east coast. Only gripe...sports!!! Hated staying up 'til midnight watchin' MNF !!!

For us the big issue was Baseball at 1 PM, Hockey play offs in mid-afternoon. Good thing I didn't book during football season - would have been a fast divorce.
Just what we get used to I suppose!

Waikiki and Diamond head were Awesome, would have been better to gone over earlier in our trip!

[PirateMel]

Originally Posted by kapeman

I have never done online check in, and based on ceegibbs' report, I am thinking we want to request as high a floor as possible.

Will I have any (or better) luck checking in online vs in person?

Thanks!

Depends on what category you booked with?
Good luck!

[kapeman]

Originally Posted by PirateMel

Depends on what category you booked with?
Good luck!

We have an ocean view.

[PirateMel]

So i neglected to mention that I booked the Aunt's Character breakfast for Sunday Morning - It was much like Tusker House.
This was offered only a few days a week at Makaki (Sp) and since Hubby is not a big buffet person, this was a compromise so I could get character photos because I was not sure of their availablity at the resort
The food was pretty good, and I finally got a hold of a Mickey waffle - YUMMY!

Inserts - Read the Daily EWA!
The characters were listed at which times they would appear during the day at the resort. Unlike the cruise though, after 5pm, Mickey Minney and the gang had the night off. Perfect opportunity for Disney to fill the night time void here with a lobby character photo op

So i need to mention here our and Disney biggest Fail of the trip, I will take partial blame for this one, jsut becuase.

Besides the Daily - Apparently they should provide you with a Weekly Guide. We never got one until the next to last day of the trip. Not sure why this was, but as I was applying gift cards to my balance I noticed this on the desk.
This would have been most helpful

Disney Fail #3 - and our biggest disappontment was they we missed the character show i looked for Friday - Sunday night for. We did manage to meet Uncle at the story telling, and the day to night change they did at garden.
But I remembered reading about the character show not to be missed and ASSUMED it was only offered durink peak times - BOO HOO!

Thursday night we arrived late, Monday Pearl harbor Day from Hell, and Thrusday 3 Pm, leave for Airport.

So Guess which nights the Character show is offered- YUP Monday & Thursdays!

THANK you so much for the information. Had I read the daily EWA on Monday, the transition day, I would have known, but in my haste and anger, I tossed it aside. So I accept the blame here for that night.
But upon check-in WOULD HAVE been really nice if someone said - welcome home tonight is the show - don't miss it.

[PirateMel]

Originally Posted by kapeman

We have an ocean view.

Should be all set for an upper floor, but I would call the resort anyway !