@ Joybird, Thank you for reporting back from your recent trip.And with regard to other activities, they are FEW and far between. We just returned, and there was VERY little happening, outside of pools/beach/restaurants/character greetings. Unfortunately, the entire time we were there, the Menehune Adventure was down due to technical probs. It was disappointing and definitely a departure from our previous visits. We understand, though, and look forward to when things are more normal. We still had an amazing trip.
A 3 minute walk away the four seasons kids club was open and fully operational with tons of activities for the kids.Hawaii has been extremely cautious in their reopening. They are many months behind most other states.
I would not expect Aunties to reopen for many, many months.
Why isn't it open? Is it a staffing issue?A 3 minute walk away the four seasons kids club was open and fully operational with tons of activities for the kids.
Aunties is not open for reasons other than public health.
Why isn't it open? Is it a staffing issue?
Why isn't it open? Is it a staffing issue?
I would add Auntie's Beach House is one of the big reasons we bought points at Aulani. Allowing families with small children to relax on vacation is HUGE. It's a big loss for guests and they will feel it at some point. I think they will also lose money at the Spa. When I booked spa appointments, they recommended how early to drop off our kids at Auntie's Beach House before our appointments. Without Auntie's Beach House, you lose one or both parents at the spa. My kids are older now, but I hope it returns soon.I would assume they would need to pay people more to come back and are waiting it out. There would also have to be limits on capacity so some thinking outside the box would be needed. And I assume they just don’t want to bother
Also Auties is not a revenue generator - so Disney is going to get away with keeping it closed. Lots of kids running around during the day spend money with their parents also.
I spoke with a staff member re ama ama and they said the kitchen can’t accommodate social distancing so they don’t want to retrofit it. That sounds nuts to me. What beachfront resort doesn’t have beach view restaurant.
It’s penny wise and pound foolish bc we just spent our money elsewhere and I will just use my points elsewhere. They will certainly be able to keep up this bare bones operation for a while - but it is not good.
We stayed at the Four Seasons and the Royal Hawaiian and the experiences were so vastly superior that it was barely comparable. That is not to say anything negative about the Aulani staff, who are wonderful.
Of course this is just my impression, but the four seasons looks so ugly and generic, with such a blah pool, that I couldn’t imagine ever staying there. The restaurants are all so monumentally overpriced.I would assume they would need to pay people more to come back and are waiting it out. There would also have to be limits on capacity so some thinking outside the box would be needed. And I assume they just don’t want to bother
Also Auties is not a revenue generator - so Disney is going to get away with keeping it closed. Lots of kids running around during the day spend money with their parents also.
I spoke with a staff member re ama ama and they said the kitchen can’t accommodate social distancing so they don’t want to retrofit it. That sounds nuts to me. What beachfront resort doesn’t have beach view restaurant.
It’s penny wise and pound foolish bc we just spent our money elsewhere and I will just use my points elsewhere. They will certainly be able to keep up this bare bones operation for a while - but it is not good.
We stayed at the Four Seasons and the Royal Hawaiian and the experiences were so vastly superior that it was barely comparable. That is not to say anything negative about the Aulani staff, who are wonderful.
It’s better than the Aulani in terms of calm and service in every single way. It’s visually meh. The adult only pool (you probably couldn’t see it if you didn’t stay there) has a swim up retro bar car. You are allowed to drink a mai tai in the pool while looking at the sunset - without 8000 children. It’s a luxury hotel. The aulani has it’s own charm when they are actually providing services— but they are bare bones at this point. And the food at Aulani doesn’t exist - it’s a glorified 7-11 and a rando redesigned dinner. I thought you liked Mina’s — must have been someone else.Of course this is just my impression, but the four seasons looks so ugly and generic, with such a blah pool, that I couldn’t imagine ever staying there. The restaurants are all so monumentally overpriced.
My issue with Mina’s isn’t that the food was bad, I did like it, but in retrospect I appreciated the location near the water more than the meal. My wife and I don’t have kids but still love Aulani. The quick service location, Ulu Cafe, is great for lunch, and Makahiki is pretty good for dinner. And all the other Ko Olina restaurants are within easy walking distance anyway. We do like Noe at the Four Seasons though.It’s better than the Aulani in terms of calm and service in every single way. It’s visually meh. The adult only pool (you probably couldn’t see it if you didn’t stay there) has a swim up retro bar car. You are allowed to drink a mai tai in the pool while looking at the sunset - without 8000 children. It’s a luxury hotel. The aulani has it’s own charm when they are actually providing services— but they are bare bones at this point. And the food at Aulani doesn’t exist - it’s a glorified 7-11 and a rando redesigned dinner. I thought you liked Mina’s — must have been someone else.
We've often commented on this. When first spotting Ko Olina from the road as you approach the area you see a group of white concrete boxes on the beach. In the middle of them (well, actually towards one end) is a resort that blends in with the environment.but overall it’s a block of white concrete on the beach.
"Calm" does not mean "better," it's just different.It’s better than the Aulani in terms of calm and service in every single way.
Yes it is. Both directly and indirectly. They sell premium experiences for the kids, and they drive spa revenue when parents have a place to drop their kids.Also Auties is not a revenue generator.
I would add Auntie's Beach House is one of the big reasons we bought points at Aulani. Allowing families with small children to relax on vacation is HUGE. It's a big loss for guests and they will feel it at some point. I think they will also lose money at the Spa. When I booked spa appointments, they recommended how early to drop off our kids at Auntie's Beach House before our appointments. Without Auntie's Beach House, you lose one or both parents at the spa. My kids are older now, but I hope it returns soon.
Not quite sure what you mean by “services.” I’ve found the services at Aulani to be fine, and I’m not sure what else I’d need hanging out at the beach, pool, or exploring either Ko Olina or the island. I think I’d rather deal with some annoyances from the kids than what seems to me a lack of any activity at the Four Seasons.It’s better than the Aulani in terms of calm and service in every single way. It’s visually meh. The adult only pool (you probably couldn’t see it if you didn’t stay there) has a swim up retro bar car. You are allowed to drink a mai tai in the pool while looking at the sunset - without 8000 children. It’s a luxury hotel. The aulani has it’s own charm when they are actually providing services— but they are bare bones at this point. And the food at Aulani doesn’t exist - it’s a glorified 7-11 and a rando redesigned dinner. I thought you liked Mina’s — must have been someone else.
Agreed. I just can’t imagine enjoying myself anywhere on the grounds of that unappealing Four Seasons building."Calm" does not mean "better," it's just different.
I'd take "fun" over "calm" any day of the week. "Calm," to me, means "boring."
Yes it is. Both directly and indirectly. They sell premium experiences for the kids, and they drive spa revenue when parents have a place to drop their kids.
I looked over there and there was no doubt in my mind that a decent amount of the people (and all of the ones with kids) were looking longingly over at Aulani and wishing they had a pool complex like "ours."Agreed. I just can’t imagine enjoying myself anywhere on the grounds of that unappealing Four Seasons building.
Agreed. I just can’t imagine enjoying myself anywhere on the grounds of that unappealing Four Seasons building.