happymommy
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2006
You can expect to way overpay for mediocre food at best if you eat at aulani. We are a family of 3, bought the refillable cups, and the average breakfast alone was 60. I dont want to think about how much we payed for the buffet dinner for my son to eat a french fry. Monkeypod is a short walk and is really good. Most places offer aloha hour and have half priced drinks and appetizers. We ate way too many meals at aulani but also had a car and explored and tried some local places. Its definitely worth having a car. Outside of aulani i dont recall paying more for meals than i would at home dining out. Parking is high but it definitely counters food cost. I reccomend renting a car for that and to see the island. We are most excited to hit Giovanni’s shrimp truck when we come back in September. We also loved visiting the north shore and watching the surfers and having matsumotos shaved ice as well as teds bakery. The north shore was a highlight as simple as it was. We are kinda into food and loved hitting local places. There’s a target and Costco fairly close. I want to say maybe 4 miles. There’s options if you are willing to rent a car and I honestly don’t see any other way. It’s not worth paying for the food there.
While we stay next door (sort of) at the Marriott, we almost never eat there. Last summer I was there a month, and after our 2 weeks in the studio (just me and my youngest the first two weeks), we did have a burger for lunch at Longboard's while waiting for the one bedroom to be ready. View was lovely, burger fine but way overpriced. That was the only time in 31 nights that we ate at our resort.
We do enjoy eating appetizers and having drinks at Waikiki resorts (specifically the Moana), yes it's overpriced but holds a special place in our hearts (we used to go there all the time for Sunday appetizers and drinks or brunch when we lived there).
I've seen the prices at Aulani, and don't think it's worth it. We usually stay for at least two weeks, but next spring will be in Waikiki for a while then only a week at Ko Olina. I plan on simple breakfast in room and lunch or dinner in town or carry out. Not cooking much if only there a week; I want to relax. I don't mind if there a longer period of time though! Plus, next trip is only DH and me for the first time, so not worth cooking much for 2 IMHO. Rather go out.