Aulani Day 5, Thursday, April 14, 2016, Part 1
Saddest day ever because this would be our last full day at aulani! Wait, let's make that the second saddest ever because tomorrow would be the saddest ever, since we will be leaving. Wait, let's make today third saddest because
the saddest day ever was when we got off the disney wonder last year after our 7-night cruise! Ok, you get the point.
This being our last full day, we got up at 7:15, made cereal for the kids, then made our way downstairs at 8, altogether this time. Found some seats by the
infinity pool even though the prime, scenic ones were gone (this was before they instituted the new no-reserving-chairs-before-8-a.m.-with-towels policy the week after we left). There were still plenty, I have to say, though they weren't in the shade. These were taken at 8:02 and 8:03 a.m., right by the towel stand:
We did see
CMs folding the towels left behind on the unmanned chairs, though.
After we put sunscreen on everyone (I know, I know, we should've done it back in the room but in our excitement we forgot), we took a dip in the infinity pool. It was still relatively empty, and I loved how serene it looked:
O' Aulani, this is the image in my mind whenever I think of you now.
And here's a peek at the ocean from near the hot tub area:
After half an hour of that lovely place, we decided to do a few more rounds of the
lazy river before the rest of the crowd showed up. Can't remember if I mentioned this above, but
when you wake up in the morning, hit the slides first, then the lazy river, then the pools, then the beach. Do it in that order and you will be able to avoid most of the crowds.
Here's my wrinkly hand from being in the water for so long
:
After the lazy river, we went back to the infinity pool.
DS wasn't a strong swimmer, but because of all those hours spent in the pools the past few days, he actually became more confident and got better at changing his breath while swimming. It was a great accomplishment, and I was very proud of him.
Much credit goes to DH, who worked with him everyday tirelessly!
We basically spent the morning between the lazy river and infinity pool, had snack, then swam some more. At 10:50 I went to
Ulu Café to get more of those
breakfast potatoes and
bacon, plus more
hotdogs from
Mama's Snack Stop. We had fun watching the pigeons and other random birds that would come by and eye us, hoping they'd get a morsel. Now, I wonder if anyone else noticed that there weren't any seagulls around Aulani. Why is that??? There were plenty of birds, but
no seagulls. Very odd. Perhaps they have their own habitat somewhere else? Or maybe they don't exist in Hawaii???
After lunch we swam some more until 12:40. We gave up our seats reluctantly--why? Because it was such a lovely place and I really didn't want to leave! But we had to go because we wanted to get pictures with
Mickey and Minnie at 1 at the big lawn, and plus we still wanted to check out the
turtles at Paradise Cove.
The line for Mickey and Minnie was the longest we stood in. Took about 10 (or 15?) minutes. But I was entertained by a lady who was in line behind us with her husband. She was a DVC member, and has seven DVC contracts (I think that's what she said?), was wearing matching Disney shirts with her hubby, both huge Disney fans, obviously. She has also been on Disney cruises before. I struck up a conversation with her because I complimented her on the DCL
water wallet hanging around her neck.
Need to backtrack a little here (the problem of not writing my TR immediately after getting home is I forgot what I already wrote previously): On our first morning at Aulani, I got a
PhotoPass card from a photographer standing by the lazy river. But I was already in the water and had no access to any pockets, so I had to hold it in my hand until I got back to the entrance so I could get out and put it in my beach bag. But wait, what if I want another picture later on? I finally ended up doing what people in the movies do: stuffed it down the front of my swimsuit. I know, I know, it did feel slightly unsanitary, but I honestly had nowhere else convenient to put it. Back in the hotel room, I told a DCL friend about this problem and complained that I wished people at Aulani use
lanyards, because that's where I put my
KTTW card on the ship. She said, ah, that's why I use a water wallet at
Castaway Cay and other beaches! Oh!!! I didn't even know such a thing existed!!! She sent me a picture, which I then happened to see hanging around this DVC lady's neck, so I told her it was awesome, then we started talking.
Anyhow, DVC lady was full of stories, and I was kept entertained while standing in line. Finally it was our turn with Mickey and Minnie. They gave DS and DD super big hugs, took pictures with them, then we got ready to join them, but first M & M had to kiss each other first before they would take another picture with us, LOL!
When we were done,
Stitch happened to be standing at the opposite end of the lawn, looking sort of lonely by himself with his one single CM, so DS and DD ran over there. Since there was no one else, Stitch did all sorts of poses with them. First he stood behind DD, then bent to the side and waved, then bent to the other side and waved again, then the monster raaaah pose, then this and other. Then we joined too, then it was just DS. We must've spent five minutes there, but since there was no one in line, the photographer directed us on the poses, and we didn't feel rushed at all.
Photos done, we headed upstairs to change (but why? I don't remember. My notes said we were to meet
Donald,
Chip and Dale, and
Goofy at 2 p.m.)
OK this is all I can squeeze out tonight. More next time!
let's go, let's go, I want to hear how it all ended!
