Hidden gems of Aulani

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carsonsdmom

Earning My Ears

Joined

Apr 9, 2011

• Sep 18, 2018

• #1

For all you Aulani veterans out there...
Any hidden gems that we should be sure to check out that might easily be overlooked at the resort?

 

southerngirl528

Dreamin' of Maui

Joined

May 9, 2013

• Sep 18, 2018

• #2

carsonsdmom said:

For all you Aulani veterans out there...
Any hidden gems that we should be sure to check out that might easily be overlooked at the resort?

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My favorite thing that I don't see a lot of folks mention is the outstanding live Hawaiian music each evening in the 2 lounges at Aulani. These musicians are among the very finest of Hawaiian music. For us, it's a not-to-be-missed each time we are there!

My favorite fun little item is to be sure to find a little piece of furniture across from Kalepa Store (in the lobby area), with a keyhole. You will have to kneel down but be SURE to look into the keyhole and see what you see!! SO fun! Just ask a CM about the little piece of furniture (it's rather like a little chest) with the keyhole.

 

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thedogatemyhomework

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jun 9, 2015

• Sep 18, 2018

• #3

some of the more “unique” mickey shaped foods...shave ice and spam musubi (the spam musubi is with the pastries in ulu cafe, the shave ice is in a food shack in the pool area).

as is usual for disney look closer/from farther away at the rock work for the slides and you can see some “hidden” animals.

the elevator music is rather unique (and also available for sale in the gift shops).

 

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spacecanada

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jan 25, 2011

• Sep 18, 2018

• #4

The art and cultural tours of Aulani are a must-do! The storytelling created within the resort is phenomenal and easily overlooked if you don't know it's there.

The free morning fitness classes are actually great quality as well. I found them both fun and challenging, and suitable for most fitness levels.

Another vote for shave ice!

Watching the fish feeding at Rainbow Reef was another fun event we tried to do each day.

Movie rentals! You can rent DVDs (for free, two at a time) in Pau Hana room and bring them up to your room to watch in the evenings.

Duffy and ShellieMay - This is the ONLY place in North America where you can meet either of them. I love them so much! And now, 'Olu is at Aulani, too, though not ready to meet guests yet.

'AMA'AMA dinner at sunset

 

southerngirl528

Dreamin' of Maui

Joined

May 9, 2013

• Sep 18, 2018

• #5

spacecanada said:

Duffy and ShellieMay - This is the ONLY place in North America where you can meet either of them. I love them so much! And now, 'Olu is at Aulani, too, though not ready to meet guests yet.

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Actually Duffy makes appearances at WDW pretty regularly. My little ones love Duffy and Shelley May.

 

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Supermagicalifrigious

Earning My Ears

Joined

Sep 19, 2018

• Sep 19, 2018

• #6

For kids - Menehune adventure trail!

 

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spacecanada

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jan 25, 2011

• Sep 19, 2018

• #7

southerngirl528 said:

Actually Duffy makes appearances at WDW pretty regularly. My little ones love Duffy and Shelley May.

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On 03 October 2015, Duffy made his last appearance at Epcot in WDW. This past summer they removed him from the Kidcot stations as well. Has he recently returned? If so, where?

 

southerngirl528

Dreamin' of Maui

Joined

May 9, 2013

• Sep 19, 2018

• #8

I saw Duffy during F & W either last year or the previous one. Perhaps it was 2 years ago. I live near WDW so we go often.

 

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Jamesmom7

Earning My Ears

Joined

Jul 27, 2018

• Sep 20, 2018

• #9

Not at aulani but if you go over to the other lagoon right next to it you can sometimes find Hawaiian monk seals and tons of turtles. The seals will just lay on the beach for hours in the sun. Volunteers block off all around them. It’s a good time to learn a little about them too. If you walk over to the rocks by the four seasons at sunrise it’s a pretty beautiful opportunity to catch at least some of the sunrise. You don’t need your own sand toys or boogie boards. They loan both out. Depending on your room location you can sometimes catch the luau from your balcony. The robes are super nice. You can’t buy them anywhere else. I totally regret not getting one. They aren’t cheap and I thought oh I’ll get one online from the Disney store. You can only buy aulani items from aulani. I’m buying one this go. And the cinnamon donuts are one of the only things worth eating at aulani.

 

adamak

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 7, 2000

• Sep 20, 2018

• #10

Poke Poke Poke. Get it from grocery store instead of restaurant.

 

southerngirl528

Dreamin' of Maui

Joined

May 9, 2013

• Sep 20, 2018

• #11

adamak said:

Poke Poke Poke. Get it from grocery store instead of restaurant.

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Yes, POKE!!! LOVE poke and we eat it like crazy when we are in Hawaii! We love FoodLand grocery stores for their poke counter. We love Tamura's Wine Store on Maui. Not sure if they have that on Oahu close to Aulani though. We did really love the poke at Olelo Room that is served under a glass cloche as they have "kissed" it with a little kiawe smoke! And I loved that it had some sea asparagus in it too.

Speaking of food since a PP mentioned food at Aulani, we really love AMA AMA for breakfast and lunch. Not as big a fan for them for dinner. Love the pupu's at the lounges for the most part too.

 

alohamom

DIS Veteran

Joined

Oct 31, 2003

• Sep 20, 2018

• #12

southerngirl528 said:

We did really love the poke at Olelo Room that is served under a glass cloche as they have "kissed" it with a little kiawe smoke! And I loved that it had some sea asparagus in it too.

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Oh my goodness, that sounds amazing!

 

adamak

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 7, 2000

• Sep 20, 2018

• #13

Tamura! Yes. That's my reason to return to Maui. I don't know if they have a branch in Oahu though.

I also like the Japanese food court in Ala Moana Mall. Shirokiya. https://www.yelp.com/biz/shirokiya-japan-village-walk-honolulu-6
If you have a car and will be going to Waikiki anyways, definitely go and just experience. Then get a bunch of poke from the grocery store across from the mall.

Boy. I have to GO BACK!

 

jodybird511

DIS Veteran

Joined

Oct 31, 2014

• Sep 22, 2018

• #14

Are you DVC members? If so, there is a photobooth that is free for you to use--hidden away in the back corner of the DVC sales center!

 

Brancaneve

That means Snow White in another language.

Joined

Dec 7, 2006

• Sep 25, 2018

• #15

I have to second the PP regarding the live music. Don´t miss it! That´s probably the one thing I look forward to the most!

 

nkereina

Last chance to lose your keys.

Joined

Feb 11, 2009

• Sep 26, 2018

• #16

southerngirl528 said:

My favorite thing that I don't see a lot of folks mention is the outstanding live Hawaiian music each evening in the 2 lounges at Aulani. These musicians are among the very finest of Hawaiian music. For us, it's a not-to-be-missed each time we are there!

Click to expand...

We enjoyed this too. We especially liked the act Ben & Maila who played on Thursdays there. I'm not sure if they still play there with any regularity, but they were fabulous. A good mix of genres, Disney songs, etc. Her voice was beautiful and I loved when they did traditional Hawaiian songs.

Supermagicalifrigious said:

For kids - Menehune adventure trail!

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We're two adults and enjoyed this! We had time to kill on our last day so we took out the iPads and went around the trail. It was so cute to see the different features and special effects around the resort that you wouldn't otherwise get to see without doing this!