Great pictures. I agree on MonkeyPod. Outside of the happy hour stuff it is too expensive.
Thanks for reading along! I had high hopes on happy hour at Monkeypod, Roy's, and the Olelo Room, but happy hour just doesn't work with our vacation style, apparently. We are late diners, even at home, so we never made it there in time to take advantage. It's a good tip for those who can shower faster, though! haha
It looks like such a fun day! The beach looks nice, but definitely looks more like a surfing beach than a swimming beach. Were you ever nervous about sharks? I think they have a lot more than the east coast. Your food also looked amazing. I really want to go over there, for half a second I tried to figure out if I could go for a weekend, but decided 5 seconds there and 24 hours on a plane wasn't really ideal.
It probably sounds foolish, but we always like to venture just a little off the beaten path. Even though it wasn't a great swimming beach I am glad we got to experience it. It reminded me a LOT of Costa Rica, actually.
I am not very aware of sharks, like.. ever, so it never even registered to me to worry about them. The lagoon at Aulani has nets or something at the outer points to keep out BIG stuff (or so I read online, I think) so we only ever saw small fishes. When we waded in at Makua we didn't get deep enough for me to think of sharks, or anything other than standing up, for that matter! It was ROUGH seas.
LOL at your trying to go for a weekend! Believe me these posts are brutal to write as I want to go back so back. I just listened to a podcast with Len Testa talking about how for the price of a week at WDW in a deluxe resort you could go to Hawaii. He's pretty much right, except for the whole AP thing making visits cheaper-per-visit. I can't wait to go back... it's more about when I will have the time to make such a long flight worth it, like you said.
I am absolutely loving your report. I'm taking notes for great places to try for our next trip, thank you!
Thank you for reading along and for the kind words! I am trying to pay it forward since I read so many great reports when I was planning.
I saw your picture and I realized we have been surfing here, it is a great spot!
It was so beautiful and magically sunny when we got there! It looked like great surfing, too.
Fun updates. And your photos continue to be just spectacular!!
The wear & tear on the room is disappointing. I had a similar experience at Beach Club Villas in WDW fairly shortly after renovations. Either people are just kinda careless jerks when not in their own home or Disney doesn't choose the highest quality, most durable products. Or a bit of both. Great idea on the knife and cutting board for fruit -- tucking that tip away!
I think due to the way DVC is paid for they just don't necessarily rehab as quickly as maybe they should. Oh well, it didn't really impact our stay. Definitely bring some of your own kitchen implements! It makes the kitchenette way more manageable!
Kona Brewery looks like a fun stop - 48 different kinds?!? Wow - like you said, I only see 2-3 around here. The whole island tour looks so fun. Would you say that an SUV is preferable for exploring? That poke bowl looks amazing!!
I have to think all 48 kinds were not Kona... I only remember the 8 or so that we had (the special taps) plus their standard menu of around 10. I had no idea there were so many but the bar area did have a lot of taps so I totally believe it!
I don't think we *needed* the SUV for exploring the island but I am always worried about having luggage space, and honestly the price difference wasn't much more at all from a regular sedan. I watched the rental prices for what seems like forever but my original booking ended up staying the best deal.
The poke bowl was good! R is a sushi fanatic so he was in heaven with all the fresh sushi-grade fish available.
So I have an odd question about the chairs on the beach. Are you able to move them out of the rows that are set up to have a bit more of your own space? It's probably weird (and I have issues) but I just don't like sitting that close to people.
You can't really move the lounge chairs around (there are just too many and there are like designated aisles for walking) but they do have short surf-type chairs that you can move around. Ironically you cannot put them all the way at the water's edge
I like to sit and read with my feet in the water and I got fussed at. But you can definitely get away from the crowd in those. And we never had an issue where people came and set right next to us. There were so many vacant beach chairs that people seemed cool with giving each other space.
Just doing a little research for a possible visit next year. Loving your TR and fab photos.
Thanks for stopping by! I hope your trip plans work out!!
Congratulations on your engagement, too!
Thanks so much! The wedding is now just around the corner... 41 days!
Instead of asking you if you had this started, I could have just looked at your signature
I don't have time right now to get all caught up, but I'm here! I can't wait to read all about your engagement story
I'm sure mine won't make you CRY like yours did me!!!
Are you getting married on the exact date you were engaged? Because that's what we did - only one date to remember then!
Well it's the same day of the year (sunday of memorial day weekend) but not the exact date - it's one day off because of the calendar. But still easy to remember and I won't necessarily need to celebrate the engagement separately! haha
I didn't realize you guys had done that! But it's smart.
Haha, Luke will sometimes try to deny his love for Disney in front of people, but I just roll my eyes at him - he's the one who checks the Walt Disney World and Disneyland reddit pages every day, he's the one subscribed to all the Disney Youtube channels, etc haha. Boys.
Uh huh. I obviously talked R into the Thanksgiving trip I mentioned in my facebook post turned hotwire blind deal tutorial... I wanted to go over Columbus Day but he said no. Turns out he is just fed up with sweating all the time at Disney so I guess I will sacrifice my warmth for his comfort, and ANYTHING TO SNEAK IN SOME DISNEY!!! But he loves it when we are there.
My best friend stayed at Aulani in 2017, and keeps telling me I NEED to go there. I can't wait to read your review on it!
You do! Maybe an anniversary trip one year. We had a great time and it was way more affordable using DVC points (my friend transferred me a bunch of hers last year so I got a great deal)
I also turned 30 on the last day of our wedding trip - I was determined to celebrate my 30th at WDW!
I can't think of a better way to celebrate! My real 30th was pretty low key but my early celebration at Hawaii and Disneyland was just perfection! I hope yours was too at WDW this year!!