Opening day At Aulani

[sparks&whimsy]

Thank you so, so much for posting! This gets me so much more excited to check in next week.

If you don’t mind, can you keep us updated on the food situation, especially what’s available for dinner?

attached are Off the Hook (poolside) and Olelo Room menus.

 

[sparks&whimsy]

Re Dining...is Monkeypod open?

They are still closed and no reopening date has been announced yet.

 

[sparks&whimsy]

Photo of the lagoon around 2pm

 

[K12124]

If we have family in the island, can we bring them to the resort for the day? Obviously not to swim or use the facilities, but to hang out in the rooms for example?

Thanks!

 

[CodyBoy]

Are the pools heated? Is the ocean water chilly?

 

[bcwife76]

They will be moving to that but as of today it was not available.

Do you know if Magic Bands will replace room cards or can we still get room cards? And bracelets for the pool? Glad you've had a great first day!

 

[sparks&whimsy]

If we have family in the island, can we bring them to the resort for the day? Obviously not to swim or use the facilities, but to hang out in the rooms for example?

Thanks!

They can hang out in your room and shop in the stores. In the past they could dine with you, but currently only guests with a room reservation can enjoy the restaurants that are currently open.

 

[sparks&whimsy]

Are the pools heated? Is the ocean water chilly?

The pools aren’t heated. At least not to my memory. We are doing our pool day tomorrow. The water in the lagoons today was brisk but it felt really good with that mid day sun.

 

[sparks&whimsy]

Do you know if Magic Bands will replace room cards or can we still get room cards? And bracelets for the pool? Glad you've had a great first day!

I will be sure to ask tomorrow. We are already calling it a night. Our little one is ready for bed!

 

[bcwife76]

I will be sure to ask tomorrow. We are already calling it a night. Our little one is ready for bed!

Thank you! Have a good rest

 

[sparks&whimsy]

From @traderginger (my better half)
Aulani Re-opening Stay, Day 1
*Long Post warning* We wanted to share our day in detail (written and visual), but in short we feel very safe, well taken care of, and thrilled to be back thanks to the incredible CM's across property during the entire day. While it isn't 100% classic Aulani, it is a fantastic product and the most magic we have had in a long time. Here we go....

-Check in: mostly smooth. We had utilized online check, which linked each of us to our existing MDE accounts, to include avatars. The newly released app (meh) showed the same avatars. At check in, they only needed ID for both the room rate (Kama'aina) and the health requirement (local address for no state health QR code). We had a hard time getting keys, because our names and MDE accounts were causing issues with their system because.....wait for it......they are adding Magic Bands! No other details, but this is a coming feature. Aulani's front end uses the Disneyland backbone, preventing Magic Band employment. However, this appears to be evolving. Let the rampant speculation commence!

-Safety: Social distancing, mask enforcement, sanitization efforts appear to be in line with the average WDW resort. Sanitizer stations are the new trash cans, you can't go more than 20ft before you hit one. Plexiglass is everywhere. As with most pay-to-play scenarios, mask usage is very good, although the quantity of children and questionable age of the unmasked is a little unnerving. Masks are not required while swimming/rivering or walking to/from the water. The low crowds on the pool deck made this a non-issue, but I expect tomorrow of the first full day to be a better example of pool deck crowding. Much of the staff is doubled up with face shields, especially in customer-engaging positions at registers and counters. Bell luggage carts have installed sanitizer cannisters. They were wiping down signage. They are not screwing around with cleanliness, so far.

-Room: Was ready at check in, but it had been 7 months so I hoped as much. Our 1BR villa passes the Pete Werner test with ease. All kitchenware is still loose, so one has to wonder how long it would take to properly turn over the room if that ALL needs to be cleaned. The "enhanced cleaning" placard is the same exact one from WDW resorts, down to the use of a studio image in multi-room floorplans. Bagged remotes, individual toiletries. The resort has 65% capacity cap based on their phasing, unsure if that is in line with Hawaii's own phase 2 phasing.

-Food: Aulani's website and app were accurate, all open except Ama Ama and Maka Hiki. Ama Ama's table layout shows socially distanced setups implying pending reopening, but no one would say if and when. Maka Hiki was stated by a CM to be reopening November 23rd. No other details, but one would think they would pivot from buffet to family style dining. We picked up lunch from Off Da Hook via a pool side server, but seating was available at the stand. We had dinner at Olelo Room and were officially their first guests for the return to service (yay!). QR menus were in full effect for both and payment only by signing a bill, no handoff of room key (a trust system, essentially). Entertainment at the Olelo stage had plexiglass and otherwise felt like it always has. A very welcome glimpse of normalcy. Dole Whip was verified at Ulu Cafe.

-Stores: Kalepa's (general merchandise) and Lava Shack (pool deck) are open while Hale Manu (high end store) remains closed, but has some of their merchandise in the left side of Kalepa's as the photos show. Despite days of statements that only resort guests would be allowed on property, that was not the case an the resellers swarmed like locusts straight at resort opening. I could create another post on my anger with the lack of give a crap by the entire corporation. That being said, almost any limited/special merchandise was depleted before any paying guests made it in. They had no Halloween merchandise for clear out (it all went via shopDisney), but do have an early stock of Christmas gear. They also have (or had) Duffy and friends bags, Olu bags, and Loungefly gear for both Duffy and Aulani. Wishables were the most horded item, as the Spam Musubi is some insane price on resale market, and were gone within 30 minutes. The Make-A-Wish Aulani spirit jersey was the only resort-specific item to survive the night, but the matching Plumeria-laden ears have not arrived yet. More Christmas merch is coming, but they don't know when.

-Impressions: We admittedly have been on the far to extreme side of safe since our last visit in early March, right as this whole "COVID" thing on the mainland was becoming news and the idea that it could be on island was just crazy talk. Almost 8 months later, this is our first foray back out into the wild and we feel very safe. We watched how WDW has reopened (thanks, DisBoards) and got pretty much what we expected here. We have not spent much time on the pool deck but that changes tomorrow. We will likely try out Ulu Cafe and maybe even the Shave Ice shack. For research.

Let us know if you have anything we can help answer while we are here. Mahalo!

 

[traderginger]

From @traderginger (my better half)
Aulani Re-opening Stay, Day 1
*Long Post warning* We wanted to share our day in detail (written and visual), but in short we feel very safe, well taken care of, and thrilled to be back thanks to the incredible CM's across property during the entire day. While it isn't 100% classic Aulani, it is a fantastic product and the most magic we have had in a long time. Here we go....

-Check in: mostly smooth. We had utilized online check, which linked each of us to our existing MDE accounts, to include avatars. The newly released app (meh) showed the same avatars. At check in, they only needed ID for both the room rate (Kama'aina) and the health requirement (local address for no state health QR code). We had a hard time getting keys, because our names and MDE accounts were causing issues with their system because.....wait for it......they are adding Magic Bands! No other details, but this is a coming feature. Aulani's front end uses the Disneyland backbone, preventing Magic Band employment. However, this appears to be evolving. Let the rampant speculation commence!

-Safety: Social distancing, mask enforcement, sanitization efforts appear to be in line with the average WDW resort. Sanitizer stations are the new trash cans, you can't go more than 20ft before you hit one. Plexiglass is everywhere. As with most pay-to-play scenarios, mask usage is very good, although the quantity of children and questionable age of the unmasked is a little unnerving. Masks are not required while swimming/rivering or walking to/from the water. The low crowds on the pool deck made this a non-issue, but I expect tomorrow of the first full day to be a better example of pool deck crowding. Much of the staff is doubled up with face shields, especially in customer-engaging positions at registers and counters. Bell luggage carts have installed sanitizer cannisters. They were wiping down signage. They are not screwing around with cleanliness, so far.

-Room: Was ready at check in, but it had been 7 months so I hoped as much. Our 1BR villa passes the Pete Werner test with ease. All kitchenware is still loose, so one has to wonder how long it would take to properly turn over the room if that ALL needs to be cleaned. The "enhanced cleaning" placard is the same exact one from WDW resorts, down to the use of a studio image in multi-room floorplans. Bagged remotes, individual toiletries. The resort has 65% capacity cap based on their phasing, unsure if that is in line with Hawaii's own phase 2 phasing.

-Food: Aulani's website and app were accurate, all open except Ama Ama and Maka Hiki. Ama Ama's table layout shows socially distanced setups implying pending reopening, but no one would say if and when. Maka Hiki was stated by a CM to be reopening November 23rd. No other details, but one would think they would pivot from buffet to family style dining. We picked up lunch from Off Da Hook via a pool side server, but seating was available at the stand. We had dinner at Olelo Room and were officially their first guests for the return to service (yay!). QR menus were in full effect for both and payment only by signing a bill, no handoff of room key (a trust system, essentially). Entertainment at the Olelo stage had plexiglass and otherwise felt like it always has. A very welcome glimpse of normalcy. Dole Whip was verified at Ulu Cafe.

-Stores: Kalepa's (general merchandise) and Lava Shack (pool deck) are open while Hale Manu (high end store) remains closed, but has some of their merchandise in the left side of Kalepa's as the photos show. Despite days of statements that only resort guests would be allowed on property, that was not the case an the resellers swarmed like locusts straight at resort opening. I could create another post on my anger with the lack of give a crap by the entire corporation. That being said, almost any limited/special merchandise was depleted before any paying guests made it in. They had no Halloween merchandise for clear out (it all went via shopDisney), but do have an early stock of Christmas gear. They also have (or had) Duffy and friends bags, Olu bags, and Loungefly gear for both Duffy and Aulani. Wishables were the most horded item, as the Spam Musubi is some insane price on resale market, and were gone within 30 minutes. The Make-A-Wish Aulani spirit jersey was the only resort-specific item to survive the night, but the matching Plumeria-laden ears have not arrived yet. More Christmas merch is coming, but they don't know when.

-Impressions: We admittedly have been on the far to extreme side of safe since our last visit in early March, right as this whole "COVID" thing on the mainland was becoming news and the idea that it could be on island was just crazy talk. Almost 8 months later, this is our first foray back out into the wild and we feel very safe. We watched how WDW has reopened (thanks, DisBoards) and got pretty much what we expected here. We have not spent much time on the pool deck but that changes tomorrow. We will likely try out Ulu Cafe and maybe even the Shave Ice shack. For research.

Let us know if you have anything we can help answer while we are here. Mahalo!

You can find this post, and other great content, at the DVC Fan FB group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/dvcfan1 (obligatory plug, definitely not sponsored).

 

[marvfool1]

.

Let us know if you have anything we can help answer while we are here. Mahalo!
[/QUOTE]

Thank you for taking time from your staycation to provide these updates.

Are reservations required to use the lazy River? jacuzzis Etc?

thanks

 

[sparks&whimsy]

.

Let us know if you have anything we can help answer while we are here. Mahalo!

Thank you for taking time from your staycation to provide these updates.

Are reservations required to use the lazy River? jacuzzis Etc?

thanks
[/QUOTE]
No reservations needed!

 

[DRussell83]

Thank you so much for taking the time to provide all these updates - it is so appreciated!

 

[plygph]

Can you get me the recipe for the DVC member cocktail?

 

[shaunacb]

Any rumours or updates from Aulani regarding if/when the kids club would reopen?

 

[DRussell83]

so I'm seeing information that you have to wear a mask while in your lounger at the pool - is that confirmed? What about the lagoon area? or if we travel to another beach - still kinda unclear on the mask rules when just sitting with your household (in my case just my husband) socially distant from others. Thank you so much again!

 

[sparks&whimsy]

Can you get me the recipe for the DVC member cocktail?

I can try!

 

[sparks&whimsy]

Any rumours or updates from Aulani regarding if/when the kids club would reopen?

Nope. This may be one of the last things to come back up on property just based off Hawaii’s reopening tier system.