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09-02-2012, 11:44 AM
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#2 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,226
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Looking forward to reading your trip report! This will be the first TR on Aulani that I have read!
Happy 26th Anniversary!!! 
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 Disneyland: May '12 - BWPPI..... May ’09 - Hojo’s….Oct ‘07 – Grand Californian….Nov ‘06 – Paradise Pier.…June ’04 – Disneyland Hotel.…June ‘96 Anaheim Hilton…. July ‘95 - Carousel Inn….Aug ’92 – Carousel Inn…July ’90 - Embassy Suites…July ’89 - Anaheim Hilton…May ’88 - Penny Sleeper…May ’87 - Penny Sleeper…April ’77 (?)…June ’76 - Disneyland Hotel….June ‘73 First trip ever to Disneyland!!! WDW: July ’94 - Marriott Orlando World Center.…April ’94 - Marriott Orlando World Center….July ’86 - Marriott Orlando World Center….April ’86 - Marriott Orlando World Center |
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09-02-2012, 11:59 AM
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#3 |
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just skippin' around, amusing myself...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Posts: 6,069
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I started planning this Hawaiian odyssey quite a while back- probably a year and a half at LEAST before we were to go- and in the end, I felt like we had a great vacation because of it. 4 nights on Kauai (although, to be perfectly honest, I could have spent a few more nights there- wow, is that island PARADISE) and 6 nights on Oahu staying at Aulani. We had saved up miles for YEARS, so we were able to use them to secure all of our planes- coach on the way out, and first class on the return.
 THAT saved a BUNDLE! On the way out, we had a direct flight from Newark, NJ, to Honolulu on United- then on to an Island Air puddle jumper to Kauai. Some of us were more excited about the 10 1/2 hour portion of our flight than others- But I have to say, that plane was EXTREMELY comfy, we had our own tvs, I watched 3 movies, we flew over the Rockies which were very pretty, even saw Mount Rainier snowcapped and all and it really was not so bad! In 10 hours, we were landing on Oahu!   We made our way over to the Island Air terminal, and had about an hour or two to kill- so we got some snacks for the boys, and Pods and I went to have the first Mai Tai of the trip-  A word on the interisland flights- there are 3 airlines- Island Air (which we flew to Kauai), Hawaiian Air (which we flew back from Kauai) and Go! Mokele. IA has mostly puddle jumpers, but they are reputable- HA has mostly jets which are larger and faster (I like them best), and Go! Mokele- well, based on what I saw, I would NOT fly them EVER- they had cancelled ALL of their flights for 2 days while we were there, and some passengers had been trying to get off Oahu and to Maui or Kauai for 2 DAYS!!!!! with no luck.  Please keep all this in mind when you are tempted by their cheaper airfares- that was one BIG angry mob in that airport!!So, anyway....by the time we landed on Kauai, it was 8 pm- with the 6 hour time difference, to us it felt like 3am- and we were just a little tired!  We had rented a car from Alamo on both islands, all through DiscountHawaiiCarRentals- they had the best pricing I could find, a full size (Chevy Impala, I think) was $214 (including all fees and taxes) for the Friday to Tuesday rental out of Lihue Airport. For the first night, knowing we were going to be zombie like once we arrived on Kauai, I had booked a hotel very close to the airport- it was literally 5 minutes. Well recommended on Trip Advisor, our first night was spent at Kauai Beach Resort- for a grand total of $150, including tax, for a mountain view room- which they upgraded to an oceanview, when I arrived.  This property was the Hilton, but is now managed by Aqua, and it was absolutely fine (if a little dated) and beautiful with comfy beds and very pretty grounds. i would ALWAYS stay here on my arrival night! At this point, not much mattered except finding the toothbrushes and calling it a night! Of course, in the morning, I was up before sunrise- along with lots of others, but no one in my family, LOL!  I quietly put on my clothes and ran out to the beach for daybreak-     Back to the room, it was time to wake the family- macnut pancakes and gorgeous day in Waimea Canyon were waiting.....      Up next- soup for breakfast and WOW!! Kauai is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! |
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09-02-2012, 12:05 PM
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#4 | |
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just skippin' around, amusing myself...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Posts: 6,069
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09-02-2012, 12:17 PM
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#5 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Twinsburg, OH
Posts: 2,437
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I'm in! It was nice seeing some of your pics on FB. Looking forward to reading about your adventure.
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 me  DH  DS12 DS9   |
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09-02-2012, 12:18 PM
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#6 |
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Chiefs fan living in Bronco country
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 3,246
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Aloha and Happy Anniversay!
I'm along for the ride....all these Hawaii trip reports are convincing me I need to revisit some of these days. Jill in CO
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09-02-2012, 12:21 PM
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#7 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,444
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Yea! Love your title! Now to start reading.
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I was a hippie, now I am a middle-aged professor - oh my, how age does change a person!  |
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09-02-2012, 12:35 PM
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#8 |
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just skippin' around, amusing myself...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Posts: 6,069
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The island of Kauai is really not very big- and of all the islands in the chain, it is fairly undeveloped (compared to Oahu, Maui & Hawaii, that is). It is the oldest of all the islands, and because of that, it has more dramatic scenery than anywhere else- Kauai has been the backdrop for more movies than I can even begin to name, and with good reason- the Garden Isle has a lot of lush, green wilderness, many different climates, many different things to see. It is the island that idealizes what most people imagine when they think of Hawaii. Since we were going to be staying on the North Shore for the remainder of our time here, we began our 1st day with a trip south and west- we were going to visit Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park. We had our Keens on, and we were ready to do some hiking! But first....a stop for breakfast. We chose nearby Tip Top Cafe, a locals hangout for our first Hawaiian meal. Tip Top is known for yummy mac nut pancakes with home made guava pineapple jam and coconut syrup, and for Oxtail Soup- even at breakfast! My family thought I was CRAZY when I ordered it, but- they got over their disgust once they tried some- it was yummmmmmmm......
  Sorry about the bite- I just couldn't wait! The bananas added were excellent, wow- this was an awesome, and quick, brekkie!  We had about an hours drive from there to the Canyon- but we never minded driving on Kauai, because everywhere you looked, it was jaw-dropping gorgeous-    Uh-oh- Photobucket's acting up- back in a minute- |
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09-02-2012, 12:35 PM
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#9 |
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Can you package some Main St. music and send it to me?
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Ma., BCV
Posts: 7,900
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Oh I am going to love this report!! Beautiful pictures
 . And guess what, we just celebrated our 26th too! (May 24, 1986) give us lots and lots of pictures, love your reports! (oh, and we have three sons too, what a coincidence!)
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  My happy place    |
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09-02-2012, 12:49 PM
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#10 |
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just skippin' around, amusing myself...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Posts: 6,069
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 There are two roads to get up into the canyon- we chose Waimea Canyon Road, because it was first and is more scenic, and it ended up being a very good thing- more on why a little later. After a steep climb, we approached our first glimpse and overlook-     Mark Twain nick-named Waimea Canyon the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and the nick-name fits. It is so beautiful! I was actually worried about how my teenagers would react to all this natural beauty we were going to be taking in- you know, teenagers are sooooo cool and nonplussed about everything- well, I need not have worried, Ty & Tim really "got" it- they fully understood that they were laying eyes upon some of God's greatest work!    Back in the car, a little further up, we noticed some kids running around on the left- so we pulled over to explore.  Photobucket frozen AGAIN!!!! Back in a bit- |
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09-02-2012, 12:50 PM
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#11 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Petal, MS
Posts: 2,017
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Glad you started posting before we left for Aulani tomorrow! Great start and I look forward to reading more later. Gotta love Kauai. DW and I went there for our honeymoon 30 years ago this past week!
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09-02-2012, 12:57 PM
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#12 |
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Mommy to Claire
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 23,355
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joining in!!!!!
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  Oh the Places We Go, The People We SeeI LOVE Comedians with Guitars...You didn't tell me that PartYou can take the girl out of Disney, BUT..Universal Adventures of Dreams and an Expanding WorldA Hop, NO Skip, and Many Mishaps to a Disney DreamSo This is What a Dream Tastes likeDairy Farmer's Wife IS going to Disney in March/April3Rd Times a Charm |
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09-02-2012, 01:06 PM
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#13 |
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Mommy to Claire
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Ohio
Posts: 23,355
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Oh my word....caught up no and what a beautiful site to see. I can't imagine just how wonderful it was in person. I can't wait to read more.
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Oh the Places We Go, The People We SeeI LOVE Comedians with Guitars...You didn't tell me that PartYou can take the girl out of Disney, BUT..Universal Adventures of Dreams and an Expanding WorldA Hop, NO Skip, and Many Mishaps to a Disney DreamSo This is What a Dream Tastes likeDairy Farmer's Wife IS going to Disney in March/April3Rd Times a Charm |
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09-02-2012, 01:35 PM
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#14 | |||||||
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just skippin' around, amusing myself...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Posts: 6,069
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Don't worry- there will be too many pics, I am sure! Hope you are having fun with all your boys, too!Quote:
- how beautiful is that? )- she works at the Olelo Room in the morning- try their almond croissant, it is addicting! We ate at AMa Ama 3 times- all were very good, but my favorite was the plate lunch special-OMG- soooo much food! Pods loved the chopped salad, he ate it twice. Make sure you grab directions from the valets when you go out- the GPS sent us to a residential neighborhood and 2 naval bases instead of Pearl Harbor- we really hated driving on Oahu, but the North Shore was worth it, so was PH- Roys is really good, too. Walk over past the Marriot on the right and down to the beach- there was a monk seal hanging there all day on our last day. On the North Shore do NOT miss Sunset Beach (lanikea)- it's where the turtles hang out on the beach- lots and lots of them- you'll know you're in the right place when you see all the people and cars- also, there are loads of fish in Shark's Cove up there- it's where we scubad, and it's where locals go to snorkel (rather than Hanauma Bay). SOOO excited for you!!!! Happy 30th!!! Quote:
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Last edited by podsnel; 09-02-2012 at 11:11 PM. |
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09-02-2012, 02:17 PM
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#15 |
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just skippin' around, amusing myself...
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Scotch Plains, NJ
Posts: 6,069
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Here's a little perspective on where we were-
click to play-  click to play-  So- this area with the red, iron rich soil everywhere was SO COOL! We ran around here for at least half an hour- my kids LOVED it, it was like someone had let them out of a cage! My DH remarked that this was the most active he had seen Tyler since he was a two year old, they were having a blast.  We traded cameras with a Japanese family to get this pic-   THIS was AWESOME- click to play-  click to play-   Tyler and his war paint-   The whole time we were being swooped over by a couple of helicopters- we kidded the boys and told them that was the next adventure for them- riding around in the basket hanging off the copters. Do you know, they actually believed us?   What was going on with the copters was they were trying to extinguish a small fire near the canyon- the baskets were being filled with water that was diverted from a waterfall- which they have the ability to stop and redirect to wherever this was they were scooping up the water from. I thought that was pretty interesting that they could actually STOP a waterfall.      Just slightly red and dusty, we climbed back into our chevy- there was sooo much more to see!
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Last edited by podsnel; 09-02-2012 at 02:34 PM. |
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