Tips for Hanauma Bay reservations

[lilmc]

We will be visiting Oahu in a few weeks and I have studied the Hanauma Bay reservation info as much as possible, but I wonder if someone who has gone through it can give me some additional info.

I am pretty well “Disney trained” in obtaining virtual queues (pretty proud of my perfect streak into the teens over the years), so I am well versed in atomic clock and the like. I see that the early morning spots have only 15 per 10 minute time slot and they mostly fill within 4-5 ish minutes. Is that minutes until all who have snagged and have checked out already or minutes until in everyone’s carts and once it’s there you have a reasonable time to enter credit card numbers and the like?

 

[RedSonya]

I don't have the answer to your question, but I'm also planning a trip to Hanauma Bay in early May so I've been watching the times every day. I think the time if once you've actually checked out, but that's speculation. I'm also wondering what time the parking lot fills. We're planning for a Wednesday and hoping to get an 8:30-9ish time slot but will want an earlier one if there isn't parking by that time. Have a great trip!

 

[Tikirussell]

When I booked last month I had no trouble getting the slot I wanted. Selecting the time slot you want puts a hold on it to allow you to complete the transaction.

We arrived just after 8:00 for our 8:30 slot and there were plenty of spaces left. Be sure to leave early enough to allow for the morning rush traffic. That was a stressful drive!

 

[lilmc]

Ugh! I’ve been shut out twice now! Yesterday was because i was on the plane and Southwest’s WiFi was done, so doesn’t really count, but today, omg! I was just trying to get through the hardest Captcha’s on record and then they were gone. I would love, love if somebody could chime in with fast finger tips. I only have a few days left to try

 

[lilsonicfan]

Ugh! I’ve been shut out twice now! Yesterday was because i was on the plane and Southwest’s WiFi was done, so doesn’t really count, but today, omg! I was just trying to get through the hardest Captcha’s on record and then they were gone. I would love, love if somebody could chime in with fast finger tips. I only have a few days left to try

I did mine at the hotel and on my laptop. I had one page open with the atomic clock just so i could refresh exactly at the right time, I also chose a time slot that I thought might be less popular, although idk if it really makes a difference or not - I did feel like the earliest time slots go the fastest. I think once you get through the captcha you have a few minutes to fill everything in, including payment.

 

[lilmc]

Success today! Ok here are my tips (success only once n=1 and failure once):

Just like any Disney virtual queue drop, watch your atomic clock/second hand on your Apple clock. If you have a larger group (we are family of 4), pick an “off“ time (I went for 8:20, not 8) and the ones after 8 am have 35 spots instead of 15. Here’s the key for me, my iPad hadn’t been offering my email up on auto fill and I took too long typing in my email, so I updated those settings again, then I was so much faster getting through! Once they are in your cart officially, now you can breathe because you now have a 10 minute countdown to enter your credit card info. If you aren’t successful on your first attempt, I have not found a quick way to go back and start again (hubby suggests having another 2 or 3 tabs on main page that can be refreshed likely faster) but that 10 minute time to check out becomes key again. If you keep refreshing, spots will be released (I figured that out by accident when I failed yesterday, I saw more pop back up). The times posted of “sold out by” on each time spot had given my hope previously that this wouldn’t be as competitive as it it, but those longer times are time slots rereleased after a check out time elapse. All time slots go within seconds, then some got released back.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Really glad you were able to get it! I will say I didn't have any autofill happening, but using a laptop helped (as well as being a super fast typer)

 

[Sydnerella]

We had no issues when booking last July which is a busy time in HI. I booked from my phone, note my autofill was working and we wanted a later time as we had Makahiki breakfast reservations. Obv create account ahead of time if that’s an option- I can’t recall if that was something I just did for Pearl Harbor or I did it for this too.

We reserved 1pm knowing we would be good with 2 hours to snorkel. It was nice and we had a good amount and variety of fish but I have no previous experience or video there at the Bay to compare it to. I know people say go early and after they’ve been closed for two days for best results but we fit it to our plans which meant a Friday at 1.

Nicer snorkeling than Grand Cayman in 2016, not as nice as Tahiti in 1999… those are unfortunately my only experiences to compare to.

Agree with leaving EARLY as the drive and the fear of arriving late is stressful if you hit traffic. Even for us leaving at noon. I recommend 30 minutes earlier than you think you need to.

 

[cgattis]

not as nice as Tahiti in 1999… those are unfortunately my only experiences to compare to.

Oooh that IS unfortunate that you had to go to Tahiti!! I would LOVE to see a trip report on that, especially compared/contrasted with Hawaii! Tahiti is bucket list for me; I just need to know how high to put it on my list!! Thanks in advance if you have time for this!!

 

[Sydnerella]

Oooh that IS unfortunate that you had to go to Tahiti!! I would LOVE to see a trip report on that, especially compared/contrasted with Hawaii! Tahiti is bucket list for me; I just need to know how high to put it on my list!! Thanks in advance if you have time for this!!

I just meant I hadn’t many snorkeling experiences for which to compare! And I do love it so wish it were more often!
Did you catch Tahiti was 1999? I’m not sure how applicable my data would be to today for a trip report but it’s a hope/dream to return someday! It was our honeymoon

So I can share a quick couple notes - both places are lovely. We loved Oahu for its diversity in landscape, culture, food, people, climate, etc… Only been to island of Oahu. Loved staying in Waikiki for a couple nights and Aulani for 5. Wish it were more! We’re from Minneapolis so like cities and liked exploring Waikiki and Honolulu. Loved Aulani and exploring the island with our teens. Had a jeep for the week.

French Polynesia has many islands and we flew into Tahiti and ferried over to Moorea for 8 nights in an overwater bungalow at the Sofitel with our last night back on Tahiti at the Sofitel before flying back to the US the next morning.

The island of Moorea was beautiful and small enough to circle in a day outing by rental. We enjoyed relaxing at the resort, and swimming by our awesome overwater bungalow and checking out the island, with tours and our own car rental and self guided tour. Snorkeling in the water around Moorea was like the man-made Rainbow Reef at Aulani. In terms of water clarity, variety/quality/quantity of fish, colors, etc. it was pretty incredible everywhere we went on the island.

Moorea was amazing and gorgeous and hard to believe I was actually looking at this gorgeous scene and aqua water I couldn’t ever imagine seeing in person.

Everything was very expensive there. Twenty plus years ago it was $100 to rent a vehicle for the day. Milk - cows - was $5 for half gallon. Disposable underwater camera was $50 at hotel when we decided to do a swimming with sharks excursion at urging of another couple we met - if you’re gonna do it you need to take pics right?!? These were $14 at Target at home. And so glad we had that camera cuz we actually swam with sharks which I look back on as crazy! But I have pics to prove it! 6-ft Reef sharks but still!

Moorea and Tahiti were less developed than HI. Moorea far less commercial. Hotels were only things at that time. Otherwise nothing overtly touristy. Papeete on Tahiti was similar to a city in a Caribbean island or Mexico and was touristy and in more disrepair and felt less safe/ comfortable than the US and Honolulu. That said, we had minimal time in Papeete and I was young and inexperienced in foreign cities so I could not give it a fair review.

We love Aulani and Oahu and will definitely be back. We hope to return to Moorea too. hope that helps give some insight.

 

[alohamom]

pick an “off“ time (I went for 8:20, not 8)

Oh great tip! Thank you.

 

[cgattis]

I just meant I hadn’t many snorkeling experiences for which to compare! And I do love it so wish it were more often!
Did you catch Tahiti was 1999? I’m not sure how applicable my data would be to today for a trip report but it’s a hope/dream to return someday! It was our honeymoon

So I can share a quick couple notes - both places are lovely. We loved Oahu for its diversity in landscape, culture, food, people, climate, etc… Only been to island of Oahu. Loved staying in Waikiki for a couple nights and Aulani for 5. Wish it were more! We’re from Minneapolis so like cities and liked exploring Waikiki and Honolulu. Loved Aulani and exploring the island with our teens. Had a jeep for the week.

French Polynesia has many islands and we flew into Tahiti and ferried over to Moorea for 8 nights in an overwater bungalow at the Sofitel with our last night back on Tahiti at the Sofitel before flying back to the US the next morning.

The island of Moorea was beautiful and small enough to circle in a day outing by rental. We enjoyed relaxing at the resort, and swimming by our awesome overwater bungalow and checking out the island, with tours and our own car rental and self guided tour. Snorkeling in the water around Moorea was like the man-made Rainbow Reef at Aulani. In terms of water clarity, variety/quality/quantity of fish, colors, etc. it was pretty incredible everywhere we went on the island.

Moorea was amazing and gorgeous and hard to believe I was actually looking at this gorgeous scene and aqua water I couldn’t ever imagine seeing in person.

Everything was very expensive there. Twenty plus years ago it was $100 to rent a vehicle for the day. Milk - cows - was $5 for half gallon. Disposable underwater camera was $50 at hotel when we decided to do a swimming with sharks excursion at urging of another couple we met - if you’re gonna do it you need to take pics right?!? These were $14 at Target at home. And so glad we had that camera cuz we actually swam with sharks which I look back on as crazy! But I have pics to prove it! 6-ft Reef sharks but still!

Moorea and Tahiti were less developed than HI. Moorea far less commercial. Hotels were only things at that time. Otherwise nothing overtly touristy. Papeete on Tahiti was similar to a city in a Caribbean island or Mexico and was touristy and in more disrepair and felt less safe/ comfortable than the US and Honolulu. That said, we had minimal time in Papeete and I was young and inexperienced in foreign cities so I could not give it a fair review.

We love Aulani and Oahu and will definitely be back. We hope to return to Moorea too. hope that helps give some insight.

Yes, was just teasing you a little! I’ve looked at those bungalows in Moorea, so it’s good to hear they are actually as magical as they seem!! And same thing for just the overall experience; sounds like it was amazing. Thanks for the notes on cost; I’m sure that hasn’t gotten better, so good to plan for. It’s a bucket list thing for sure! Appreciate the info because I literally don’t know anyone else who’s ever been!

 

[Ladyslug]

We just went a few weeks ago, and used the usual method that I would use to get a virtual queue slot. I selected 8:30am on Wednesday as the slot (for 3 people) and we arrived ~20 minutes early for our slot. Most of the parking in the lower lot was filled, but the upper lot was still practically empty.

 

[cfox612]

I did a "practice" run today (we're not going until next year) but there were still spots available as of 7:10am Hawaiian time.

 

[lilmc]

I did a "practice" run today (we're not going until next year) but there were still spots available as of 7:10am Hawaiian time.

Cool! We were there during spring break, so I suspect a pretty peak time. Good to know all this of the year might not be quite so bad.