Day 5 - Check out/ then check into Aulani
Here is where I ran into difficulty on the trip. The day started off "eh" and ended the same! I wish I could redo this day. My daughter REALLY wanted to see the Bishop Museum. I initially had a docent tour of the Palace scheduled today(free as hotel guest) but we were unable to squeeze both in by the time we were due to pick up the rental car at the International Market Place. So I caved into the Bishop NATURAL HISTORY Museum. We are from the east coast and have visited many natural history museums - Pittsburgh, NYC, Chicago, DC and even LA. So we had an idea in our head of what to expect. I pictured animal dioramas , taxidermy, etc. There was none of that here and that is what we came for pretty much. We were there all of an hour but at this point missed the Palace window. My lunch plans were askew now because we wrapped up much earlier! On the bright side the museum was free. Had I understood more clearly what it was I am sure I would have had a better time - just one of those things of giving up something you wanted to do to do something else that wasn't what you thought.
So we ate a quick lunch - AGAIN Udon noodles.We hustled back to the hotel for late check out and picked up our rental car at a nearby hotel. I felt really sad leaving Halekulani but I was looking forward to Aulani.
I was hesitant on how many days to spend in Aulani. Should it be 3 or 5 or heck all 11? I have read stories of people checking into Aulani and never leaving the entire vacation. So again, I pictured it in my head what it would be to keep me busy for a length of time and booked 5 nights. As Julia Roberts would say in Pretty Woman.... BIG MISTAKE. HUGE.
Trip to Aulani super easy. The closer we got to the area the more remote I began to feel. Similar to the feeling I had 20 years ago on my first and only cruise. Sort of captive. Sort of anxious.
Thank God I had a car and thank God I planned A LOT of off site activities - which I could cancel I reasoned to myself if I found myself very captivated with the resort.
My first impression was this place is so dark. It is a cross between Animal Kingdom and Poly at WDW. Both resorts which I enjoy and have stayed at but prefer Yacht Club and Grand Floridian. I had booked a studio standard view and while a view is important to me, I already knew nothing would top the view I had in Waikiki so I did not even try. I expected nothing so I wouldn't be disappointed.
The hallways, the room.....where are the lights? I had to read the schedule of events on the deck in the sun to see. Our view was actually decent for the room category so that was a pleasant surprise. I had ordered my daughter a small surprise which she enjoyed and it was in the room waiitng for us.
But again, I am in the Animal Kingdom Lodge and why isn't that making me happy? We put our bags down and I turned into the most chipper cruise director you would ever see. I was oohing and aahing over the weekly schedule - talking everything up and trying to convince myself.
I suggested we all tour the property and take some pictures and get the lay of the land. An hour later, DH looked at me said "mind if I make a phone call?". I knew what we he was doing.....I had a bonus night of the trip - night 11 in Hawaii - that I had triple booked us everywhere because I wasn't sure where we would want to stay. Would I like Waikiki or Aulani or want to try another resort? He came back to report we were booked ocean front at Halekaulani for night 11. And then he said and your welcome....
Here is where I started comparing the resorts and I wasn't fair. I was missing my turn down service at Halekalani - where they put slippers by the bed, completely clean your room AGAIN, hang up the swimsuits, refresh the robes, new toiletries...you name it! I was staying on borrowed DVC points and it isn't fair to compare but I was.
Hmmmmm. Up next - RESORT DAY! Guess how many we had of those? AND review of private cabana.
Here is where I ran into difficulty on the trip. The day started off "eh" and ended the same! I wish I could redo this day. My daughter REALLY wanted to see the Bishop Museum. I initially had a docent tour of the Palace scheduled today(free as hotel guest) but we were unable to squeeze both in by the time we were due to pick up the rental car at the International Market Place. So I caved into the Bishop NATURAL HISTORY Museum. We are from the east coast and have visited many natural history museums - Pittsburgh, NYC, Chicago, DC and even LA. So we had an idea in our head of what to expect. I pictured animal dioramas , taxidermy, etc. There was none of that here and that is what we came for pretty much. We were there all of an hour but at this point missed the Palace window. My lunch plans were askew now because we wrapped up much earlier! On the bright side the museum was free. Had I understood more clearly what it was I am sure I would have had a better time - just one of those things of giving up something you wanted to do to do something else that wasn't what you thought.
So we ate a quick lunch - AGAIN Udon noodles.We hustled back to the hotel for late check out and picked up our rental car at a nearby hotel. I felt really sad leaving Halekulani but I was looking forward to Aulani.
I was hesitant on how many days to spend in Aulani. Should it be 3 or 5 or heck all 11? I have read stories of people checking into Aulani and never leaving the entire vacation. So again, I pictured it in my head what it would be to keep me busy for a length of time and booked 5 nights. As Julia Roberts would say in Pretty Woman.... BIG MISTAKE. HUGE.
Trip to Aulani super easy. The closer we got to the area the more remote I began to feel. Similar to the feeling I had 20 years ago on my first and only cruise. Sort of captive. Sort of anxious.
Thank God I had a car and thank God I planned A LOT of off site activities - which I could cancel I reasoned to myself if I found myself very captivated with the resort.
My first impression was this place is so dark. It is a cross between Animal Kingdom and Poly at WDW. Both resorts which I enjoy and have stayed at but prefer Yacht Club and Grand Floridian. I had booked a studio standard view and while a view is important to me, I already knew nothing would top the view I had in Waikiki so I did not even try. I expected nothing so I wouldn't be disappointed.
The hallways, the room.....where are the lights? I had to read the schedule of events on the deck in the sun to see. Our view was actually decent for the room category so that was a pleasant surprise. I had ordered my daughter a small surprise which she enjoyed and it was in the room waiitng for us.
But again, I am in the Animal Kingdom Lodge and why isn't that making me happy? We put our bags down and I turned into the most chipper cruise director you would ever see. I was oohing and aahing over the weekly schedule - talking everything up and trying to convince myself.
I suggested we all tour the property and take some pictures and get the lay of the land. An hour later, DH looked at me said "mind if I make a phone call?". I knew what we he was doing.....I had a bonus night of the trip - night 11 in Hawaii - that I had triple booked us everywhere because I wasn't sure where we would want to stay. Would I like Waikiki or Aulani or want to try another resort? He came back to report we were booked ocean front at Halekaulani for night 11. And then he said and your welcome....
Here is where I started comparing the resorts and I wasn't fair. I was missing my turn down service at Halekalani - where they put slippers by the bed, completely clean your room AGAIN, hang up the swimsuits, refresh the robes, new toiletries...you name it! I was staying on borrowed DVC points and it isn't fair to compare but I was.
Hmmmmm. Up next - RESORT DAY! Guess how many we had of those? AND review of private cabana.
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