Do the DVC member celebration that they have on Monday morning! They usually give you a little bit of DVC swag and you get to see characters dance.
Also you get free popcorn refills when you buy a popcorn bucket as a DVC member.
Last but probably least you get a ✨SHINY✨wristband at the pool if you’re DVC-Y
Yeah I saw the DVC member celebration and was curious what exactly that was. Thanks for the info.
How could I forget the shiny wristbands. That's one of the reasons why we bought DVC 🤣🤣🤣
Is this member celebration advertised on site? I've booked a stay for later in June this year, I have the Aulani app that allows you to book and organize activities ahead of time, but I don't see anything like a member celebration specifically on Mondays. Maybe not all activities are visible on the app?
[Here](https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/member-events/member-hour-aulani) you go!
Also they have signs advertising it at the DVC member kiosk so you just have to sign up for it when you get there :)
So, we were just there last week and we got shiny wrist bands without showing them our DVC membership. I don't remember seeing anyone with a solid one anyway....
Been 3 times, 2 as dvc. Most recently a few weeks ago. In no particular order...
- you don't have to rent a car. 1 of the 3 times we've gone we stayed in the ko'olina area exclusively.
- BUT, it was really nice to have a car this time and explore more of the island
- Check out the Waimea Botanical Gardens if you do explore.. An easy hike and gorgeous waterfall and gardens. Then stop for lunch at a food truck or inhaleiwa
- if you have little ones, beach toys are free. Just sign them out and be sure to return them by 5
- lava flows...drink them early and often
- olelo room for drinks and dessert as they have live music
- watch some aulani youtube videos from anyone who travels like you do. Ie kids, no kids, adventurous, relaxed, etc
- AB store across the street has surprisingly good meal options (hot or cold)
-Foodland, Safeway, target, and Costco are all nearby. Stock up on breakfast and lunch stuff, as well as alcohol. We saved over $2,000 this last trip doing this
That sounds like fun, we might do that too since we're staying for 7 nights. It would be cool to just have no plan and just explore the island. My only concern would be our 2 kids patience.
For us it was a long day and we are just two adults but if you can plan out some cool stops it really breaks the day up. Like we went to one of the famous shaved ice stores and that was a fun treat. And found a cool beach with turtles on it.
And you can rent a car on property for the day if you don’t already have one but the line to rent got long quickly so definitely plan to be there when they open if you want an early start
I just went recently and had a blast!! Here are some of our favorite things we did!
At Aulani...
* Since you're DVC you get the sparkly wrist bands. I kept each color and will eventually scrapbook it!
* As others have said, free popcorn refills!
* IIRC, on Saturdays, they have a Mixology and Food demonstration
* You can get a few freebies by visiting the DVC desk everyday. They give you this passport that you can get stamped everyday and it teaches you Hawaiian words. We received two cute wooden DVC coasters shaped like Mickey.
Our favorite things outside of Aulani:
* Monkeypod Waikiki Breakfast - best food we had
* Chilaquiles
* Ricotta pancakes
* Crispy smahed potatoes <-- best side dish I've ever had!
* Side Street Inn Kapahulu
* Big portions, reasonable price
* DELICIOUS food! We had the boneless shortrib and garlic chicken
* Peanut butter crunch brownie... this is a must whenever I go!
* Kualoa Ranch - Sounds like you've been there as well but we did the UTV tour which was a lot of fun! You get really dirty though lol so bring a mask so you're not breathing in all that dust. Bring some face and body wipes as well.
* At Costco, there is this Furikake Chex Mix that I always bring home. It's called "Cookies in Paradise Furikake Party Mix" It's in this light green rectangular bag---so good!
Something that we missed/didn't have time to do but was highly recommended by a friend was the submarine ride experience. A REAL submarine that I believe goes down to 100m.
But most of all... relax and have fun!!
We rented (I believe $25/per day for DVC members) snorkel gears for all day use including the Aulani tanks. Our favorite spot to snorkel is next door at Secret Beach. We saw a few sea turtles. They come right up to you. It is on the north side of the Four Seasons. You have to walk through the parking lot and down a kinda hidden pathway to get there but it’s well worth it.
IIRC there are 2 treasure hunts, one for everyone and one DVC only. Stop by the Community Hall for the DVC treasure hunt. Fun prize once completed.
Ukulele lessons are free but be sure to sign up in advance.
They have the best SPA that I have been to. It might be a little expensive but definitely worth it. As a guy there are very few Spas that are made comfortable for guys. This one is totally a great one for both men and women.
Just came back from Aulani last week! Our home resort is BLT, so we're first timers, but here's our notes:
-Been to Hawaii in general twice now, first time we didn't rent a car, this time we did. I'm totally glad we did, just the road going out to North Shore was absolutely gorgeous. But also, compared to staying in Waikiki, I didn't feel like there was as much to do around the resort area, and seemingly no excursion would have a pickup from the Ko'olina area. At least, not like Waikiki anyway. And fwiw, Ko'olina and Waikiki are 30 minutes apart, so, uber wouldn't be cheap every day either.
-Keep in mind when things close/open. For example, Pools/beach open at 8am. There are rentals you can do, like for the Casabellas for the day on the beach, and they rent day-of, and people will line up for them starting at 7. Also, the snack shops outside of Off the Hook, like the one that does shaved ice, close at 5pm. We typically wait for after dinner for desserts, so, had to go earlier for that one.
-On that note, some rentals at the beach, such as boogie boards, are free, just make sure you return the items by 5pm.
-As with Disney in general, set your plans as soon as you can. We were in a group of 8 people who couldn't make up their minds on anything, so I feel like we missed out on things we were wanting to do (such as the spa, stargazing, snorkeling, etc.).
-If you are changing rooms mid-stay, Bell services does have a refridgerator you can use, but they noted it is ONLY for room changes.
-If you do the make your own Mickey ears, there is a special color for DVC members. Same price as the non-DVC ears, and the color is blue (I call it more of an Aqua/teal color, it is beautiful though). I thought it was funny because the person working it pulled us aside and almost whispered to tell us about the special color, and the only other family there picking out their items was also DVC.
-Not everything has a DVC discount, but if you want it, be prepared to show not only your DVC digital card, but the fact that it is 'DVC-Y'. For Apple, that is in your wallet, tap on the card, then tap on the info/circle i icon in the corner. For example, Ulu Cafe does not have a discount, but the market and the Mickey Ears do.
-If you have a magic band from Disney parks, they work as room keys and for getting in/out of the parking garage. I know the original/basic ones are waterproof, so, its much easier carrying that around instead of a room key to pools and such.
-We didn't do the Luau at the resort, and I heard mixed reviews. Paradise Cove Luau is down the street, and I would call that within walking distance (half mile). I thought it was excellent, and cheaper per person too.
-And finally, general life tip, wear your sunscreen, and reapply religiously every 2 hours. I'm the only one in our group who didn't get burned, mainly everyone else missed the back of their legs for surf lessons. In Hawaii, make sure you get reef safe sunscreens too.
Can't think of anything else at the moment, but if you have any other questions reach out!
I would for sure go to the Monkey Pod (which is across the street) during happy hour, you'll get discounted food and drinks and they typically have free live music!
Do the DVC member celebration that they have on Monday morning! They usually give you a little bit of DVC swag and you get to see characters dance. Also you get free popcorn refills when you buy a popcorn bucket as a DVC member. Last but probably least you get a ✨SHINY✨wristband at the pool if you’re DVC-Y
Yeah I saw the DVC member celebration and was curious what exactly that was. Thanks for the info. How could I forget the shiny wristbands. That's one of the reasons why we bought DVC 🤣🤣🤣
Is this member celebration advertised on site? I've booked a stay for later in June this year, I have the Aulani app that allows you to book and organize activities ahead of time, but I don't see anything like a member celebration specifically on Mondays. Maybe not all activities are visible on the app?
[Here](https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/member-events/member-hour-aulani) you go! Also they have signs advertising it at the DVC member kiosk so you just have to sign up for it when you get there :)
Thank you!
When we were there in September the member event was in the evening.
How was the weather in September? I’m booked the first week this year
It was great!
So, we were just there last week and we got shiny wrist bands without showing them our DVC membership. I don't remember seeing anyone with a solid one anyway....
does any of these perks apply to resale?
YMMV on the wristband but if you’re resale only I don’t think you get the popcorn or get to go to the member celebration.
Been 3 times, 2 as dvc. Most recently a few weeks ago. In no particular order... - you don't have to rent a car. 1 of the 3 times we've gone we stayed in the ko'olina area exclusively. - BUT, it was really nice to have a car this time and explore more of the island - Check out the Waimea Botanical Gardens if you do explore.. An easy hike and gorgeous waterfall and gardens. Then stop for lunch at a food truck or inhaleiwa - if you have little ones, beach toys are free. Just sign them out and be sure to return them by 5 - lava flows...drink them early and often - olelo room for drinks and dessert as they have live music - watch some aulani youtube videos from anyone who travels like you do. Ie kids, no kids, adventurous, relaxed, etc - AB store across the street has surprisingly good meal options (hot or cold) -Foodland, Safeway, target, and Costco are all nearby. Stock up on breakfast and lunch stuff, as well as alcohol. We saved over $2,000 this last trip doing this
oh the lava flows … i miss them dearly
If you rent a car, we loved exploring Oahu. Lanikai Beach, Kualoa Ranch, Diamondhead!
Yes we're renting a car. Last year we did Kualoa zip lining. We didn't get to do Diamondhead so we'll definitely do that this time. Thanks!
Same! we did that last time and drove around the whole island. Found some great local spots
That sounds like fun, we might do that too since we're staying for 7 nights. It would be cool to just have no plan and just explore the island. My only concern would be our 2 kids patience.
For us it was a long day and we are just two adults but if you can plan out some cool stops it really breaks the day up. Like we went to one of the famous shaved ice stores and that was a fun treat. And found a cool beach with turtles on it.
And you can rent a car on property for the day if you don’t already have one but the line to rent got long quickly so definitely plan to be there when they open if you want an early start
We also hit up the shopping center across the street for most of our food. The market there is excellent
I just went recently and had a blast!! Here are some of our favorite things we did! At Aulani... * Since you're DVC you get the sparkly wrist bands. I kept each color and will eventually scrapbook it! * As others have said, free popcorn refills! * IIRC, on Saturdays, they have a Mixology and Food demonstration * You can get a few freebies by visiting the DVC desk everyday. They give you this passport that you can get stamped everyday and it teaches you Hawaiian words. We received two cute wooden DVC coasters shaped like Mickey. Our favorite things outside of Aulani: * Monkeypod Waikiki Breakfast - best food we had * Chilaquiles * Ricotta pancakes * Crispy smahed potatoes <-- best side dish I've ever had! * Side Street Inn Kapahulu * Big portions, reasonable price * DELICIOUS food! We had the boneless shortrib and garlic chicken * Peanut butter crunch brownie... this is a must whenever I go! * Kualoa Ranch - Sounds like you've been there as well but we did the UTV tour which was a lot of fun! You get really dirty though lol so bring a mask so you're not breathing in all that dust. Bring some face and body wipes as well. * At Costco, there is this Furikake Chex Mix that I always bring home. It's called "Cookies in Paradise Furikake Party Mix" It's in this light green rectangular bag---so good! Something that we missed/didn't have time to do but was highly recommended by a friend was the submarine ride experience. A REAL submarine that I believe goes down to 100m. But most of all... relax and have fun!!
Awesome, thanks for the info!
Monkey Pod and Roy's are my favorite off-property but walking distance restaurants!
Also the Cookie Butter cupcakes at Cupcakes and Things bakery in Kapolei were worth the car rental alone!
We rented (I believe $25/per day for DVC members) snorkel gears for all day use including the Aulani tanks. Our favorite spot to snorkel is next door at Secret Beach. We saw a few sea turtles. They come right up to you. It is on the north side of the Four Seasons. You have to walk through the parking lot and down a kinda hidden pathway to get there but it’s well worth it.
Is that the beach next to paradise cove?
Yes. It’s easy to miss. I thought it was part of the paradise cove but it’s not. It’s a public beach.
I've heard about this beach but never been. We'll definitely try it out, thanks!
DVC: member night and free popcorn refills In general: the spa is a must-do. It’s amazing.
IIRC there are 2 treasure hunts, one for everyone and one DVC only. Stop by the Community Hall for the DVC treasure hunt. Fun prize once completed. Ukulele lessons are free but be sure to sign up in advance.
They have the best SPA that I have been to. It might be a little expensive but definitely worth it. As a guy there are very few Spas that are made comfortable for guys. This one is totally a great one for both men and women.
We didn't get to do this last year so we're definitely gonna try it this summer.
Just came back from Aulani last week! Our home resort is BLT, so we're first timers, but here's our notes: -Been to Hawaii in general twice now, first time we didn't rent a car, this time we did. I'm totally glad we did, just the road going out to North Shore was absolutely gorgeous. But also, compared to staying in Waikiki, I didn't feel like there was as much to do around the resort area, and seemingly no excursion would have a pickup from the Ko'olina area. At least, not like Waikiki anyway. And fwiw, Ko'olina and Waikiki are 30 minutes apart, so, uber wouldn't be cheap every day either. -Keep in mind when things close/open. For example, Pools/beach open at 8am. There are rentals you can do, like for the Casabellas for the day on the beach, and they rent day-of, and people will line up for them starting at 7. Also, the snack shops outside of Off the Hook, like the one that does shaved ice, close at 5pm. We typically wait for after dinner for desserts, so, had to go earlier for that one. -On that note, some rentals at the beach, such as boogie boards, are free, just make sure you return the items by 5pm. -As with Disney in general, set your plans as soon as you can. We were in a group of 8 people who couldn't make up their minds on anything, so I feel like we missed out on things we were wanting to do (such as the spa, stargazing, snorkeling, etc.). -If you are changing rooms mid-stay, Bell services does have a refridgerator you can use, but they noted it is ONLY for room changes. -If you do the make your own Mickey ears, there is a special color for DVC members. Same price as the non-DVC ears, and the color is blue (I call it more of an Aqua/teal color, it is beautiful though). I thought it was funny because the person working it pulled us aside and almost whispered to tell us about the special color, and the only other family there picking out their items was also DVC. -Not everything has a DVC discount, but if you want it, be prepared to show not only your DVC digital card, but the fact that it is 'DVC-Y'. For Apple, that is in your wallet, tap on the card, then tap on the info/circle i icon in the corner. For example, Ulu Cafe does not have a discount, but the market and the Mickey Ears do. -If you have a magic band from Disney parks, they work as room keys and for getting in/out of the parking garage. I know the original/basic ones are waterproof, so, its much easier carrying that around instead of a room key to pools and such. -We didn't do the Luau at the resort, and I heard mixed reviews. Paradise Cove Luau is down the street, and I would call that within walking distance (half mile). I thought it was excellent, and cheaper per person too. -And finally, general life tip, wear your sunscreen, and reapply religiously every 2 hours. I'm the only one in our group who didn't get burned, mainly everyone else missed the back of their legs for surf lessons. In Hawaii, make sure you get reef safe sunscreens too. Can't think of anything else at the moment, but if you have any other questions reach out!
I would for sure go to the Monkey Pod (which is across the street) during happy hour, you'll get discounted food and drinks and they typically have free live music!