Get Away Today Vacations, Inc.

Jennifer Dunyon, VP of Communications for Get Away Today recently spent a week at Disney's Aulani Resort and Spa experiencing everything there is to do.  Aulani - A Disney Resort and Spa has received rave review since opening on Oahu's west shore.  Last week we posted part 1 of Jennifer's impressions of the Disney Aulani Resort and Spa and now you can read about the rest of Jennifer's Aulani vacation:

"The beach had so many great activities. We rented paddle boards one morning and had the greatest time. We even saw some cool (big) sea turtles at the edge of the lagoon. Paddle boarding can be really hard in the ocean, but the smooth lagoon was perfect to learn on. My 5-year-old was able to even do it and my 7 and 9-year-old girls were cruising all over the place! You can also rent kayaks, which were also a lot of fun. The sand was great for sand castles! Sand pails with a cute Disney theme were available to purchase in the lobby gift shop.

There was snorkeling on property at Rainbow Reef. It was an enclosed snorkeling area that had thousands of tropical fish and bright vibrant coral to look at. You could also do a stingray encounter and get in the water and interact with them. These were both at an additional cost.

Auntie’s Beach House: This was a major plus of staying at the Aulani! This kids camp (which was unbelievable) was included in the cost of your stay. I’ve stayed at many other resorts in Hawaii where kids camps are as much as $125 per day. This was complimentary for guests 3-11. My girls loved it. They were begging to go back each night, partly because of the awesome high energy counselors and the great activities and crafts that they participated in. They learned how volcanoes erupted and got to create a volcano, make Stitch’s space goo, learned to play the Ukulele, hula and much more. They loved to go there in the evening and then it gave the adults a chance to go to dinner without the kids. It was a definite win-win, thanks Disney!

Dining: The hotel had a delicious continental or buffet style breakfast each morning. The buffet had character dining some of the mornings. This fills up quickly, and you can make reservations prior to your stay. There was also a menu breakfast at the ‘Ama’Ama (the signature restaurant). The food was very delicious. For lunch, we typically ordered from the poolside menu. I loved the fish tacos with sweet potato fries. Prices were very reasonable at the pool area. The keiki (children's) menu had great options for about $6.50. My girls would share one because the portions were so large. For dinner, we ate in their buffet one evening and ventured out to some of the neighboring hotels. The JW Marriott, a short walk, had a delicious Italian Restaurant Azul that we ate at two nights. The Marriott Vacation Club had a Chuck’s Steakhouse (one of our favorite restaurants on Waikiki beach). There was a yummy Mexican restaurant across the street and they were building a new sushi restaurant that was opening soon. We enjoyed having a car and drove over to Waikiki for dinner one night and into the local town another.

Entertainment: Another great inclusion is all of the great entertainment. The Starlit Hui was our favorite. It had amazing “Heart and Soul” Ukulele players, great hula dancers, beautiful music, Hawaiian activities, and even a surprise visit from Mickey and Minnie. We loved it. This saved us from going to a luau and was a great inclusion.

Laniwai Spa: This was one of the nicest spas I’ve ever experienced. You want to arrive at least an hour early to enjoy the facilities. We loved the hydrotherapy pools and the different outdoor rainshowers. The relaxation room was beautiful and they offered the yummiest healthy cupcakes and chocolate treats. The massage rooms were state of the art. My husband and I had a couples massage. It was heavenly! I definitely recommend you visiting the spa, and it’s great that the kids can go to Aunty’s Beach house while you enjoy the spa!

Overall, I can’t wait to go back to Aulani someday soon. It was one of our most memorable family vacations ever. Oahu has so much to experience. I’m glad we rented a car and explored the island, but I was always eager to get back to our paradise at the Aulani Resort and Spa."

You can have your own paradise vacation at the Disney Aulani Resort and Spa. Book by Feb. 29 and you'll receive your 6th night free* when booking a 6-night or longer stay at Disney's Aulani. Plus, as an added bonus, each guest in your party ages 3 or older will receive a complimentary continental breakfast at The ‘Olelo Room each day of your stay. This limited time special offer is available for most stays taking place between March 1-17 and April 15 - May 31, 2012. Availability is limited, so be sure to book your Aulani vacation today by calling 800.523.6116!



*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Excludes Resort fees and taxes. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Offer excludes suites and 3-Bedroom Grand Villas. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Offer applied once per reservation and not valid for previously booked rooms. Check for offers for other lengths of stay. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and subject to room occupancy limitations. Breakfast entitlements expire upon check out. Children under the age of three are not entitled to the complimentary breakfast. Advance reservations required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.