This is totally a bucket list trip for us that I thought might never happen!!
We had some friends sell us their DVC points for super cheap, so in Nov-Dec 2021, our family went to WDW and did a split stay at BCV and Kidani Village (Savannah view 1br). It was our first time at a Deluxe and we felt like royalty! We had points left over that need to be used by Feb 2023, so DH and I were planning a January trip to Saratoga Springs. I was searching for flights to MCO with miles, and saw an ad telling me to check out deals to Hawaii. I found a flight we could do, and there was a DS room at Aulani during that time, so we borrowed a few points from next year, and now we are headed to O’ahu for Thanksgiving! It is our first time to Hawaii, and we are leaving DD15, DD11 and DS9 home with Grandma for 11 days!
March 2021 had our longest time away without them to UOR for 6 nights. This feels so long - 10 nights gone! DD11 and DS (we call them “the littles”) are not wanting us to go. But this is how they grow, right? Plus Grandma will come to our house, so they will get to stay at home in their own beds and with their pets. (I do also feel guilty for asking so much of my MIL! But she is happy and willing!)
One other note, DD15 had a stroke this past January, so we were out of town with her without the littles several times in Jan-Apr for the initial hospital stay at Children’s in Minneapolis (6 hrs away) and back other testing later on. She is doing great, but it’s still a little tough to think of being so far away - for me, not her. HA! I’m guessing that probably has an effect on the littles too. Ok - enough on my anxiety of leaving my kiddos! They will be FINE!! (and so will I)
So…Our exciting adventure… DH and I will be arriving in HNL 8pm Nov 24. Thankfully we used every mile we had to reduce the number of stops on our return flight, so we are flying MSP - SEA - HNL and avoiding LAX! After reading TR from @vcka and seeing all the trouble people have there, I had to go back and make sure we are going through SEA both ways! We are flying Delta, so hoping the pilot strike doesn’t affect us.
We will have a turo car the whole trip, and have an airbnb with kitchen and parking booked in Honolulu from Nov 24-27. Then Aulani from Nov 27-Dec 2; flying out 10pm on the 2nd.
We are foodies on a budget. We want to try lots of local food and COFFEE, explore mountains (see where they filmed LOST), hike, snorkel, and see cool nature stuff. I am a Veteran, but I’m not sure we will do Pearl Harbor, because I get so emotional and it sticks with me for days (PTSD). We might try to do the Punchbowl Cemetery. Any thoughts on Pearl Harbor or other smaller, easier sites would be helpful.
We are hoping to take the kids to WDW this fall (BCV and Poly) so were are definitely trying to keep this trip on a tight budget, That said, I don’t think we will be doing the Luau or AmaAma at Aulani unless it sounds like those are MUST Do’s. We would rather have fresh seafood and experience local food than do super fancy. I don’t drink alcohol (anymore), so we might buy refillable mugs at the resort for coffee and soda to help resist the urge to try the local beer, wine pairing’s and Mai tai’s. Coffee is on my list of must do and buy - also Dole Whip!
I just finished reading TR from @vcka, which seriously added to my excitement! Everything @Peggy808 said is added to my spreadsheet of what to do and eat. That TR was amazing!!
We are really open to trying whatever we can fit in, so all suggestions are welcome. I don’t see us relaxing by the pool much, and we are up to RD whenever - especially since the time change goes the right way for us from Central.
Some things I am debating.:
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Where to stay when we are not at Aulani: should we stay in Honolulu (Waikiki next to International Market) in airbnb with parking included or spend more and stay up north somewhere… (I looked at staying on post or at Hale Koa, but looks like it’s all full - I am Tier 3, DAV 50%) Basically, will it be easy to explore other parts of the island from Aulani and/or Waikiki, or do we need to stay up north?
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Do we spend an extra $200 and upgrade from the Jeep Patriot I have reserved to a super sweet Camaro convertible?
Also, any suggestions on what to do are great, and I am really hoping to manage a live TR. I will for sure put up pics if the Wifi is good enough.