Makahiki Restaurant Adds Lunch for Guests at Aulani, a Disney Resort Spa

[DVCNews]

Authors: Disney Parks Blog

Makahiki at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, is best known for its fun Disney character breakfasts and bounteous dinner buffet, but the chefs have now added a lunch menu aptly named “Koho,” which means “to choose” in Hawaiian....

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[DisWitt]

I'm so glad to see this. After our stay last year, our big issue (and we told Aulani this) was that there weren't enough choices for food at the resort. We even suggested rotating daily specials just so guests could choose something different every day. This is a step in the right direction. I love the bento box idea... How about Hawaiian plate lunch? Or maybe the place across the street has that biz locked up?

Does anyone know (wdrl?) how many towers are open at Aulani now? I haven't heard how many phases are open (as opposed to the slated timeline).

[wdrl]

Does anyone know (wdrl?) how many towers are open at Aulani now? I haven't heard how many phases are open (as opposed to the slated timeline).

Aulani has two of three phases open at this time. Phase 1 is the Ewa Building and Phase 2 is the Waianae Building. Phase 3 will be the tower opposite the Waianae Building. I'm curious if it will be given a unique name or if it will be considered an extension of the Ewa Building. Before Aulani opened, DVD announced that Phase 3 would open "Winter 2013." I'm not sure if that means Jan-Feb 2013 or December 2013.

We'll be at Aulani in September and one of the questions I hope to get answered from the staff is when Phase 3 will open.

[worldfanatic]

We'll be at Aulani in September and one of the questions I hope to get answered from the staff is when Phase 3 will open.

I'll be interested to see if you have any luck getting that question answered.
During our Aulani trip last month, I probably asked 15 different Cast Members that question.
Not only didn't I never get close to a definitive answer, it was obvious that they had been warned to not specifically mention opening date possibilities to anyone. This was confirmed on our final day by a lifeguard I had been very friendly with all week.

I know this isn't some kind of conspiracy, but instead an honest unsure timeframe that can/will be changed based on Aulani sales and reservations.

Hopefully more will be known by September.

[wdrl]

When it became known that DVD was going to open Aulani in phases, I remember reading that its not uncommon for timeshares -- especially those in Hawaii -- to open in phases. Phased openings let developers limit their risk and generate some cash flow to finance later phases. If business is better than expected, a developer can speed up bringing phases online; if business is poor, then later phases can be delayed or eliminated completely.

Aulani's Phase 2 came online a few weeks ahead of schedule. I took that as a positive sign that Aulani's business was meeting acceptable expectations. If DVD delays opening of Phase 3 until 2014 or later, than it might mean Aulani is not meeting expectations. Of course, Phase 3 could also be delayed because Disney may have difficulties recruiting sufficient staff or getting enough pillows for the villas.

[DisneyGeek]

or getting enough pillows for the villas.

Those pillow shortages are the WORST!