Really good experience, even in the off season and...

Really good experience, even in the off season and a fair amount of rain blowing through. The resort itself is amazing. Lots of amenities, lots of things to do with kids- a menehune hunt, all of the pools, Auntie's Beach House. It's all worth it. Every penny. The staff are all amazing- not a single person who wasn't happy or helpful.

The only downside- the food. The Ulu cafe do OK and the trip we got had one meal per person per day included. Worked well especially for breakfast but very limited hot food options. Makahini the buffet- was really good especially for a buffet and we ate there twice for character meals. 'Ama 'Ama is the real reason I downgrade from 5 star review. For what we paid for meals there (and we ate there twice)- they should really invest in a sous chef. The meals are unimaginative and uninspired. But they cost a lot. The pork shoulder is average. My wife once ordered a pasta- no sauce. Basil was a main ingredient in the description- minimal basil, tons of arugula. What the heck? A pleasant surprise- the luau had by far the best food we ate there. (And a great performance to boot!)

In the end, all is good. Get your photopass the first day and use it as much as you can. Be forewarned- the character meal photos are NOT included - you have to pay AGAIN, after paying for the character meal. And take advantage of the market across the way- the drinks are good and they're not shy with the booze, but they are pricey- use the market to supplement your beer and wine. :)

Plan on just enjoying your days in the sun, get a chair early. They have a great system that will be sure that people just don't plant towels and walk away. A serious problem at other resorts we've stayed at. The waterslides and pools are great, and heated! Listen for the dolphins and whales underwater in the infinity pool. Meet the characters during photo ops or just walking around. But remember- it's a resort with Disney touches. Not Disneyland on a beach! In any case, it's still a magical place!