In recent years, the resort fee has always been described on the booking screen before you finalize the reservation. I did notice when I booked a Honolulu hotel recently via a PL Express Deal, the resort fee was actually listed as part of the price and included in my payment, which was different from before. So I kind of think if you had gone ahead and booked the room, either the resort fee would have popped into the total before you finished, or it would not have applied.