10 Reasons You Will Love Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii
If you are looking for a little extra magic for your vacation to Hawaii, look no further than Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai'i. Here are 10 reasons you and your travel party will love Aulani!
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
If you are planning your dream getaway to Hawaii and you have begun your research, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai'i may have come up in your search. Aulani is Disney's very own Hawaiian paradise.
If you are curious about whether Aulani could provide the perfect accommodations for your vacation, you have come to the right place. Here are 10 reasons why you will LOVE visiting Aulani.
The resort could be the perfect place to spend part of your vacation. In fact, you may even find it suits all of your needs for your entire visit to paradise!
1. The Location
Aulani is located on Oahu in Ko Olina. This island is home to cities such as Honolulu and Waikiki.
You will find Aulani in beautiful Ko Olina, on the calm leeward coast of the island. Ko Olina is about 17 miles from the Honolulu airport. So the journey takes about 30 minutes, depending on traffic.
The area features gorgeous, peaceful lagoons and powdery beaches. And adventure awaits nearby, whether you are interested in history, nature, food, shopping, film, or recreation! You can make a nice day trip out of enjoying all Hawaii has to offer!
Aulani makes a perfect place to rest between adventures. Of course, you may also find you love Aulani itself so much that you don't need to go very far at all, especially if you have visited Hawaii before.
2. The Rooms
Aulani has a variety of accommodations for travel parties of all sizes. From standard hotel rooms to suites to 3-bedroom villas, complete with kitchens, there will be something to suit your needs.
Aulani has a variety of studios, suites, and villas to accomodate parties of all sizes.
The rooms are equipped with comfortable beds, large bathrooms, and balconies, many of which offer gorgeous views of the mountains or the ocean. They are a great place to rest between adventures or after a day of enjoying the amenities.
Of course, Aulani is a DVC resort, so if you are a member, you can book one of the DVC villas with points. However, cash bookings are also avaliable for non-members.
3. Beach
One of the best parts of a Hawaiian vacation is visiting beautiful beaches, and Aulani has a lovely spot to soak up the sun. The beach is situated on the calm, protected waters of a lagoon, making it an ideal place for children to splash and play in the ocean.
The sand is also nice for building castles and sand sculptures. And, since all beaches in Hawaii are public, if you wish, you can stroll along from Aulani to the beaches in front of adjacent properties.
4. Pools
While the beach has public access, the pools are reserved only for Aulani guests! The pool area itself has something for everyone!
The whole family will enjoy Ka Maka Grotto, an infinity-edge pool overlooking stunning Ko Olina. Or, head to the Wailana Pool for a quieter, more secluded experience.
Little ones can have fun in Keiki Cove Splash Zone, a tide pool-shaped area with squirting jets of water. And kids under 48' tall will also enjoy Menehune Bridge, which has 2,100 square feet of climbing play structures, including interactive water play and 2 small slides!
If you are looking for a thrill, head to the Waikolohe Pool! It is an 8,200 square foot zero-entry pool with a grotto to explore. Those who dare can plunge down Volcanic Vertical into complete darkness on the thrilling tunnel body slide.
Or, enjoy fun and relaxation at Waikolohe Stream. Guests can enjoy floating along the lazy river in single or double tubes. And, if you like, grab your tube and take it on a ride down Tubestone Curl: an open-air, twisting and turning tube slide that eventually launches you into Waikolohe Stream.
There are also hot tubs to unwind in. And, there is a dedicated adult-only infinity pool as well.
5. Characters
Throughout the day, you can find Disney characters to meet and take photos with! Some of them even sign autographs.
You might meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, May, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Stitch, Angel, Moana, or even Duffy the bear and his friends ShellieMay and Olu Mel, depending on the day! The characters change daily, but if you check the Aulani app around 9:00-10:00 am, you will see a character schedule, complete with times and locations.
Characters might also pop up at Hoku Hideaway or randomly throughout the resort. You never know what Magic awaits!
If you wish, you can even schedule a character breakfast at Makahiki. You will meet several Disney characters there as well!
6. Dining
Speaking of breakfast, Aulani also has plenty of fabulous dining options! Makahiki, the restaurant that provides a character breakfast, also offers full-service dinner on select evenings. (But, do note that there are no characters at dinner.)
If you are looking for fine dining for a special occasion, visit Ama Ama. The restaurant offers gorgeous views of the beach at sunset to accompany your four-course experience.
If you are looking for a quick breakfast, enjoy the offerings at Off the Hook, including the BEST Mickey Waffles ever. They are served with a special house-made cream cheese frosting. Or you could mobile order some nice bites at Ulu or pick up some quick grab-and-go options.
Lunch and dinner offerings abound at Ulu and Off the Hook as well. There are quick options at Mama's Snack Stop, including fish n chips, fried shrimp, and mozzarella sticks.
Or for a real treat. Head to the Oleo Room for appetizers and drinks. There is plenty to make a meal of here, too.
And, if you are craving Dole whip, you will find it at an ice cream stand right on the beach. And, of course, the quintessential Aulani treat is Pāpālua Shave Ice! Enjoy it with ice cream at its center or special toppings for a creamier flavor profile.
Moreover, there are several great local options within walking distance. A quick stroll across the street will lead you to Starbucks, Monkey Pod Kitchen, Mekiko Cantina, or the ABC Store for a variety of choices! You could also dine next door at the Four Seasons or the Marriott resorts.
7. Luau
If you want to experience a cultural event, showcasing the spirit of Hawaii, book the KA WA'A - a Lū'au at Aulani! The Luau kicks off with fun cultural activities such as floral design, tattoos, and ukulele lessons.
The show itself is filled with music, singing, dancing, and storytelling! You can also expect a quick visit from Mickey and Minnie Mouse!
Guests will enjoy plenty of Hawaiian flavors as they indulge in food and drink at a buffet-style dinner. And there are even special boxes for children, filled with foods like chicken tenders, pulled pork, mac n cheese, fruits, and more!
8. Recreation and Activities
There are enough activities at the resort to fill an entire week just at Aulani. One of our favorites is snorkeling at Rainbow Reef, Aulani's private snorkeling lagoon! It is home to over 60 fish. Guests who want to interact with the fish without snorkeling can sign up to feed them if they wish!
There are also water sports with equipment rentals for paddleboarding or snorkeling in the main lagoon. If you wish to stay dry, you can play complementary games on the beach, such as table tennis, Tetris, Corn Hole, and Connect Four.
There are often parties at the pool, including dance parties with characters. Or perhaps you'd prefer storytelling and culture. Aulani offers storytelling at the firepit as well as hula lessons, ukulele lessons, and more!
If you head to the Pau Hana Community Room, there are always complimentary daily crafts such as animals made from pipecleaners, key chains, or bookmarks. Pau Hana has premium activities as well, such as hand-stamping t-shirts or totes. Our favorite was making our own custom Minnie Ear Headbands!
You can also book excursions through Aulani that include sailing, ziplining, and more! Or you can rent a car at Aulani and choose your own adventures!
And, if you are into pin trading, there is plenty of that as well. There are scheduled times for big pin boards to make appearances at select locations around Aulani!
If kids want to head to a space just for them, reserve Auntie's Beach House. There are complementary activity blocks as well as premium activities that include special interactions with characters like Moana or Stitch!
Lastly, you can start your day with complementary or premium exercise classes. And, you can end the day with a movie under the stars on select nights.
9. Details
If you are a big Disney fan, you will appreciate all the little details wrapped up in Aulani from the second you enter the lobby. It will immediately give you Disney vibes and simultaneously immerse you in the Spirit of Aloha! Imagineer Joe Rohde meticulously carved out a love letter to Hawaii in every aspect of the hotel's design.
Of course, the most whimsical element is the presence of the Menehune. You can find over 300 of them throughout the resort. Spotting them is a fun game for the whole family.
To hone in on the countless details, guests can enjoy resort tours, one centered around the art of Aulani and the other focused on the nature surrounding Aulani. Or, take a self-guided scavenger hunt!
10. Cast Members
As is the case with all Disney properties, the Cast Members spend their days working to bring all of the magic of Disney to life for Guests! And Aulani is no exception! In fact, Aulani is a bit like a Disney Cruise in that you might be lucky enough to encounter the same wonderful Cast Members over and over throughout your stay.
My (Kate's) family found that the Cast Members were one of the very best parts of our visit to Aulani. The magic started with the friendly CM who checked us in at the front desk and helped orient us to the resort, and it continued with every CM we met!
From the CMs who provided our wristbands and towels at the pool to the restaurant staff to the photographers to Mousekeeping to the DVC representatives, everyone was attentive, personable, and helpful! Their kindness was the best luxury of all!
If you are an Aulani Cast Member and you have stumbled across this piece, know that your dedication is appreciated.
And if you are a Guest, and you encounter a fantastic Cast Member (or 3 or 4 or a dozen), you can leave them a Cast Compliment. All you need is the first name and the hometown listed on their name tags to capture your appreciation for them through the feature in the Aulani App.
Final Thoughts
Aulani is a magical place, whether you wish to reserve it as your home base for your entire vacation or even if you stay for just one day. You will have as much (or as little) to do as you like!
It is no wonder people return to this resort again and again! For my part, I aspire to become a repeat visitor someday because Aulani is a little piece of paradise.
Have you visited Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai'i? Feel free to let us know what you love about it! And be sure to share the story with your family and friends who are dreaming of Hawaii!
