Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

Aulani. Where to begin? This is truly the vacation of a lifetime. When Disney built the resort, they were careful to honor Hawaii, its history, and its people. They've succeeded: Aulani pays tribute to these things, not just to Mickey and Co.
 

Don’t get me wrong. There are plenty of opportunities to experience the Disney magic, including character breakfasts, beach parties with Goofy, and photo ops with characters through the day.  


There are multiple room setups to choose from for your stay. You can choose a traditional hotel room or suite or you can opt for the Disney Vacation Club Villas that give you a little extra room plus amenities like in-room laundry and a kitchen. My kids were grateful for a few evenings of dining in our room -- playing hard all day is tiring! If you choose a standard room, there are plenty of dining options from ocean-front fine dining to Mama’s Snack Stop- a great, affordable choice for lunch when playing by the pool or at the beach.
Disney did a great job of making sure that kids of ALL ages can enjoy the many water features of the Waikolohe Valley, the pool area at the resort. There are no minimum height requirements on the slides and there is an awesome water park area, the Menehune Bridge. Our family’s favorite features were the water slides and the Waikolohe Stream, a lazy river perfect for relaxing.
 

Adjacent to the pool area is Rainbow Reef, where families can snorkel among tropical fish native to Hawaii. This is a great way to introduce kids to snorkeling since it is wave-free and easy to navigate through (plus, there are a TON of fish, making it a guaranteed success!)
 
Down at the beach, Makiki Joe’s Beach Rentals allows you to venture offshore for snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding and more. Aulani even has its own authentic Hawaiian sailing canoe – a great way to explore the sealife living in the ocean waters near the resort.


If you are looking for some onshore family fun, the Pau Hana Community Room is full of games and ongoing activities and crafts throughout the day.  A unique activity at Pau Hana is the Menehune Adventure Trail. Throughout the resort, Disney has “hidden” menehune (Menehune are believed to be mischievous magical little people in Hawaiian mythology). The Adventure Trail uses an interactive device (think iPhone) to guide you through the resort to discover the magic of the menehune. This was one of the most unique experiences for my kids as rocks “magically” lit up, menehune dropped them gifts and pictures and the resort magically came to life. A definite must-do at Aulani!


 
At night, be sure to catch the Starlit Hui- an evening show filled with Hawaiian traditions (hula dancing and music) plus a dance party with Mickey and Friends!

One of the best features of the resort is Aunty’s Beach House- Aulani’s amazing version of a kids’ club. I have never seen such an impressive kids’ club. Over 5,200 square feet in size, Aunty’s Beach House has everything- a movie room, dress-up stations (for your little princesses and Buzz Lightyears), video game stations, arts and crafts galore, a computer room and an expansive secure outdoor area. There are  scheduled special events like science experiments and beach parties that kids can enjoy. And, as we witnessed firsthand, you never know when Chip and Dale or one of their friends might pop in for a visit! 


 
Teens have their own space in Painted Sky, a just-for-teens area equipped with its own frozen yogurt station, computers, video games, and activities for teens-only like ukulele lessons, dance challenges and bracelet making.

This is a vacation worth doing. And don’t worry, you have time to save up for it – it truly is great for ALL ages!
 
********
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaiʻi
www.aulani.com
92-1185 Aliʻinui Drive
Kapolei, Oahu, HI