10 Tips When Visiting Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

Are you looking for a family friendly resort in Hawaii in a gorgeous setting, with a variety of onsite amenities including a great beach for kids and a waterpark? Look no further than Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa! This beautiful resort is located on the southwest side of Oahu in the charming, gated community of Ko ‘Olina and truly offers something for everyone in your family. For all you Disney fans, yes, Aulani is a Disney resort, but the focus is on Hawaii. Your experience will be nothing like visiting a theme park, but in my opinion, the experience at Aulani offers a wonderful Hawaiian experience sprinkled with that quintessential Disney magic.  Within this post, I’m sharing ten highlights and tips to help you prepare for your stay in paradise. 

Aulani Overview

Aulani, which translates to “home” in Hawaii has a major wow-factor from the moment you arrive. You’ll be greeted with a lei (ladies), kukui nut necklace (men), or Menehune necklace for your keikos (children).  Prepare to be awestruck as you walk through the lobby and get your first view of the Aulani gardens, pools, and ocean. The layout is in the likeness of their logo with the guest services at the apex, the rooms bending around the exterior, and nestled in the interior are the gardens, pools and restaurants, all leading to the dazzling Pacific Ocean. Winding paths and bridges will guide you throughout the resort amongst a stunning display of tropical plants and flowers.  In true Disney fashion, they nailed the theming right down to the speakers piping in Hawaiian music.  

You’ll fly into Honolulu (airport code-HNL) and expect a 20-45-minute drive depending on traffic.  Aulani does offer a shuttle which I recommend and you can also rent a car at the resort. Accommodations range from a standard hotel room, or a studio suite, 1, 2, or 3-bedroom villa and I share my recommendations below. There are several dining options on site including quick service and table service restaurants, room service and snack shops, and if staying in a villa you’ll be able to prepare your own meals. 

Download the Aulani App

If you’ve been to Walt Disney World, Disneyland or cruised with Disney Cruise Line, you’re already familiar with Disney’s different apps and how important they are to get you all streamlined and linked into the experience. Make sure you download Aulani’s app as soon as your vacation is booked and complete your online check in. Within the app you’ll find access to so much including:

• Your room assignment: link your vacation confirmation on the account and as your arrival window gets closer, you can see which room you’ve been assigned to.
• Daily schedule including character meet and greets, storytelling, bonfires and movie nights.
• Dining: You can check for last minute dining reservations, view menus and mobile order your food.
• Activities: View times for the different beach activities, fitness classes, Rainbow Reef fish feeding and more.
• Character locations: where and when you can find your favorites. Aulani does have unique characters dressed in their favorite beach wear.
• Shop information: Aulani has great shopping on property.
• Photography: Locate the Disney PhotoPass photographers and access your character breakfast pictures.
• Resort Map: Get familiar with the property and even search for certain locations including the nearest restroom, the Spa, restaurants, etc.

Villa Style

I recommend staying in a villa to give you access to more of the comforts of home. If you’re thinking, “I did not fly across the ocean to cook and do laundry”, I HEAR YA. However, having the option to do a load or two of laundry does makes packing that much more efficient and with access to a kitchen, you will save some money. We all know how having all the snacks ready is also important when traveling with kids and Costco is close by as is an ABC store across the street that is stocked with essentials. You really can’t go wrong with view types, and I promise you’ll be glad you have a balcony, especially during nap time. Pro tip: consider bringing some of your favorite snacks from home and check a box full of them when you get to the airport.

Enjoy Aulani Dining

Speaking of not cooking while on vacation, Aulani has several dining options on property and here are some of my favorite recommendations:

• ‘Olelo Room is the perfect place to grab sushi appetizers before dinner.
• ULU Cafe offers delicious poke bowls, pizza and flatbreads.
• Mama’s Snack Stop is right near the main pool and has fish ‘n’ chips, coconut-breaded shrimp and more.
• Papalua Shave Ice: get the Mickey Ears shave ice and take a picture before it melts.
• ‘Ama’Ama has gorgeous views of the ocean and is right next door to Aunty’s Beach House. Enjoy an adult only dinner while your kids are enjoying time in the complimentary Beach House.
• Pro tip: you can use Disney Gift Cards to pay for your meals, so consider purchasing these prior to your trip for a more all-inclusive feel. Plus, when you purchase at places like Target with a Red Card discount, you can save 5%.

Restaurant Reservations

Reservations are necessary for ‘Ama’Ama and Makahiki on property as well as several of the restaurants in Ko ‘Olina. Disney opens reservations 30-days prior to the date and you can make those on the Aulani app, by calling Aulani directly, or by booking with your travel agent who will gladly take care of these for you. There are several other restaurants that are within walking distance to Aulani, including Monkeypod across the street and Mina’s Fish House next door at the stunning Four Seasons. I highly recommend making advanced dining reservations at least 30 days in advance as the dining experiences in Oahu are worth the long flight alone and fill up quickly.

Character Breakfast

Speaking of restaurants, for those of you familiar with Disneyland or Walt Disney World, you know how well Disney does a character meal. To me, these are a total win as you are basically multitasking. Your kids can meet the characters, get autographs signed and everyone can sit and enjoy a meal together. The entertainment at Makahiki is fun and there is even a photo op session offered before your party is seated. These reservations book up fast, so pro tip: make sure you’re on it at 12:00 am Pacific time 30 days prior (or, book with a travel agent!)

Preregister for Aunty’s Beach House

Ahh, Aunty’s Beach House…don’t spend a minute more worrying about safety or security when you leave your children here, just get excited as they are in for a wonderful treat.  Inside the Beach House are several rooms featuring: Disney costumes, arts and crafts, video games, movies and a huge outdoor playground.  The kids are given their own magic security band that is linked to your photo and room card and you provide a secret password that has to be used before the kids can leave.  Disney pretty much thinks of everything related to kids, hence the hand washing station before the kids even get into the main play house.

You can preregister online anytime between two and 90 days ahead of time and you can also sign them up for three free activities (ex: Stitch’s Space Goo or Disney Junior Aloha!) and any of the premium activities offered on certain days.  These activities do fill up quickly, so do this at 90 days out to increase your odds. Aunty’s does allow sign ups every morning on a first come basis—but the line was building by 7:00 a.m. so the online registration was a time saver.  Drop your kids off (ages four to twelve) for a few hours and don’t be surprised if they don’t want to leave when you return to pick them up.  Pro tip: Complete your online registration 90 days prior to your trip to ensure better access to the activities.

Pool Time

Aulani features a handful of strategically placed hot tubs and three grotto style pools that accommodate a range of personalities.  The Waikolohe pool (main family pool) is the center of the action, including the Shake-a-Shaka Pool party featuring your favorite Disney friends, while the quieter Wailana Pool is available for those wanting to escape the activity. Did you know the pools and spas at Aulani are actually salt-water pools?  This system keeps the water clean & sanitized while being healthier on your skin, eyes and lungs than traditional chlorine treated pools. Pro-tip: Stick your head underwater in the infinity pool and you just might hear a humpback whale or dolphin!

To use the pools and slides at Aulani, you will need to get a daily wrist band and these are handed out at the towel distribution centers located throughout the pool deck area. Pro tip: save your wristbands and place them in a clear Christmas ornament for a souvenir to hang on your tree every year.

Beach, Please

Aulani’s beach is located on a man-made lagoon and the reef out front protects the shoreline from crashing waves. When I first heard this, I was a little turned off as I much prefer a natural beach, with their waves and potential of finding a sea shell that washed ashore. However, we found this set up was perfect for kids, paddle boarding and swimming.  The setting of the lagoon is gorgeous so don’t fret like I did about it looking artificial. 

Pro tip: Do your kids love to build sand castles?  Head up to Makiki Joe’s Beach Rentals right near the beach entrance to check out a bag of sand toys that you can enjoy for the day free of charge. You can also check out boogie boards here. Pro-tip #2: Make sure you visit the lagoon next door referred to as Secret Beach. We saw sea turtles, lots of fish and even monk seals.

Waikolohe Stream & Waterslides

We spent a lot of glorious hours floating down the Waikolohe Stream—aka, lazy river, and each time we spotted a different Hawaiian sea creature sculpted or stamped into the surrounding lava rock formations throughout our river path. On your next float, see if you can spot a crab, octopus or even a humpback whale! Tubes are provided as are life jackets.  Aulani also features two different waterslides (body slide and tube slide) and both were great. Pro tip: lines can get long, so get in line earlier in the day to avoid waiting too long.

Menehune Adventure Trail

Interested in learning more about the Hawaiian culture?  Curious about the legend of the Menehune?  Head over to the Pau Hana Room Community Hall and check out you’re your very own iPad that will lead you on a scavenger hunt throughout Aulani’s lobby or pool areas.  On your journey you’ll encounter some magical moments and you might even snag a souvenir or two. Pro tip: do the scavenger hunt at night for enhanced special effects!

Enjoy Ko ‘Olina

Ko ‘Olina translates to place of job in Hawaiian and this gated community offers several amenities that are worth checking out. Walk the path down to the marina, enjoy a round of golf, relax at the spa and check out the local shops. Oahu is a gorgeous island with historical draws like Pearl Harbor, the breathtaking beauty of the North Shore, treats at the Dole Plantation, snorkeling adventures, sunset cruises, local luaus, and even enjoying a movie set tour at Kualoa Ranch. Visit this link for inspiration!

Are you ready to plan your trip to Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa? Do you have questions on Hawaii travel in general and companies that I work with to make your vacation seamless with flights, transfers and all your favorite excursions bundled in? I am an Certified Travel Advisor and would love to work with you. Reach out to me at [email protected] or fill out a quote request here.