Three Nights at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa

For anyone who has visited Walt Disney World in Florida, Aulani would be most comparable to Animal Kingdom Lodge in the level of detail given to cultural immersion. While the central lobby isn’t as grand, there is a striking mural that depicts the history and legends of the early Hawaiians who have traveled to and lived on the islands since long before it was settled by other groups of people. 

Lobby

We used valet parking for our rental car (same cost as self-park), and used a digital key on the Aulani phone app to skip the lines.

Resort Layout & Room

A small mini-fridge was enough for a few days’ worth of drinks, breakfast items and one set of leftovers. Room service wasn’t offered, but the bell attendant recommended both grocery and prepared food delivery options that could be picked up from the delivery person in the lobby. We had a Keurig and the room was stocked with coffee and tea, but no microwave. Our porch overlooked the gardens next the Laniwai – A Disney Spa

Our room was the most affordable of all categories, a two-queen garden view, with other options including multiple bedroom villas as well as upgraded views. The bathroom was large, with a toilet area separate from the bathtub/shower and vanity/sink. A luggage rack and plenty of hangers were provided in the closet (but sadly, no robes!). 

Pools

As with most large resorts, use of pool/beach chairs had a specific protocol. We were able to reserve seating before 8am (when most of the swimming amenities opened) ONLY by having a person sitting in the seat area. After 8am areas could be reserved by towels as long as guests didn’t leave them unattended for more than an hour. During the busiest times in late morning through early afternoon it was hard to find three seats together. Thankfully the time change was still on our side, so we spent two of our early mornings in chairs overlooking the ocean before heading out for island excursions. 

Beach

When the sky was overcast the water felt a little cool, but the trade-off was that during the sunny times the sand was hot and difficult to walk on. With more room in in our luggage we would have brought water shoes for both there and the rocky snorkeling coves outside the resort. 

Activities

We picked up an e-tablet from the Community Hall to start our 1-hour Menehune Adventure Trail time window. We were given clues to find specific areas of the resort and played a matching song at each to reveal interactive elements. The game was a great way to find hidden spots and to learn more about Hawaiian cultures, both past and present.

Auntie’s Clubhouse was available 8am-2pm by reservation (they book starting 30 days in advance and sell out) for children ages 3-12. There was no additional fee for kids to play, do crafts, and watch Disney movies. Parents who were not able to get a drop-off time online lined up at 7:45am to take advantage of any cancellations. Most times were available the day off for us, and we booked a 12pm-1:30pm time-slot. Other paid options were available ($60+ per child for 3 hours). These included themed guided activities, food, and time with characters. 

The Pau Hana Room- Community Hall– This recreation area was the central location for taking part in or meeting for many of the paid activities, including arts and crafts (Make your Own Mickey Ears was the most popular) and tours. We booked the 7:45pm Stargazing for $45+ fees per person. The father and son team of amateur astronomers shared information on the stars and planets in view with the naked eye. They also programed their high-powered telescopes for our viewing. At the end of the 1-hour program they airdropped photos of the stars, planets, and galaxies that we observed.

Between late morning and evening, characters including Mickey & friends, Stitch, and Moana were greeting guests throughout the resort. One of the draws to the resort for guests “in the know” was a meet and greet with the character Duffy the bear from a stop-motion show that has been extremely popular in many Asian countries. PhotoPass was available for characters from meet and greets for an added cost. However, also found Cast Members were happy to use our personal devices to capture the moments. 

Dining

ULU Cafe was an excellent quick service restaurant. We enjoyed the tofu poke bowl so much we had it twice over our three-day trip. Other Disney-centric kiosks included a Dole Whip stand on the beach and a kiosk offering Mickey-shaped shaved ice. We purchased a souvenir cup good for soda and coffee refills throughout our stay. 

Two upscale table service restaurants were available for dinner; AMA‘AMA and MAKAHIKI. Both were fixed price at $75-$125 per person.

On our last night we had a 7:45PM reservation at Makahiki and were finished by close to 9pm. The 3-course meal, plus a bread service, was enough for two meals and we were able to enjoy leftovers for lunch the next day. The same location also offered character breakfasts with Stitch, Moana, and Mickey & Friends.

Outside the Resort

Within an easy 10-minute walk of the resort we found the perfect number of amenities at the Ko Olina shopping center. ABC stores across the island sell not only beer/liquor/wine but also groceries, ready-made food, souvenirs and beach gear and clothing. This location also had sushi, gelato, and hot food made to order. We purchased breakfast items, drinks and snorkels. There were additional clothing shops and restaurants throughout the center. We enjoyed dinner at the very popular Monkey Pod Kitchen. Reservations were offered, but even though they were listed online as sold out, walk-ups were available with a 30–60-minute wait. 

Excursions were offered that included transportation to other areas of O’Ahu, but we rented a car to explore the island. Aulani is located on the western side of the island, approximately a 30-minute drive from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Waikiki Beach was 45 minutes away, while access to the famous North Shore beaches took an hour to two hours, depending on traffic.

Check back to learn about our other travels across the island of O’Ahu…