What we learned when we took our first trip to Aulani
How to get to Aulani
Aulani is located on Oahu Island, Hawaii. There is one Airport Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
After you arrive at the airport, there is a parking garage with several Rental Car companies. We used Costco to rent our vehicle or if you use a Travel Agent you can get a deal for getting the car with the flight.
Once you get your vehicle it is a easy hop on the freeway and a drive west to Aulani. 🙂
Pre Covid Experience (down below are updates since reopening after covid)
Arriving at Aulani
When you pull in, the host comes to meet you, and their Hello Greeting is a warm “Welcome Home.” That is their theme, “Welcome Home” 🙂 As they are “Welcoming you home,” they give Lei’s to the girls and black beads to the boys. If you have not had a Lei before will tell you they are the very BEST scent in the world!!!
They take you to the front desk and take your luggage to your room for you.
If you have a car, the parking fee is $37 a day plus tax unless you are a DVC member.
If you do not have a vehicle but need one for the day, there is an Alamo rental car office in the resort.
Check in
By the check-in desk, there is a table where they will provide you with a flyer that has the daily news and the day’s schedule. You can pick one up every morning to see what is happening at the resort that day. ( I believe now this a on the Aulani App)
Every day you get a new colored bracelet, and it lets the employees know you are a guest there at the resort, and you belong there. All guests will need the day’s bracelets to use the pools, towels, and beach furniture. Every morning you will go down to the towel station and pick up your towel and bracelet for that day.
Aulani is a really nice resort; and it screams Disney all over! Every square inch. We are not really resort people, but we loved Aulani!
These are some things we like to take on our visit! We used all of these! When it comes to sunblock, it is important to get the reef friendly sunblock! It was hard to find in stores, but easy to get on amazon. We also found the quality of the snorkel gear was better on amazon, unless you spend triple the price if you can find it on the island 🙂
Accomadations
The Ohana who work there are so genuinely helpful and kind too. You really do get an extended family type of vibe from them. I may have that kind of vibe, too, if I lived in Hawaii full time and worked at Aulani. Actually, for a moment, I thought about applying and not coming home 🙂
The rooms were well kept, cute and comfortable. They had everything we needed, and the two-bedroom suite was like being at home. The rooms had a dishwasher and washer and dryer. It is so handy to have when you are on vacation with kids.
The small rooms are just fine if you have a small family because you really spend no time in the room. The one thing I liked about having the suite was the kitchen. We saved a lot of money not eating out at the restaurants in Aulani; every restaurant there and around there (without getting in a car) was a splurge. I am sure that does not matter to everybody but going on a budget is how we roll 🙂
Water Park and Pools
The water park is significant; the lines were not horrible. There are so many pools to choose from, and we even had access to an all-adult pool, which for whatever reason, we never used. Our kids were never with us! Our kids ran sound with their cousins and it felt safe to not know where my kids were at all times! Never did I feel my 11 and 13 year old were unsafe.
We were there for the nice weather, the beaches and time with family and this was a perfect place for it.. We were able to do that there, and it was nice. There was always something for everyone to do, and no one got bored.
Beach
The beach is so shallow, pretty far out, so I never once had to worry about my kids when in the water. However, I was in the water with them, but I felt okay being able to swim out with my sissy and visit with my baby nephew and not have to watch the kids like a hawk (like I did when we took them boogie boarding).
I created this simple list from our family’s perspective.
Character Breakfast
When looking at prices at Aulani, the price categories are
- Child – 9 years and younger
- Adult – 10 years and older
- 3 and under are Mickey’s guests (free)
The breakfast will include pastries along with traditional American and Asian breakfast. Enjoy special friends as some of your favorite Disney Characters drop by for some mealtime fun and live entertainment for the whole family!
An adult is $43. A child is $28. 3 and under no charge
Building your own ears
For 100% customized Micky years you can build your own ears. It is open right now, so go check it out!
Luau’s
Luau’s are available on the site and around the area. The Disney Luau is
available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
VIP front row seating is
Adults – $179
Child – $108
General Seating
Adult – $139
Child – $89
This Luau includes 3 hours of singing, dancing, and storytelling, along with a massive Hawaiian feast.
Other Activities
- Mo‘olelo Fire Pit Storytelling – gather around a fire, and Uncle will tell you a story.
- Māka‘ika‘i, the Nature and Wildlife of Aulani Resort – this is great for a walking tour around the resort seeing the landscape and nature and why the landscape was explicitly designed for Aulani
- Pau Hana Room is the Community Hall
- Māka‘ika‘i, The Art of Aulani Resort – a guided walk of local art
Pools
First, you will need to get a wristband.
You must wear a wristband to use the pools, pool chairs, and beach chairs at Aulani Resort. A new wristband is required each day, which you will get at a towel station. You get your wristband by showing your room key at any towel station in the Waikolohe Valley pool area.
- Pools are heated, and there are a variety of pools to choose from.
- The waterpark has waterslides, a lazy river, and pools that when you swim underwater, you hear mermaids and sea life, which makes it a magical experience for the kiddos.
- They serve yummy ice cream and Shave-ice there
Rainbow Reef
The saltwater lagoon at Aulani Resort is home to loads of tropical fish. This 3,800-square-foot reef is a place the kiddos can snorkel for a fee. You can get a daily fee of $25 ($20 for child) and a length of stay fee of $45 ($35 for child)
Children ages 11 and under can snorkel only when accompanied by an adult.
Beach Access
All chairs and umbrellas are for Aulani guest, and complimentary
The beach itself is freaken incredible! The sand is so soft, and the water is extremely shallow, really far out! It is perfect for kids of all ages. Huge rocks break up the waves before it gets to the beach, so it is ideal for beginner swimmers, paddle boarders, and just floating in the ocean.
- Cabanas are available for rent.
- Boogie boards and sand toys are complimentary, first-come, first-serve
- Paddleboards are $45 an hour
- Aunty’s Beach House is a perfect place for parents to leave their kids if they want to hang out in the adult-only pool or have a nice relaxing meal with no kids
**NOTE It is best to make reservations in advance
- Kids explore Hawaiian culture, art, and music—with a dash of Disney magic—at this supervised activities club for Guests ages 3 to 12. Most activities are complementary; select experiences are available at a fee.
HOURS 8 AM – 9 AM DAILY
- An extra Air mattress is available at no extra cost.
Reopening things to know
- You need to be tested ahead of time to go to Aulani and to go to Hawai’i.
- They will check your temp
- Now Aulani has a mobile app to use
- Disney is working on Disney Magic bands
- Flexible Cancellation
- For more information check out Aulani’s Website
- No robes, decorative blankets and towels
- Blankets and pillows in sealed bags
- Controllers and misc items sealed in bags
- No room cleaning except to pick up garbage
Closed for now
- Aunties JUST reopened in May
- Spa & Gym is closed
- Some of the restaurants are closed for now
- Limited activities and entertainment
- Halted valet parking for now
- Aulani will do temperature checks when entering in some locations
- The Pools and beaches are open
- Masks and face coverings are required, and they sell cute ones there.
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai’i.
92-1185 Ali’inui Dr, Kapolei, HI 96707
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What we learned when we took our first trip to Aulani
How to get to Aulani
Aulani is located on Oahu Island, Hawaii. There is one Airport Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
After you arrive at the airport, there is a parking garage with several Rental Car companies. We used Costco to rent our vehicle or if you use a Travel Agent you can get a deal for getting the car with the flight.
Once you get your vehicle it is a easy hop on the freeway and a drive west to Aulani. 🙂
Pre Covid Experience (down below are updates since reopening after covid)
Arriving at Aulani
When you pull in, the host comes to meet you, and their Hello Greeting is a warm “Welcome Home.” That is their theme, “Welcome Home” 🙂 As they are “Welcoming you home,” they give Lei’s to the girls and black beads to the boys. If you have not had a Lei before will tell you they are the very BEST scent in the world!!!
They take you to the front desk and take your luggage to your room for you.
If you have a car, the parking fee is $37 a day plus tax unless you are a DVC member.
If you do not have a vehicle but need one for the day, there is an Alamo rental car office in the resort.
Check in
By the check-in desk, there is a table where they will provide you with a flyer that has the daily news and the day’s schedule. You can pick one up every morning to see what is happening at the resort that day. ( I believe now this a on the Aulani App)
Every day you get a new colored bracelet, and it lets the employees know you are a guest there at the resort, and you belong there. All guests will need the day’s bracelets to use the pools, towels, and beach furniture. Every morning you will go down to the towel station and pick up your towel and bracelet for that day.
Aulani is a really nice resort; and it screams Disney all over! Every square inch. We are not really resort people, but we loved Aulani!
These are some things we like to take on our visit! We used all of these! When it comes to sunblock, it is important to get the reef friendly sunblock! It was hard to find in stores, but easy to get on amazon. We also found the quality of the snorkel gear was better on amazon, unless you spend triple the price if you can find it on the island 🙂
Accomadations
The Ohana who work there are so genuinely helpful and kind too. You really do get an extended family type of vibe from them. I may have that kind of vibe, too, if I lived in Hawaii full time and worked at Aulani. Actually, for a moment, I thought about applying and not coming home 🙂
The rooms were well kept, cute and comfortable. They had everything we needed, and the two-bedroom suite was like being at home. The rooms had a dishwasher and washer and dryer. It is so handy to have when you are on vacation with kids.
The small rooms are just fine if you have a small family because you really spend no time in the room. The one thing I liked about having the suite was the kitchen. We saved a lot of money not eating out at the restaurants in Aulani; every restaurant there and around there (without getting in a car) was a splurge. I am sure that does not matter to everybody but going on a budget is how we roll 🙂
Water Park and Pools
The water park is significant; the lines were not horrible. There are so many pools to choose from, and we even had access to an all-adult pool, which for whatever reason, we never used. Our kids were never with us! Our kids ran sound with their cousins and it felt safe to not know where my kids were at all times! Never did I feel my 11 and 13 year old were unsafe.
We were there for the nice weather, the beaches and time with family and this was a perfect place for it.. We were able to do that there, and it was nice. There was always something for everyone to do, and no one got bored.
Beach
The beach is so shallow, pretty far out, so I never once had to worry about my kids when in the water. However, I was in the water with them, but I felt okay being able to swim out with my sissy and visit with my baby nephew and not have to watch the kids like a hawk (like I did when we took them boogie boarding).
I created this simple list from our family’s perspective.
Character Breakfast
When looking at prices at Aulani, the price categories are
- Child – 9 years and younger
- Adult – 10 years and older
- 3 and under are Mickey’s guests (free)
The breakfast will include pastries along with traditional American and Asian breakfast. Enjoy special friends as some of your favorite Disney Characters drop by for some mealtime fun and live entertainment for the whole family!
An adult is $43. A child is $28. 3 and under no charge
Building your own ears
For 100% customized Micky years you can build your own ears. It is open right now, so go check it out!
Luau’s
Luau’s are available on the site and around the area. The Disney Luau is
available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday
VIP front row seating is
Adults – $179
Child – $108
General Seating
Adult – $139
Child – $89
This Luau includes 3 hours of singing, dancing, and storytelling, along with a massive Hawaiian feast.
Other Activities
- Mo‘olelo Fire Pit Storytelling – gather around a fire, and Uncle will tell you a story.
- Māka‘ika‘i, the Nature and Wildlife of Aulani Resort – this is great for a walking tour around the resort seeing the landscape and nature and why the landscape was explicitly designed for Aulani
- Pau Hana Room is the Community Hall
- Māka‘ika‘i, The Art of Aulani Resort – a guided walk of local art
Pools
First, you will need to get a wristband.
You must wear a wristband to use the pools, pool chairs, and beach chairs at Aulani Resort. A new wristband is required each day, which you will get at a towel station. You get your wristband by showing your room key at any towel station in the Waikolohe Valley pool area.
- Pools are heated, and there are a variety of pools to choose from.
- The waterpark has waterslides, a lazy river, and pools that when you swim underwater, you hear mermaids and sea life, which makes it a magical experience for the kiddos.
- They serve yummy ice cream and Shave-ice there
Rainbow Reef
The saltwater lagoon at Aulani Resort is home to loads of tropical fish. This 3,800-square-foot reef is a place the kiddos can snorkel for a fee. You can get a daily fee of $25 ($20 for child) and a length of stay fee of $45 ($35 for child)
Children ages 11 and under can snorkel only when accompanied by an adult.
Beach Access
All chairs and umbrellas are for Aulani guest, and complimentary
The beach itself is freaken incredible! The sand is so soft, and the water is extremely shallow, really far out! It is perfect for kids of all ages. Huge rocks break up the waves before it gets to the beach, so it is ideal for beginner swimmers, paddle boarders, and just floating in the ocean.
- Cabanas are available for rent.
- Boogie boards and sand toys are complimentary, first-come, first-serve
- Paddleboards are $45 an hour
- Aunty’s Beach House is a perfect place for parents to leave their kids if they want to hang out in the adult-only pool or have a nice relaxing meal with no kids
**NOTE It is best to make reservations in advance
- Kids explore Hawaiian culture, art, and music—with a dash of Disney magic—at this supervised activities club for Guests ages 3 to 12. Most activities are complementary; select experiences are available at a fee.
HOURS 8 AM – 9 AM DAILY
- An extra Air mattress is available at no extra cost.
Reopening things to know
- You need to be tested ahead of time to go to Aulani and to go to Hawai’i.
- They will check your temp
- Now Aulani has a mobile app to use
- Disney is working on Disney Magic bands
- Flexible Cancellation
- For more information check out Aulani’s Website
- No robes, decorative blankets and towels
- Blankets and pillows in sealed bags
- Controllers and misc items sealed in bags
- No room cleaning except to pick up garbage
Closed for now
- Aunties JUST reopened in May
- Spa & Gym is closed
- Some of the restaurants are closed for now
- Limited activities and entertainment
- Halted valet parking for now
- Aulani will do temperature checks when entering in some locations
- The Pools and beaches are open
- Masks and face coverings are required, and they sell cute ones there.
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai’i.
92-1185 Ali’inui Dr, Kapolei, HI 96707
Latest Post
- Visiting San Juan Island, How to plan your trip without your car!
- Chasing the Aurora in Washington
- Car camping essentials for photographers
- Car Camping Checklist
- Practical Magic, Coupeville Washington
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