Aloha!
Our family recently returned from our first trip to the Disney Aulani Resort in Ko’olina and wow~ what a memorable vacation! It was the perfect 3 days spent at a Disney resort in a tropical setting with the beach at our fingertips and just a touch of Disney magic sprinkled throughout. The resort was the perfect blend of family friendly and luxury accommodations. Our family often talks about our memories from this trip that we are eager to experience again.
Arrival
Upon arriving to the resort, we were greeted with fresh flower leis and given refreshing cold water, which after traveling for 5+ hours is much appreciated. The lobby is grand and adorned with Hawaiian artistry displayed throughout the resort. Every piece of art is part of a larger Hawaiian story, as told by Hawaiian artists.
Check-in is not until 4pm, but if you arrive early, you can explore the resort grounds and even enjoy the water features or the beach. You’ll also be given access to a lounge to store your bags and change in beach/water gear while you wait for your room to become available. This was a major plus especially traveling with two children, one that needed a diaper change.
Our room was available within the hour and just as welcoming and comfortable as we expected. The mickey folded towels and welcome gifts for the kids were a nice touch.
With two occasions we were celebrating – 1st Visit and hubby’s and my 9th wedding anniversary, the staff at the Aulani gave us these cute keepsake souvenir buttons.
The Beach and Pool Areas
The main draw of this resort is the beach and pool areas and which makes Aulani is an obvious choice for families traveling with children. The beach at Ko’Olina Lagoon is perfectly positioned on the shores and offers easy access to the water. Guests can enjoy boogie-boarding (complimentary boards with your stay), or rent snorkels, paddleboards or other equipment to enjoy an ocean adventure. The beach is also furnished with loungers and umbrella shades for protection from the sun. Again, depending on the time of year you go, loungers may be occupied or plenty available. We were fortunate with our timing that the resort was not too crowded and we were able to use several beach loungers throughout our stay.
There are several pools throughout the resort, some of which are adult only pools we didn’t get to check out because we had our kids the entire time. Our little one (19 months at the time) loved the Keki Cove, a water playground designed for kids ages 5 and under. The Keiki Cove is conveniently adjacent to the Ka Maka Landing, the family pool area where our 7-year-old and daddy swam. Some of the Disney characters are scheduled to come out to the different pools for a fun high-energy pool party. Kids love it. My 19-month old would not give up looking for Goofy. When he finally found him, he froze with amazement and I was able to snag this pic.
Dining
There are several dining options at the Aulani – a few casual spots and a couple of nicer sit down restaurants for reservations. We loved character breakfast at Ama Ama. There is a desert stand serving yummy dole whip and of course, Mickey Shave Ice. Our our first day, we ordered food and drinks to be delivered beachside to our loungers. After a long travel day, this seemed to be the best and most enjoyable option.
The Grounds
The resort grounds are beautifully kept inside and out with tropical landscape features all around, making it very family friendly. The lazy river was beautifully integrated onto the landscape winding through the tropical foliage where it looked natural and never felt like a typical loud water park. We especially loved walking to the beach after dinner, watching the sunset, and listing to the live reggae band while the kids played on the sand. It became our nightly ritual after dinner.
A few photos from our Family Portrait Session we reserved with a Disney Photopass Photographer:
Dress: Tiare Hawaii | Sandals: DV | Flower Clip: from the resort
John’s Outfit: Top: Mossimo | Shorts: own Volcom | Flip Flops: Ugg
Jonah and Baron’s Outfit’s: Tops: Zara Kids (similar here) | Shorts: HM Kids (similar here) | Sandals: Keene and Surprize by Stride Rite
Travel tips and favorite things at Aulani:
- Pick up the daily ‘Iwa. It’s a printed newsletter with the week’s events and activities to help you plan your stay. It can be found at the front desk of the lobby.
- Book a reservation for the character breakfast (Ama Ama). This is your one opportunity to get fun live character time during a delicious, casual and interactive breakfast. Breakfast is served buffet style with something for everyone from fresh tropical fruit and island dishes to classic American style breakfast, not to mention everyone’s favorite, Mickey pancakes!
- Auntie’s Beach House – Our 7-year-old loved it. Children are safely check-in and grouped in age-appropriate activity rooms with supervised childcare. While the kids play, parents can enjoy some relaxing alone time. Aunty’s Beach House features complimentary programs such as Hawaiian arts and crafts, games, a Disney movie room, enclosed back yard and play structure and peace of mind for parents
- Enjoy the lazy river. The Waikolohe stream offers a lazy river and two rushing rapid experiences. Float down the river and relax, or hold on tight as you go on a twisting and turning tube adventure.
- Experience the Rainbow Reef. This is where my 7-year-old gained the confidence and learned to snorkel. Rainbow reef is great for beginners or those simply wanting to experience the beauty and wildlife down below.
- Consider renting a cabana. Depending on the time of year you visit, you may or may not have the need to book a cabana. We visited in May and the resort was not crowded at all, just how we like it. We didn’t need to book a cabana and had many seating options along the beach. If we visited during a busier time, I definitely see the value in renting a cabana for the day.
- We reserved time with one of the Aulani PhotoPass Photographers because we wanted special photos to remember our trip. The resort photographers are great with kids and families, and there are a couple of different time slot options depending on your needs and budget. With an active 19-month-old we knew a 20-minute session would suffice, and it did. Our photographer captured some great family shots and shots of just the kids in various areas of the resort. We loved being able to view and keep all our photos from our trip.
- I would love the try Aulani’s luau next time! The luau takes place on the resort lawn on select days of the week. I think it would be a fun experience for the kids and you have the luxury of going back to your room if little ones get fussy and don’t make it for the entire duration of the luau program.
Overall, the service at Aulani was outstanding throughout our stay. We always felt welcomed at every encounter with a cast member. This was such a memorable trip for our family, especially the boys’ first experience staying at a Disney resort that I will cherish. There is so much to see and do at the Aulani that you may not be able to do it all. We’re already planning our next trip back. What are some of your favorite attractions at Aulani?