The Disney Aulani Resort: A 5 Night Family Stay

The Disney Aulani Resort is nestled in the picturesque Ko’Olina area, just a 25-minute drive (19.7 miles) from Honolulu International Airport. As you pass through the gates of Ko’Olina, the stunning beauty and grandeur of the resort immediately capture your attention. Stepping into Aulani, you’re greeted by the intricate cultural details woven into the décor and the authentic Hawaiian-themed architecture. Every corner reflects the spirit of the islands, filling you with a profound sense of joy and reverence for Hawaii’s rich heritage.

Our family of 5, which includes two adults and three teenagers, stayed at the one-bedroom villa. We found our villa comfortable and spacious. We had an ocean-view room at the Waianae Tower, but it faced the Four Seasons Resort with the ocean in the background. There are two lanais. One located inside the bedroom and one in the living room. I would recommend getting the resort's view of the ocean. I had one teen sleep on the twin murphy bed and the other two on the queen sofa bed while the adults slept on the king bed inside the bedroom. We were impressed by how comfortable the mattresses were on both the twin and queen beds. The mattresses were memory foam and thick. There was a large and deep tub between the bedroom and the first bathroom sink. There is a divider between the tub and the bedroom that you can move out of the way so you can watch TV. There is a separate bathroom with the shower, toilet and another sink. It was extremely beneficial to us to have two separate sinks with lots of storage space. The kitchen had an oven, electric stove, microwave, rice cooker, dishwasher and plenty of plates and utensils (no spices, oil, plastic wrap of aluminum foil is available). The dish-soap, sponge and dishwashing soap pods are provided. There is a washer and dryer. They provide the powdered detergent. I recommend packing up a few dryer sheets if you plan to wash your clothes.

The resort was clean and full of activities for all to enjoy. Guests are allowed to sit in pool lounges/chairs before 8 am if they stay in their chair. They can not leave. By 8 am, guests can start leaving their claimed chairs or start saving a chair by leaving their items on it. However, they allow guests to leave the chairs unattended for only one hour. A cast member will place a clean towel on the chair. If no one is there within the hour, they are able to give your chair to another guest. The beach and resort is on public property, therefore when you check in, make sure to get your wristband daily during your stay. Guests with wristbands are allowed to use the slides, pools, and take photos with the characters. This is strictly enforced, so make sure you get the right colored band for the day.

One of the activities we enjoyed was pin trading. Daily, you can go to the DVC station on the 3rd floor at 1 pm. The Lava Shack outside on the pools at 2 pm and in front of the Kalepa’s store, on the 3rd floor, at 3 pm. You can also greet the hosts at Off the Hook and they will have some pins to trade.

Pools:

• Waikolohe Stream (lazy river)

• Waikolohe pool

• Wailana pool (adult only)

• Keiki Cove splash zone

• Menehune Bridge

• Five whirlpool spas (two of the whirlpools are adults only)

Activities:

• Snorkeling in Rainbow Reef ($25 up to 9 years old and $30 10 and up for one-day access).

• Enjoy the beach (life jackets and boogie boards are included in your stay). Snorkel rental is $30/day, stand up paddle board is $50/hr.

• Menehune Trail (pick up an iPad at the Pau Hana Community Center) and follow the prompts throughout the resort. You will see and interact with all the hidden magic within the resort.

• Character experiences, check the app for characters and times.

• Ka Wa’a Luau (reservations and additional fees apply). I recommend the preferred seatings.

• Look for sand crabs at the beach during the night. Bring a flashlight.

• Pin trading

• Ukelele lesson

• Ohana Hula dancing

• Paid excursions

Cabana:

• Ohana Cabanas - $650/day

• Makua Cabanas - $600/day, adults only

• Ka Maka Cabanas - $750/day

• Beachside casabella (two-seat lounger) rentals: $85/day

Dining:

• Ama Ama: Upscale contemporary island cooking. Dinner only.

• Makahiki: Breakfast and dinner international menus. Character dining is located here.

• Off the Hook: Breakfast 6am – 10am, beverage and bar food service until 9 pm. Online app orders available.

• The Olelo Room: Cocktails and appetizers. Morning hours 7am - 11am. Evening hours 5pm - 10pm.

• Ulu Cafe: Quick service 6:30am - 9pm.

• Mama’s Snack Shop: Meals and snacks from 11am - 5pm.

• Papalua Shave Ice: Open 11am - 5pm.

• Wailana Pool Bar: Bar food and drinks from 10am - 9pm.

• Little Ophihi’s Beachside Kiosk: Sweet treats and drinks from 11 am – 5 pm.

Spa:

• Laniwai, adult and teen services available (reservations required).

• Painted Sky is for kids 3–12 years old.

• Hydrotherapy Garden, accessible only if you purchase a spa service.

Gym:

• Open 24 hours a day.

• You will find 2,000 sq feet of space with state-of-the-art equipment.

• Fitness classes (additional fees apply) are available.

Shopping:

• Kalepa’s Store: Most inventory of Disney Aulani products.

• Hale Manu: Higher-end store that includes Pandora jewelry and Dooney and Bourke bags.

• Lava Shack: Swim amenities and drinks.

Where to eat outside the resort:

• Monkeypod Kitchen: They have a great happy hour from 3pm - 6pm. Try the kalua pork and pineapple pizza, garlic truffle oil fries, roasted chicken wings and both virgin and classic Mai Tai.

• Broke da Mouth Grindz: Try the garlic furakake chicken, pork belly fat adobo and the fries.

• Julie’Z Restaurant: Try the garlic shrimp, sari-sari and the halo halo.

• Island Country Markets: Try the ube pancake and the acai bowl.

• Leonard’s Bakery: Try their famous malasadas.

• Mountain Magic Shave Ice: Try the melona w/ vanilla ice cream and add the snow cap.

• Giovanni’s: Try the garlic shrimp scampi and the “no refunds” hot and spicy shrimp.

• Gama: Try the kimchi jjigae.

• Magnolia Ice Cream and Treats: Try the halo halo.

• Zippy’s: Try the chili. Order online to avoid long wait times.

What to do outside the resort:

• Visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial.

• Shop and eat at the Ala Moana Center.

• Visit the North Shore to watch world-class surfers.

I recommend renting a car to explore and get around the island. Stop by Walmart or Costco on your way to the resort from the airport. Stock up on food and necessities if you plan to cook in your villa or barbecue on the grills. You can borrow grill tools at Pau Hana Community Center, which need to be returned by 8 pm. In addition, download the Aulani app prior to your visit. Link it to your reservation. The day you land, if your room is ready, you will receive a text. You can also check in to your room without having the need to stop by the front desk since your key will be linked to your app. Lastly, if you have a Magic Band +, make sure to link it to your reservation. Magic Band + can be used at the resort.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Hawai'i page.