CampbellzSoup
Son. Husband. Father.
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Aulani: A Disney Resort & Spa Review
What comes to your mind when you think of Hawaii? Personally, for me, I was always sold the dream of crystal clear water, hula girls in grass skirts, an infinite supply of Mai Tais & beautiful sunsets on the horizon. I’ll tell you guys what; it’s all true & MORE at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa. I never really found a solid and comprehensive review online – so hopefully the one I’m going to write today will be totally relatable to you, and planning/vacation needs.
I think when people think of Disney what can scare them away is the thought of children everywhere, and the uncomfortable feeling of perhaps being singled out in a sea of families with children. Again, like the Disney Cruise Line, Aulani accommodates the children very well. Do you still have a lot of children around? Sure. However, they are never intrusive or overbearing to your experience. They go in their club house aka Aunty’s Beach House all day – and from the parents which I spoke with the kids LOVE this space. Don’t be afraid to book thinking that you won’t enjoy your vacation due to the overabundance of children; that should be, in my opinion, a nonfactor when booking this vacation.
Entertainment Options: ***/**** 3 Out of 5 Surf Boards! (For Adults) *****/ ***** 5 out 5 for kids!
Every day you get the Daily Ewa that lists the events of the day. If you are a cruiser, it’s almost like your Navigator; a listing that details the events of the day in which you can participate in. They list experience that are available, and ones that are available at a price to you. I also found that sometimes that events weren’t listed on the daily Ewa as well. Personally, for onsite activities, I don’t think that there should have been a paywall barrier. For instance, I got the Ewa one day and didn’t find fire story telling with Uncle. I assumed that the resort didn’t have it for that day – However, as I walked past the enjoyable live music at night I saw Uncle with the fire ablaze! Speaking of the live music, every night it seemed as though they had live music outside of Makihiki & Ama Ama – which were both phenomenal.
The Community Room: Please check here often, as again I found activities not listed in the Ewa were here for sign up. Which leads me to my next point SIGN UP EARLY – get your family on the list of activities as they go quick some include: Ukulele Playing, Lai Making, and Raft Racing! Here is also where you’ll find the interactive iPod for the Menahunie Adventure – which activities little things around the resort like fire, water turning on, and little resort secrets! The community room also closes at 8pm so make sure if you want to rent 2 Disney Movies (which they have a large library of) do so early in the morning as you won’t be able to after the designated hours.
The Starlight Hui: The signature show of the resort. This show is what you think of when you think of Hawaii – culture, music, and entertainment all woven into one great show. I personally think this is one of the highlights of the resort – I would have liked it to be a bit longer, but it was an absolute highlight. Make sure you get there early, as again, you won’t get a space close/with a good view if you delay on getting there. After the show Mickey and friends come out and do the Cha Cha Slide! (How Hawaiin!) I thought it was fun…again I love the characters it made the Disney in the resort come out!
Fire story Telling with Uncle: I thought this to be honest, was going to be lame. I couldn’t have the most opposite reaction to this. Not only was it charming, it was also captivating! The story tellers are very animated and incorporate use of the Ukulele in their story telling. This to me gives the resort an edge on the Hawaiian experience – you feel like you’re immersed in the culture of the island. I will say that you need to get there 15/20 minutes as there is limited seating, and when I mean limited I mean 20 people tops can get comfortable seating – which was absurd to me thinking back as it got CROWDED.
With the pools and hot tub being closed early – the entertainment pretty much stops at 9pm as well. After that there’s pretty much nothing going on at the resort. It would have been nice to have an adults space so that you can enjoy yourself, and meet other people after hours. I’m not saying a dance club, however I am saying something that engages adults. This to me was a big negative as most places always have something to accommodate resort like the Disney Cruise Line, and even the Disney Parks are open late too…again wasn’t a big deal as you can rent two Disney movies a night from the community room – Just a bit disappointing in my opinion. I think a huge opportunity is being missed on this one.
Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite subject FOOD! You know what’s funny, but at the same time what’s not? Everyone talks about what food there is outside of Aulani, but not because the food there isn’t great; it’s because of the price gauging there. From what I remember, there are a couple of places to eat there
- Maikhiki
- Ama Ama
- Off the Hook
- The Ulu Café
- Mama’s Snack Shop
- The Shaved Ice Stand
Hawaii / Aulani Food ***/***** Three out of Five Surfboards
On Site Dining Experiences
Makihiki: I did NOT eat here, however this is where the serve the character breakfast, and the buffet. I will say that, if you’re doing the breakfast for the characters, don’t. The characters are readily and easily accessible with short lines (compared to the parks) and at $35.00 a person, it was a tough pill to swallow for a shallow breakfast buffet. Also, I’m not a huge fan of seafood so I didn’t eat the buffet….but Kevin said he didn’t think it was worth it either, as well as the review we got from many people who attended. Again, to each their own, if you really want to try it – try it. However, go into it knowing that it’s expensive…I would just ask to look around if you want to see the BEAUTIFUL restaurant…my god this place is magnificent! Whoever designed this resort really made sure that everything was designed top notch!
Link to Makihiki Menu:
Mamas Snack Shop: Everything was hot, fresh, and came out with a smile. I don’t know if it’s just me…however, like Starbucks, I always appreciate when people use your name when your order is ready. I know I’m too much, but even for a quick service it’s nice to hear Michael, enjoy your food.
Again, the food is mostly your standard junk food (Fries, Hotdogs, Fried Shrimp etc.…) they do offer healthy alternatives like salads for those who want keep those New Year’s Resolutions Alive! When you’re by the pool and want some snacks here’s where you go!
Shaved Ice Stand: You MUST get one of these if you go to Hawaii – it’s as Hawaiian as let’s say Mai Tais! They have a WIDE array of flavors, and options including having your shaved ice with condensed milk drizzled on top, and they even have where some vanilla ice cream is on the bottom! I would say just watch your little ones when you give them these as they melt QUICKLY.
From the Ice Shop to my chair it was dripping pretty quickly. Also a tip is that you can ask for a sample to try out what flavors you’d like! I got the Blue Vanilla, Pineapple, and Red (something in Hawaiian) ice and it was delicious! This to me was a smart decision to have this in the actual resort as you get that authentic type of Hawaiian treat.
Ama Ama: BEAUTIFUL restaurant. Please make reservations for this restaurant when it’s sunset time, you won’t regret it. The scenery is absolutely beautiful, the wait staff has that Disney magic that people say might be missing from current cast members.
Attentive, Pleasant, and very knowledgeable about their menu! However, while drop dead gorgeous on the outside, I personally wasn’t too impressed with the food on the inside. Personally, I’m allergic to seafood (a crime!) However, I didn’t find too many options that accommodated someone who wasn’t a fan of seafood…I just wish it was a bit more robust for us non-seafood eaters.
So I got the steak, and I believe Kevin got the lamb chops…they were …”good”. Again I didn’t think that with the sticker attached to it – which was worth it. When I eat in the Magic Kingdom I always can find something to accommodate my palette.
I just found that for the price attached to it, Ama Ama didn’t really do it for me…I know that people are in love with Ama Ama, however as non-seafood lover I didn’t find it too appealing. I also surveyed the people who ate there too at the hot tub with me - and we got a mixed reaction – some people thought it was the best thing ever – and some didn’t care for it at all. I guess like everything it’s subjective…the service, cleanliness, and atmosphere were incredible. I just wish perhaps it offered more NON seafood options.
Off Site Eats!
Monkey Pod: across the street has, honestly, better priced food & the service was honestly top notch. There is a happy hour that commences between the hours of 3:00 – 5:30 and 9:30 to 11:00 where most of the appetizers are half off. INCREDIBLE deal. The staff members there are also extremely friendly…this restaurant needs to be in Aulani! The robust menu options, stellar service, live music, and reasonable prices make this place one of the must dos at Aulani!
Link to Monkey Pod:
Costco: The Costco has two locations on the island, and both were pretty packed when we went. I’m from New York – so I don’t think that the lines were too bad as the Costco here is ALWAYS packed. The best thing that you’ll find here at Costco are the prices! The prices are EXACTLY the way they are at home! They also have some good Hawaiian treats there too we picked up some Hawaiian bread, Hawaiian chicken that needed to just be put in the microwave, and some liquor to subsidize the Aulani prices of drinks. You can get a whole bottle of liquor for only 10 bucks! It lasts the whole week too mixed with some Hawaiian pineapple juice or make you own Mai Tais as Aulani has a blender you can use! Again for those of us who are on a budget, I found Costco to be a REALLY good source of food and treats to even out the playing field in terms of budgetary restrictions & great food too!
ABC Store: Across the street, literally right across the street has some GREAT cheap eats and prepared meals that you can snack on! The prices again are reasonable, a bit more than say your local 7/11 – However, I still found it while a bit more, it was still reasonable! This place also has the Dole Whip as high as you want for $3.99! Think of a 7/11 or any kind of quick fix convenience store with a mini hot food bar attached. You can also shop for some souvenirs here that would break your bank / hurt your wallet the way the stores in Aulani might!
Link to ABC Store:
Resort Accommodations ***** / ***** Five out of Five Surfboards!
Pools: The pools were absolutely beautiful. They have a main pool for families, one looked like a splash pool/cove for the kiddos and a quiet pool for the adults! I would have preferred if the adults quiet pool was maybe a BIT more lively, but for those who want to relax in peace the option is here for you. Now this must be in a non peak time (which you couldn’t tell as the resort was packed) – the pool amenities closed at 8pm. I wouldn’t have a problem with that if they offered entertainment for adults past 8pm, but to me the resort was pretty dead after 8pm in terms of activities…so that to me left a sour taste in my mouth. The pools (when they are open) are drop dead beautiful, clean, and outside of the adult pool are guarded at all times by lifeguards. The adult hottub (which also closes at 8pm) gives you, in my opinion, the most perfect view of the beach you can EVER ask for. I think the adult wet areas could have had a bar service that came to you, I thought that was a huge missed opportunity.
Slides: You have TWO slides to choose from here one with a raft and one larger one. I don’t care what age you are, you are a kid here. These slides were some of the most fun I’ve had on water rides in a while. I think most of it has to do with the lines at waterparks can sometimes but outrageous and when you get to the slide its more or less to hit the water and cool off from the sun. However, the slides here were amazing, fun, and had really short lines! I had an absolute blast on both! This is a HIGHLIGHT for me of the resort are these amazing water slides!
Rainbow Reef
Rainbow Reef is a private snorkeling area which houses a wide array and assortment of tropical fish. You will be paying an entrance fee of $20.00 per person to enter this lagoon, or if you want a length of stay pass it was $40.00. I went twice in one day, just to say that I did it. It was pretty cool especially at feeding time to see a HUGE amount of fish cross your path, and allow you to feed them. PhotoPass is also available in this as well which makes for some great photos! I wouldn’t say that this is a must do…If it’s something that interests you check it out! Just keep your expectations in line, if you want a sample viewing the have a look in glass so you can get a free peak of what’s inside!
Spa: I didn’t use or go to the spa as it doesn’t interest me – I’m sorry if I can’t comment on it! Link to the Spa:
Car Rental Desk: When booking with my Disney Visa Chase Card they actually gave me a free rental car for one day! The rental car station is actually on the grounds of Aulani! The service is quick, friendly, and easy to use! Remember that if you are going to be parking the car overnight, unless you are a DVC member, you are subject to a $37.00 parking fee.
Wi-Fi: Disney’s Aulani comes equipped with super-fast Wi-Fi so you can be connected to your friends and family at home with no cost!
Television: Television in your room comes equipped with full remote, Blu-Ray Player, and access to HDMI/Component ports if you had your laptop or gaming system that you might want to take with you.
Restaurants: See Above Under Food for Restaurants/Reviews on Some Eats!
Excursions: While Aulani offers a great range of excursions I chose to use my car rental time to go explore the island! Pearl Harbor is a MUST do – as well as Diamond Head. Take your time and explore the Hawaiian Island and absorb the time you are here. The island of Oahu is a breathtakingly beautiful place, and you will get some amazing photos from the top of Diamond head and the beach of Waikiki.
Friendly Staff: People complain about the Cast Members at the parks being rude, and unmagical. I DARE you to find someone at this resort who is rude to you. Everyone and I mean everyone from the towel service, mouse keeping, and restaurant servers. All of the staff members go out of their way to make sure that you are having the best experience that you can have. Most of them seem to be natives from Hawaii too – so ask questions! Again, I found the staff members to be a class above anything of what I’ve seen in the parks. Everyone was just so…happy, and welcoming. If that’s what Hawaiian’s essence of family and freindlness is – I want to be apart of it. Such
Link to the Photo Pass website: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjyvsXUwYTLAhXCWD4KHVAXBc4QFggdMAA&url=https://mydisneyphotopass.disney.go.com/&usg=AFQjCNHyEL2MnSSLvNjGGvVavfyYgG9fug
Link to some of my Photo Pass Photos:
DVC: Apparently, this place is a huge hit for the DVC crowd, and they seem to love it! I don’t’ have much to say outside of it made me very interested in DVC & let me tell you they are pushing it hard! You will see advertisements for DVC a lot in this resort, and you will without a doubt be thinking about maybe purchasing into DVC as you leave! From what I’ve seen the DVC members get special bracelets that identify them as such, have discounts around the resorts on special things, and have the parking fee waived. I have included a link to DVC if you want to learn more!
DVC Link: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiHpcz9wITLAhXDWD4KHdxVBc4QFggdMAA&url=https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/destinations/list/us-hawaii/aulani-hawaii/&usg=AFQjCNEUwnmIths2QVReygMXi383QsisfA
Characters: ***** / ***** Five out of Five Surfboards!
Every Morning in the Daily Ewa you will receive the number to the character hotline which will give you the daily listings of where the characters are scheduled to appear for the day. Please note that not all the characters appear every day. For instance, one day Donald wasn’t meeting guests and Vice Versa Chip & Dale weren’t on the schedule. Every character is assigned a handler which will be more than happy to take photos for you, however not all the time will the Photo Pass personnel be around to snap photos for you if you were solely counting on Photo Pass – Don’t.
Characters on Vacation at Aulani:
- Mickey
- Minnie
- Goofy
- Donald
- Chip & Dale
- Stitch
- Duffy the Bear
Disney Essence: What do you think of when you think of Disney? Do you think of an explosion of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse? When I think of Disney I think of magic – in terms of service, class, cleanliness and entertainment. Aulani isn’t titled Disney’s Aulani, but rather the emphasis is placed on the Hawaiian culture, and people with Disney as a background. It’s a different kind of Disney experience, but in terms of service, class, expectations and friendliness you will find it all here and more. Could there be a bit more Disney in it? Sure, I would like to think while not changing the structure of the resort there could be a bit more in terms of entertainment involving the characters – they had one show by the pool with the kids and Mickey Mouse it was so fun to watch and see…but things like that were rare and few between. Again, maybe this would detract, but I would have liked to maybe see a fireworks show by the ocean with perhaps Hainan music being placed in the background that would have made it a bit more “Disney” to me. So while you know and love Mickey Mouse, keep in mind he’s more background fodder and the Disney Class, Service, Expectations, and standards are what is Disney here.
Teenagers: This is the group I’m concerned about the most – you’re at that stage where you’re not a child anymore, however you’re not quite and adult yet. There needs to be some kind of teen program, or teen space/area where they can hang out with, and interact with other teenagers just like them. There is no arcade, or sports area, or even a space reserved just for them. I would like to see this perhaps implemented in the future – just because while you’re away on vacation, and without the aid of a theme park/teenage hangout it can be a real drag. The Disney Cruise Line accommodates their teenage guests – I’m not sure why Aulani is still without teenage resources. Again, just a small observation that I made which can be improved on.
Final Review: Aulani is a must do for any Disney fan who wants to vacation with Disney in a bit of a different way. There are no theme parks, or the accommodation of entertainment of the Disney Cruise Line to entertain you – but you can get an authentic piece of Hawaii here. When you think about Hawaii and all of the beautiful beaches, culture, and friendly people…it’s all here. This is more of a vacation about relaxing, and enjoying your family with a bit of Disney touches thrown in. I think that this resort is PERFECT for families with young children. Adults may be taken back with the lack of adult entertainment/options at nighttime & teenagers don’t exactly have a place to call their own yet. However, if you want to experience Hawaii – you can NOT go wrong with Disney. The staff, resort, and culture all make this a winner to me.
Pros:
- Beyond Friendly Staff
- For Kids – you have a great area to play and make friends through Aunty’s Beach House
- Perfect for Families – everything you want and more is here
- The Culture of the Hawaiian is fully realized, and ingrained here
- The resort is drop dead beautiful – and will make your jaw drop
- The pools and slides are so much fun – and your photos will definite make people jealous
- Entertainment is a bit on the lacking side…I believe there could be a bit more done here
- The Price and option of food is sorely lacking compared to what’s right across the street
- Travel from the East Coast is long and exhausting
- The pools closing at 8pm and not offering adult entertainment past that was very disappointing
- Could have had a BIT more in terms of Disney
Final Verdict: I am extremely happy and satisfied with my vacation. Again, would I have liked more adult options? Yes. However, the resort is beautiful, the staff is amazing, and Hawaii is a must do within your lifetime. I would stay here again, but maybe in the future or in on peak seasons where things are opened a bit later. If you want to do Hawaii – this is the place to do it.
Aloha & Mahalo for reading this!
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this is very helpful as we're planning for our own trip there in a few months.
