Aulani or WDW

[TinkB278]

Hi All-

Dvc member and longtime WDW visitor. This may be a silly post but I’m in a bit of analysis paralysis and am coming down to the wire on making a decision. I’m currently pregnant (due early May) and we are trying to fit in one last trip with out other two kids (boys- 6 and 3) before the new baby comes.

I initially was planning to go to WDW end of March but my youngest will need an AP for the first time and the added expense of LL is really starting to rub me the wrong day (isn’t really optional with two squirrely boys). WDW started feeling like a big cash grab on our last trip in September so I decided to go to Aulani for this next trip. Our waitlist finally cleared and we have 8 nights at aulani booked for end of January, but it’s just overwhelming trying to plan it all, and the thought of that 6.5 hour flight with my 3 year old is a bit daunting. I’m also concerned that I’ll be bored (I can only hang out at the pool/beach for so long). I know my kids will love it but I won’t be able to relax by the pool with a book as they are too young to swim unattended.

I’m just hoping for experiences of others who are mostly WDW visitors who have made the trip to Aulani, especially if you have younger kids. I would love to do a bunch of excursions but financially we could probably only leave the resort a couple of times (rental car prices are crazy).

It’s been a long terrible year as a federal employee and I’m just so mentally drained that I’m having a hard time making the decision to try something new (but is already booked) or try to scrap together a February/March trip at WDW since it will be much less mentally taxing as it’s our familiar place. I’m also throwing around the idea of a last min Disney cruise in January but I would only have until 1/15 to meet their pregnancy cut off and am concerned about the weather (but honestly a cruise sounds the most relaxing at this point).

Thanks so much for any and all input!

 

[hardcorestitch]

I’d rest up as much as possible and veer towards either the cruise or Aulani.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Aulani for sure

 

[Nicnicnic.nic]

I've never been to aulani but don't they have a kids club? That way you could get time to rest

 

[TinkB278]

I've never been to aulani but don't they have a kids club? That way you could get time to rest

They do but the minimum age is 4 so no luck for my 3 year old

 

[Carouselofplanning]

I love all the choices you mention but to me it sounds like you would most enjoy a cruise at the moment. Use the kids club so you can relax and unwind and cruising takes a lot of the planning off of your plate so you can just be on vacation. Fun dining each night, easy breakfasts and lunches, shows at night and new things to explore each day. Takes a lot of pressure out of the trip. Only downside is you’re likely not using points to do this….

 

[J-Dog]

So, 2 things about Aulani:

1) I could be wrong (@VGCgroupie might know better), but I think that American Idol will be there at the end of January 2026. This may be a pro, a con, or a meh, depending on your perspective.

2) I agree that being just at Aulani for 8 days would be boring, I generally spend about 3 days as "resort-only" days. But unless things have dramatically changed in the last few months, rental car prices on Oahu are generally very reasonable. Last visit, we spent semething like $600 for a week for a "luxury SUV".

 

[TDK44]

Aulani for sure.

We did the Aulani trip with a 4 and 2 year old last year and it was awesome. The flight was rough, but we were coming from the Northeast and had to connect so it was a very, very long day. If you're only looking at 6.5 hours, it will be long, but they will be okay. Would recommend a flight that gets you in mid-afternoon so you have time to settle in but push to keep the kids up as close to normal bedtime as possible that first night even if it's a long tiring day -- will make the rest of your trip much easier.

I know Auntie's Beach House (kids' club) is 4y+, but honestly having our oldest in there for a good chunk of the day on the days that we were spending on the resort made our days so much easier to be 2-on-1. Not to mention she had a blast there every time she was there and kept asking to go back.

The pool at Aulani is amazing -- the kids will love it. You can bring life vests or they have some there for you to use. The slides and lazy river can kill a lot of time with the kids too.

We had a car the whole time (minivan rental was quite reasonable) -- check out Turo too, we've had good success using that for rentals. If you really think you'll only leave the resort 2 or 3 times then I guess renting only on those days may save you some money, but you'd also have to factor in transfers to the airport. At the end of the day, we found renting for the week the way to go for us.

For excursions, depends on how adventurous you're feeling or what you'd want to do while pregnant, but here are some of the things we did:

• Spent the day at Hanauma Bay -- long drive from Aulani, beautiful, but IMO probably not worth the effort on its own (we coupled this with Diamond Head afterwards)
• Hiked Diamond Head -- I carried the 2 year old in an Osprey backpack (but he was over 40 pounds at the time, not sure how big your 3yo is), and our 4yo did the hike almost all of the way on her own with a little carrying here and there
• Pearl Harbor -- this is very accessible and easy to do, and the memorial is very moving. But in particular I bet your boys would LOVE the separate plane hangar tour where you can get very close to all different sorts of fighter jets like a Blue Angel, Thunderbird, etc. (our kids thought this was so cool)
• I did a scuba dive just up the shore one day, but there are plenty of options for snorkeling or boat tours, etc.

Outside of that, we spent most of the time at the resort doing the pool or watersports activities there, which is saying a lot because we stay busy on vacations. We never made it to the North Shore, the Dole Plantation, the Polynesian Cultural Center, or Kualoa Ranch, but all good options for a non-resort day that would be family (and pregnancy) friendly. So I highly doubt you'll find yourself bored. Felt to me like the perfect mix of relaxation and fun.

Lastly, only you know what you're up for, but 7 months pregnant at WDW chasing a 5 and 3 year old around parks vs. 5 months pregnant at Aulani with the 5 year old spending a good chunk of the day in Auntie's Beach House sounds like a huge difference in relaxation factor to me.

 

[juliebee]

If you decide to go to Aulani- We've had decent prices for car rentals with Costco, so if you're a member, check them out. I check periodically and rebook/cancel for lower prices as they do change.
When my boys were that age, they could have sat on the beach for days playing in the sand.
If it was me, I'd do Aulani or a cruise but that is because I can't imagine all the walking of WDW in the last months of pregnancy.

 

[Carouselofplanning]

One last thought on this from me - while I think a cruise would be the easiest and most relaxing for you, since you are pregnant it might be best to stay in the US. Heaven forbid you need medical attention on your trip at least you know your health insurance will work. Aulani and WDW both check those boxes. Random Carribean islands? No.

 

[VGCgroupie]

If you decide to go to Aulani- We've had decent prices for car rentals with Costco, so if you're a member, check them out. I check periodically and rebook/cancel for lower prices as they do change.
When my boys were that age, they could have sat on the beach for days playing in the sand.
If it was me, I'd do Aulani or a cruise but that is because I can't imagine all the walking of WDW.

We love Costco for Hawaii Alamo rentals. I have cancelled and rebooked so many times to save money.

So, 2 things about Aulani:

1) I could be wrong (@VGCgroupie might know better), but I think that American Idol will be there at the end of January 2026. This may be a pro, a con, or a meh, depending on your perspective.

2) I agree that being just at Aulani for 8 days would be boring, I generally spend about 3 days as "resort-only" days. But unless things have dramatically changed in the last few months, rental car prices on Oahu are generally very reasonable. Last visit, we spent semething like $600 for a week for a "luxury SUV".

Yes American Idol is there last week of January.