Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

What an awful place. I would not even give it one star . The whole place looks worse than the photos. A complete concrete monstrosity with zero charm or appeal. Zero class. We went as part of a meet up with family. We wouldn’t normally have chosen any type of...

What an awful place. I would not even give it one star . The whole place looks worse than the photos. A complete concrete monstrosity with zero charm or appeal. Zero class. We went as part of a meet up with family. We wouldn’t normally have chosen any type of Disney resort usually after having visited Disneyworld once before and hated that too. The staff are quite rude and appear bored most of the time. The whole atmosphere is one of the most grandeur tackiness . Junk food galore and if you want a decent meal then sorry , it ain’t gonna appear. They have the audacity to describe their menus to sound like a five star restaurant- beware the food is tacky USA rubbish. Getting a pool chair is like a visit to Benidorm , get out early and drop your towel and dare anyone to challenge you to move it ! The characters costumes looked grubby and the shows are a cheesy mess. In fact the whole place could have been modelled on the Benidorm sitcom. Do yourself a favour - if it’s a classy, five star experience you want , save your cash and choose somewhere like the Maldives where no creature in a furry suit will jump on you from behind a bush.

I have to start this review, by saying we live on the east coast of the United States and this was our 7th time visiting Aulani. We are now 70. These visits have been without any children. That should speak volumes of what we think of this incredible resort. The...

I have to start this review, by saying we live on the east coast of the United States and this was our 7th time visiting Aulani. We are now 70. These visits have been without any children. That should speak volumes of what we think of this incredible resort. The design of Aulani is unlike any other hotel you find in Hawaii. It’s amazing design celebrates the Hawaiian culture almost everywhere you look. It’s a feast for the eyes and the senses. While it is a Disney property, and there are ample opportunities for character encounters, the best character here is the resort and its cast members. It’s two lounges both offer very decent food offerings and great drinks and service. There is also carry out offerings from the Ulu cafe for breakfast, lunch and dinner. An evening at a table outside the Olelo room, having some sushi and a cocktail while listening to Wonderful Hawaiian performers is as close to paradise as one can get. Of course Aulani suffers from “chair hogs” a problem almost every resort and cruise ship encounters. People who drop towels on a dozen pool chairs at 8AM. We, however, never had a problem getting two chairs with an umbrella on the beach. Returning the Aulani Quiet pool this year to an adults only area, was a welcome change. It was “adults only” when the resort opened and we were delighted to find it “adults only” again There have been some other changes since the property opened that we would love to see return to how they were originally. We sorely miss Ama Ama as an a la Carte restaurant. As a price fixed restaurant, it’s a high price for such a limited menu. In the past we might eat there 3 times in two weeks. Since the change we haven’t eaten there once. We also miss Ama Ama as a 2nd musical offering. We’ve seen some absolute Hawaiian legends there over the years For those first timers, there are plenty of places “off campus” to enjoy cheaper and more local offerings and also a number of places in Walking distance to just mix up the menu a bit. We will be back for an 8th time. It’s just that good.

Dates of Stay: Thursday, 11/28/24 - Saturday, 11/30/24 Length of Stay: 2 Nights In a nutshell, Disney's Aulani continues to shine and provide a heavenly paradise for those that love Disney and Hawaii! Disney's Aulani offers all of the wonderful cast members, service and hospitality that Disney is known for,...

Dates of Stay: Thursday, 11/28/24 - Saturday, 11/30/24 Length of Stay: 2 Nights In a nutshell, Disney's Aulani continues to shine and provide a heavenly paradise for those that love Disney and Hawaii! Disney's Aulani offers all of the wonderful cast members, service and hospitality that Disney is known for, nestled up within the beautiful Paradise of Ko Olina on Oahu. If you are Disney-lover and enjoy the relaxing Paradise that Hawaii continues to offer, do not miss out on the chance to combine those two amazing things for the vacation of a lifetime! Now, for my detailed review: First, coming from Florida, we are very familiar with all that Disney has to offer; yet, we still find it worth the 9+ hour flight to Hawaii to experience all that Disney has to offer way out in Hawaii! We have stayed at this beautiful property twice before -- back in 2015 and 2018 -- and Disney's Aulani continues to impress! After our prior stays, I posted lengthy reviews of our experiences, and I thought that an updated post-COVID review would benefit those of you on the fence about this amazing resort; but, for additional information and photos, you are welcome to view my prior reviews on this site: -Sept. 2018 - "Another Truly AMAZING Stay! Disney's Aulani Continues to Shine!!!" (posted Sept. 26, 2018) -April 2015 - "Truly AMAZING Experience at Aulani -- this is Disney, located in a true paradise!!” (posted June 2, 2015) As I have said in prior reviews, if you are at all concerned with the potential clash of a "Disney Theme Park" with the peace and tranquility of traditional Hawaiian Culture, there is no need for any such concern! Yes, as its name implies, Disney's Aulani is a "Disney Resort" that will offer several of the excellent Disney experiences that one might expect of a "Disney Theme Park," but the Resort itself meshes such Disney Experiences into all that is Hawaiian without taking away from any of the Hawaiian Culture. This means that you will still be able to experience all of the peace and serenity that Hawaii is known for while being able to get all of the "Disney Magic" without it overriding Hawaiian Culture. As far as location, you will find Disney's Aulani to be in a perfect spot! While some may tend to avoid Oahu and head for the less populous islands of Maui or Kauai, a stay at Disney's Aulani will allow you to experience the best of both worlds. Disney's Aulani is located in the heart of the Ko Olina Resort, just over 30-minutes from the Honolulu International Airport, away from the hustle-and-bustle of Honolulu or Waikiki. This ideal location allows for a perfectly relaxing vacation experience, while still keeping you close enough to all of the Tourist Spots that Oahu is known for. A perfect compromise between busy Tourist Sites and Hawaiian Relaxation, allowing you to choose your own adventure! While you will never tire of the many wonderful on-property activities at Disney's Aulani, should you wish to leave the property and visit many of Oahu's excellent sites, Disney has you covered; just walk down to the property's main lobby and visit the excellent staff at the Holoholo Tours & Travel Desk to book excursions throughout Oahu! To get out to Disney's Aulani, you will need either a rental car or a shuttle service as -- like all other Disney properties across the world -- there is not complimentary transportation from the airport. However, you will find that there are multiple excellent shuttle services that can get you from the Honolulu International Airport out to the Ko Olina Resort Area and Disney's Aulani. You have the option of adding on shuttle service at a cost to your reservation at Disney's Aulani using their preferred providers, Hele Hele Shuttle (shared shuttle service, usually around $25 per person each way) or Platinum Limousine Services (a private sedan service, with prices that will vary substantially). If you do not mind booking on your own, I would highly recommend Charley's Taxi, as they offer prompt and reliable service ranging from pre-arranged taxi pick-up up to private town-car with airport meet-and-greet; the usual flat-rate for a standard taxi mini-van is $90 airport-to-Aulani and $70 on return to the airport and the VIP Meet-and-Greet is a very reasonable $260 round-trip. Every time that we go to Oahu, we make sure to pre-book thru Charley's Taxi and we have never had a bad experience! Regardless of how you chose to get to Disney's Aulani from the Honolulu International Airport, from the moment you arrive through the gates of the Ko Olina Resort, you will find yourself in true paradise! Upon arrival, you will find Disney's Aulani to be a very large resort, comprised of two main towers connected by a large central lobby. Nestled between those towers, you will find one the most wonderful and family friendly pool complexes that Oahu has to offer! From the moment you enter the Main Lobby of Disney's Aulani, you will be greeted with a spectacular view! As is common at Hawaiian Resort Properties, the Main Lobby at Disney's Aulani opens up to provide a truly beautiful view of property, its pool complex and the Pacific Ocean. As you exit whatever transportation method you have chosen, you will be greeted by exceptional Bell Staff that exude the service and hospitality that Disney is known for. They will assist you with your baggage and direct you into the Main Lobby, just inside the Main Entrance and to the right. Once in the Lobby, you will find a large Check-in area that always seemed to be well-staffed, but keep in mind that at high-traffic times such as check-in and check-out, there may be a bit of a crowd due to the popularity of Disney's Aulani. But, despite any crowds, you will find the same top-notch customer service at the Front Desk of Disney's Aulani that you would expect at any of Disney's Deluxe Category Resorts worldwide, and the Front Desk Staff will provide you with all of the information that you will need to enjoy your stay. One thing to note, unlike many Hawaiian Resorts, you will no longer be greeted upon arrival with a traditional lei greeting. However, one thing that will also not greet you at Disney's Aulani is the traditional "Resort Fee" associated with essentially every "Resort" in the Hawaiian Islands. At Disney's Aulani -- as with all Disney Resorts Worldwide -- the price is the price, and you will never experience the ever-increasing "Resort Fee." You will have full access to all that Disney's Aulani has to offer, without paying any of the extra fees for additional services that you would experience staying anyplace else. Definitely a very great thing to keep in mind when choosing where to stay on your next Hawaiian Vacation! The thing to keep in mind about Disney's Aulani, it is two luxury properties combined into one; you have the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Villas, offering everything from a Deluxe Studio all the way to a three-bedroom Villa sitting alongside luxurious Deluxe Hotel accommodations ranging from a standard room to a two-bedroom suite. Whether you opt to stay in a DVC Villa or a Hotel Room, you will have multiple View Options, including: -Standard View: Includes either a view of the conference center, parking lot or parking garage from the room or balcony -Island Gardens View: Includes at least a partial view of the mountains, spa or landscaping from the room or balcony -Poolside Gardens View: Includes at least a partial view of the pool, courtyards, water features or landscaping from the room or balcony -Partial Ocean View: Offers only a partial view of the ocean from the room or balcony -Ocean View: Includes a view of the ocean from the room or balcony As with any Disney Resort, due to its extreme popularity, I would suggest booking the Room Category & View that you want so that you do not end up unhappy. Personally, we find that all Views at Disney's Aulani are very nice as the lush Gardens and Mountains are just as beautiful as the Ocean! Just book what you feel best suits you, as with all that Disney's Aulani has to offer, you likely won't spend that much time in your Room! As for Rooms in general at Disney's Aulani, the property is rather generous in its Standard Room sizing, as all Rooms start at a spacious 382-square feet. All rooms include a modern smart-television, allowing for Chromecast, along with plush bedding and the excellent Disney Bath Products. All rooms have a small refrigerator and either a private balcony or porch allowing for excellent views. Unfortunately, I do not have much information on the DVC Villas, as we are not DVC Members and have never stayed in or toured one, but they do look amazing from the outside. Regardless of what Room type you pick, I am confident that you will have an excellent stay at Disney's Aulani! As on our prior two stays, we again booked a 1-bedroom Parlor Suite, this time with a Partial Ocean View; if you are not booking a DVC Villa and want just a little extra space, I would highly recommend the 1-bedroom Parlor Suite Category, as these rooms are just over 750-square feet and include 1.5 baths and a huge double balcony. Our Suite was on the 14th Floor and it was just as spectacular as our prior Ocean View Suites had been! Although called a "Partial Ocean View," our Suite provided an ample view of the Pacific Ocean across the entire balcony, along with a beautiful view of the Mountains surrounding the Ko Olina Resort. As you enter the Suite, you enter into a large Parlor/Sitting Area. Immediately to your left is a large half-bathroom, equipped with a toilet and a large vanity. Across from that bathroom is a nicely sized closet, equipped with a large laptop-size safe and a pack-and-play crib. As you continue into the room, you will find large floor-to-ceiling windows at the end of the Parlor. The Parlor is equipped with a wet-bar and small refrigerator, a dining table for four, a very comfortable queen-sized sofa/sleeper which sits across from Disney's unique pull-down twin-sized bed. This pull-down bed is unique to Disney Resorts and you might not even realize it is there if you didn't know what to look for as it folds right up into the television stand. Above that bed, on the television stand is a large television, equipped with Chromecast features. As you proceed further into the Suite, you pass through a large door into a wonderfully furnished bedroom, equipped with an extremely plush and comfortable king-sized bed, a comfortable chair and a large computer/work desk. Much like the Parlor, the bedroom features a large television stand -- this one is not equipped with a bed -- but it has another large television equipped with Chromecast. Finally, off of the Bedroom is a very large bathroom, equipped with a deep soaking Jacuzzi tub, a large separate shower and an over-sized vanity. There is also another closet, a small dressing table area and a separate toilet room equipped with a Toto Toilet. All-in-all, a truly wonderful Suite that I would highly recommend! As for Dining, the property has so many dining options, it is impossible for one to go hungry when staying at Disney's Aulani! Of note if you have not traveled to Disney's Aulani since COVID, dining options have changed a bit and In-Room Dining is no longer available. However, Disney's Aulani still offers a great deal of excellent dining options with the always-amazing food that you would expect from a Disney property! For a truly fun Character Dining Experience, do not forget to make reservations in advance for a spectacular character breakfast at Makahiki. This definitely fills up fast, so make reservations well in advance. Post-COVID, the dining style has changed from a Buffet to a three-course breakfast. Lunch is not offered, but Makahiki also offers an excellent three-course dinner (minus the characters). In addition to Makahiki, don't miss out on dining at 'AMA 'AMA; 'AMA 'AMA has been recently re-imagined and serves only dinner, but that dinner is now a truly AMAZING four-course, prix-fixe menu that highlights all of the wonderful tastes and flavors of Hawaii. Staff and service at 'AMA 'AMA are as exceptional as the views of the Ko Olina Beach and Lagoons that you will experience while dining. As for quick-service, you have a wide variety of options! Ulu Cafe offers a variety of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is located just off of the pool complex. This is a traditional Disney grab-and-go quick-serve venue, offering numerous excellent options. Also, a tip -- make sure to purchase the refillable mugs, allowing you unlimited beverage refills throughout your stay! Off the Hook offers excellent quick-serve dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you want the famous "Mickey Waffles" for breakfast, Off the Hook is the venue for you! It also offers excellent coffee options each morning! Finally, for quick poolside fare, in addition to Ulu Cafe, don't miss Mama's Snack Stop or Papalua Shave Ice! One cannot go to Hawaii and not get an authentic Hawaiian Shave Ice, and Papalua has some of the best Shave Ice that you will find on Oahu! Additionally, the property offers several wonderful bars and lounges -- don't miss out on the Olelo Room in the evenings for excellent sushi and amazing cocktails or the Wailana Pool Bar throughout the day. All-in-all, you will never go hungry at Disney's Aulani. This property offers countless options that will keep you satisfied throughout your entire stay! As for pool options, Disney's Aulani cannot be matched as it offers a massive pool complex! In addition to standard pools, Disney's Aulani offers the Waikolohe Steam, a heavenly lazy river that winds throughout the property, beneath waterfalls and through grotto caves. While flowing down the Waikolohe Stream, keep an eye out for all of the hidden animals Disney Imagineers have carved into the rock walls. At the end and emptying into the Waikolohe Stream you will find two very fun water slides nestled into the volcano. Additionally, you will find the Waikolohe Pool and the beautiful Ka Maka Grotto Pool, featuring an infinity edge offering spectacular views of the Ko Olina Lagoon and Pacific Ocean. Finally, there is an adults only pool and numerous spa/hot tub pools throughout the property. All-in-all, one of the most amazing pool complexes on Oahu! Keep in mind, as with most Hawaiian Resorts, Pool Seating can be at a premium -- especially during busier travel months. Thankfully, you will not experience the problem that you find at many other Hawaiian Resorts -- the early morning pool chair hog! Unlike at many other Hawaiian Resorts, where someone will head down to the pool early in the morning and claim several chairs, at Disney's Aulani, you cannot save chairs prior to 8am unless you are physically seated in those chairs. After 8am, you can save chairs but if you are gone for longer than an hour, the Recreation Staff will clear the chair, so you should have an opportunity to find chairs throughout the day. However, for the ultimate in Poolside Luxury, you do have the option of pre-booking Private Cabanas or Casabellas; just note that those do book up quickly! If the pool isn't your style, you also have a beautiful private beach just in front of the Resort. Located on the Ko Olina Lagoons, this beach offers calm and serene waters to swim in or try such sports as stand-up paddle-boarding. The beach is full of soft white sand and allows for a lot of relaxation! Finally, this is a Disney Resort, so you have countless opportunities to meet numerous Disney Characters throughout the day. Unique to Disney's Aulani, the Characters are in uniquely Hawaiian attire which will offer some special photographs that you will never find in the Disney Parks. You can find information as to Characters and Locations daily in the Aulani App. A quick note on the Aulani App -- this will be your best friend throughout your stay, as it will provide you will all of the information that you could ever need to plan and enjoy a great stay. This was new since our last stay, and it certainly provided us with all of the information needed to find characters and explore the Resort. Oh, and make sure to make use of Disney's excellent PhotoPass Photographers! They will take amazing photos of you around the Resort and with Characters. Additionally, they do Sunset Photos each evening. A tip -- you can buy any or even all of your digital photos from the Disney Aulani Website; there is a great rate that allows you to download all photos for an entire week, which could save you a great deal of money. We ended up with hundreds of photos during our short two-day stay! So, in sum, if you are a Disney Fan and want to come to Hawaii, make sure not to miss out on the paradise that you will find at Disney's Aulani! Disney's Aulani offers amazing cast members and service, excellent dining and drinks, spacious well appointed rooms and numerous recreation opportunities, making it your perfect Home-away-from-Home in Hawaii!

We enjoyed our stay here. Perfect place for couples who have children. The staff was excellent. The people at the front desk were very nice and very helpful. They all looked like they were having a good time. The rooms were beautiful and quiet. They have many pools and jacuzzi's...

We enjoyed our stay here. Perfect place for couples who have children. The staff was excellent. The people at the front desk were very nice and very helpful. They all looked like they were having a good time. The rooms were beautiful and quiet. They have many pools and jacuzzi's so there is always plenty of room to swim and soak. I wish they had longer hours on the rainbow reef. It is only opened from 10-3 so I did not have time to snorkel. The water slide is a blast. One side is open to ride on an inner tube and the other side you can ride on your back. They have lifeguards at the bottom of the slide and they make sure that everyone is okay. Just be careful at the bottom of the slide. It is much deeper than I thought and they water outlet pushes a person down slightly. Just be sure to take a deep breath at the end it case you become disoriented. There are people stationed at the bottom of the slide who provide assistance when needed. Beautiful sunsets! The food is very expensive and they should lower the prices. The workout room was nice and I was able to use their elliptical trainer. The shuttle they provide from the airport was $50 for two people. The shuttle service only allows one carry on and one check in per person.

After our third stay at Aulani, I realised that walking through the front door felt like coming home. It is such a cosy, welcoming space, and everyone is so warm and friendly that you can't help but feel at ease. We've stayed in both a studio apartment and a one-bedroom...

After our third stay at Aulani, I realised that walking through the front door felt like coming home. It is such a cosy, welcoming space, and everyone is so warm and friendly that you can't help but feel at ease. We've stayed in both a studio apartment and a one-bedroom suite, and both were extremely comfortable and equipped with all the amenities needed for a long or short stay. The rooms are thoughtfully designed, blending Hawaiian charm with modern conveniences, making every visit special. Located on the serene Ko Olina coastline of O‘ahu, Aulani is ideally situated for a relaxing holiday while still offering access to some of Hawaii’s most popular attractions. The resort sits about 40 minutes from Honolulu and Waikiki Beach, and it’s a short drive to the stunning beaches of the North Shore, the hiking trails of Waimea Valley, or the must-see experience of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Closer to the resort, you’ll find Ko Olina Lagoons—calm, picturesque beaches perfect for a day of sunbathing or snorkelling—and the Ko Olina Golf Club. As a resort and a Disney resort, Aulani does lean toward the pricier end of the spectrum. Food and beverages are on the more expensive side, but the quality is generally excellent, with a variety of dining options to suit different tastes. For those seeking flexibility or wanting to save a bit, the rooms with kitchenettes are fantastic for preparing your meals. Just a short walk out of the resort, you will also find a few restaurants, a convenience store and a few other interesting shops. While Aulani offers plenty to keep you entertained within the resort, I highly recommend hiring a car to explore the island fully. Having a car gives you the freedom to discover hidden gems like Lanikai Beach, the local farmers' markets, or the vibrant food trucks along the highways. O‘ahu has so much to offer, and Aulani is a perfect base for these adventures.

This resort is beautiful but still, overall, a disappointment. Our initial impression was negative. We were tired from our flights and lugged our suitcases, etc. in the front entrance to find check-in. (I thought check-in is normally near the front entrance so I was not expecting a treasure hunt for...

This resort is beautiful but still, overall, a disappointment. Our initial impression was negative. We were tired from our flights and lugged our suitcases, etc. in the front entrance to find check-in. (I thought check-in is normally near the front entrance so I was not expecting a treasure hunt for check-in with our bags.) There were no signs telling us where check-in is. Employees were too busy talking to each other or on their phones to help. We went the wrong way initially until we found someone to ask. Apparently, my significant other’s complaint to the check-in cast member (Marley) about the lack of signage violated her ‘safe space.’ After belittling and literally making fun of him (she mocked his complaint and, while literally laughing, said - ‘oh no - now your whole vacation is ruined because there was no sign to check-in’) she said that she refused to check us in and we had to wait for a manager. The manager, Kalei, said that there is no sign because they wanted cast members to assist guests to check-in. Ok - well that was a fail too because they didn’t. Then she said that as a courtesy, she would get us in to a class for Sat that was otherwise full. We didn’t receive confirmation of the class like she said we would - so I’m adding a star on the off chance she is going to keep her word. I’ll change that if she was not truthful. Communication about everything from the location of ice machines to laundry procedures is lacking. This leads to just enough confusion and wasted time to really piss a person off. Imagine, you get to the laundry room to do a load of laundry as a DVC member and there’s a sign saying that you either have to pay for laundry tokens (which is supposed to be included for DVC) or go to the front desk, with your dirty laundry, to pick up tokens. They are super cheap with the tokens at the front desk and don’t allow enough for a full washer and dryer load. Tip: get tokens every day so that you’ll have enough to do your laundry after a few days. Or you can just pay extra for something that’s supposed to be included which seems to be par for the course here. When we got to our room, it was dirty and the trash from the previous occupant was still in the bin. There were also things still in the drawers from the previous occupant. Fine. We learned not to bring anything to the attention of management because they will take it out on you later and talk negatively about guests in private, The whole resort pretty much shuts down at 6pm so it’s no wonder that others report every minute of the daytime is chaotic. Food choices are slim. The location of the resort is terrible if you want to do anything off property. Since the on property vibe is so bad, we did tours, etc. off property and not through Disney. Literally everything you want to see is at least an hour’s drive each way or more in heavy traffic. Our tour was 100% great and the no -Disney Luau was outstanding, but we were wishing we’d stayed at the Holiday Inn Waikiki for the Hawaii experience. It might be worth the poor location if the vibe were positive. Because of the whole undercurrent of the staff seemingly going out of their way to be passive aggressive, I don’t want to come back and I don’t think it’s worth it. We need to change rooms on Saturday (check out by 11 and I’m sure our next room won’t be ready before 3) and we are just waiting to see what fresh hell the resort staff can think up for us and our stuff.