Disney Has a Resort in Hawaii — and It's Just As Magical As You'd Expect

In August 2011, Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, opened in the resort community of Ko Olina on the southwestern shore of Oahu. As a longtime Disney fan and Travel + Leisure’s resident theme park expert, I’ve been curious about this Hawaiian resort; after all, what would it be like to stay at a Disney resort without rushing off to theme parks each morning and seeing the fireworks every night? I found my answer during a family trip to Aulani this February. 

Upon arrival, I spoke to Kama Hopkins, Aulani’s Hawaiian cultural advisor, about the relationship between Disney and Hawaiian culture, and he pointed out one fundamental commonality: “Both are storytellers. Disney is one of the most well-known storytellers there is. But for us, in Polynesia and through the Pacific, we like to say that we were people who didn’t have any written language, so we had to tell stories. We come from storytellers.” 

At Aulani, storytelling is integrated into every design aspect, with thoughtfully created touchpoints for visitors to engage with Hawaiian history and culture. The resort has one of the world’s largest collections of contemporary Hawaiian art; a lounge celebrates ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, or the Hawaiian language; and architectural details, big and small, highlight the history and modern culture.

Immediately upon entering the lobby, guests are greeted with a 360-degree mural that depicts Hawaiian history from ancient to modern times and soaring archways that mimic the design of traditional Hawaiian canoes. The layout of the entire resort is inspired by the ahupuaʻa division of land that typically stretches from the mountains to the ocean, illustrated in water features, landscaping, rock work, and design as you walk from the lobby to the beach. Programming for all ages provides more ways to engage with the local culture; I spoke to youth activities manager Kanoa Kawai, who described the host of Hawaiian language-focused crafts and activities they offered for Hawaiian Language Month (February). “At least if they learn anything, they learn about aloha. They know how to share aloha and love with their family and friends,” said Kawai.

Of course, you can find Mickey and pals (plus some rare characters typically only found at the Asian Disney parks) at character meals and meet-and-greets, Disney music, and Minnie Mouse ears throughout the property, too. Aulani is genuinely packed with fun things to do for all ages, though it’s particularly great for families with young children, and we felt that after three nights, we’d barely scratched the surface of all there is to do and see within the resort. 

Here’s our review of Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii.

The Rooms

At Aulani, accommodations are split into two general categories: traditional hotel-style rooms and suites and Disney Vacation Club villas. Hotel-style accommodations include standard two-queen or king rooms and one- and two-bedroom suites. Most of the resort’s accommodations are Disney Vacation Club villas, but don’t worry — you don’t have to be a member to book these rooms (more on that membership program below). One-, two-, and three-bedroom villas include separate bedrooms, full kitchens and dining areas, and a washer and dryer for home-like conveniences, while deluxe studios offer a more traditional hotel feel. We stayed in a one-bedroom villa, and we loved having more than 750 square feet to spread out, a full-size fridge to keep leftovers and snacks in, and a washer and dryer to do some laundry. 

No matter what type of room you stay in, you can expect thoughtful, island-inspired designs with natural materials and Hawaiian art and decor. Like the rest of the property, you can find adorable Disney touches throughout the rooms — like a wooden ukelele-playing Mickey lamp — but the design focuses primarily on Hawaiian influences and the natural beauty of the area rather than the cartoon characters you’d find at many Disney theme park hotels. I highly recommend booking an oceanview room with a balcony (request a high floor if you can!) to enjoy the gorgeous nightly sunsets from your room. 

Related: 13 Best Family Resorts in Hawaii, According to Parents and Travel Experts

Food and Drink

Aulani’s dining experiences range from multi-course dinners with sunset ocean views to quick-service Hawaiian poke. And Disney parks fans, take note: you can get the ever-popular Mickey waffles for breakfast at multiple locations, too. AMA‘AMA is an upscale open-air restaurant with a thatched roof and stunning sunset views, offering a four-course prix-fixe dinner featuring Hawaiian flavors and local ingredients. An optional wine pairing is also available. Makahiki is a lively restaurant themed to the Hawaiian celebration of the harvest, and it serves daily character breakfast with a prix-fixe menu featuring tasty dishes, including malasadas (Portuguese sugar donuts), kālua pig omelets, and pancakes with macadamia nut-vanilla sauce.

For dinner (sans characters), guests can pick from fresh salads, steaks, pasta, seafood, and more during a prix-fixe three-course meal. For a more casual dining experience, guests can stop by Off the Hook for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; I loved the ahi poke and crab cake BLT for a tasty poolside bite. The ‘Ōlelo Room serves up coffee and malasadas in the morning and transitions to a cocktail and sushi bar by night in a space that celebrates the Hawaiian language. 

Ulu Cafe is a fast-casual spot for all-day dining and snacks; it’s the perfect spot to grab an acai bowl for breakfast, a poke bowl for lunch (I had both the classic and spicy tuna bowls multiple times, and they were delicious), and other grab-and-go items throughout the day. Ulu Cafe is also where you’ll find one of Aulani’s most sought-after snacks: the Mickey-shaped spam musubi. These sell out quickly, so grab one when you see it if you want to try one of the resort’s most popular snacks. (They even make Mickey musubi merch, available at the hotel’s gift shop.) Mama’s Snack Stop is another quick service stand serving classic poolside eats like chicken tenders and coconut shrimp. 

And you can’t visit Aulani without getting the iconic Mickey-shaped shave ice from Pāpālua Shave Ice or a fresh fruit Dole Whip sundae with watermelon or pineapple from Little ‘Opihi's by the beach. 

All these delicious things considered, the resort’s best dining experience isn’t found at a restaurant. The KA WA‘A lū‘au is a must-do when you visit Aulani. The three-hour experience includes pre-show demonstrations, where you can learn about taro pounding, ukulele playing, traditional tattoos, and more, followed by a buffet dinner featuring tasty seafood, prime rib, and plenty of macaroni salad. The lū‘au performance is truly incredible, with singing, dancing, and storytelling all about Hawaiian culture and history. While Mickey and Minnie make an appearance, the lū‘au is centered around the incredible beauty of the culture and the people.

Activities and Experiences

As a Disney resort, Aulani offers a slate of character-centric activities for all ages. Character meet-and-greets allow guests to snap photos with favorites like Mickey, Minnie, Moana, Stitch, and the much rarer Duffy and friends, typically only found at the Disney theme parks in Asia.

Guests can make their own floral ears (for a fee), shop for Aulani-exclusive Disney merchandise, and splash around during pool parties with characters like Goofy and Max. The resort has several pools, ranging from infinity-edge grotto pools overlooking the ocean to zero-entry family-friendly pools and a water play structure that little ones will love. The massive pool complex also has two larger waterslides, a lazy river, and adults-only hot tubs. Of course, there’s also the beautiful, protected beach and lagoon with complimentary loungers; guests can also paddleboard out on the water for an additional fee.

The Rainbow Reef is another must-do when you visit; the human-made saltwater lagoon is home to around 1,000 vibrant fish, so it’s the perfect spot for even first-time snorkelers to check out the colorful marine life below the surface. You can purchase single-day or entire vacation passes or even book a scuba diving or fish-feeding experience in the reef. 

You can also book excursions that depart from the resort; we booked the sailing canoe experience with Hawaiian Ocean Adventures. It leaves right from the Aulani beach, and it was a beautiful way to explore part of the coastline while learning more about Hawaiian culture and nature from the fantastic guides. End the day with storytelling around the fire pit or stargazing to learn how Hawaiians used the night sky for navigation. 

Throughout your stay, check out the Aulani app to see what free activities are available each day; you’ll also see which require a fee and how much they cost. 

The Spa 

I’ve visited some exceptional spas throughout my travels, but I didn’t expect to find one of the best at a Disney resort.

The Laniwai ritual begins the moment you enter the spa; before you’re shown to the relaxation areas, you select a stone at random from a bucket, and on it, you’ll find a word (mine was “balance”) in both English and Hawaiian that can inspire your time at the spa. After dropping your stone into an indoor reflection pond, you continue into the relaxation areas (dressing rooms and some amenities are separated by gender, but the hydrotherapy garden is co-ed).

Even though you’re just steps from the waterslides and lazy river, Laniwai feels worlds apart, offering a range of body and facial treatments — including signature Hawaiian massages — in a serene setting. Apart from my fantastic lomilomi massage, the outdoor hydrotherapy garden was my favorite part of the experience, and I could have spent hours hopping between the cold plunge and hot tub, walking along the reflexology path, relaxing in the soaking pools, and testing each of the six rain-style showers. And the relaxation doesn’t have to end when your treatment is over; at checkout, I received a sachet of balance-inspired bath salts so I could take my experience with me (back to my room, where I used them to soak in the giant bathtub later in the trip). 

Family-friendly Offerings

Aulani is packed with family-friendly activities and that inimitable Disney magic that all ages love, making it an excellent destination for small and large families. Several pools, an interactive water play area, two giant water slides, a lazy river, and a private saltwater snorkeling lagoon provide plenty of fun spots to splash around before even reaching the protected beach with crystal-clear water and minimal waves. Where else can kids (and kids-at-heart) grab a Stitch or Moana Dole Whip and dip their toes in the pristine ocean before hanging out with Goofy during a pool party? And, of course, character meals, meet-and-greets, storytelling, and other daily activities provide plenty of fun for the whole crew. 

Little ones ages four to 12 can also hang out at Aunty’s Beach House, a supervised kids club with engaging activities. While many activities are free, premium experiences (including some that include beloved characters like Moana) require an extra charge. Pre-registration and reservations for Aunty’s Beach House can be found on the Aulani website.  

Accessibility

Disney’s theme parks and resorts are accessible to guests with various abilities, and Aulani is no exception. The property is ADA-compliant with accessible rooms and features, including complimentary beach wheelchairs (available on a first-come, first-served basis) and pool access via pool lifts and zero-entry pool areas. Rainbow Reef has a pool lift, so guests who need it can also enjoy this serene snorkeling experience and spot the colorful marine life up close. Sign language interpretation is available by request for the lū‘au. 

Location

Aulani is located in Ko Olina, a resort community on the southwestern shore of Oahu. The resort shares a lagoon and beach area with the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, and it’s close to the Ko Olina Golf Club’s 18-hole course. Aulani is about 30 minutes away from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) by car; rideshare services like Lyft and shuttle and taxi services are available. If you plan to explore the surrounding area, you could rent a car or plan excursions including transportation to and from the hotel. Parking is available for $40 per day, though Disney Vacation Club members receive complimentary self-parking for up to two vehicles. 

Related: 20 Best Things to Do on Oahu

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

As mentioned above, Aulani is a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property. Rather than a traditional timeshare model, DVC allows members to book vacations at any of the 16 DVC properties (including Disney World and Disneyland hotels), sail with Disney Cruise Line, or travel with Adventures by Disney using a points-based system. Members can check the points calendars to determine the best time to visit and maximize their points. Of course, you don’t have to be a member to book a room (traditional guest room or villa) at any DVC resort, including Aulani. DVC members can enjoy exclusive perks during their Aulani stay, including free parking, discounts, and activities. 

Be sure to check out the offers available on the Aulani website to find limited-time deals before you book. Recent offerings have included up 30 percent off extended stays in the spring and fall, up to 30 off select stays for eligible members of the U.S. military, and up to 35 off for Disney Visa cardholders.