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Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa Review


Hawaii is such a wonderful place to to visit and relax. Combine that with Disney and you will have a magical time. Aulani is located in Ko Olina and is part of the area where all the man-made lagoons are located. Oahu can be quite busy with traffic almost everyday, and Ko Olina feels like you are away and in paradise.

Aulani is located about 30-45 minutes from the airport. Once you arrive, you can take a shuttle or rent a car from the airport to the resort. We did the latter because we wanted to stop at our favorite places to eat along the way. You truly don't need to leave the resort at all to have a good time. We rented a car mainly to get food and to visit family.
When we arrived, we chose to valet our car for $40/night because it was the same price as self-parking. The convenience of it was worth it. As you walk into the lobby, you are greeted with a lei which is a symbol of aloha. The combination of the smell of the lobby and the ocean was very relaxing.
Checking in was easy and efficient. They showed us all the amenities including the pools, fitness room and the various restaurants we could visit. The hotel lobby was beautiful. I loved how it preserved the Hawaiian culture by having artifacts displayed around the hotel.
Our room was spacious for the two of us. We had a king bed and the sofa was also a sofa bed. I enjoyed looking at all the little details surrounding the room. We had a standard view room because I knew we wouldn't spend that much time in the room. They did upgrade us to a partial ocean room which was beautiful.
When we dropped off our bags in the room, we went downstairs to explore the grounds. I have traveled to Aulani in November and July, and July is definitely more crowded than November.  

Many hotels in Hawaii charges resort fees. Aulani does not charge a resort fee and there's a lot of activities that are complimentary such as character meet and greets, live music, dancing and so much more. The pools were incredible. Aulani has 3 pools, 2 splash pads, and 3 hot tubs (one that was reserved just for adults). There is also a 900 feet lazy river and two water slides. In November, the pools were on the cooler side but it was still refreshing.
The lagoon is a perfect place for paddle boarding or to wade in the ocean. Since it's a man-made lagoon, there aren't many waves so it's perfect for small children.
 
The resort also offers complimentary activities like ukulele lessons for the family, hula lessons and so much more. There are also paid activities like making your own Mickey ears that you need to reserve when you check in. The resort offers a kids club called Aunty's Beach House. You do have preregister your children and reserve activities in advance.

Aulani's dining choices are actually really delicious. It is on the more expensive side but it is worth it. There is quick service dining available, as well as table service. There are also many restaurants across the street. You really don't have to leave the resort since it has almost everything you need.
 
We loved our stay at Aulani and will love to stay here in the future with my boys. There is really so many activities for you and your family to do.
To get the most out of your stay at Aulani, make sure you book your stay as early as possible. If there are any promotions, you can apply it to your vacation, if applicable. If you book with a Kingdom Konsultant agent, we will automatically make the adjustment if it applies to your vacation.

Planning a vacation to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa? We are here to help! Contact your Kingdom Konsultant travel professional or submit a request form for a free quote today.

We Want to Hear From You

Have you visited Aulani? Is it a vacation to Aulani on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments.


Elisa Mendoza loves helping others create magical memories with their family and friends. You can email Elisa at elisa@kingdomkonsultant.com.
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Location: 92-1185 Aliinui Dr, Kapolei, HI 96707, USA

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