Is Disney’s Aulani Resort worth it? Here’s what to know

I should preface this story by saying I have spent my entire life going to Disney parks — not just the Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts, but the company’s destinations around the world. In total, I estimate that I’ve spent about 500 days of my life inside Disney parks to this point. But, for one reason or another, I had put off visiting the Aulani resort, Disney’s Hawaii property, until now.

On a recent adults-only trip to the 50th state, I quickly discovered that the Aulani Disney resort is a place where the company really flexes its hospitality muscles. Aulani embodies a refined elegance I haven’t seen equaled at any mainland Disney resort hotel. The intangible feeling of “magic” that the brand prides itself on is still there but it’s shrouded in luxury here. At the end of my four-day visit, I was already plotting my return.

Before you decide if booking a stay is right for you, keep reading for a full guide to Disney’s Aulani resort in Hawaii, including answers to some of the most common questions about it.

Aulani is on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, in a resort community known as Ko Olina in the planned community of Kapolei. Compared to Waikiki Beach, this is a much quieter part of the island. Here, there are just a handful of oceanside resorts, with plenty of space between them. Out-of-state guests visiting Aulani will fly into Honolulu International Airport. From there, it’s around a 35-minute drive to the resort. You can opt to book a car service, rent a car or use a ride-hailing app for the trip.

Standard rooms start around $600 per night on average, but Aulani offers specials throughout the year. Check Aulani’s special offers page to see any current deals, which often include deals in the fall and winter seasons. Rooms range from standard studios (which feature almost the exact same setup as those you’ll find at Disneyland or Disney World), to multi-bedroom villas. So, if you’re used to staying on-property at Disney, you’ll feel right at home here.

Aulani is part of the Disney Vacation Club (DVC) family of properties — something like a timeshare program, where members use points they’ve accumulated to book rooms at Disney hotels around the world — but you don’t need to be a DVC member to stay here. In addition to accepting DVC points, cash reservations can also be booked.

The theming at the Aulani Disney resort draws upon local inspirations, rather than the company’s pop culture fantasies. Disney says its Hawaiian resort was designed by Disney Imagineers in tandem with cultural experts and local artisans to accurately depict and celebrate the state’s culture, according to Disney. From the inclusion of native Hawaiian plants around the property to a wall designed with photography taken by local school children, the result is something that doesn’t feel like a typical Disney-fied vacation.

I also met fifth-generation lei-making sisters from the Big Island who created the leis at the resort’s waterfront restaurant, Ama Ama. 

Undoubtedly, the main draw for many Aulani guests will be the resort’s location, directly on Oahu’s white sandy beaches. While I love the ocean and the resort’s semi-private beach, I surprised myself by speding most of my time at Aulani exploring the expansive pool complex, which includes slides, a lazy river, multiple pools, hot tubs and ample seating. The pools themselves seem like pieces of art, with intricate water creatures carved into the stonework. There are also infinity pools overlooking the ocean, which offer a perfect view of the sunset. The entire complex is reserved exclusively for guests of the resort, meaning you can’t swim at Aulani’s pools if you’re staying elsewhere on Oahu.
 
The resort’s spa, Laniwai, is a high-end experience that houses a private hydrotherapy garden and offers massages that Disney says use a traditional Hawaiian technique. If you’re traveling with the family, you can leave kids ages 4-12 at Aunty’s Beach House, where they can hang out and play for an hour and a half at a time (pre-registration is required; some activities, and longer stays, require a fee). There are also movie nights and pool parties in addition to dozens of other activities, like a class on making your own Mickey Mouse ears. 
 
Perhaps the most exciting draw for true lovers of the Disney experience are the reosrt-exclusive Disney characters at Aulani that you can’t meet at Disneyland or Walt Disney World. In addition to Mickey and Minnie, you’ll find Duffy the Disney bear and his friends, characters exclusive to Aulani and Disney’s overseas parks. There’s even exclusive merchandise featuring these characters that can only be found here, making shopping at the resort a good time for collectors.

As something of a Disney dining connoisseur, I have high standards at the company’s restaurants and found the dining options at Aulani to be some of best I’ve had at any Disney property. There’s a wide range of restaurant types, from casual to fine dining. Even the poolside quick-service location, Ulu Cafe, wowed me with Portuguese sausage flat breads and pastries.

Ama Ama serves as the pinnacle of fine dining at the Aulani Disney resort. It’s an open-air, oceanside restaurant with picturesque views that turn stunning at sunset. The four-course tasting menu highlights locally sourced ingredients with an optional wine pairing (there’s also a plant-based version of the menu). After a drink from the cocktail menu, head over to the aforementioned Olelo Room, which features live entertainment under the stars and makes a great evening hangout.

Another dining highlight at Aulani resort is Off the Hook, open morning, noon and night. The vibe of this poolside, open-air eatery is casual, but the food is flavorful and well executed. I found that the mai tais here were the best I had not only on the property but on the entire island of Oahu during my trip.

And just because Aulani is an ocean away from the nearest Disney theme park doesn’t mean you won’t find character dining. Makahiki, open for breakfast and dinner, hosts a refined character breakfast. The meal begins with a private photo with Mickey, dressed in his Aulani outfit, before you’re served a plated, multi-course meal that includes the resort’s signature macadamia nut pancakes. The whole meal happens next to a beautiful koi pond.

You’ll also find signature Disney treats, like Dole whip and Mickey waffles, at the resort, alongside Hawaiian snacks, like Spam musubi and shave ice (served in the shape of Mickey’s head, of course), and coconut shrimp. Overall, Aulani offers a blend of Hawaiian inspired bites and familiar favorites.

Aulani does host a luau and it’s widely acclaimed by travelers. Ka Waa is an entire Polynesian experience that begins well before the feast with a variety of activities, including ukulele lessons. An open bar of mai tais and other cocktails flow, accompanied by a buffet of Hawaiian fare served alongside classic kid-friendly dishes like chicken fingers. The evening culminates in a live show that includes musicians, fire dancers and other performers. Mickey and friends make a brief appearance, but Aulani’s luau is kept largely to a traditional performance.

Aulani is directly next door to a Four Seasons resort, which includes restaurants open to the public. Across from Aulani and just a short walk away is a shopping and dining complex home to an ABC Market, suitable for picking up reasonably priced souvenirs, sunscreen, snacks and beverages.

There’s also a location of the Hawaiian favorite Monkeypod Kitchen, known for its mai tais and farm-to-table bites. Monkeypod Kitchen runs a daily happy hour that’s very popular and is a great way to pinch a few bucks if you’re looking to leave the Aulani property for a meal.

If you appreciate Disney’s style of storytelling, and are generally impressed with the company’s hospitality and cuisine, then Aulani is absolutely worth considering for your next Hawaii trip. All the cornerstones of a stateside Disney vacation can be found here — except for the rides — but there’s far less Mickey in your face. Rather than having the centerpiece of your visit be marathon days at a theme park, lounging by the water with a mai tai or attending the Ka Waa luau will be your top priorities, which really changes the pacing you’re probably used to.

Aulani showed me a level of luxury that I’m frankly still searching for at a mainland Disney resort.

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This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected].