Last November, I was lucky enough to travel to Oahu for the first time and stay at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. I absolutely fell in love with this resort, the island, and its people.
Upon arrival at the resort, guests are greeted with a fresh floral lei for the women and kukui nut beaded necklaces for the men. They serve refreshing flavored water in the lobby as well. The lobby and guests services area, Maka’ala, is centrally located between the two towers- Wai’anae and Ewa. It is home to the largest contemporary Hawaiian art collection in the world.
There are numerous room categories and a variety of accommodations at Aulani. We stayed in a Partial Ocean View standard room in the Wai’anae Tower which is also where the Laniwai Spa is located. We loved our view! Down below is the Kula Wai: Outdoor Therapy Garden and the adults only pool, Wailana Pool.
Our room included 2 queen beds that will accommodate up to 4 adults, a small refrigerator, a large dresser, and a walkout balcony. Other amenities included:
- Flat-panel TV
- In-room safe (laptop-sized)
- Wireless Internet access
- Blu-ray Disc player
- Iron and ironing board
- Pack ‘n’ Play Playard
- Private porch or balcony
- iHome with charger dock
- Ceiling fan
Bathroom amenities included a standard tub/shower combo with rain head, a pair of robes, travel sized shampoo, conditioner, bath gel, bath soap, facial soap, and lotion.
- Bed rails
- Bottle warmer
- Outlet covers
- Diaper disposal system
- High chair
The resort itself is modeled after the Hawaiian village concept with the rooms at the top and the edges and the valley in the middle. The Waikolohe Valley is where you will find all of the pools and water activities.
The Menehune Bridge and Keiki Cove Splash Zone are perfect play spots for little ones to safely splash and interact in the water.
There are numerous pools including the Ka Maka Grotto, Waikolohe Pool which is the main activities pool, and the Wailana Pool which is the adults only section.
Also found in the Waikolohe Valley are two water slides- Volcanic Vertical, the thrilling tunnel body slide, and Tubestone Curl, an open-air, twisting and turning tube slide that eventually launches you into Waikolohe Stream. The Waikolohe Stream is also where you can enjoy the lazy river. FUN FACT- the pools are heated year-round to 82-86 degree Fahrenheit using the heat generated by the HVAC units at Aulani Resort. How cool!
The beach at Aulani is beautiful. Aulani is located in the Ko Olina area of Oahu which is on the southwestern side of the island. There are 4 lagoons located in Ko Olina that are connected by peaceful walking paths, Aulani is located on the first lagoon. Beach chairs and umbrellas are complimentary for Aulani Resort Guests. Make sure to stop by Makiki Joe’s for beach equipment rentals.
If you are looking to take a break from the water, make sure to stop by the Pau Hana Room. This community hall is located on the first floor of the Ewa tower across from the Waikolohe Valley pool area. The Pau Hana room offers a plethora of activities to choose from including board games, arts & crafts, books, DVD rentals, including Disney family movies, and instructions and equipment for the Menehune Adventure Trail scavenger hunt game. They also offer activities such as ukulele lessons and painting parties.
Another amazing destination at Aulani is just for kids. Aunty’s Beach House is Aulani’s complimentary Kids Club that is available for guests ages 3-12. This state of the art facility offers just about anything a child could want from arts and crafts, Xbox video game systems, Disney movies shown in the movie room, dress up clothes and a stage to perform on, and an enclosed and secure backyard with play structures. There is a secure check-in/check-out process to give parents peace of mind.
While your children are enjoying all that Aunty’s Beach House has to offer, you can escape to the Laniwai Spa for some ultimate pampering. I was blown away by Laniwai Spa. It was absolutely beautiful and the attention to detail was so thoughtful. The entire experience is intentional from the moment you arrive through the end of your treatment. They offer numerous spa therapies to choose from and reservations are strongly encouraged.
For us, vacation also means letting ourselves enjoy decadent food and beverages and Aulani did not disappoint in this category. ‘Ama’Ama and Makahiki are both fantastic table service restaurants, with Makahiki offering character dining. Off the Hook and Ulu Cafe are great quick service options and there are numerous snack kiosks throughout the property. You can also order poolside. The ‘Olelo Room is a beautiful lounge inspired by the Hawaiian language that serves cocktails, appetizers and live entertainment in the evenings.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, Aulani also offers an endless amount of entertainment and activities from character meet and greets, movies on the lawn, KA WA‘A – A Lū‘au at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, sunrise yoga, and so much more. Aulani also offers on-site car rentals if you would like to check out more of what the island of Oahu has to offer.
I hope you enjoyed exploring Aulani with me. We truly had the best vacation and are already planning our return to this amazing resort next year! I would love to help your family plan your Hawaiian vacation as well. Email me at s.parr@keytotheworldtravel or fill out the form below to get started.
Are you ready to visit Aulani for yourself? Let’s book your next adventure today! As a travel planner with the official travel partner of Chip and Company, Key to the World Travel (An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner), I can help with all of your vacation needs. I specialize in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani, Adventures by Disney, Universal Orlando and so much more! Best of all my services are absolutely FREE! Send me an email at s.parr@keytotheworldtravel.com or fill out and submit the form below to receive a free no obligation quote. Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram!
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