Aulani, A Disney Resort And Spa

Absolutely fantastic stay. The deluxe studio and the 2 bedroom villa were clean and very comfortable. The entire resort is beautiful. The staff are incredibly nice. Doesn't matter on the department. They were all very kind, helpful, took great initiative to go above and beyond and overall....exceeded our expectations. There are "adults only" areas such as a pool with a bar close to the pool and seating area and whirlpool overlooking the ocean and beach. There are great activities for families and they look like they were having a blast. This trip was for adults only for us and we loved it. The lazy river is fantastic! It really worked out great after I broke my foot a month before we were going. I was able to use a float and the other foot to guide me, when needed. I highly recommend and we plan on going back every couple of years. If we lived closer, we would be there at least every year. It was evident that people who frequent the resort, including staff, don't have visitors from Maine that often. Every time we were asked where we were from, they were all shocked. It's not an easy haul to get there.

Please explore the island this place wasn’t it! I went with my kids so they loved it but I felt like I was on the game show “survivor” because in order to get a decent seat by the pool, you had to be out there in your chair at seven in the morning! Yes, I did go around the holidays so that might have been a contributing factor, but the people are so rude and the food is not great. We ended up exploring the island with our rental car, which saved us in the end because the resort was really disappointing. The room service was spotty and there isn’t much going on around the hotel apart from a few restaurants and one Starbucks.

We loved this property. Aesthetically this hotel is what you expect of the Disney brand. We thought it blended Disney and Hawaiian culture seamlessly. From the moment you arrive at the wonderful valet and you enter the open air lobby and slowly walk across the lobby floor to the open air balcony overlooking the pool area you realize they did this right. The property is gorgeous. There are trees and plants everywhere creating a Polynesian feel throughout the pool area. The lazy river winds through the lush grounds like you are on some ancient tropical river, with hidden water slides dotting the landscape. Past the pool area onto the beach the man-made Cove is absolutely stunning. The water is blue and clear and creates a perfect setting for the focal point of this property. As you make your way around the walking path, you’ll come to a point behind the cove of water where you realize wow Disney really created a very magical place just outside a bustling city. Our experience with the staff was good. It wasn’t exactly what you would expect from a luxury hotel. There were a few snafus along the way, but overall the staff were very good especially considering the throngs of people they have to deal with on a daily basis. We ate at most of the restaurants and honestly the food was really darn good. On all of our vacations we do venture out and try a variety of restaurants. We ate at a bunch in Ko Olina and the food everywhere was excellent. But we were very impressed by the food at the Disney resort. Each morning we would have breakfast at the café. We would order it when finishing the gym. It would be ready right when the app said it would and the food was delicious. We attended the luau on New Year’s Eve. Although it is an expensive endeavor especially for a family of our size it was a tremendous experience. The show itself is amazing and for a buffet the food was really good. Our entire family had an absolutely wonderful time. We were booked into partial Ocean view rooms. We stayed at the property over my wife’s birthday, my birthday and New Year’s Eve. It’s obviously an expensive time to travel anywhere. We spent a whole lot of money on 4 rooms and each of them had a terrible view, considering the cost. When we all complained to the front desk and concierge, there wasn’t much they could do for us, considering the property was at capacity. So when you book do your research and get the room with the view that you really want. Whats shocking is when you view the property from the beach and you see how many rooms there are you realize to get a bad view you have to really have pretty poor luck like we did. It seems most of the rooms at least had a view of the pool and many had views of the ocean. There was only one side of the hotel that is pretty poor where they claim you have a partial ocean view, but you’re really just staring at the back of the four seasons. From what we were told about the resort, most of it is villas or timeshare units. It seemed most of the premium views on the property were not considered hotel rooms. They were the villas or timeshare units through Disney vacation club. So book accordingly. Also, this property is huge. I was told around 1000 rooms. You have to bring your patience. There were times we were so delighted to be off property because it was so unbelievably crowded. The pools were packed, the beach was packed and pretty much everywhere you went there were just a whole lot of people. So you have to be prepared for that. And lastly, this is just a tip for improvement at the hotel. They need more water stations. We’ve stayed at many Hawaiian properties and each and every one of them provide you a logo reusable water bottle where you fill up throughout the property. Most of these properties have water stations everywhere. At Disney, for some reason they didn’t. The water stations were very difficult to find. Many of the ones we had to rely on we’re actually in the restaurants and you’re filling up water from a soda machine. I think it’s very apparent Disney is trying to be environmentally conscious which is similar to every top hotel in Hawaii that we’ve stayed. They did a great job with this, but I think they really could improve the experience pretty easily. For the price you’re paying for these rooms they should include a reusable water bottle and put up a few more stations around the resort! Overall we loved the property. As I stated above, aesthetically, it is such a sublime hotel. In the evenings when it seems a little less crowded or in the early mornings, it’s such a beautiful property to walk around and just kinda get lost in its environment. You do have to come prepared for the crowds though. We would without a doubt come back and try another stay at the Aulani, but we would probably be a little bit more diligent about the room we booked because I tell you if we had a beautiful view from our room the whole experience for our entire family would’ve changed!

Great resort lots of kids Disney atmosphere great facilities many pools

Its Disneyland in Hawaii....Lots of family amenities and options to choose, including pool choices. Away from the touristy crowded, waikiki or honolulu. Just do not come here if you don't have children to enjoy it with. They have adult only choices, but not enough or as much as what they offer to young families. The beach is amazing and is a protected bay. Be prepared to shell out some "mula"!!! $$$$

This was our third time staying at Aulani. We are DVC members and used points to book a 2 BR lockoff ocean view villa. The resort was beautiful as usual, and our room was clean. We were there right after New Years, so it started out extremely crowded and slightly tapered off as the days went by. Aulani is always full of families and small children, and the pool chair competition is fierce no matter when you go. Very few seats open up during the day so if you don’t get out there early, you will likely be out of luck. At times, the pools were extremely full, and we counted as many as 30 people (yes, 30!) in the hot tub by the infinity pool at one point. If you want a relaxing time at the pool, I would not recommend Aulani. Staff was always welcoming and friendly! Food is expensive but decent. Loved the malasadas at The Olelo Room. Unfortunately, our stay was marred by a serious safety issue. We were trapped in an elevator on the 11th floor for 55 minutes after a brief power outage, which was extremely stressful. During that time, we were told via the operator on the emergency line in the elevator that they were waiting for the elevator technician to arrive (none of us had cell service). Aulani security showed up to communicate with us through the elevator doors to make sure we didn’t have any emergencies (there were 11 of us trapped, including two young children). There was no A/C in the elevator, so as time went on, it got very hot but luckily no one had a medical event while trapped. What was most disappointing was the resort’s response afterward. We went down to speak with the manager later that evening, who offered an explanation (power went out) and then nothing beyond a brief verbal apology. Even Monkeypod (where we were a little late getting to our dinner reservation due to this incident) gave us free food after we told our waitress what had happened. How a resort handles issues like these matters; especially a resort that prides itself on guest satisfaction and service. I got the impression that elevator issues happen frequently there (this isn't the first time at Aulani that we have questioned elevator safety and function) and that they were hesitant to admit to any responsibility of us being trapped for so long. We love Disney but the next time we come to Ko Olina we may try out one of the other resorts.

Our family just returned from an unforgettable stay at Disney’s Aulani Resort, and we cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience. Traveling with our son, it meant everything to find a place that truly felt magical for the whole family and Aulani exceeded every expectation. The luau was absolutely amazing beautifully done, engaging, and such a special way to experience Hawaiian culture. The pools and water slides were a huge hit for all of us, offering the perfect mix of fun and relaxation. Seeing Disney characters throughout the resort brought so much joy to our son and made the experience feel truly magical. What stood out most, though, was the exceptional staff. We accidentally forgot our son’s baby blanket—the one he sleeps with every night—and understandably panicked. The lost and found and housekeeping teams were absolutely incredible. Their communication was clear, kind, and prompt, and they worked efficiently to locate the blanket and send it back to us. We are beyond grateful for their care and compassion during a stressful moment. Aulani is more than just a resort—it’s an experience filled with heart, magic, and outstanding service. We are so thankful for the memories made and cannot wait to return. 💙✨

Stayed 8 nights in December, split stay. 6 in an island garden room, Ewa tower, 2 bedroom and then two nights in a standard one bedroom in the Ewa tower. We are DVC owners. Just love this place. But if you don’t like crowds/kids this might not be the place for you. Relatively secluded in a glorious part of Oahu. We didn’t experience any of the deck chair rage you get. But the front row seats and seats that face the ocean are claimed all day. There are signs saying you have to occupy them. It must be a minefield for staff policing them. It’s survival of the fittest out there. We just went out on the beach or wherever we could find a seat. I like the heated pool that is over 18 only. They do need two of them though. It gets very crowded around sunset. But just have some tips re staying there… Don’t go in the school holidays… Need to watch when you go. It rained for 3 days very heavily on our last few days in mid December. Probably not possible to avoid rain entirely in Hawaii... Do your research on this. Room location I like the Ewa tower, ground floor as it looks over the luau and you get a free show from your room (usually $170 pp). These are Island garden rooms. I wouldn’t stay in 160 again. My bedroom was very dark due to the trees and I had the lights on all day and all night. A lot of the higher point rooms are also affected by trees growing in front of them. The island garden rooms are the best value for the luau. If you go for the standard room the Ewa short or lobby wings are good. They overlook the conference centre (see my attached photos for the view) but floors 3 to 5 would be fine. We stayed in a one bedroom standard for a couple of nights on level 5. Search up aulani visual room finder to get an idea of the room categories. I usually also download a map of aulani and then send a room request to member services. Transport I would hire a car next time if at Aulani, (even though we don’t drive on that side of the road 😲 so would be a leap of faith). I was going to hire an Enterprise rental car as they have an office onsite at Aulani. Only open 8-1pm for pick up. It was about $75 a day but if you book through Costco you get free additional drivers. If you are prepared to catch an uber I saw some rental car companies quoting $39 a day. You can book a free shopping mall shuttle to get down to the local Kamakanaalii outdoor shopping mall and there’s a Foodland Farms grocery store is there. It’s about a 15 minute drive. The shuttle is part of the shopping mall service and you book online. Concierge has the times on a flyer. There's a small Macys, Cheesecake Factory etc. For uber search for Macy’s Kapolei. There’s a Hampton Inn at that shopping centre too. If I didn’t have enough points or wanted to stay for a couple of nights nearby I think I’d try that hotel. (it’s not that cheap either though…) Food Options The walk way around the lagoons is just glorious, especially in the mornings. Sunsets are beautiful too, from the adult heated pool. I enjoyed Longhis cafe at the Marriott for breakfast, to be honest although Off the Hook at Aulani is good for the ribs. Yum. We were going to try Four Seasons next door for buffet breakfast on our last day but ran out of time. Not cheap, $59++. Looked good though if you take your time there... Monkeypod restaurant over the road is good but just as expensive as inside Aulani There’s a fabulous restaurant called Mahi'ai Table next to Foodland Farms grocery store, Kapolei (nb its the Foodland Farms near the Kamakanaalii Mall, NOT the Foodlands branch closer by at the local stripmall. We got an uber to the wrong Foodlands Farms one time). They have happy hour from 2-6pm every day and the food is really good and won’t bankrupt you. We booked the shuttle there and back one day! The abc convenience store across the road from Aulani is ok, expensive though. Apparently the Roys restaurant at the Koolina golf club across the road also has happy hour but not sure of the details as didn’t make it there. In summary I think since I’ve been there 4x, I would save my DVC points and try and stay in a standard room. Also I would rent a car and get food offsite at Foodland Farms or Target/Walmart.

We went to the spa for the day and had an incredible time. I can't wait to go back. We arrived at the valet and they were super kind about free valet for spa services and super helpful to direct us where to go. the spa was super personalized with a great tour and the facials and massage were incredible. So many pools and quiet rooms to try out in the garden area and inside. Wonderful assortment of snacks and drinks. Prices seemed very good for the quality of the experience.

We had a terrible time at the hotel. After four days at the four seasons, which is amazing we came here for one night. The two can’t even be compared. At the Disney resort, be prepared to queue for towels, queue to drop your kids off at the kids club, queue to pick them up at the kids club, queue to check in. I thought that I had booked a pair of queen beds, but it turned out that was apparently just classified as a request, so we ended up with the sofa bed and the king. This meant that we spent the night paying $1000 for a brown nylon blanket as the sofa bed doesn’t even come with proper linens. The staff are all very nice, but unfortunately the hotel is a massive miss for us, a classic Disney situation where they rip you off at every avenue. I also didn’t enjoy the fact that around the pool families are just Bringing in packets of chips, cool boxes etc. I do understand why because it’s overpriced rubbish in the restaurants but at the same time, the atmosphere isn’t good. The hot tubs are absolutely full, you can’t make your way through the sunbeds because they pack them like sardines. Also, didn’t spot a single character in the whole time we were there. Would highly recommend avoiding this hotel at all costs.