From accommodations to activities, here are all the things to know to enjoy your stay at this Disney resort located on Oahu
1. Room choices at Aulani
First let’s start with the accommodations. When making a reservation, you’ll have many choices beyond the standard hotel room. There are rooms, studios, villas, and suites. We’ve tried them all (except for the suites which are fancy and expensive).
Resort rooms
Think of this as your standard hotel room. There are two options: two queen beds or a king bed and a queen sofa sleeper. These rooms sleep up to four people. Other amenities include a refrigerator and coffee maker.
Studios
The studios are similar to the resort rooms. The difference is a queen-sized bed (instead of a king) and a queen sofa sleeper. The studios can sleep up to four adults.
Another difference with these rooms is an expanded kitchenette. Don’t get me wrong, it’s tiny. But it includes a small sink, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, and coffee maker, as well as some glasses, dishes, and utensils.
It’s a bit of a trade off as to whether you prefer having two full beds to a small kitchen. If you’re going to be on property for several days, you may like having the kitchen area. Although small, my family and I were able to toast bagels and microwave macaroni-and-cheese cups. This was convenient as well as cost effective.
Villas
The villas feel like large apartments or, in some cases, small homes. The villas range in size from one to three bedrooms and include a full kitchen and a washer and dryer. The villas are very spacious. The one bedroom sleeps up to five adults, the two bedroom accommodates up to nine adults, and the three bedroom sleeps twelve. In addition to beds in each bedroom, the shared living area has sleeper chairs and/or sofas. Some villas also have pull-down beds.
During one of our visits, we stayed in a two-bedroom villa with six people. There were four adults and two kids, but we never felt cramped. Because this was a multi-generational vacation, not everyone wanted to do the same stuff. We often went our own ways during the day but gathered in the evening in the villa. The large living and dining area allowed us to hang out as a family. Because restaurant food can be expensive at the resort, it also was nice to be able to prepare meals in the kitchen. The in-room laundry facilities meant that we could pack lighter.
Suites
The suites are larger than the villas although the kitchens are smaller. While the villas have full kitchens, the suites have partial kitchens. There are more bathrooms and square footage in the suites. The suites typically accommodate fewer guests than villas. The suites are the most expensive accommodations on the property.
The cost
When booking, you’ll be able to select your view. Ocean views are the most expensive. Garden views often mean a view overlooking the parking garage and surrounding area.
Room rates range depending on the time of year. In general, the range is $400 on the low end to $4,000 on the high end. If you don’t have a specific date in mind, you can find the best rates by viewing the seasonal calendar. It shows the prices over several months.
There’s a lot to do at the resort which means you may not be spending all that much time in your room. Factor that into your decision about what type of accommodation to book.
KidTripster Tip: School breaks can be very busy times of year at Aulani, particularly during the holidays. Flights also are very expensive at this time of year. The resort is more enjoyable when it’s not at full capacity. Cast members tell me that the two weeks right after Thanksgiving are one of the best times to visit the resort.
2. Water activities at Aulani
Let’s talk about what there is to do at Aulani. The most important thing that you need to pack is your swimsuit, because you’ll likely be spending a lot of time in the water on this vacation.
Go swimming
Get ready to make a splash, because there are several pools to dive into. There’s a splash pad for small kids, a play structure for bigger kids, and swimming pools for all ages. There are a couple of different pool areas for families. Our favorite is the infinity pool overlooking the ocean. If your kids are checked in at Aunty’s Beach House (more on that in a minute), you’ll be able to enjoy one of the adult only pools or whirlpool areas.
If that’s not enough to keep you busy, there’s also a lazy river and a big water slide.
The pools are centrally located in the middle of the resort. The hardest part of your pool day will be deciding where to park your towels. We try to designate a “home base” each day so that the kids always know where to find us.
Access to the pools is included in your hotel stay, but you’ll need to visit one of the towel locations to get a new wristband each day. My kids enjoy leaving the colorful wristbands on their arms for the duration of our stay to see just how many they can accumulate during our visit.
If your child is just learning to swim, there’s no need to pack a life vest or floaties. Complimentary life vests are available. Just visit one of the towel stations to borrow one. You’ll need to return it at the end of each day to avoid being charged.
Don’t worry, if you forget a swimsuit, goggles, hat or sunscreen. You can purchase these items at one of the resort gift shops or across the street at the Island Country Market. The resort has a decent assortment of sizes and styles for kids and adults.
Snorkel Rainbow Reef
If you want to swim with the fish, you can do so at Rainbow Reef. The reef is an enclosed snorkeling area next to the swimming pools. It’s home to thousands of fish. Snorkeling equipment is provided. Kids (under 11 years old) need to have an adult with them in the water. If you’re not going in the water, you can head over to the big viewing window to get a photo of your kid snorkeling.
Warning: the water inside the reef is cold! Temperatures are approximately 77°F. The water temperature is kept cool to reflect the natural habitat of the fish inside.
KidTripster Tip: You may want to consider bringing a wetsuit, especially if you’re visiting during the winter months.
There’s an added cost for this experience. A one-day pass is $20 for kids (under age 9) and $25 for those 10 and up. If you think you may want to visit the reef more than once, you can purchase a length-of-stay pass for $35 for kids (under age 9) and $45 for everyone else.
Play on the beach
You may have a hard time getting your kids to walk pass the pool area but just a few steps beyond lies the ocean. There’s a large sheltered beach and swimming area. The water is warm and calm, making for perfect swimming and paddling conditions.
Beach chairs and umbrellas are free to use. As with pool chairs, the best spots fill up early in the day. Many parents just drag a beach chair down to the water to keep a closer eye on their kids.
If your kids like to dig in the sand, you can check out a bag of free sand toys. Boogie boards and life vests also are available for free use. If you’ve paid for Rainbow Reef, you also can use your snorkeling gear in the lagoon. If not, you can rent gear or stand-up paddleboards at the beach.
You can purchase drinks and snacks on the beach, too, which means you don’t have to schlep between the beach and resort when your kids get hungry.
3. Other on-site activities
There are lots of activities offered each day; some are free and others are at an additional cost. The daily activities are listed on the Aulani website. You also can pick up a paper copy of the list each morning at various locations around the resort.
Hang out at Aunty’s Beach House
Sometimes kids need a break from their parents on vacation (or maybe it’s the other way around). When your family needs some time apart, Aunty’s Beach House is the place to go. Aunty’s is a kids’ club that’s available to children (ages 3-12); kids must be potty-trained.
Inside the huge multi-room space, a variety of activities take place. There’s a different theme each day. The cast members do crafts, play games, and entertain the kids. For most activities, kids can come and go as they please. There’s no cost to spend time at Aunty’s Beach House as it’s included in your resort stay. However, some premium experiences do require advance registration and a fee.
If you want your kids to have lunch or dinner at Aunty’s, you’ll need to sign them up in advance; availability is limited. Sign-ups open up each morning at 8 a.m. If you want a spot, line up early. The meals cost $10 per child.
There are nightly activities catering to tweens at Aunty’s Beach House. Kids (ages 10-12) can join the Tween Zone for games and crafts.
Teenagers aren’t allowed inside Aunty’s Beach Club. However, the resort does offer a variety of daily activities for teens (ages 13-17). Examples include surf-themed dance parties, learning to play the ukulele and doing treasure hunts. What do teenagers think of Aulani? Our teen writer explains why Aulani isn’t just for little kids.
KidTripster Tip: Be sure to fill out your Aunty’s Beach House registration forms in advance. You can complete the forms as early as 90 days prior to your check-in, but no later than two days before your visit.
When you check in for the first time, you’ll need to have a photo ID with you. Cast members will take photos of your family and establish a password to be used when picking the kids up.
Then the kids will be provided with a keiki band which is a bracelet that allows cast members to keep track of the kids while at Aunty’s. The band can be kept as a souvenir or returned prior to your departure for a $12.95 refund. You’ll need to keep your receipt or at least have a photo of your receipt in order to receive your refund.
One more thing to know: Aunty’s Beach House is very popular and sometimes fills to capacity especially around dinner hours. However, as kids leave, others are allowed to enter.
Movies on the lawn
On select nights of the week, movies are shown on the lawn. Upon arrival, you’ll be given a grass mat to sit on. There are some activities prior to the movie to keep kids occupied.
This is a fun way to spend an evening after a day at the pool. One year, we sat outside on a warm December night watching Christmas movies like Mickey’s Christmas Carol. It felt weird and magical to be celebrating Christmas in shorts and t-shirts.
Stories by the fire
There’s also evening storytelling around the fire. “Uncle” is a master storyteller and will recount tales of Hawaii legends and lore. Grab a chair next to the fire and join in.
Character meet-and-greets
You’re at a Disney resort, so you can be certain there are opportunities to interact with Disney characters. You’ll see the expected ones, like Mickey Mouse and the gang. But there are others, too. You may be less familiar with Duffy the Disney Bear and his friend, ShellieMay. These characters are really popular at Disney’s Asian theme parks. They draw crowds at Aulani, too. Guests from all over line up for photos with these friendly teddy bears. As you might guess, island dwellers, like Stitch and Moana, make lots of appearances, as well.
Characters appear at different times and in different places around the resort. Most of them are dressed in Hawaiian duds. If you want to know where to find them, dial the “ToonFinder” which is a special extension on your hotel phone. It tells you the times and locations of each character meet-and-greet for that day. At some appearances a professional Disney photographer will take your photos using the PhotoPass system. You can purchase copies in the hotel gift store. It’s best just to have your own camera with you. A cast member is always happy to take a family photo using your camera, just ask. It’s free!
4. Ka Wa’a Lu’au
One fun activity that you may consider doing is the Ka Wa’a Lu’au. This event comes at an additional cost. It’s not cheap. Admission is $89 for kids (ages 3-9) and $139 for everyone else; kids under three are free. You can pay extra if you want to go VIP which gives you early entry, preferred seating, and cocktails.
Here’s what you’ll get for your money: a huge buffet featuring island fare that includes a whole roasted pig. Prior to dinner, there are activities for children like traditional arts and crafts. After dinner, there’s a performance featuring hula dancers and fire dancers. It’s fun to watch, and at various points during the performance, kids are asked to join in. The whole event lasts around three hours.
While it’s a little expensive, admission does include a meal and entertainment. I’d recommend doing it at least once.
5. Food options at Aulani
The luau isn’t your only opportunity for buffet-style dining. Aulani has two sit-down restaurants on property; one of them is a buffet. There also are a few bars and quick-service restaurants.
Makahiki
Makahiki serves breakfast and dinner buffets. Breakfast is an expansive spread, serving up Western breakfast items as well as Chinese and Japanese breakfast specialties. There’s also a made-to-order omelet station and, you guessed it, those cute Mickey-shaped waffles that are served at other Disney resorts. Characters will stop by to say hi and take a photo while you dine. Breakfast is $23 for kids (ages 3-9) and $43 for everyone else.
Character dining also is offered on some evenings. The Menehune Mischief dinner is on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Just like at breakfast, characters make their way around the restaurant, stopping at tables to say hello. The food is a mix of standard hotel buffet fare, like prime rib and mashed potatoes, as well as a popular seafood bar filled with prawns, crab claws, and crab legs. Lots of Asian and Hawaiian-themed foods are served up here, too, like a Hawaiian-glazed ham with pineapple chutney, kālua pork, teriyaki chicken, and more. Dinner is $29 for kids (ages 3-9) and $55 for everyone else. It costs about $5 less per person on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
Ama’Ama
You can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner at Ama’Ama. The restaurant has island specialties made with local ingredients. I recommend doing an adults-only dinner here. Make reservations around sunset and request a table with a view. Know that kids are allowed in the restaurant, so even if you drop your kids off at Aunty’s Beach House, you may find yourself seated next to someone else’s cranky 3 year old on your date night. Hey, that’s what a family resort is all about, right?! Just know that the view is spectacular, and the food is excellent.
KidTripster Tip: Regardless of which restaurant you choose, I highly recommend that you make dining reservations. It can be difficult to walk in and get a table, especially during high season. I usually make reservations well in advance of my visit, choosing one family character dining experience and one adults-only dinner. You can change or cancel your reservations, although a 24-hour notice is typically required to avoid a charge.
Quick-service dining
I like stopping at the Ulu Cafe for a quick bite. At breakfast, you can order a combination platter, choosing between items like eggs, quiche, potatoes, pancakes, and bacon. The pineapple slice garnish is a nice touch, just in case you forget that you’re in Hawaii.
At lunch, the poke bowls are made fresh with your choice of ahi, salmon or shrimp served over sticky rice with choice of veggies and toppings.
Dinner is all about the pizza. This is a good time to grab a speedy and less expensive meal.
KidTripster Tip: If you’re trying to decide between securing an early morning spot at the pool and eating breakfast, I have a solution for you. Get a breakfast platter to go from Ulu Cafe and eat it on your pool chair.
KidTripster Tip: The resort sells Dole Whip (a.k.a. pineapple soft-serve) and Hawaiian shave ice in a couple locations. If you want Mickey ears on your shave ice, it’ll cost you a dollar more, but it does make for a cute photo. My daughter loves to order a snow cap which is shave ice topped with condensed milk. Two of the four members of our family recommend it. Try it and see what you think.
KidTripster Tip: You may want to purchase a refillable mug. You can use it for coffee (or hot cocoa) in the morning and for sodas in the afternoon. The mugs cost around $20, so factor in the length of your stay and the cost of an average drink to determine whether it’s worth the investment. Sometimes, we just buy two mugs and share them between the four of us.
Dealing with food allergies
I have Celiac disease which means I need to order gluten-free food. The cast members are extremely helpful in accommodating all types of food allergies. If you visit the buffet with a food allergy, a chef will walk you through the buffet line line to let you know what food is safe and what is not. The staff also will make special order or modified items for you, upon your request.
At Ama’Ama, the chef will come to your table and discuss safe menu options. I’ve found the chefs and servers to be extremely helpful in making sure my dining experience is equal to that of other diners.
6. Other food options in Ko Olina
If you want a break from resort food, take a short walk across the street. Just a few minutes away, you’ll find several restaurants.
We love Monkeypod Kitchen. We’ve been there several times over the years, and it’s consistently good. It also can be very busy! Show up at happy hour for discounted appetizers and $10 pizzas. You don’t have to sit in the bar to take advantage of the happy hour specials which means that you can take the kids with you. By the way, the cocktails are delicious. I can personally vouch for the Monkeypod Mai Tai, which is topped with a special foam. It’s $5 off during happy hour and since you’re walking, you can probably indulge yourself with a second cocktail. Usually, we request a table outside so that we can listen to live music while we dine.
Island Vintage Coffee is a good spot for quick meals or to-go food and drinks. In addition to serving fresh roasted Kona coffee, you’ll find several food options here like açai bowls, poke bowls, sandwiches, and pastries.
The Island Country Markets is a small grocery store, liquor store, deli, and gift shop. Yes, there’s basically everything you could ever need and also so much that you don’t. If you have a kitchen or kitchenette in your room, you can get grocery items here to prepare or heat up in your room. If you’re gluten-free, like me, there are limited food options here, although they do have a small selection of GF food items. There’s a hot food area that serves up tasty breakfast, lunch, and dinner options like musubi and rice bowls.
There are a few other resorts located in Ko Olina. Roy’s is within walking distance. And if you want to change it up, the Four Seasons Resort Oahu located right next to Aulani has a few restaurants, too. You can access the Four Seasons by a beachfront path connecting the resorts. Mina’s Fish House has waterfront views, fresh seafood, and fancy cocktails. This is a good spot for a date night dinner. You’ll see fewer children here, but the menu items are slightly more expensive than at Aulani.
Within a short drive of the resort, you’ll find plenty of additional food and shopping options including a Target and Costco. Keep reading for details about the pros and cons of renting a car during your stay.
If you’re looking for other ideas of things to do in Ko Olina, check out this list.
7. Indulge at Aulani’s spa
If you want to really relax, carve out some time for the Laniwai Spa. It offers a full menu of spa services from facials to massages and just about anything in between. There are some specialty services for kids (ages 3-12), too.
You can pamper the whole family with the Ohana treatment. (Ohana means “family” in Hawaiian.) You and the kids can relax together. My kids loved the massage which was their first spa experience. It was fun to be able to experience it as a family. They split us into twos; my daughter and I got upper body massages while my husband and son got their feet and legs massaged, then we switched spots. We had our own private room in the spa with a table of snacks and refreshments.
At a cost of $520, this was a big splurge for our family of four. However, it’s something that the kids have reminisced about often, remembering it as one of the highlights of our vacation.
KidTripster Tip: After your family massage, drop the kids off at Aunty’s Beach House. Then head back to Laniwai for some grown-up time. There’s a serene adults-only area with heated tubs and lounge chairs. Spa guests are allowed to use this area on the day of their treatment. The setting is peaceful and quiet, almost making you forget that you’re sitting in the middle of a busy resort. Inside, you can relax in the saunas and steam rooms. This is a nice way to have some couple’s time and maximize the cost of that expensive Ohana treatment.
8. Shop for exclusive souvenirs at Aulani
Disney typically has location-exclusive items at each property. There are several gift stores at Aulani including a general gift shop selling everything from alcohol to Christmas ornaments. There’s a higher-end shop that sells clothing, purses, and jewelry. You’ll find resort specific items in both locations.
A hot ticket item is a stuffed turtle named Olu. This ukulele-playing turtle is a friend of Duffy the Disney Bear. (Duffy merchandise is typically only available at Disney parks in Asia.) Olu was the hot seller, sometimes selling out. If you prefer to clothe your stuffed turtle, you can purchase a coordinating outfit.
New to the resort are the Wishables. These little stuffies have been popular at the Disney theme parks and aboard the cruise ships. Now there’s a special Wishables collection at Aulani. Mickey, Minnie, and Dale are available in their island finest. “Blind bags” containing mystery items are also available. Inside, you might find Goofy, Chip or some of the resort’s most popular snacks like Mickey-shaped shave ice and spam musubi.
9. How to get to and from Aulani
Aulani is located in Ko Olina. It’s about 25 minutes from the Honolulu airport.
You can pre-arrange a shuttle service to and from the airport. You can do this at the time of your booking. A representative from Hele Hele Transportation will meet you at baggage claim. Once you have all of your belongings, you’ll board a van. You may be sharing the van with other passengers. However, the shuttle will take you directly to the resort. It costs $24 per person (ages 3 and up). That means that for a family of four, it costs $96 dollars each way. Upon booking, you can request a car seat or booster.
You may find it less expensive to take a taxi or a ride share from the airport to the resort. However, consider that they may not have a car seat or booster available for your child, so you may need to bring one with you.
On a recent visit, we took an Uber. It cost us about $45 each way. The ride share pick-up location is on the second floor of the airport, away from the shuttles and taxis.
KidTripster Tip: Renting a car at the airport is certainly an option, too. Driving around Oahu is pretty easy. However, if you don’t need a car for the full length of your stay, there’s an Alamo car rental office conveniently located at Aulani, just feet from the lobby.
I recommend renting a car for a day during your visit. This allows you to explore the island – the North Shore, the Dole Plantation or a day trip to Honolulu. Renting a car for just a day (versus the length of your stay) can save you a great deal of money. It costs $37 per day just to park at the resort.
If you decide to rent a car and explore Oahu, we have a list of suggested beaches for you to visit. If you get hungry, we’ve also compiled a list of our top eats in Oahu.
10. Other tips for visiting Oahu
I appreciate that Aulani has all of the amenities our family needs for a fun and relaxing tropical vacation. The resort is also a great home base when staying on Oahu and exploring other areas of the island.
The cast members at Aulani have excellent customer service skills and will go out of their way to make your vacation special and hassle-free. As an example, during our last visit, we had our swimsuits drying on our balcony. A big wind storm blew all of our swimwear into the trees and bushes below. We reported it to the concierge, not really expecting to get the items back. Several hours later, we returned to our room and found a stack of neatly folded items waiting for us. A cast member had retrieved each and every piece. We were impressed.
One more thing worth mentioning is that the Disney experience is pretty subdued at Aulani. It’s not in your face. Yes, you can meet characters and get princess makeovers, but you also can avoid that stuff entirely. I would say that Aulani is less about the Disney experience and more about the Hawaiian experience.
If you decide that a visit to Aulani is right for you, we suggest booking through Magic Family Getaways, a Disney-authorized travel agency. Its agents will help you plan every step of the vacation, helping to make it extra magical at no additional cost to you. Magic Family Getaways is a KidTripster partner, and we do receive a small commission if you book through this link. Again, there’s no additional cost to you, but it helps support our small business.
Do you want to visit Hawaii, but you’re not sure which island is right for your family? Check out our island-by-island guide.
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