Aulani Disney Resort, Oahu - Review 2023

What’s Special About this Resort

This resort has everything you would want and expect from an upscale Hawaiian resort, plus a nice serving of good ol’ Disney magic. The care and attention to detail that Disney is known for shines through every nook and cranny of this beautiful resort. Every room, pool, restaurant and experience is designed to “wow,” and is carefully curated with consideration for everyone in the family.

We fully expected kid friendly amenities from a Disney resort, but what we weren’t expecting and were truly impressed by was the extensive consideration for the parents. This is the only resort we’ve come across that offers free child care, at what they call, “Aunty’s Beach House.” Additionally, for adults they have a bar and lounge, adults-only whirlpool spas with a sunset ocean view, fine dining options and more.

The Aulani Disney Resort is not all-inclusive, but they do offer a wide range of included experiences and activities. You can find what is included here. They currently have offers to receive 25% off of select rooms.

What To Do

There is so much at Aulani that is specially curated for kids. The Disney character experiences, the complimentary kids club activities, and the waterpark style pools are just a few of the ways your kids can spend their vacation time. The Aulani Resort offers all the usual resort amenities, but also boasts over 30 complimentary activities and additional amenities that are included with the price of your stay to keep you and your family busy, happy and entertained.

Typical of an island vacation, there are a ton of ways to stay busy in the water. The expansive resort features many unique water features and a private beach. For those looking to relax, the Ka Maka Grotto infinity pool or the lazy river are the perfect opportunities to unwind. For kids looking for a bit more excitement, the Keiki Cove Splash Zone and the Menehune Bridge feature interactive water jets, waterslides, and other waterpark-style attractions. Unique to Aulani, the resort is also home to Rainbow Reef, the only private snorkeling lagoon in Oahu.

For beach-goers, the resort offers a few complimentary items like life jackets, beach chairs and even boogie boards at the Aulani private beach. Other equipment like snorkeling gear or stand-up paddleboards are available to rent for a fee.

Many other complementary activities are available to guests like character experiences, outdoor movie showings, nature tours through the area, and fireside storytelling. The resort also offers a handful of classes for the whole family including ukulele, hula dancing and arts and crafts. Much like Disney theme parks, there is no shortage of fun to be had at the Aulani Resort.

The Resort spa is just as luxurious as any other 5-star resort spa, but what makes the Aulani spa special is their one-of-a-kind treatments for kids and families. The spa itself facilitates a broad menu of singles, couples or family messages, special treatments for expectant mothers and salon services to men, women and children. Additionally they have a kids’ salon called “Painted Sky: HI Style Studio,” where kids ages 3-12 can get a makeover and leave the salon looking like their favorite tropical disney character.

What To Eat and Drink

This sprawling resort has many food, dessert and snack options scattered all over the resort, so we picked a few of the standouts to share with you here.

Makahiki is a casual restaurant at Aulani, serving local dishes and decorated with local Hawaiian art. The restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner every day from 7am to 8:30pm, and closes for lunch from 11am to 5pm.

Open all day, the Ulu Cafe is the perfect bodega style market, offering grab-n-go food, fresh produce, and a select few items that are made to order. The Ulu cafe has the most affordable food options on campus, so it’s perfect for a quick bite between activities. Open daily 6:30am-9pm.

The Olelo Room is a perfect romantic retreat for parents during their family vacation. This upscale bar and lounge serves cocktails and Hawaiian appetizers with a beautiful ambiance.

Enjoy live music on the lounge patio overlooking a beautiful koi pond. The lounge is open mornings 7-11am and evenings 5-10pm.

‘Ama’Ama serves what they call “contemporary island cooking,” showcasing local dishes with an elegant, modern presentation. This oceanside, open-air, fine-dining restaurant is predictably expensive, but the food and ambiance are hard to beat. ‘Ama’ama is only open for dinner, and is typically closed on Tuesdays. It is highly recommended that you reserve a table in advance.

We had to include the KA WA‘A Lu’au – though it is less of a restaurant and more of an immersive dining experience. Splurge $170/adult and $99/child for this buffet style dinner and a performance of Hawaiian history and culture – with, of course, a little Disney flair. There are shows every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings with seating starting at 5pm. They are currently booked 2 months out, so be sure to reserve your seats well in advance.