We spent the final three days of our trip at Disney’s brand new Aulani Resort in Ko Olina. Its about a 30 minute drive from Waikiki and well worth the drive. It opened the week before we arrived and still had that new resort smell. Earlier this year we bought into the Disney Vacation Club, and with this being the newest resort in the collection and we were around we used some points and decided to check it out.
Ko Olina is a master planned gated community on the west side of Oahu. There are 4 lagoons and at this point a few other resorts along side Aulani including 2 by Marriott.
We gave our name to the guard at the gate who verified we were on the ‘list’ and gave us directions to the resort.
Upon pulling up in front of the resort we were greeted by name and Jodie presented with a beautiful Live Lei, I received a Kukui nut necklace, and Moxie received a cute little necklace with a menehune on it, more on that later.
porte-cochère
We were escorted into the lobby and the front desk of the resort and checked in. Our room wasn’t ready but we were ready to explore the grounds.
Front Desk
Lobby Details
Lobby Carving
Disney’s goal was to be respectful of the Hawaiian Culture, and it is reflected throughout the resort with all the native art and culture they embrace. There are still character breakfasts and Disney experiences but, the Hawaiian culture is overwhelming.
Carved Mickey in the lobby
Hidden Mickey on the stool
Hallway that connects the two towers through the lobby
So while waiting for our room we went to explore a little. There is a single store called Kalepa’s Store which includes groceries and and Disney stuffed animals, and clothes and is the Disney Photo Pass outpost. We headed downstairs and came to the first Restaurant called Makahiki which is where they do the Character Breakfast Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday, but you have to reserve ahead of time, they book up quickly. We missed our chance. It is a Buffet and has indoor and outdoor seating around a Koi Pond.
Makahiki
Looking back at the lobby over a Koi Pond
Koi Pond again
View of the Lobby and Makahiki from our room
Map of the Resort
Between the two towers are all the water activities, and there are a lot of them. After leaving the Koi Pond we came upon the Lazy River called Waikolohe Stream. There are several entry points and they provide inner tubes to just relax and let the current carry you around, or if you need more to do, they have carved sea life into all the rocks, from bats in the caves to sharks and an octopus.
Look at all the Lazy People in the Lazy River
There are two water slides, called Pu’u Kilo Slides. One is done on a tube that feeds into the Waikolohe Stream and the other does not and feeds directly into the Family Fun Pool called the Waikolohe Pool. The later is completely enclosed and dark and is so much fun. Across from one of the entrances of the lazy pool is the Menehune Bridge which is a Children’s Water Play area. There are water cannons, and two kid’s slides. Moxie loved it.
Behind the Menehune Bridge is the Rainbow Reef, which for a fee you can swim with the fishes. They have viewing windows for the less adventurous as well.
Viewing windows on Rainbow Reef
If you keep walking you will come up on the Makai Preserve which is a Singray Experience.
Stingrays
And past that around the corner you have the Leisure Pool named the Wailana Pool. It is much more subdued and quiet.
There are several hot tubs, the best is the two tiered one, overlooking the beach. Each level has an Infinity edge.
Hot Tub overlooking Beach
Hot Tub from the beach
Under the Volcano that houses the slides there is a quick service called the Lava Shack, with a little merchandise, but mostly sandwiches, and ice cream.
Bathrooms by the Lava Shack
They have food service by the pool or Off the Hook Bar which is connected to ‘Ama’Ama, the restaurant, which in turn is connected to another quick service called One Paddle, Two Paddle. We had drinks at Off the hook several times which were great, and lunch one day at One Paddle, Two Paddle. The Kalua Pork sandwich and the lettuce wraps. They serve the same food at both Off the Hook and One Paddle, Two Paddle but they are a little cheaper at One Paddle, Two Paddle.
Off the Hook
One Paddle, Two Paddle
'Ama'Ama
'Ama'Ama Dining Room
'Ama'Ama from the beach
Sunset View over Lagoon from our table at 'Ama'Ama
We actually got a quiet dinner in at ‘Ama’Ama with Moxie being at Aunty’s Beach House, which I will rave about in a minute. Like Disney does, there is a detailed back story to ‘Ama’Ama and how it is Uncle’s fishing house and was built in different times. There are foot prints in the concrete left by the kids. Its a great restaurant and story.
Next to the entrance of ‘Ama’Ama is Aunty’s Beach house which is the ‘child care’ for the resort. It is included if you are staying at Aulani and is worth so much more. Moxie isn’t one to go off with out us or want to be away. Generally she is with us everywhere. She ended up staying at Aunty’s for over 5 hours Saturday and Sunday, allowing Jodie and I to have two wonderful dinners and some time at the pool. We even went back a couple of times to get her and she waved us off. It is absolutely amazing and the cast members there are great. We ordered her dinner in so she ate there while we were out.
Aunty's Beach House
When you enter Aunty’s House you first come to the Lobby where you sign in and out. When initially registering your child is given a Mickey Band that they will keep the length of stay, which has GPS and will track them when at Aunty’s. They collect your room number, contact number and any allergies etc., as they will give them snacks every 2 hours. Everyone else has to check in and out and when passing from the lobby into the house you must wash your hands.
Aunty's Lobby
There are two sides, aunty’s and uncle’s. Aunty’s is for kids under 6 and Uncle’s is for over 6.
Aunty's Side
Aunty’s side has every dress you could imagine, and I think Moxie wore them all. They also have pirate outfits for the boys so they are included. One of the cool touches is the fireplace which lights up occasionally and the fire turns into different things like stitch, or a canoe or something else.
Dress Up
They have Microsoft Surface tables where the kids can play games.
Microsoft Surface Tables
My Little Mermaid
Game Room on Uncle's Side
Craft Garage on Uncle's Side
Moxie in the front row learning the Hula
Moxie and Chip
Aulani has currently opened the first phase, there are 2 more to come but the buildings are done, they just haven’t furnished 2 phases worth of rooms. The resort is not only a Disney Vacation Club Resort but also a traditional resort with rooms they rent by the night. We used DVC points so we were in one of the Deluxe Studio rooms. So, while Moxie was having fun at Aunty’s we finally got the text that our room was ready.
Room 1154
Hidden Mickeys on the door Carving
Deluxe Studio
Hidden Mickeys on the quilt
Art work in the bathroom with a Hidden Mickey and the state fish
The Lagoon is shared with one of the Marriott resorts. It has a break water and is really protected from big surf, so it’s a nice place to play. On Sunday we played in the sand and rented a Paddle board to practice what we learned earlier in the trip. Right on the beach Disney has Makiki Joe’s Beach Rentals where you can rent kayaks, Stand up paddle boards and a whole host of other beach activities. While out paddling i saw another Sea Turtle, so the lagoon is protected but sea live can still get in. I saw others snorkeling as well.
Makiki Joe's Beach Rentals
From the Beach
Disney reinvented an old legend for Aulani about the menehune which is a mischievous little person similar to a pixie or troll. They have an interactive game where you try to find them through out the grounds. They are also the ones who left behind menehune bridge, the kids play area.
Here are the ones I found.
I would highly recommend the resort for anyone visiting Hawaii, it was beyond our expectations. Our next DVC trip will be in January to Animal Kingdom Lodge which I expect to be as magical.
Other Pictures of our adventure:
Indiginous Hawaiian Flowers
Stitch
Sunset from our Lanai
My Girls
