Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa

Always enjoy the lazy pool.

Amazing hotel for the family - memories cherished. So many features of this hotel made the experience so unforgettable - Character breakfast - Lazy River tube ride - Beach - Lua’u (must book with hotel before 5pm) The resort has its own private beach access, this made the beach a special experience, Especially at sunset. Free body board hire for the beach. The character breakfast was so much fun. Professional photographers will snap your family and Mickey to remember the experience. Thank you will get a visit from Chef Pluto, Max and Chip n’ Dale. I recommend a Lua’u it’s catered for children with lots of activities from taro making to tattooing. Everyone is welcomed with beads and a wrist Lai. The show is incredible and the storyline is easy to follow and so enjoyable to watch. Get in early, the queue is long. The show is 3hrs (5pm-9pm) kids may fall asleep in your lap.

We just got back from a trip and stayed at Aulani on the last leg. We were ready to get out of there. We did not have a good experience. It was just an expensive and overcrowded water park. The pool area was decent but just way too crowded. The rooms were small for the price, they charge extra for any activity or amenity, and the shower in our room was broken and didn’t get fixed before we left. We didn’t feel any Disney magic there, only a lot of chaos and “come see the vacation club villas”. Their luau had good food and music but was simplified with a Disney style story so I wish we had gotten to go the the cultural center instead. We had just left Koloa Landing on Kauai and it was paradise in comparison. Still a great pool area (multiple areas, some busy and some quiet), spacious and relaxed and a two bedroom, two and a half bath villa for only a little more than two tiny rooms at Aulani. They had a ton of extras included like soccer, a putting green, free activities with a prize of a snow cone for the kids, and they made S’mores with the kids. They even gave every kid a little backpack with a compass, binoculars, and activity book at check in. We will go back to Hawaii but we will definitely skip Aulani next time.

We were very excited to visit Aulani this month. Since it was our first big trip in a couple of years, we splurged for the two-bedroom, two-bathroom villa, "Ocean View." Given the price difference between rooms, I never expected to ... NOT see the ocean from our room. We ended up with an "external" view, meaning if you stood in the very corner of the room, or on the edge of the TINY balcony, you could see the ocean. The manager informed me that I should have called to request a room type after we booked. This seems INSANE to me. We spoke to a manager who offered to change rooms the next afternoon. That didn't work for us (we have a toddler). We asked for other accommodation to make up for the crappy room; none was given. We were told they may be able to do something the NEXT time we visit. Very disappointed. I will say, the spa is excellent. And most of the staff were lovely.

Checking out today. Family of four here, we’ve had a great time… Location: About 30 minutes west of Honolulu in an area called Ko Olina. It’s a master-planned area of Oahu with hotels, shops, a golf course, and homes. It’s very well-maintained and overall has stunning views of the ocean and sunset. Resort: Exactly what you’d expect from a Disney property. It’s clean and the wonderfully landscaped outside. The service is excellent, staff is friendly and attentive. There are several pools, a lazy river, water slides, and lagoon access. Chairs are hard to come by at busy times but we always managed. Room: We stayed in a studio with a pool/ocean view. It was quiet and comfortable. The sofa bed isn’t great but was fine for a few nights. Food: Expensive but always good. Your best bet for lunch is Mama’s in the pool area. Never a line, quick service, and delicious. Get the coconut shrimp! For dinner, the best meal was Makahiki. $75/person but delicious and the service was great. Biggest complaint about food is the line for shave ice, which is next to Mama’s. Waited 45 minutes for that. Other: My advice would be to rent a car and check out other things like Diamondhead, Kualoa Ranch, Pearl Harbor, and the North Shore. There’s a cheaper luau option called Paradise Cove on the Ko Olina property that’s walkable and we all enjoyed that. Monkeypod is a great restaurant that’s across the street from Aulani, also. Overall, a great trip! Highly recommended

Not great, rooms are small and outdated and super over-priced for what you get, with zero amenities (not even 1 bottle of water in the room). Crowded pool areas and very little Disney IP or markings in the resort. Fitness center is small and drab. On the plus side, nice staff and the Ulu Cafe (casual food) was quite good.

Disney theme adds a big premium to an otherwise average property and hotel. The character breakfast was loved by all, but can be a stand alone experience without staying here. We stayed in a nice big room, two bedrooms with a living room and kitchen. It was well equipped. The hotel is very busy. No sense of peace, but this isn't really expected. The kids and parents all got GI bugs, I assume this place is ripe for international viruses brought in by filthy child vectors which further mutate and adapt within the rooms and pools. I do not appreciate the disney cash grab for foods and drinks on site. The unlimited cup is the best worst option. The only options are all sugary or fake sugary drinks from machines, some of which are out. It would be nice for them to offer some expanded drinks, like even fruit juice from concentrate, or gingerale. I've never drank so much coke zero and powerades I will not stay at another disney branded property. Again, you're paying for the disney theme and characters walking around. The underlying property and quality doesn't justify the price. Needing to get bracelets every day is an annoyance. I do appreciate they made the beach very child friendly. Overall the kids had fun, but I can't imagine coming back here. I'd stay elsewhere and come for the character breakfast.