During our recent trip to Hawaii, we stayed at
Disney's Aulani Resort and Spa, which is located in Ko Olina, on the leeward coast of Oahu. If you haven't gathered by now, I am a bit of a Disney Girl and kid at heart, and love all things Disney. Luckily, my Husband is also a kid at heart and has as much fun as I do exploring Disney's creations around the world.
While researching our trip, I looked into other hotels as resorts as a bit of a 'due diligence', but always knew we would end up staying at Aulani. I will run through the pros and cons of staying at this Heaven on Earth, general tips, what we got up to and of course - photos!
Resort Information and History
Aulani means "messenger of the chief" and opened on the shores of Ko Olina in 2011. Aulani celebrates Hawaiian culture, history and traditions while adding a touch of subtle Disney Magic to the everyday resort happenings. The resort spans over 21 acres on the edge of a private lagoon and you truly feel like you are in your own little paradise. With Ko Olina Golf Course across the road, as well as a selection of shops and restaurants, there is plenty to keep you occupied within the area.
A variety of rooms are available, from standard studio styles to family suites. Rooms are on the side of pricey, starting at just under $400 USD a night, but if you keep an eye out on the Aulani website, deals like
these pop up all the time. We stayed in a 1 Bedroom suite over looking the resort pools and ocean (view from our balcony is displayed in the picture above) and it was absolutely stunning (not to mention bigger than our current apartment...).
Aulani is a decent car ride out of Waikiki. If you are after a fast-paced holiday, nightspots to go out to and shopping centres, Aulani is probably not the resort for you. It is easy enough to spend the day in Waikiki and get your tourist and shopping fix, but probably not quite the same as just 'popping out' if you are staying in Waikiki. If you are after a true, relaxing vacation, then I would highly suggest looking into this resort.
View from across the road