Traveling to Oahu?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Oahu.disneyhawaii disney hotelaulanAulani is a Disney Resort and Spa located in Ko Olina on the beautiful Island of Oahu in Hawaii. The Aulani Resort offers so many incredible activities for their guests but why this property truly shines is that it caters to the kids! Travel to Disney’s Aulani Resort and your family will be immersed in the Hawaiian culture with a fun-filled Disney twist! Families will enjoy the endless entertainment on the property, the beach, the kids club and so much more! Here’s your guide to everything you need to know about a vacation at Disney’s Aulani Resort!
Accommodations at Disney’s Aulani Resort
The accommodations at Aulani are second to none. There are standard rooms, deluxe rooms, suites and villas. Suites come with a choice of ocean, pool or island garden views. The villas are great for families and have many of the amenities of home such as a stocked kitchen, private bedrooms and a living room. The villas also come equipped with a washer and dryer which allows you to travel lighter and saves you money on extra baggage charges at the airport!
Dining at Disney’s Aulani Resort
There are plenty of dining options at Disney’s Aulani Resort that will please family members of all ages. From kid-friendly Character Dining to Hawaiian inspired cuisine (and everything in between), be prepared to be wowed by the yummy dining offerings at the Aulani.
1. Makahiki
Makahiki is a family-friendly buffet-style restaurant that overlooks a scenic koi pond and serves casual and delicious fare. Kids will go wild over the Disney Character Dining Experience. This is where their favorite Disney friends stop by for entertainment and fun at mealtime! Families will have an opportunity to get a Character Photo, as well as other island inspired interactions and entertainment such as a Ukulele performance. Be sure to pre-book your seating time preference as this is a popular experience.
Cost for Character Dining: $43 for adults, $23 for kids (ages 3 to 9)
2. ‘AMA ‘AMA
‘AMA ‘AMA is a gorgeous open air restaurant. It’s design resembles a beachside house serving classic Hawaiian cuisine with beautiful views of Ko Olina Beach. Enjoy fresh foods with local ingredients that are sure to satisfy all taste buds. Don’t hesitate to wear your flip-flops as you’ll likely want to take a walk on the beach after your meal.
3. Mama’s Snack Shop
Mama’s Snack Shop is a great place to grab a quick snack. Especially after the kiddos are done swimming and splashing around in the Waikolohe Valley Pool. The Keiki Menu is geared towards the little ones and offers smaller versions of their classic meals such as kid-sized fish and chips, chicken tenders, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and more. This is a great place for a quick and casual bite to eat!
4. Papalua Shave Ice Snack Shop
Be sure to stop by Papalua Shave Ice Snack Shop and enjoy this classic Hawaiian dessert. Base flavors include traditional shave ice, ice cream or condensed milk. Flavor offerings include mango, pineapple coconut, lilikoi, orange, guava and more!
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Activities at Disney’s Aulani Resort
One of the best parts of Disney’s Aulani Resort is all of the activities for families to enjoy! There are a multitude of water experiences from pools to the beach, as well as a traditional Luau and an interactive kids club. So many activities to keep the little ones entertained you won’t ever need to leave the property!
1. Pools at Disney’s Aulani Resort
You can find the pools at Disney’s Aulani Resort in the Waikolohe Valley area. There guests will enjoy a variety of pools and water experiences from snorkeling in a lagoon, to floating in the lazy river or taking in the stunning views from the infinity-edged pool. Kids will also enjoy Keiki Cove. This is a splash pad zone specifically for kids 5 years of age and under. Complimentary pool parties featuring Disney Characters take place at the Waikolohe pool where characters splash around and provide fun entertainment for kids of all ages to enjoy!
2. Kids Club at Aunty’s Beach House
Aunty’s Beach house is a fun-filled, interactive Kids Club. It provides entertainment for the kiddos, while allowing the adults to enjoy some vacation time alone, knowing their little ones are in good hands! The kids club is a sprawling 5200 square foot area and provides supervised activities for kids from 3 to 12. Activities include Hawaiian arts and crafts, a secured backyard with a play structure, visits from Disney characters and a movie room showing Disney movies of course!
3. The Beach at Ko Olina
The beach at Ko Olina is a pristine white sand beach on a lagoon with calm crystal blue waters that are perfect for little ones to enjoy safely. Beach chairs, umbrellas, boogie boards, life jackets and sand toys are complimentary for guests of Disney’s Aulani Resort. Stand-up paddleboards are available to rent by the hour, and snorkel sets can be rented by the day. There are also other activities to keep kids busy such as learning sand sculpture building techniques or a sailing canoe adventure that allows families to explore the beauty of the island of Oahu.
4. KA WA’A Luau
The KA WA’A Luau is a fantastic family activity that showcases the beauty and spirit of Hawaiian culture at its finest! Choose from general seating or VIP seating for the best views in the house. Arrive early and enjoy pre-show activities such as flower arranging, temporary Kakau tattoos and traditional kapa printing. The show itself lasts approximately 3 hours and entertains families with lively performances of song and dance, accompanied by a traditional Hawaiian feast.
5. Menehune Adventure Trail
Kids will love the Menehune Adventure Trail which is a scavenger hunt around Disney’s Aulani Resort property. Kids follow interactive clues on a tablet that will lead them to surprise discoveries along the trail. Along the way, they will learn about the legend of the Menehune (the legendary “little people” of Hawaii, known for their magical powers and mischief).
6. Ohana Movie Nights
Ohana Disney Movie Nights invite guests to enjoy a complimentary Disney movie outdoors on a big screen under the stars after sundown. The movie night includes pre-show activities including interactive Hawaiian games, Disney movie trivia that will get the whole crowd involved and guessing, as well as daytime resort activities from that day, projected onto the big screen.
Additional Perks at Disney’s Aulani Resort
There are also many additional perks at Disney’s Aulani that will make a family stay not just great for the kids, but also for the adults. Indulge in a spa treatment or work on your fitness goals while your child is great hands with Disney’s Aulani Resort babysitting services!
1. Kama’aina Kids Sitters
Parents can enjoy some alone downtime and relax without the kids, knowing they are in great hands with childcare from Kama’aina Kids Sitters Babysitting Services. Kama’aina offers babysitting services in your room or villa for children ages 6 weeks to 14 years of age.
Note: Reservations are required and should be made at least 24 hours in advance.
2. Laniwai Spa Services
Relax, unwind and enjoy spa services from the Laniwai Salon and Spa. This spa offers services such as family massages, services for expectant mothers as well as the Painted Sky: Hi Style Studio that provides children ages 3-12 with a fun fashion transformation by a studio stylist!
Traveling to Oahu?
Pack Light. Travel Happy.™ Rent baby gear in Oahu.Jennifer O’Neill is an Independent Quality Provider with BabyQuip, helping families travel lighter and happier. She is a mother of two boys and enjoys working out, spending time with family and friends and of course, traveling.
Is Hawaii open again? My twins are still too young but this is definitely on my bucket list of places to take them.
Anyone know if they are open during covid? I heard you have to quarantine anywhere in HI for 14 days.
Wow! A dream vacation for sure!
Hello guys!
I’m sitting at home from the virus. I’m bored…This looks like a very expensive vacation spot, but very good.
One day…
I didn’t know there’s a movie night! Looks like a perfect place for a stress-free family vacation.
Love the idea of the outdoor movie night! This is a great trip idea.
So fun!
This place looks amazing!
Wow, the Character Pool Party sounds fun!
Everything Disney does is top-notch! The outdoor movies look really neat and I love how many entertainment options there are for the kids… And babysitters?!?! Definitely adding this to my Travel Bucket List!
This has been on my bucket list for a while. Just need to budget!!
Great info on this resort. Lookes like you would literally never have to leave to ahve the time of your life. :)
Love this website and the content, I always read it and find it very interesting and entertaining. Thanks!
My kids would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the character dining. They would be so happy to see the characters.
The babysitting services sounds like a great amenity. Nice for parents to have a night by themselves.
This seems like it’s much more culturally-focused than Disney World. Definitely going on the list of “someday maybe!”