Aulani – April 2019

Paradise delivered or Disneymania?   We love Disney; we love Hawaiian adventures … but I wasn’t sure if Aulani would live up to the hype (and our expectations).  Kam and I are huge Disney fans – we owned the entire Disney VHS collection in college, have seen most of the Disney movies, and had Southern California Passes when we lived in LA.  Our kids enjoy it (almost) as much as we do.  But how would a resort without all the theme park craziness stack up?  Is it worth $700+ a night?  After spending 8 nights there, here is a glimpse into our week in paradise.

First Impressions

Eyes shut, inhaling deeply, plumeria wafts on the breeze. Warm, humid air hugs my arms. Giggles and the murmur of contented families fills the air. I exhale and am immediately transported to island time.  Aulani.  We are finally here and dive headfirst into all the activities this resort offers:

Water Activities

It’s really more of a waterpark.  Filled with lifeguards, beach chairs, life jackets, shade, sun, and people, there is literally something for everyone.  Immediately upon entering, your pulse slows as your are greeted with the lazy river.  As you wind your way through the palm and plumeria-studded  paths, you uncover something new at every turn.  I think it took us 3 days before we had fully discovered each of the different water options.  Here are some of our favorites:

• Rainbow Reef – What better way for timid snorkelers to hone their skills than a “reef” in a saltwater swimming pool? Right in the center of all the action is a wave-free, crystal-clear salt water “reef” full of fish – even the humuhumunukunukuapua’aa. It’s perfectly calm, the kids can see the bottom, and you can pop in, borrow snorkeling gear, and snorkel away as long as your attention span allows.
• The Lazy River – My personal favorite. I think I would’ve lazed in here the entire week. . . if my kids didn’t have other ideas. It takes about 10-15 minutes to complete the whole circle and there are plenty of rafts for everyone to use. There is just the right mix of sun and shade to keep you the perfect temperature as well as some perfectly placed waterfalls and jets of water to dunk others in your party.
• Waterslides – I used to love waterslides. I would spend all.day.long waiting in lines and going down slides as a teenager. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more of a party pooper (or possibly because I don’t like the feeling of a slide on the skin on my legs and back). Well, I’ve found enjoyment again thanks to Aulani. One of the two slides uses inner tubes – both one and two person options and they’re great for all ages. The other is just a regular, tube-free slide. Equally as fun.
• Main Pool – Afternoon water parties with Disney characters, a cave to swim through, benches in the water for parents to relax on while kids splash around them, a large zero entry area for tots – it’s a great blend of activity and relaxation. Floaties are allowed as long as there is a hole through them for your feet (think inner tube, not big rafts or floating animals).
• Infinity Pool – Perched above the beach on the right hand side of the resort, is a lovely infinity pool for all ages. Usually these romantic venues are in adults-only areas of resorts, so I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the view of my children and the ocean at the same time! Right next to this pool is a hot tub in a cave – great ambiance for all!
• Beach – Super calm, man-made lagoon surrounded by rows of beach chairs and umbrellas. The lagoon has a “reef” that keeps larger sea animals out of the lagoon (think sharks). According to one employee I spoke to, there was only one time when a 5-foot tiger shark managed to make his way inside the lagoon. Disney promptly closed the beach and ushered the shark out to the ocean before reopening. So, if you have people that are wary of the ocean and it’s critters, this is a great place to frolic. Along this same line, because of the “reef,” the variety and size of fish is limited. Not the best snorkeling… but easy for little ones.

Food and Treats –

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Kam and I love a variety of food.  Our kids like continuity with their meals (i.e. they want the same thing every day).  I have several severe food intolerances (dairy, gluten, mushroom, yeast) that make traveling and eating out a challenge to say the least.  However, knowing how Disney prides itself on food safety and working with allergies, I had high hopes for successful dining on this trip.  For the most part, I was able to find something on each menu that I could eat.  Here is a review for each restaurant.

• Ulu Bar – I was so excited to discover that this place had poke bowls that you could make to order. I could leave off mayo and items with gluten and still eat delicious fresh fish with sesame oil and veggies to my hearts content. They also had gluten-free soy sauce, fresh flatbreads and lots of grab and go breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for even the pickiest of palates. Plus refill stations for the unlimited $20 drink and popcorn refills.
• Pool Dining/off the Hook – This was the only place I couldn’t find something with protein that I could eat. They didn’t have the capacity to grill meats without butter/cross contamination or fry up fries without gluten/dairy. One day, I chanced it and ordered a salad without any meat. . . and got sick immediately (though I think it was food poisoning as another person had the same reaction and she did not have food allergies/intolerances). Needless to say, I never ordered from the pool area again after that. My family, however, enjoyed their sandwiches almost daily!
• AmuAmu – Delicious! The chefs work with you to ensure you do not have any cross contamination, etc. We ate lunch and dinner here – I LOVED the fresh fish tacos and sweet potato fries. The chef even made me a special gluten-free dairy-free sauce for my fresh catch of the day out of tamari, garlic, ginger, and green onions. The kids loved their fresh catch (opa) and pizzas. . . with a nice surprise – they had a choice of ice cream or fruit kebab with chocolate dipping sauce. I highly recommend this restaurant for ambiance and variety of food.
• Makahiki Character Dining – We ate here for dinner one night. I didn’t realize that there was character dining (3 nights a week) at Aulani until 2 days before departure, which, of course, was too late to make a reservation. We crossed our fingers and showed up right at 4:30 to see if we could eek out a table. We lucked out and were sat right away on the patio. It was a huge, delicious buffet. Definitely a step up from your typical buffet fare (including a low buffet full of kids foods – mac n cheese, chicken fingers, pizza, corn, etc.) so the kids and adults were happy. The chef came out and walked me around the buffet, explaining which dishes were dairy/gluten/mushroom free. And at the end, they made a delicious gluten and dairy-free (mickey-shaped) chocolate cake. Chip & Dale, Lelo & Stitch, and Donald all visited tableside. While pricey, it was a great experience for all. (They have a character breakfast option as well, but we just went during the one diner.)
• ‘Ōlelo Room – Lovely open-air lounge-type restaurant with a great happy hour menu of beer, wine, and pupus in addition to a kid’s menu and sushi. They were knowledgable of food allergies and knew what was in their foods. I happily ate sushi with tamari while the kids enjoyed chicken and waffles. . . and kam munched on wings and popcorn fries. The live music made this a great place to hang out and people watch (it was also close to where characters would rotate for photos, so the kids scoped out the line and characters from here).

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I tend to be a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to planning and taking vacations with the family, but when there is a work-trip to Aulani, twist my arm! We LOVED our week here. It was the perfect blend of relaxation and age-appropriate activities for kids to do. It was safe. It was clean. It was comfortable. There were lifeguards everywhere, they had plenty of life vests for the non-swimmers, and lots of chairs where parents had a clear view of their kids. Maybe it’s because our kids are getting older (6 and 9), but Kam and I felt like this was our most relaxing vacation yet. For families with older kids/adults, unless you’re a huge Disney fan, you may find it too kid-centered. We had some friends with teenagers and they were wanting a little more adult-style relaxation. We, however, found it perfect for our Disney-loving 6 and 9 year olds. If we were paying for it, I would recommend staying maybe 4 nights and then staying in another part of the island so you could drive around and explore the Hawaiian culture, beaches, etc. Overall, it was a great experience and I would love to stay there again.