Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa Review

It was a beautiful place to stay and relax. My mother, sister and I had a great girls time at the hotel. The staff were friendly, the food was delicious and the ocean view was spectacular.

The services are what you would expect from a Disney branded resort and so much more! Wished there wasmore of a variety of food at their breakfast buffet at Makahiki.

Outstanding family vacation spot!! Totally kid-friendly, plenty of activities that don't incur additional charges, outstanding staff, and feels very safe.

Everyone there was super nice and the staff was amazing and so helpful.

Stayed at the resort next door and had a 3 year old desperate to see Micky or Minnie Mouse so decided to walk over. We saw them walk past and she just wanted to say hi but we were told that because we weren't staying there we couldn't interact with the Disney characters. Try telling that to a very sad and upset little 3 year old girl who had talked constantly for days about getting the chance to say hello to her two favourite Disney characters. It would have been better if they weren't so rude about it too. Would I ever consider staying there on our next holiday after that? Not a chance

It's a great resort for our family at this stage. It's spa offerings are okay, there is no good course and the protected beach is an artificial cove with no waves or sea life and that is exactly the point. They have tons of shallow pools and water-based okay areas, the beach is as safe as can be, there are plenty of free and paid-for activities for kids (although anyone older than 10 may find it boring). Sort-of free daycare is available for 12 hours a day, so parents can enjoy the poolside without one eye open. I doubt we'll be coming back in 5 year's time, but it's perfect for now.

My 6yo daughter was obsessed with the luau! Food was awesome!

A good resort, but the biggest challenge is that it is overbuilt for rooms and under built for services. When you pay $750 or more a night it's ludicrous to have to wake at sunrise to claim a lounge chair. Hundreds, and I mean hundreds of chairs are "reserved" by guests at sunrise so if you go down after breakfast you're out of luck. There's literally no place to sit unless you want to go down to the beach itself. You must find one unclaimed chair and hope to build your claim through out the day. The resort claims it will remove abandoned items after one hour but we never saw that happen. Even though the chairs next to the one lounge we did find we claimed for four hours and we alerted staff, they were never freed up.

Two plus hour waits for character breakfasts were commonplace and we decided to eat across the street most of the time. There are positives, the kids loved the pools, slides, the reef was a big hit and the beach services were easy to use.

Typical for Disney the cost of food was eye watering, a poolside lunch for three is $100, but that's not a surprise. The service was really good and reasonably fast.

Finally, we did witness an issue in the slide where there was a problem with a guest and the team was very quick to respond and ensure that the child was safe and the ride was secure. You hope to not see such things but it does bring confidence that the team is trained and responsive.

This is my happy place. Not only was I an overnight guest, I also happen to be an employee there. Aulani is an overall magical place. Good job Disney Imagineers for all the hard work and dedication you put for this hawaiian experience!

My wife and I got married here almost five years ago. Every time we come back to Oahu we make a special trip to come and visit the resort even if we're not staying there.

On this trip we did the character breakfast buffet. It's especially worth it if you have kids and want to have them hang out with the characters.

This is definitely a splurge resort that everyone should try once.

This is my family's favorite vacation spot! We have been here 4 times and have never been disappointed! Even rooms without a premium ocean view are beautiful!

Disney's favorite resort created by children. The water play facility is cute. Unlike other Disney resorts, amusement facilities are not created together.

If you love Disney you will want to visit this hotel once.
Whatever you do, Disney. Highest quality
The beach is the only one in Hawaii where you can get alcohol.
Jacuzzi special while watching the setting sun.
There is a BBQ corner and tools can be rented out.
Ingredients can be purchased at the Island Country Market, a 7 to 8 minute walk from Aulani.
Caviary checks the daily 'IWA.
There may be characters outside the stated hours.
The room is large. I'll hurt if I fall because my bet is high When there is a small child, it will be attached to the fence.
The handling of the shower bowl is a bit complicated.
Because there are casts everywhere, it is a place to enjoy with confidence.

Went for our 23rd anniversary for a stay-cation. As always their customer service is top notch. Food and drinks were delicious. Super clean , and fun.

Beautifully built hotel. 5(?) Cove beaches partially owned by Disney-(they have areas with shaded sofas only for hotel guests)- but visitors can park nearby in the "secret" beach access parking lots and walk into the beach area. Was able to walk into the hotel and check out the gift shops, walked through the pool area. Saw the grand entrance hall with the murals of the indigenous Hawaiian tribes. The coves themselves are nice, the sand soft, good palms for shade, fish do wander into the cove near the rock wall so yes if you bring a snorkel you will be able to see small fish nibbling below. Public bathrooms are available as well as water fountains and I believe a payphone.

Can I go higher than 5? It was a dream vacation!!! The lagoon and the activites were beyond amazing.

Resort is beautiful, lots of things to do and places to eat.

Very nice hotel with a lovely lagoon, gorgeous landscaping, and plenty of water activities. My only real gripe is the high price of food and the stiffness of the bed.

Great resort, bummer I didn't know their lazy River and kids play area was under renovation when I booked, I looked forward to that. But they gave me a 50$ resort credit, other than that it's very nice for a family get away.

Food items are ridiculously expensive. Scenery is beautiful. So many people though.

The Disney Aulani resort was built for the entire family both young and old to enjoy and experience the magic of Disney. The amenities and conveniences of all the offerings and services were excellent. The staff were more than accommodating. Self parking in the structure and valet are available.

Breathtaking views. This is not just a hotel, this is an experience.

It Is everything you want from a resort, but the food is stupid expensive.

This resort is amazing. The pools, lazy river, slides and beach were great. Ocean view room had an amazing view. The character breakfast and dinner buffet had very good food and they did a great job getting the kids involved with the characters. The staff was superb, very friendly and helpful. Would like to see them do more character activities on the beach though but since it's not private that is probably the reason they do not. We would definitely recommend this resort for anyone that has younger kids.

This place is awesome and magical. Both on-site and off-site is beautiful. The resort doesn't just make guests stay on-site, it has off-site excursions and shuttles. The rooms are great (even more so in a villa room) with standard amenities (more with higher-grade rooms).
On a side note, if a trip to the Manoa Falls is booked, Tittaina (Ti) is extremely helpful if knowledge of the local flora, fauna or customs is wanted.
In short, this resort is worth every penny you spend whether you book at the resort or spa.

I have never been so sad to come home from a vacation. This entire resort is so beautiful and everyone is so friendly. It was amazing to learn about the local culture and be so freaking relaxed. I will be returning as soon as I can, truly spectacular.

Wonderful hotel! Amazing service with awesome waterslides, pools, character experiences and their own private lagoon alcove. A must for any Disney fan or family. Walkable shops & restaurants add to the variety you can experience at this location. Very expensive during holidays, tho!

Amazing learned alot ready to visit and make my bookings .

The food is good and some of the Disney characters come out and meet you. You can have your picture taken with Mickey Mouse.

Although the resort itself is well kept up and relaxing, we had lost our luck first nights stay with a room that was not up to par, we cant make up for lost time, 24 hours later we were moved into another room. Some would say deal with it, some would say have them make it right, Disney will you please let us try our stay again with no worries. Mahalo

[For those who want to see Aulani a bit]
There is a timeshare staff in front of Waikiki's DFS or Ala Moana Shopping Center Disney Store, so let's say that you want to participate in the briefing and decide the schedule
The shuttle bus will pick you up at the hotel.
60 minutes to Ko Olina with Aulani
When you arrive there will be a briefing session and a local guide
Solicitation is persistent and light compared to other timeshares. The person who buys it with or without pushing it buys it. The person who does not buy it does not buy it.

The pool can only be used by guests, and there are quite a lot of monitoring staff, so it is said that you should not enter without a landmark. It's impossible to sneak in

It's also a shuttle bus on the way back, so you should buy a souvenir shop that is limited to Aulani until time
The turtle ol sold only to Aulani is sold out, so be careful.

It is possible to spend money normally, but it is quite good price

Great resort for the family, pools slides, activities...

Lots of activities for everyone of all ages! Lazy river was a personal favorite, it's about 15 minutes to get around once if you're just floating (and not being pushed by kids). The shrimp tacos were also delicious!

Best hotel ever! Amazing for staying with kids. I do recommend going grocery shopping at target or Safeway because the food on the grounds is so expensive, but the pools and lagoons are amazing here. The breakfast with mickey was our kids favorite part.

It is wonderful definitely a great family place, it seems as if there is a lot of things to do but there aren't, and it kind of gets boring if you stay more than a week, But the resort is really good I definitely recommend it

My family has visited here before and we became Disney Vacation Club owners at the resort. This year we brought my husband's family along with our 8 month old daughter and we had an amazing time. When we come to Hawaii we like to really feel like we're in Hawaii and not just at some resort somewhere. Aulani truly accomplishes that.

Constant nickel and dining. Premium coffee booth opens well before the prepaid coffee is available. Extra charges for photos during "events". Long lines for the only 2 photo kiosks available for the whole resort.

Everything was great. Had an amazing time there. Easy 5 stars

Disney does everything right! Wonderful entertainment, beautiful surroundings and everything is super clean.

Wonderful place to vacation. Grounds are extremely clean and staff is very attentive.

Although the resort itself is well kept up and relaxing, we had lost our luck first nights stay with a room that was not up to par, we cant make up for lost time, 24 hours later we were moved into another room. Some would say deal with it, some would say have them make it right, Disney will you please let us try our stay again with no worries. Mahalo

I got a massage at Laniwai and it was amazing. They first guide you through the whole area and all the things you could do. Then give you a locker, slippers and a robe. Make sure to get there like 2 hours before to just relax and wander around. They come and get you about 10 minutes before your appointment. Then you sit and relax in the relaxation room and then go get the most amazing massage. I had Sean and he literally gave me the best massage I've ever gotten. He applied the perfect amount of pressure while focusing on my lower back as requested. Afterwards you can wander around still, relax and then take a shower. This is definitely my new get away spa. Everyone was so kind and accommodating. Disney did not disappoint. Thank you for an amazing day!

The character breakfast is a must for any Disney fan.

Just checked in. It s late, nothing is open. Told to use vending machines for nourishment, they only have drinks in them. Tried a couple of them and they don t accept bills. Let s see if the stay here gets better.

Beautiful resort property. Serene beach cove with fantastic Pacific sunsets. If your room is facing over the gardens and pool area, try to be on the 8th floor or higher to have an unobstructed view to the ocean. Great for kids of all ages and parents too. Loved it!

Somewhere between 4 and 5 stars. Having gone to Disneyland, Disneyworld, and on a Disney cruise, I had pretty high expectations, and they were almost met. Very friendly staff who goes out of their way to be helpful. Nice pools, though a bit crowded. Actually overall the whole place feels a bit crowded, but understandably it is President's days weekend in February. Food is good, well portioned, pricey though of course.

They are correct when they say the "Disney" is not as strong here -- you can easily forget that this is a Disney resort.

Traveled to Aulani first week in May, got a great rate after searching for low peek times. This was one of my favorite trips to a Hawaii , Disney magic everywhere and a complete paradise for children! Many exceptional things to do for children of all ages! Safe man made beach for children and plenty of beach toys and boogie boards available free. Food was pricey but good, anything is a Disney resort will be pricey.
We booked a ground floor pool level room, which I highly recommend in order to be close to the children and have easy access to the room without using an elevator. You can request at time of booking but not guaranteed. I also recommend getting the villa rooms with a kitchen/fridge, bring your own food if possible, also markets across the streets.
Aulani and Disney did a fantastic job with this resort for children. Parents if your expectations are other than children's activities, think twice, but worth the sacrifice for your kids. They do have bars but close early, there are pools and trails for adults to enjoy, Which was perfect!
My ONLY complaint is the bootcamp/workout instructors, CONSTANT CLAPPING during the workout, not only annoying to the people trying to work out in a pleasant beach environment but awful for the early beachgoers who want to hear waves crashing, birds singing and children playing. The work out music was enjoyable but the CONSTANT CLAPPING must STOP PLEASE!
Loved every moment of Aulani, magical! Thank you

Best adventure yet.. No issues with availability or equipment.. Everyone was amazing! From the chef at the restaurant to Stevie, who not only did an amazing job on the rooms, she made us want to be her friend! A great experience

The beauty, warmth, and friendliness of this hotel cannot be simply put into words.

Reserved a one bedroom villavilla and a two bedroom villa for 12 people. So far everything has been great. Everyone loves the rooms, pools, and beach and the cast members have been great. Eating and purchases on the property are pricey, but that's to be expected, and Kapolei is just a few minutes down the road. This is our second visit and we plan to come back regularly.

The hotel is great overall, it makes you and your family special as activities and places are exclusive to you guys. (Apart from overpriced price) Sadly, I couldn't say the same for the service. From the beginning, my family wasn't as welcomed as the other families. Front desk explained a lot more of the activities and catered more for the other families while my family got the short end of the stick. Most staff members are quite rude with answering questions and honestly just look like they hate their jobs. My family are also DVC members, and went to the holoholo tours office (which looks like they are always understaffed, only one staff member is present, compared to the office adjacent to it) to ask and buy Luau tickets, the lady was on the phone and did not even acknowledge us to tell us to wait. She acted as if we were not even standing in front of her, waiting to end her phone call. Besides Richard from the DVC staff, cleaning ladies, and miki from beach rentals, the staff left me at a pretty bad mood throughout.

Disney always makes things magical and Aulani is no different. Wonderful place for families and couples to relax and take a breather from everyday life. If you haven't been then schedule a trip and see for yourself.

A wonderful experience! My wife and I loved everything about this resort and will definitely be back soon!!

If you want to relax and just watch your kids wear themselves out, this is the only place to go.

Breakfast with the character is fun. Auntie sings while characters takes photos with you. Fun for the kids.

It's not quite Disneyland, but the magic of Disney is still there.

Location is beautiful, the staff is superb and the amenities can't be beat.

Great resort for the kids but be sure to increase your credit card limit before you go

This hotel is great, especially for kids. It's kind of far from Honolulu, so it's not near most of the touristy stuff. The restaurants are good but limited and there's only 2 shops in the hotel.

This is our second time here. Now in December during Covid and my family are enjoying it. From the Lazy river, the water slides, the kids water park, and the adult infinity jacuzzi looking out to your private beach cove. Plus its part of Disney and they always make you feel welcome and appreciated.

Very nice resort. Personnel is friendly and helpful with any questions.

Went there for a one week vacation with two kiddos 8 and 4yrs. Had an amazing time! We went at the end of their slow season so there was no waiting, always seats, plenty of room to play and have fun! The poke is amazing at the cafe! Great customer service ! Loved it all!

Best hotel ever! Amazing for staying with kids. I do recommend going grocery shopping at target or Safeway because the food on the grounds is so expensive, but the pools and lagoons are amazing here. The breakfast with mickey was our kids favorite part.

Amazing place to stay while on Oahu. I loved how it was a Disney resort, but they didn't try and kill it with a Disney theme. They stuck with a Hawaiian theme which made the stay that much more authentic. It's ocean side view was breathtaking and the staff was ultimately amazing. If I had the chance and money I would definitely return for anther stay.

Disney Vacation Club resorts are always top notch and 5 stars. Well worth the price of admission. Service and food, plus the Disney spirt.

The Disney character breakfast was awesome. My daughter really enjoyed seeing all characters. The price were a little expensive.

Awesome. It's a luxury resort with a touch of Disney Decor. I've been to Hawaii 3 times. This was the best.

We were actually having dinner at makahiki? I thought this was ok for a buffet. The seafood was really good. Crab legs, oysters, shrimp were all very good. The prime rib left a little to be desired. Desert options were ok. I kind of expected a more Hawaiian twist to the food. Maybe some purple taro rolls or point... But they did have some teriyaki. I know it's a family place, but couldn't they have a separate room for a birthday party? The last half of our dinner was popping balloons, huge family singing happy birthday and a LOT of excited kids noises. Some people asked to be moved. I'd probably choose a luau over this next time. As for the resort...it looked marvelous.

The grandkids had a fantastic time. Worth the trip. I was a hero!

Aloha! ...this DVC Resort is by far the best Resort ever ! Great Resort ! We were there for the New Year and for that time of the year ..all the hustle and bustle our experience was definitely a 5 star! This was our first time there and we absolutely loved it ! Upon arrival the bellman and valet staff were outstanding and greeted you with a smile ! The room was clean, bed comfortable, plush pillows, extra blankets, bathroom area big and it had up to date amenities, housekeeping was friendly and the resort staff too. Clean pools and lazy river, the lagoons clean an lots of chairs for the beach area. Great Resort for relaxing and kid friendly. We will definitely recommend to our friends an family and we will be back !

Weather was beautiful, family had a blast, if Disney so there's a lot of stuff to do.

Went to the Ulu cafe. Great food for a meal or just a snack!