Opened in 2011, Aulani, Disney’s independent resort on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, is a bold departure for Mouse House. Rather than a castle, roller coaster, and character-filled theme park surrounded by hotels, the hotel itself is the destination. And instead of telling fantastic stories about fairytale princesses and mythical lands, the focus is on the people, places, and culture of Hawaii. After two years of operation, the grand experiment appears to be a great success.
The resort is packed with overnight guests and members of the Disney Vacation Club, the company’s vacation ownership (read: timeshare) program. People seem more than willing to pay a premium to visit the truly impressive resort, hang out with a Hawaiian-shirted Mickey and his friends, and experience Disney’s legendary hospitality and talents for storytelling.
Aulani beach and the pool area full of activities are especially popular. So much so, Disney altered the resort’s design and relocated its luau-like show to an unused grassy area so it could develop an additional pool, spa, and water play area for young children. It also expanded the dining options by adding a much-needed coffee shop. The community introduced the new features in October 2013, which is when I had the opportunity to visit.
Thinking of heading to Disney’s Hawaiian outpost? Read my full review of Aulani. I also handpicked the top reasons to visit Aulani and produced an Aulani video showing the complex.
More naughty water
The ‘Waikolohe Valley’, which runs through the center of the resort, is packed with all kinds of ways to get wet (Waikolohe is the Hawaiian word for ‘rough water’), including multiple pools, a sprawling lazy river, a snorkeling experience , slides and hot tubs. But, especially during peak seasons, it can also be packed with guests. By providing more ways to get wet, the new Ka Maka Landing should help alleviate some of the congestion.
The highlight of the addition is an ‘infinity pool’, offering an unobstructed view at its end of the beautiful man-made bay beach of Ko Olina. Located on the west shore of Oahu, the sunsets over the beach are breathtaking, and the infinity edge of the pool provides a perfect vantage point for watching the evening show. It is the second infinity pool in the complex, although it is much larger than the original.
I don’t want to give away anything, but guests who dip their heads underwater in the pool will be rewarded with an audio Easter egg that the Disney Imagineers have cleverly included. (Be patient, but don’t forget to take a breath occasionally! You will hear it eventually.) It is one of countless examples of secret details waiting to be discovered throughout the complex.
Next to the pool is the Ka Maka Grotto, a spa located in what appears to be a coral reef hideaway befitting The Little Mermaid. The Imagineers have designed a light package that bathes the cave environment in alternating hues of amber, green and other colors. After the sun sets over the bay, the grotto puts on its own show.
Completing the new elements of Ka Maka is Keiki Cove, a small water park for young children. Offers gentle fountains that come to life randomly in your ankle-deep pool.
Aloha Now get out of here.
“The one thing I would like to see is more people using Aulani as a home base to go out to the islands and experience them,” says Joe Rohde, senior vice president and creative executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, and the resort’s visionary boss. . Reflecting two years into the project’s opening, the Oahu native hoped guests would further explore his homeland after being exposed to and inspired by all the Hawaiian artifacts, language, and tradition that he and his team had so judiciously embedded. the station.
Instead, many guests have stayed, happy to experience Disney’s closed version of Hawaii, hence the push to increase pool offerings. In part, this may be due to the wonderful job Rohde and his colleagues have done in creating such an engaging, compelling, and feature-packed slice of paradise. Why leave?
It may also be due in part to its relatively isolated location. Unlike the multitude of hotels located along the Waikiki shoreline in Honolulu, which offers easy access to the city, Aulani is on the other side of the island in the semi-gated community of Ko Olina. To explore beyond the gates, guests would have to rent a car (which costs considerably more at the resort’s Alamo counter compared to the relatively reasonable prices available at the Honolulu airport) or book a tour at the hotel or through from an external operator. .
Outside of the more touristy sections of Honolulu, there are many reasonably priced restaurants on Oahu. Car-free guests staying at Aulani could find themselves spent on their vacation budget exclusively dining at the property. The new Ulu Cafe, which the resort built by taking over a former three-bedroom ground-level villa, helps expand options and offers some lower-priced rates. But still not exactly cheap.
The casual café, which is open daily for all three meals, offers take-out items as well as freshly made quick-service hot and cold items such as flat breads (which are quite tasty), sandwiches, and soups. Mornings can be tough. The character food breakfast in the Makahiki Dining Room is extensive but quite expensive and unsurprisingly can be noisy. A la carte items at the new Ulu Cafe, including bottles of juice and bagels for $ 4 each, can add up.
It might make more sense to head to the signature restaurant, ‘Ama’Ama, for a quieter morning meal. While their dinner menu is expensive, their breakfast fare is surprisingly reasonable. Another alternative would be to visit the restaurants of the nearby hotels in Ko Olina. Or head across the street to the small mall that includes an ABC store that offers a deli.
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