Escape to Aulani, a vibrant Disney resort in Hawaii, where relaxed luxury meets family fun among pools, a tranquil lagoon, and lively dining options.
"Disney’s storytelling excellence blends seamlessly with the island way of life at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. The oceanfront hotel has a more upscale feel than its mainland Disney counterparts and features standout dining, a luxury spa, an expansive water park, and posh accommodations that range from studio rooms to multi-room suites." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"A Hawaiian vacation is a bucket list trip for many people, and for Disney fans, the place to stay is Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa located in Ko Olina, Hawaii. The sprawling beachfront resort seamlessly blends Disney magic and guest service with the rich history of Hawaii. In fact, the resort was built in partnership with cultural experts to ensure it was telling the story of Hawaii in an accurate way. Around the resort, guests can spend the day in the glittering ocean or at the pool, eat breakfast with beloved Disney characters, enjoy the spa, or explore the Menehune Adventure Trail scavenger hunt. As the sun sets, be sure to make your way out to the beach to see the sky come alive in blazing color before heading to ‘Ama ‘Ama, the resort’s oceanfront fine dining restaurant."
"This $800-million, family-friendly Disney beach resort opened in 2011 on the leeward side of Oahu. The island-themed environs feature water and volcano motifs, local artwork, and taro-patterned rugs. The pool area incorporates lava stone, hanging bridges, a splash zone, and four waterslides with views of the resort's lagoon. Kids’ activities abound, of course, including a scavenger hunt and outdoor Disney movie nights. 'Ukelele lessons and fire pit story-telling evenings with puppets are complimentary."
"A resort in Ko Olina, Oahu that can cost almost $500 a night. It is not an option for budget travelers seeking affordable lodging in the area." - Travel + Leisure Editors
"A Hawaiian fantasyland on Oahu’s more remote leeward coast, about 40 minutes from Waikiki, Aulani is so seductive—for all ages—that many guests are loath to leave the property at all. And who can blame them? The beach is an idyllic cove (albeit a man-made one) stocked with kayaks, boogie boards, and everything else little beach bums could want. Then there are the three pools, including one for adults only and one filled with tropical fish for snorkelers-in-training, two impressive waterslides, and the biggest crowd-pleaser of them all, a 900-foot-long lazy river where guests, big and small, splash around on inner tubes as they meander around a faux-rock grotto. Goofy, Minnie, Mickey, and the rest—all in their vacation outfits—make occasional cameos at the breakfast buffet or by (sometimes, in) the pool. But while Aulani is most assuredly every kid’s dream, it is not every parent’s nightmare. The resort decor is more traditionally Hawaiian than obnoxiously Magic Kingdom; the lobby is built to recall an old canoe house, on a grand scale, and is covered in murals, painted by local artists, depicting island life. Hawaiian storytellers gather around a fire pit at night, and rooms have warm woods, with a single subtle reference to the Mouse King—a wooden carving of Mickey with a surfboard and ukulele that doubles as a desk lamp. Perhaps best of all, the Aulani has an outstanding, supervised kids’ club that’s free to guests ages 3 to 12. Babysitters are available for kids as young as six weeks old."
