Disney Aulani Hawaii: What to Know Before You Go

Disney Aulani Hawaii Resort offers your family a chance to experience all the favorite Disney themes—with a Polynesian twist. In this article, we’ve put together some “must-knows” for you and your family, so you can prepare for the most fun Disney vacation adventure yet.

Do you and your family love Disney and all of the lovable characters? How about tropical sand beaches and crystal clear ocean waters? We imagine your whole family answering with a resounding, yes!

Look for Special Packages and Offers

So you’ve decided to travel to the beautiful island of Oahu and visit the magical Disney Aulani Hawaii Resort. To get the best deals for rooms and activities, make sure to check online for offers available. You can save up to 30% on room costs when you book during certain periods.

Be Aware of New Covid Related Changes

It wasn’t too long ago that the islands of Hawaii put a hold on tourism with a 14-day mandatory quarantine for all visitors. Luckily for everyone, starting October 15th, tourists from all around the world are now able to visit the tropical paradise of Hawaii—as long as they obtain a pretravel covid19 test. Do make sure to check which covid tests the Island of Oahu permits as some are not accepted.

Other covid19 related rules at the Aulani Resort may include wearing masks in certain pubic areas, social distancing when in lines, and maintaining a certain level of cleanliness. Keep in mind that the Aulani Resort has made changes to comply with health and government authorities’ guidelines. It is Aulani Resort’s goal to provide a safe experience for all.

Check-In Online

Once you’ve booked your reservation, check-in online to save you and your family a lot of time. Once you arrive at the resort, Disney staff will meet you outside of the lobby and give directions for your room.

They’ll also give your kids a cool Menehune necklace. If you’re feeling left out, no need! Men are given a kukui nut necklace and women receive a flower lei.

Upgrade to a Villa Suite

There are great deals available for booking a Villa suite. We think this is a great option for a family because not only does it have more space, but it also includes a kitchenette with a refrigerator.

This gives your family the option to buy groceries and make meals instead of having to go out to eat all the time—which can be very expensive. Villas also come with a washer and dryer that makes washing your family’s clothes very convenient.

Aunty’s Beach House

Included with your stay is access to Aunty’s Beach House. It’s an arts-kid club where your kids can immerse themselves in Hawaiian culture, music, art, and other supervised activities.

If you’d like to skip the long lines, register your kids online ahead of time. Print out your signed forms and bring them with you. Aunty’s Beach house will provide your kids with GPS tracking devices that attach around the wrist and do not come off.

Each tracking band costs $18 plus tax. Once they are returned, you will receive a full refund.

Pool Policies

The pool is a great place to spend to cool off and relax. You are required to bring your key card each time you visit the pool. The staff there will give everyone in your family a colored wristband that will give you access to the pool for that day.

Life jackets are free to rent for your little ones. Pool chairs are limited, so if you’d like to use them, you’ll have to get there early as they go fast!

Dinner Reservations

Dinner reservations, especially during holidays, fill up fast! We suggest making dining reservations online as early as you can.

The food at the resort is yummy and can be expensive. Little Disney themed snacks are sold at the shops—the cheapest meal you might find for your kids is a peanut butter sandwich for around $10.

The ‘Ama ‘Ama

If you’re looking to take your family out for some really tasty food, The ‘Ama ‘Ama is a tourist favorite. Kid’s meals are affordable and the breakfast is quite delicious.

When getting breakfast, plan to make your reservations for when they open at 7 AM for the best tables and a view of the ocean. Keep in mind they do have a dress code that pretty much requires everyone to be dry, clothed, or covered.

Breakfast With Disney Characters

Aulani offers a fun Disney Character breakfast experience for the kids. Disney characters walk around and interact with kids while you wait for your food.

Adult tickets for Character Breakfast are $45 and $28 for kids. If your kids really love this experience, you can see different Disney characters at the Menehune dinner, which costs $70 for adults and $28 for kids. If you don’t plan to stay at Aulani, you can still come and pay for the character breakfast and get the Disney Aulani Hawaii experience with your kids.

Aulani Luau

The Aulani Luau is a great show displaying Polynesian dancing, storytelling, singing, and fire spinning. This is an experience that you and your kids will remember for a lifetime.

There are a bunch of free activities for the kids to do before the show like fake Polynesian tattoos, ukulele lessons, poi making, and flower lei bracelets. The food is mouth-watering good with traditional Hawaiian food as well as options for kids who might not like oysters and seafood.

Drinks are not included with the Luau ticket price, so bring your purchasable Aulani refillable cup to save money on drinks. One last thing, if you purchase the VIP tickets, your family will gain early access and seats closer to the stage.

The Daily Iwa

Every day the Aulani puts out something called the Daily Iwa. It’s a schedule of everything that is happening that day and lists all the free activities, food activities, etc. It’s available the night before around 7 pm at the concierge desk and the Aunty’s Beach House.

Meet and Greet Disney Characters

Find out which Disney character will be around by calling from your resort room. They’ll let you know what time and where you can find each character, so you and your family can say hello to your favorite Disney characters!