Disney Aulani Reviews: 15 Pros and Cons of Aulani Resort in Hawaii
Disney’s Aulani resort is located on Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands. It is considered the crème de la crème of resorts with the added bonus of Disney magic! Of course, that does mean that the resort comes with a hefty price tag. If you’re questioning whether Disney’s Aulani is the right choice for you, then keep reading – I’m sharing my below pros and cons of Aulani to decide for yourself!
Disney Aulani Reviews
First, a little about Aulani…
Aulani (pronounced ow-LAH-nee) is located on western side of Oahu in Kapolei, Hawaii. The resort was built in 2011, and one of three Disney hotels that are not associated with a nearby theme park. Aulani spans over 21 acres and sits right along the beach. Aulani is a kid-friendly resort. Aulani is not an all-inclusive resort, meaning each item of your stay will be billed separately (room, food, activities, etc).
The Hawaiian word “Aulani” means “the place that speaks for the great ones”. It’s also part of the DVC (Disney Vacation Club) program, making it a popular destination for Disney fans.
PROS ABOUT AULANI:
Amazing Pool with Lazy River, Slides, Hot Tubs, and More!
If you’re splurging on a resort, chances are you’ll want to spend some time on property relaxing at the pools! Aulani has (3) large pools, (6) hot tubs, (2) slides, (1) salt water lagoon, and (1) relaxing lazy river. It’s a true paradise that offers something for everyone!
All of the above items are available for kids & adults, except for (1) hot tub that is reserved for adults only. The Salt Water Lagoon is the only added fee for the above amenities as it is a timed snorkeling experience.
Oceanfront Property
Just steps away from the exquisite pool area is the beach! It is in a cove so there aren’t any large waves at this beach. Since this hotel has 2 other resorts around it (with their own section of beaches), you’ll really only see Aulani guests at your beach front.
Disney offers chairs and umbrellas complimentary on the beach. They also provide paid rentals for snorkeling gear, paddle boards, reserved cabanas, and more. You can find all of this at the rental shack down by the beach.
On-Property Luau with Mickey & Friends
Disney has added a beautiful luau on property to celebrate Hawaiian traditions! It has all of your favorite luau components like traditional Hawaiian food, a lovely hula performance, a fire dance, and more! It even includes Mickey & Minnie as part of the show! This makes it family-friendly and one-of-a-kind!
Variety of dining options
Disney Aulani has a variety of onsite dining options that will keep you well fed during your trip!
*Note – Aulani is not an all-inclusive resort. You will need to pay for food and drinks a la carte throughout your stay.
- Ulu Cafe (Quick Service):
Great for Aulani breakfast, snacks, quick lunch/dinner, etc - Off The Hook (Outdoor Restaurant):
Sit-down or to-go restaurant located near the pool deck with views of the beach - Makahiki (“Formal” Restaurant):
Serving breakfast (with character meet & greets) and dinner, the most formal dining option at Aulani - The ‘Ōlelo Room (Bar & Lounge):
Great place for drinks and appetizers - Wailana (Pool Bar):
Serving quick to-go drinks - Mama’s Shack Shop (Poolside Quick Bites)
Serving fish and chips, fried shrimp, and more quick bite favorites - Pāpālua Shave Ice:
Shave Ice is iconic in Hawaii – get your very own Mickey shaped shave ice here on Pāpālua
If you’re still looking for more dining options and variety, I’ve posted a guide to the Top 10 Restaurants Near Aulani.
Large Balcony
Each hotel room in Aulani features a lovely balcony that can fit 2 guests comfortably outside! The best view is facing the beach or the pool area, but even rooms on the other side of the hotel still have a nice view of the gardens/island.
Tons of Activities and Character Meet & Greets
Disney offers free and paid activities each and every day. This includes multiple character Meet & Greets throughout the day where you can see your favorites: Mickey, Minnie, Daisy, Donald, Goofy, and Moana! You can also partake in classes like Make Your Own Disney Ears or Storytelling.
Free App
It might sound silly to list a “free app” as a pro of the Disney Aulani resort – but believe me, it’s incredibly helpful. With all of the various activities, shops, restaurants, etc it can be hard to keep track of opening/closing hours. The app will provide you with an Aulani resort map, a list of activities for the day (and week), and hours for each restaurant & shop.
CONS ABOUT AULANI:
Expensive
Surprise – a Disney resort located in Hawaii is expensive. You might think the cost of the hotel room is steep, but just wait until you’re there and need to buy a muffin & coffee for breakfast… since Aulani isn’t an all-inclusive resort, you’ll need to factor in money for daily food, beverage, and activities.
Lots of people wonder “Is Aulani worth the price” – ultimately, that’s up to you! This pro/con list will help you determine if the pros outweigh the cons enough for you to visit.
Small Studio Rooms
Aulani does have the option of a Studio bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, or a suite. The Studio bedrooms are the cheapest option, but they come at a price of comfort. They run on the smaller side, featuring a Queen bed, pull out sofa, bathroom, balcony, and kitchenette with a mini fridge and microwave.
No Airport Shuttle
I strongly believe that if you travel to Hawaii, you should rent a car in order to explore the island. However, if you’re booking your trip to Hawaii just to experience Aulani, you may think that a car isn’t necessary.
Unfortunately, Disney doesn’t provide a shuttle to and from the airport… and the airport can be 30-60 minutes away depending on traffic. This means you’ll find yourself paying for an expensive airport transfer or renting a car anyways. If you rent a car, you’ll then find yourself paying for parking on property (unless you’re a DVC member).
Long story short – when visiting Aulani, rent a car & pay for parking. This will give you the freedom to come and go as you please, enjoy the island, and experience things outside of the resort.
Lots of Kids
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that a DISNEY resort has a lot of kids… but it still deserves to be in the “con” list for people that aren’t traveling with young ones. The kids overtake the pools and hot tubs and splash and scream constantly. Aulani used to have an Adult-Only Pool & Bar area, but this has changed and is now open for everyone.
Right now, there is only one hot tub that is reserved for adults-only at Aulani. It is a double decker infinity hot tub with great views of the beach and sunset, but it does get crowded.
Far From Oahu Landmarks
Aulani is far from the classic must-see landmarks of Oahu (like Honolulu, North Shore, Dole Pineapple Farm). To make matters worse, Oahu is known for having a lot of traffic, especially around Honolulu.
Since Aulani is on the other side of the island from Honolulu, you’ll have to really plan ahead and spend a lot of time on the road (one hour each way) to get to/from places.
Related Post: Free Things To Do in Oahu
Overall, I believe Aulani is a resort that everyone should experience at least once, especially if they love Disney! The pros outweigh the cons in my opinion, and make this resort worth it for special occasions or a splurge-vacation.
Let me know in the comments what you think about these pros and cons of Aulani!
Save this post on the “Pros and Cons of Aulani” on Pinterest by clicking the image below:
Related Hawaii Content you may enjoy:
OAHU:
Free Things To Do in Oahu
Restaurants Near Aulani
Best Time to Visit the Hawaiian Islands
20 Mistakes to Avoid in Hawaii
What a dreamy place! This looks like so much fun, and the view from your room!!!! I don’t think I’d visit without kids since I’d imagine mostly families visit, but it looks like such a relaxing getaway!
It does look like an amazing resort, especially for families. Very thorough review, well done. Thanks for sharing!
I am alway glad when I read a hotel review that looks at both the pros and cons. The water pros are certainly something I would look for on a visit to Aulani Resort. But I must admit the “lots of kids” might make it a resort we would pass on. But great if travelling as a family.
What an amazing place! We have been dreaming of Hawaii for some time now. And it really does not surprise me that this hotel would be expensive! However, it does look like it may be worth a stay, even for just a couple of days!
Thank you for honest reviews. This is so useful while planning a trip
This place looks amazing! I did not even know it existed until reading this so thanks for sharing!
I wouldn’t be traveling with kids but this looks like a gorgeous place to stay in — those views!!
Far from Oahu Landmarks and expensive…no Brainer for old retired folks like us. Would be different if I still had young kids in tow!
I love a good lazy river moment! This resort looks amazing and has something for everyone. I don’t think I’ve stayed in a Disney resort but have to check it out some time! Thanks for sharing your experience in an honest review!
I haven’t been to any Disney resort yet. But Disney’s Aulani resort on Oahu seems a nice place for holidays. It offers lots of fun and activities. I also like the large balcony.
Making the Wailana Pool a family pool instead of an adult only pool is a reason my wife and I, who have 320 Aulani points, and had stayed there many times in all the DVC room types, will not go back to Aulani.
The Wailana Pool was my happy, relaxing place, at which I would spend 6-10 hours a day.
Now it is an unflushed, noisy, toilet.
And no one will tell you why they made this change.
With 30,000 square feet of family pools available, why did they take away an 1,800 square foot pool from adults.