A few weeks ago we took a late spring break trip to Hawaii, and with that, here is my Aulani Disney Resort Travel Review - with a Three Year-Old. Spoiler alert: she loved it! Here are some of my tips, tricks and reviews of what we loved and didn't love. And of course, lots of photos of paradise...
Quick List: 10 Things My Toddler Loved at Aulani Disney Resort...
- Shaved Ice! Mickey ears, what's not to love...
- Swimming! Goggles, swimsuit, simple bliss.
- Meeting Moana. Obviously.
- Being silly with other toddler guests! Fast friends. Toddlers love meeting strangers and being buddies for a bit.
- The Moana performance on the lawn. It was quick, cute and funny.
- Picking out a Disney dress at the salon shop... She chose Belle.
- Shopping in the gift shop... of course.
- Getting snacks at the cafe! She loved getting beverages at the drink machines too.
- The music at the luau. She started off by dancing around in the back with some other wiggly toddlers...
- Stargazing premium activity! She loved this activity. I was worried she would be too young to enjoy it, but any mention of Saturn and planets and then looking through a telescope all on her own and she was in heaven.
- ...Oh! How could I forget the best part of hotels for toddlers: elevators and long hallways to run down. Yup.
5 Things I Loved About Aulani Disney Resort
Here is my Aulani Disney Resort Travel Review!
1 - The Pools
So number one of this resort has to be the extravagant pool system in place. There is something for everyone. A fun lazy river - that actually kinda pushes you downstream. There is a giant splash pad structure with a toddler slide and even a baby splash pad area. A snorkeling pool! And there is a giant pool for lounging. Another smaller pool off to the side and then the most popular pool seems to be the one that overlooks the beach with an infinity edge. We loved the vibe of that pool. There are also three hot tubs. However, one was out of service for us so the hot tubs in use were ridiculously over-filled. I counted 18 people in one on our one cloudy cool day.
But overall, the pools are just great here. Kid paradise for sure. Oh, and though we didn't use it, there is also a giant water slide for older kiddos!
2 - The Gentle Disney Influence
We are Disney fans, and we booked this trip when my daughter was in a Moana phase. She would watch Moana everyday and sing the songs at the top of her lungs on every car ride. As parents know, phases come and go, but luckily, she still liked Moana enough during the trip to be pretty enthralled by the surroundings. It felt more like "where Moana lives" rather than an actual Disney park - which is a great thing when you are in Hawaii and really only need the natural beauty of the surroundings to speak for themselves!
That being said, we loved seeing characters a bit and we even attended a show: Moana with live actors. It was super minimal and quick and really cute. A nice chill afternoon activity.
She loved her Mickey shaved ice and also the subtle Disney accents in the room and hotel. The hotel has that spatial Disney magic, without being overbearing or disruptive of the main event: Hawaii!
3 - The Spa
There isn't much to say about a good spa other than this: my service was awesome and the surroundings were relaxing and tranquil. Though I didn't get to lounge in the spa as much as when I came here once before having a kid (we had stayed next door at the Four Seasons on that trip) - I still loved the spa. They do this gently rock picking ceremony at the start which is really fun.
4 - The Activities
At first, when discovering that you needed to reserve activities in advance, I felt a bit overwhelmed. This was my vacation, not something I felt like micro-planning months in advance. But alas, reserving a few things ahead of time worked great. We reserved the luau as well as the stargazing activity. My space-loving daughter LOVED looking through a telescope and hearing about the stars!
There are many activities everyday at the resort, and while I liked that they were there, I wouldn't bother filling your itinerary with too many things. Seriously, pick one or two and then let your days unwind with ease. There is no pressure to do every offering, even though some people seem to like to do "all the things."
I can say this: having a toddler definitely teaches you to just go with the flow a bit more because planning can be nearly impossible. We almost missed our luau because we were all taking a late afternoon, jetlag nap!
Stargazing at Aulani...
5 - The Beach
I came to Ko Olina a few years ago, without a kid. And I remember looking at the beach and thinking, "This is so silly. There are no waves!" I was so unimpressed. I tilted my nose up at these baby beaches that weren't actually "beaches" but instead, man-made coves right off the real ocean.
But coming back with a tiny human has changed all that! We loved spending time on the beach. It is super close to the hotel, has a hut where you can rent beach and sand toys and there are plentiful amounts of beach chairs and umbrellas.
It's a great spot to catch the sunset and take some golden hour photos.
And to balance out my Aulani Disney Resort Travel Review, I wanted to include some things that were not Disney-perfect. I mean, you guys probably know that Disney offers the BEST children-friendly travel experiences anywhere on the planet - so the stakes are always very high for me.
3 Things I Didn't Love About Aulani Disney Resort (These were tiny things!)
1 - The Luau Meal + Timing
OK, so this is a tricky one because the chef really tried... So of course I am vegan and was assured that there would be plenty of options for me. Alas, upon arrival it seemed like salad, rice and fruit were the only things I could eat. I asked a staff member and the chef made me a special marinara pasta. Sadly, it may have just been made too quickly or something, but the pasta was pretty bland and a bit rubbery.
So basically, the food wasn't the best.
The entertainment was amazing. I wish they had included Moana in the entertainment a bit - since this was a Disney resort and my daughter kept asking about her. Mickey came out for a minute, but it wasn't what she was hoping for... The entertainment ran a bit long and I wish some of the fire elements were moved up a bit. My daughter was really ready to leave by the time the really cool fire tricks were unveiled.
Overall, I'm glad we did the luau once, but I probably wouldn't do it again because it was so expensive and felt a bit too large to be able to be exquisite with food and service.
2 - The Check-In
Our flight was delayed by a few hours, so we arrived late at night. There was zero rush at the desk, but the night check-in staff member was not on par with the vibe and toner I expect from Disney. He was kinda grumpy and when we asked about a specific room request he just said that we could change later and that requests can't be guaranteed. Plus, the lack of leis at check-in is a bit of a bummer.
3 - The "Towel Chair Saving" Situation
Hot, sweaty and carrying around a three year-old who doesn't feel like walking as we hunt for a spot to plop our stuff for the afternoon is not exactly how I like to start a vacation day. So many people wake up at the crack of dawn to reserve a "good spot" set of lounge chairs. I know this sort of thing happens at every resort, but for some reason it felt really bad here. At one point, I literally had to ask a staff member about where we should sit because every chair around the pool was taken or "reserved."
If Disney is listening... I would personally pay a fee to select a chair in advance to avoid the pain of hunting for a chair in Hawaii heat... Yes, I know reserving cabanas is a thing, but what about pool lounge chairs?
And lastly, for my Aulani Disney Resort Travel Review...
My 5 Tips for Traveling to Aulani Disney Resort:
1. Book Activities in Advance:
Given the popularity of activities at Aulani, consider booking them in advance to secure your spot. While spontaneous adventures are part of the fun, pre-planning ensures you won't miss out on experiences like the luau or stargazing sessions -- or the spa!
2. Arrive Early for Poolside Seating:
If you really want prime poolside seating, arrive early in the morning to beat the rush. It's annoying that this is what you have to do to snag a good spot, but as the system and resort capacity is set up now, you really need to play the game to get a good spot.
And if you do leave for the day, please be a kind traveler and clean up all your towels so that someone else knows your space is free.
3. Explore Nearby Dining Options:
We loved going the the Four Seasons to dine and grab coffee. The Four Seasons has an amazing vegan menu at their main fine dining restaurant - so we went there twice! Plus, it's kinda fun to eat off-resort.
I really loved the quick grab options at the Aulani Cafe. Their coconut milk chia seed pudding with berries was my absolute fave for a healthy breakfast! Plus a giant container of strawberries to share...
4. Explore the Island - or Not:
Don't overwhelm yourself. Look, I adored our last Oahu trip where we drove all over the island and saw so many new spots and beaches. But honestly, with a toddler, I kinda wish we had just stayed at the resort the whole time - ha. So venture out if you have time, or if this may be your only visit to Hawaii for a while. But if you just stay put at Aulani the whole time, you will still have the best time! No pressure, parents!
5. Take Advantage of Resort Amenities:
As I mentioned, Aulani is unique in that it truly offers an on-going array of amenities beyond the pools and beach. They have a jam-packed daily schedule with character visits and arts and crafts and even performances! Be aware of them, even if you can't join them all... My fave: stargazing!
Aulani Disney Resort Travel Review Summary:
During this trip to the Aulani Disney Resort in Hawaii with my three-year-old daughter, we discovered a blend of enchanting experiences and a few very minor setbacks. I highlighted five aspects that stood out, including the fantastic pool facilities, the subtle yet charming Disney influence, the relaxing spa amenities, the diverse range of activities available, and the stunning beach setting. However, I also share three areas that fell short of expectations, such as the dining experience at the luau, the check-in interaction, and the challenge of securing lounge chairs around the pool areas.
Overall I loved our trip and we would return for another visit.
