Hey Dreamers! Grab your cup of coffee and maybe a lei, because we’re talking about one of my favorite Disney destinations: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii. After recently spending time at Aulani, I came home with a list of Disney Aulani tips that I think can make a big difference in how you plan your vacation. Some are things you’ll want to know before you even get on the plane, while others are little details that can make your days at the resort easier and more enjoyable.

Aulani is not a Disney vacation where you need to race from one attraction to another. In fact, I think one of the biggest mistakes you can make is trying to treat Aulani like Walt Disney World. This is a resort where slowing down is part of the experience. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t plan ahead. A few smart decisions before your trip can save you money, time and frustration once you arrive.

So, if you’re considering Aulani, these are the Disney Aulani tips I would want you to know before you go.

What Is Disney Aulani?

Aulani is Disney’s resort in Ko Olina on the island of Oahu. It combines a full Disney resort experience with the beaches, scenery and culture of Hawaii, but the pace is very different from a Disney theme park vacation.

You have beautiful pools, a lazy river, a water play area, a beautiful beach, character experiences, dining, activities, entertainment and plenty of places to simply sit and enjoy where you are. You can spend an entire day at the resort without feeling like you missed something because you didn’t leave.

And that is probably the first of my Disney Aulani tips: give yourself permission to slow down.

If your idea of a successful Disney vacation is checking off as many attractions as possible, Aulani may take some getting used to. But if you want time to swim, sit by the water, explore the resort, enjoy a meal and watch the sunset without constantly checking the clock, Aulani can be an incredible fit.

Aulani Is One of the Most Beautiful Disney Resorts

I have stayed at a lot of Disney resorts over the years, and Aulani is genuinely one of the most beautiful stays I’ve had.

There is something different about walking around the resort and realizing that the resort itself is part of the vacation. The landscaping, architecture, ocean views, pools and Hawaiian influences create an environment where you don’t feel like you need to be somewhere else.

I have a full Aulani review that goes much deeper into the resort itself, so I won’t turn this article into another review. Instead, think of this as the practical companion piece: the things I learned that I think will actually help you plan your trip.

And one thing I would keep in mind when reading older Disney Aulani reviews is that some of the information you find online may reflect an earlier version of the resort experience. Aulani’s rooms, for example, are original rather than reflecting the newer room updates you may have seen at some Disney World resorts.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stay there. It simply means you should know what you are booking.

Don’t Forget About the Cost of Getting to Hawaii

Here is something I really want you to consider before falling in love with an Aulani room and looking only at the resort price: Hawaii is expensive to get to.

The room is not the only part of the splurge. Depending on where you live and when you travel, airfare can add a significant amount to the cost of your vacation. You can sometimes find better fares by being flexible with your dates, and some travelers choose to build in a longer connection through California, but that can turn a travel day into a very long travel day.

This is why one of my biggest Disney Aulani tips is to look at the entire vacation cost before deciding whether Aulani fits your budget. Think about airfare, transportation, your room, food, activities, a rental car if you want one and the things you’ll want to do while you’re on Oahu.

Aulani can absolutely be worth the splurge. You just want to know what the splurge actually includes.

8 Disney Aulani Tips I Think You Should Know

Now let’s get into the practical stuff. These are the Disney Aulani tips I came home thinking about most, because they are the kinds of little details that can make your vacation easier once you arrive.

1. Use Hele Hele Transportation From the Airport

If you don’t want to rent a car, take a look at Hele Hele Transportation for getting from the airport to Aulani. When we used it, the cost was $25 per person, and one of the biggest conveniences was that car seats were available.

And this is not just about getting from point A to point B. They also helped with the luggage, which can make a big difference after a long flight to Hawaii. When you’re traveling with children and arriving after a long travel day, having someone help with the logistics is worth considering.

If you are researching a Disney Aulani airport shuttle, this is one of the options I would put on your list to investigate before your trip.

This is one of those Disney Aulani tips that may not sound particularly exciting when you’re planning your vacation from home, but transportation is exactly the kind of detail you want figured out before you land.

2. Book Auntie’s Beach House Exactly 45 Days in Advance

If you are traveling with kids, pay attention to this one.

Download the Aulani app before your trip, log in and be ready exactly 45 days before the date you want to book Auntie’s Beach House. I mean exactly. Don’t casually remember that you need to make the reservation sometime that morning. Have the app ready and know when your booking window opens.

Auntie’s Beach House is Aulani’s kids’ club, and it can give parents something that can be surprisingly hard to find on a family vacation: a little time to themselves.

That could mean sitting by the pool, enjoying a meal, walking along the beach or simply having an hour or two where you aren’t responsible for entertaining everyone. There is nothing wrong with wanting some grown-up time during a family vacation.

Of all the Disney Aulani tips in this article, this is one I would put high on your pre-trip checklist because you don’t want to arrive at Aulani and realize you missed the booking window.

3. Don’t Spend Your Vacation Waiting in Character Lines

One of the things I love about Aulani is that the character experience feels much more relaxed than what you might expect at a theme park.

You’ll find Disney Aulani characters throughout the day, and they can appear in different areas around the resort. Because of that, I wouldn’t feel like you need to drop everything and stand in a huge line the first time you see a character.

If you’re staying for several days, you have opportunities to see characters throughout your stay. Take advantage of that. Enjoy the pool. Go to the beach. Have lunch. Come back later.

This is another reason I keep coming back to the idea of slowing down. One of the best Disney Aulani tips I can give you is to resist the urge to turn every experience into something you have to accomplish immediately.

4. Get the Refillable Drink Tumbler

Buy the refillable drink tumbler. You can use it throughout your stay for drinks such as coffee, tea and soda, and it becomes one of those little conveniences you appreciate more as the days go on. Instead of repeatedly purchasing individual drinks, you have your tumbler with you and can refill it as needed.

And here is a very practical little bonus: when your vacation is over, you can take it home and use it as a sand toy.

That is one of those Disney Aulani tips that sounds small, but when you’re paying resort prices for everything else, the little conveniences start to matter.

5. Know Where to Find the Best Pool Chairs

If you want a good pool chair, don’t wait until late morning to start looking.

People begin saving chairs around 8 a.m., so if having a particular spot matters to you, plan accordingly. One of the areas I particularly like is around the lazy river, and for families with younger children, the area between the splash pad and lazy river can be especially convenient.

Of course, there is no need to spend your entire morning obsessing over the perfect chair. But if you know you want a home base near the pool for the day, getting out earlier makes that much easier.

This is another one of my Disney Aulani tips because Aulani is a resort where your pool time may become a significant part of your vacation. A little planning can make it much more enjoyable.

6. Bring Disney Pins From Home

If your family enjoys pin trading, bring some Disney pins with you.

You can find pins at Aulani, but Disney merchandise at a resort in Hawaii can add up quickly. Bringing some pins from home gives you something to trade without having to purchase everything once you arrive.

Pin trading can also be a fun way for kids to interact with Cast Members and make the resort feel a little more interactive.

And yes, I know this is a tiny detail compared with airfare and resort reservations. But these little details are exactly why I wanted to put together these Disney Aulani tips. Sometimes the things that make a vacation easier are not the things you think about when you first start planning.

7. Use the Weekend as a Travel Day If You Can

If your schedule gives you some flexibility, consider using the weekend as a travel day and spending your Aulani days during the week.

The resort can feel quieter during weekdays, and that can make a noticeable difference when you’re trying to enjoy the pools, beach and other resort amenities.

This is especially useful if your goal is to have a more relaxed vacation rather than simply fit Aulani into a larger Hawaii itinerary.

One of the best Disney Aulani tips I can give you is to think about when you are at the resort, not just how many nights you are staying. Sometimes changing the days of your trip can change the entire feel of the experience.

8. Rent a Car If You’re Staying Five Days or More

If you’re staying at Aulani for five days or more, I would seriously consider renting a car. We absolutely loved having one because it gave us the freedom to get out and see Oʻahu with our family rather than spending the entire vacation at the resort.

We drove around the island, visited Dole Plantation, explored many of the famous beaches, went skydiving, found local shops away from the main tourist areas and even stopped for some incredible Hawaiian food on the beach. One of my favorite meals of the entire trip was incredibly simple: rice, cabbage and pulled pork. Oʻahu has so much incredible Asian food that it can be easy to keep gravitating toward sushi and other familiar favorites, but getting out and looking for local food is part of what made having a car so worthwhile.

We also had the chance to explore some of Oʻahu’s beautiful hiking areas, and that is another reason I think a rental car can completely change the experience. Depending on your family and fitness level, you could look at places such as Mānoa Falls, the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail, Diamond Head or Waimea Valley, which offer everything from lush rainforest scenery to sweeping ocean views. You can spend part of the day hiking, find a beach you’ve never seen, stop at a local shop or restaurant and then drive back to Aulani and spend the evening at the resort. That flexibility is something you simply don’t get when you stay entirely within the resort area, and it’s one of my favorite Disney Aulani tips for families staying five days or longer.

The Best Aulani Vacation Isn’t the Most Packed One

If there is one theme running through all of these Disney Aulani tips, it is this: don’t over plan Aulani. That may sound strange coming from someone who plans Disney vacations for a living, but it is important.

Aulani is not a destination where you need to wake up early, race through a schedule and check off every experience. You can have a wonderful day without a minute-by-minute itinerary. In fact, some of my favorite parts of an Aulani vacation are the moments where there is nowhere else I need to be.

Have breakfast. Go to the pool. Walk along the beach. Let the kids play. Grab a drink. Sit down. Watch the sunset. Maybe head out for dinner. Maybe stay at the resort.

There is room for plans at Aulani, but there should also be room for absolutely nothing.

And if you’re asking yourself, is Disney Aulani worth it, I think the answer depends largely on what you want from your vacation. If you want a theme park-heavy Disney trip, there are better places to put your money. If you want a beautiful resort in Hawaii where Disney is woven into the experience without taking over the entire vacation, Aulani is a very different proposition.

My Biggest Disney Aulani Tip?

My biggest takeaway from our recent stay is that Aulani works best when you stop trying to make it something it isn’t. It isn’t Walt Disney World with palm trees. It isn’t a theme park. And it isn’t a vacation where you need to prove how much you accomplished before you go home.

It is a resort vacation in Hawaii with Disney woven throughout it. There are characters, activities, pools, dining, entertainment and plenty to keep families busy, but there is also a beach, an ocean, a lazy river and a whole lot of room to breathe.

That is why these Disney Aulani tips aren’t really about squeezing more into your vacation. They are about making the decisions ahead of time that allow you to relax once you get there.

Figure out your airport transportation. Know when Auntie’s Beach House opens for reservations. Decide whether you want a rental car. Think about which days you’ll spend at the resort. Bring the things you’ll actually use. And then leave yourself some room to simply enjoy Hawaii.

Because that may be the best Aulani tip of all. Want to read more about Aulani? We have a review from our recent trip!

Want Me to Plan Your Aulani Vacation?

If Aulani sounds like the kind of Disney vacation your family needs, I can help you plan the whole thing.

Through Magic Mornings Vacations, I can help with your resort, transportation considerations, dining, activities, reservations and the overall flow of your vacation. The planning is complimentary, and you pay the same Disney price you would pay when booking directly.

What I really want to do is help you figure out what matters to your family and build a vacation around that, rather than handing you a giant checklist and telling you to do everything.

I also love being part of a team where I can turn to other vacation specialists for ideas, support and help when needed. You get my experience and personal attention, while I have a strong team behind me. Because information is everywhere and confidence is rare.

And that is what I want you to have when you leave for Hawaii.

OK, Dreamers… pack the sunscreen and get ready for Aulani. Just remember: you don’t have to do everything. You just have to make the vacation yours. 🌺

Fill out the form below or feel free to reach out to me via email at morganc@magicmorningsvacations.com!