Aulani Resort and overview of pools
  • On Feb 16, 2025
    Kuleen from CA Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    At Aulani, are photopass photographers available on the beach at sunset for photos? Or do we need to book a private photo session to capture sunset photos?

    Aloha Kuleen, and welcome back to planDisney! If Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth, Aulani might just be the most relaxing place on Earth. I love how the resort perfectly mixes Hawaiian culture with Disney touches! 

    My family took sunset pictures when we were staying at Aulani last year and they always transport us back to our epic trip. Let's make sure you get some amazing pictures to remember your vacation! The good news is, there are usually PhotoPass photographers on the beach every evening ready to take beautiful sunset pictures of your 'ohana. No reservation is needed!

    Check the Aulani Resort Mobile app or website, for the exact time since it changes based on when the sun is expected to set each day. This is also where you can find the full schedule of other resort activities like character meet and greets, exercise classes, crafts, and culture tours. The characters are added to the schedule each morning, so don’t worry if you don’t see them on the calendar for your whole stay.

    To preview your pictures, the PhotoPass photographers will give you a card that can be linked in the Disneyland mobile app. If you don’t link it right away, I recommend taking a quick picture of this card in case you misplace it. Sometimes my family gets a little too excited to meet Mickey and his pals and can forget where we put things!

    Before you go, I wanted to share a bit of information on activities. There’s just so much to do at Aulani and ahead of your visit, you can reserve many of the resort activities on the website (under Pau Hana Room Reservations). Booking opens 45 days in advance, so you can already sign up since you’ll be there next month. My family’s must-dos are the Family Fun Animation and ‘Ohana Ho’okani Pila ‘ukulele classes. We had such a fun time learning to play along to our favorite Disney songs! These classes are very popular, so if they’re full for your dates, check with the Pau Hana Room Community Hall when you arrive. Sometimes there are cancellations and one of the Cast Members would be happy to get you signed up!

    There are also a few activities that don’t require advance registration that I really enjoy. The Maka’ika’i tours (The Culture through Nature and The Art and Culture of Aulani) are great ways to learn about how Disney Imagineers thoughtfully designed the resort to honor Hawaiian nature and culture. And hearing Uncle play the ‘ukulele and tell the story of Aulani at Mo’olelo Fire Pit Storytelling is always a must-do for me!

    I hope you have a magical and relaxing stay at Aulani next month! And if you have any other questions, I’d be happy answer them. I absolutely love Aulani and could talk about this special place all day!

    JoAnna
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Meet the Panelist: JoAnna, New York

Hi, friends! I’m JoAnna, an Imagineering nerd and dog mom from New York. I’ve traveled to all of the Disney parks around the globe, but Disney World will always be home.

Whether I’m navigating Rider Switch with my nephew or snacking around World Showcase with my friends, I love discovering what’s special about each of the different Disney destinations. I can’t wait to help plan your next adventure and get you on your way to making magical memories!
Learn More About JoAnna

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