Aloha, and welcome to planDisney. I’m excited to hear that you’ll be visiting
Aulani in just a few weeks! This tropical paradise is one of my favorite places with the perfect combination of Disney magic, Hawaiian culture, and relaxing vibes.
It sounds like you have a breakfast reservation with Mickey and friends at
Makahiki. There’s no better way to start the morning! 45 minutes is likely a little short to be able to enjoy the full experience. When my family had breakfast there last year, we had a 7:30 A.M. reservation and wanted to leave in time for a 9:00 A.M. activity we booked on the beach. We let our server know our time constraint and she was great about getting our food out as quickly as possible. From check-in to paying the bill, it took about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This included taking an official photo with Mickey on the way in, eating breakfast, and interacting with the characters that came by throughout the meal.
But Hakuna Matata, I have a couple of suggestions for you! First, keep checking the
Aulani website during the weeks and days leading up to your trip. People are always changing their plans and you may be able to find an earlier time that wasn’t available when you originally booked your reservation. If you aren’t able to find an earlier time, you can always get to Makahiki early and ask if it’s possible to be seated before your reservation time. While it’s not guaranteed, the Cast Members may be able to work some magic if there’s room!
If you get to Aulani early, there are some fun things you can do even if you’re not a resort guest. One of my favorites is browsing the three gift shops.
Kalepa’s Store and
Hale Manu are right off the lobby. Kalepa’s Store has the largest selection of Aulani items, from t-shirts to ornaments. And if you love Duffy and friends, this is where you can typically find their merchandise! Hale Manu has more upscale items like handbags and dresses. When you’re inside Hale Manu, don’t forget to look up. There are beautiful wooden sculptures of different Hawaiian birds hanging from the ceiling! In the pool area, there’s also the
Lava Shack store where you can usually find Aulani swim shirts (I love these for staying protected from the sun!). There’s also a walking path by the ocean with pretty views of the water and the other nearby resorts.
I hope you have a magical visit to Aulani next month! If you have any other questions, we’d love to have you back at planDisney.
JoAnna