Aloha Jan!
Your visit to the beautiful
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa is coming up soon! There are so many exciting details to plan as your vacation approaches! I am just under the 100-day mark before my next trip to Aulani, but who’s counting? (Me! I am definitely counting down!) You were able to sneak three questions into one, so let’s get started.
Your
Deluxe Studio Villa will have a kitchenette that includes a mini-fridge. There is a very small freezer compartment on them, but I want to emphasize the small part. You could fit an ice tray or two, maybe a small bottle of water, a few Mickey Premium bars, or freezer packs to throw in a cooler to keep food cold on a day-trip. It isn’t large enough to store a lot of frozen food for meals.
Aulani is still undergoing a phased reopening, and at this time, no character meals are being offered. Before the pandemic, character dining was available at
Makahiki - The Bounty of the Islands, but at this time the restaurant has transitioned to offering a family-friendly dinner service. It is a 3-course dinner featuring fresh local ingredients from the islands. There are some limited character appearances at the resort right now where you can wave from a safe distance. Did you know there is an
Aulani Resort Mobile App? Be sure to download the most up-to-date version of the Mobile App before your visit. You'll find character meeting locations and times as well as activities for each day!
Multiple companies offer shuttles from the Ko Olina Resort area to
shop or visit Waikiki. These shuttles are all private companies and would need to be arranged by you and at your cost. There is a complimentary shopping shuttle that picks up across the street from Aulani, that stays within the Ko Olina area called the Holo Ka’a Shuttle. It can take you to many of the Ko Olina properties such as the Marina, the Golf Club, and several other hotels. There is also an Alamo Rental Car desk at Aulani if you wished to reserve a car for a day trip to Waikiki.
On our trip several years ago, and on our upcoming visit, we have decided that a car rental for the week, while pricey, gave us the most ease, flexibility, and time to enjoy our visit to Oahu. Between
arranging transportation back and forth to the airport, and all the locations on the island we wanted to visit, the car rental was the best choice for us. In my experience, I have found the best rates when using Costco for car rentals. Disney Vacation Club Members do receive complimentary parking at the resort, so that is helpful as well.
I hope this information is helpful, Jan. Keep sending those questions!
- Kate