Aloha, Julie!
Welcome back to planDisney. Mahalo (that means "thank you" in Hawaiian) for surfing by with your question. Julie, see the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me and it's why Aulani is one of my favorite Disney destinations to visit. Our family has been to
Aulani several times, and we visit Hawaii every year, so I know this island well! You are going to love flying by on the Hawaiian roller coaster ride at Aulani.
Julie, if you are interested in booking any of the day
excursions listed on the Aulani website or to learn about additional excursions, I recommend calling the
Holoholo desk at Aulani. They would be able to best guide you on the tours and day trips that they book.
One thing to note, though, is that not all excursions that are booked through the Holoholo desk at Aulani include transportation from the Resort. These are outside tour operators that the Holoholo desk can book for you, however, these excursions are not operated by Disney directly. While a few do pick up at Aulani, some tour companies require you to meet them at a location, which you can access via Uber, Lyft, local taxi, or rental car.
Some of the excursions may have a meeting point closer to Aulani. However, we discovered that many tour operators on Oahu pick up in Waikiki. We prefer to rent a car when we visit Oahu, so that we can meet the tours in the designated locations. Having a rental car also allows you to explore more of the island at your own pace.
I did call the Holoholo desk at Aulani to ask about a boat cruise or snorkeling tour. I learned that there is a catamaran cruise with a snorkel experience not mentioned on the website that they can book for you. To learn more about this fun family excursion, just call the Holoholo desk and they can assist you with the booking.
If you do decide to rent a car, Julie, and love to snorkel, I highly recommend visiting Hanauma Bay. You will need to make a reservation in advance on the Hanauma Bay State Park website, as it is a State Park Nature Reserve and they limit entrances. You can bring your own snorkel gear or you can rent sets there. But it is a wonderful way to explore life under the sea and spend the day flippin' your fins at one of the best beaches on Oahu.
While at Aulani, you can rent snorkel gear to enjoy at Ko Olina beach from
Makiki Joes. And, if your family loves being where the fishes are, be sure to checkout
Rainbow Reef during your stay at Aulani. It's even fun for the Keiki (that means "children" in Hawaiian.)
I hope this helps you, Julie! If you have any further questions about your upcoming Aulani stay, surf back here and give me a wave. Here at planDisney, we know the way to help you maximize the magic of your vacation and to us, you are 'Ohana. 'Ohana means family, and that means nobody gets left behind.
A Hui Hou (that means "until we meet again" in Hawaiian,)
Keri