Aloha Russell, and welcome to planDisney. I’ve visited Aulani at many different times of the year, and they’re all equally magical! But the holiday season feels like it comes with a bit of extra pixie dust with the sparkling decorations, seasonal entertainment, and characters in holiday outfits. So let’s chat about those beautiful Christmas trees and garlands!
In the past, the holiday decorations were typically up in the lobby by Thanksgiving, but the exact date can vary. Last year the Christmas trees and garlands were put up a few days before Thanksgiving, so it’s possible you’ll be able to catch them towards the end of your trip. I’m wishing on a star that you’ll get to see them!
As you’re getting ready for your vacation, there are two important dates to keep in mind. The first is at the 45-day mark, when you can currently make reservations for
Aunty’s Beach House and for activities through the
Pau Hana Room. My family’s favorites are Family Fun Animation and the ‘Ohana Ho’okani Pila ‘ukulele lessons. Spots for those two activities go quickly, so be sure to reserve them as soon as your booking window opens. Learning to play Disney songs on the ‘ukulele is a core memory my family will never forget!
The second important date is at the 30-day mark, when you’ll be able to book dining reservations at
Makahiki and
‘AMA’AMA. I love to start the day at Makahiki for a character breakfast with Mickey and friends! While you can
meet lots of characters throughout the day at Aulani, breakfast is a great way to get quality time with several characters. Especially if you’re like my family and are too busy at the pool to stop by the regular character meet and greets.
I also recommend downloading the
Aulani Resort app and linking your hotel reservation. The app is handy for checking the activity schedule throughout your stay. I also like to take a peek in the weeks before my trip to get an idea of which activities are typically run on which days of the week. Keep in mind that character meet and greets aren’t added to the schedule until each morning (in my experience, it’s usually between 8:00 A.M. and 9:00 A.M.), so don’t worry if you don’t see them yet.
I hope you have a magical stay at Aulani in November! And if you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to visit us again at planDisney. I could talk about Aulani all day!
JoAnna