Aloha, Anna, and welcome back to planDisney!
Aulani is one of my favorite places, with its perfect mix of Hawaiian culture and Disney touches. Now, let’s make sure you can get your coveted New Year’s reservation!
I spoke to an Aulani Cast Member who confirmed booking opens 499 days in advance. Currently, the
website appears to be letting me make reservations a few days before the 499-day mark, so you might want to check the website or call Aulani a bit before that timeframe, just in case. It could be a temporary glitch, but it wouldn’t hurt to check since the holidays are so popular.
I stayed at Aulani around Christmastime a couple of years ago and it was an extra magical time to be there! The resort was decorated in sparkling decorations, and there were carolers throughout the day singing seasonal songs. It was the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit!
Since we’re talking about popular reservations, I wanted to mention two other important dates.
The first is at the 45-day mark. That’s when you can currently book reservations for
Aunty’s Beach House and for activities through the
Pau Hana Room. My must-dos are Family Fun Animation and the ‘Ohana Ho’okani Pila ‘ukulele lessons. They fill up quickly, so be sure to reserve them as soon as your booking window opens. My family loved learning to play our favorite Disney songs on the ‘ukulele!
The second is at the 30-day mark, which is when you can book dining reservations at
Makahiki and
‘AMA’AMA. The Makahiki character breakfast is a great way to start the day with a yummy meal in the company of some fun Disney pals! There are many
character meet and greets throughout the day at Aulani, but I love the breakfast because you get lots of quality time with the characters. My nephew can be a little shy around them, so the meal gives him more time to warm up.
‘AMA’AMA is another dinner option if you’d like more of a fine-dining experience. The locally-sourced dishes here are absolutely amazing. My recommendation is to make a reservation for about an hour before sunset because the tables have an incredible view of the water.
I’m wishing you the most magical stay at Aulani! And if you have any other questions, we’d love to have you back at planDisney.
JoAnna