Aloha, Jennifer! Welcome back to planDisney--I hope our past advice has added a little extra pixie dust to your Disney adventures. Now it's time to journey beyond the reef to a place where the sky meets the sea...Aulani!
You are absolutely going to fall in love with
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa. This tropical getaway holds a special place in our hearts as we enjoyed our very first trip as
Disney Vacation Club Members at this unique Disney destination. Aulani combines a quintessentially Hawaiian experience by the sea with some touches of Disney magic that make for an unforgettable family vacation.
When we visited, we rented a car for our entire stay. This allowed us to travel directly to Aulani once we landed at the Honolulu airport, as well as visit lots of different spots around the island of Oahu. We enjoyed surfing on the North Shore and explored the Dole Plantation, Iolani Palace, and many other attractions. I was also happy to have the car to make a couple of trips to a grocery store to stock up on essentials for our DVC Villa!
Jennifer, you'll be pleased to hear that you can rent vehicles for a single day (or longer) at the rental car counter conveniently located at Aulani. I would recommend booking in advance to make sure you're available. The counter has limited hours, but if you return a vehicle after closing time, it can be dropped off with the valet staff at the resort.
There is also a wide variety of
excursions that you can book at Aulani--most include transportation, so you may find that you don't need a car at all! A real highlight of our time on Oahu was taking an excursion to Pearl Harbor. My grandfather was stationed there during World War II and it was an informative and moving experience for our family.
OK, a few final family favorites that I want to share with you while you're in the planning stages for your Hawaiian adventures:
- The nighttime luau KA WA'A A should not be missed. This special experience combines Hawaiian music, dance, stories, and cuisine in a magical way. My daughters still talk about it!
- Plan on spending at least one day just enjoying the pools! The Waikolohe Valley pool area has all sorts of water features, from spots for the littlest keiki to awesome waterslides, an epic lazy river, and an infinity-edge pool that is the perfect spot to watch the sunset. You can also snorkel at Rainbow Reef, Aulani's private saltwater lagoon!
- Plan for family photos on the beach. You can schedule a private photography session before arrival (ideally at golden hour) and you will be delighted with the results. I love the pictures we took during our visit and my family grudgingly admits they were worth getting dressed up for!
I hope this information is helpful for your planning purposes, Jennifer! Thanks so much for trusting our planDisney 'Ohana to assist with your vacation, and please don't hesitate to reach out again if you have additional questions as your trip comes closer.
Stay Magical!
Susan