Aloha Karla, and welcome to planDisney! Aulani is such a special place and the practically perfect mix of Hawaiian culture and Disney magic. I’m excited to hear that you’ll be there in less than one week, so let’s chat about securing pictures of all the amazing core memories you’re about to make!
I chatted with a Cast Member who confirmed that there isn’t a discount for buying photo packages before your stay. So you can go ahead and wait until you’re at Aulani. When my family bought a photo package on our vacation, this allowed us to preview our pictures before buying anything. Currently, the PhotoPass Digital Photo Download package is $99 (subject to change) and includes pictures taken throughout your stay, like at the character meet and greets. And, weather permitting, you can even find PhotoPass photographers at the beach around sunset, which makes for the best family pictures! My 'ohana's sunset beach photos are our most cherished souvenirs.
One thing to keep in mind about the PhotoPass Digital Photo Download package is that pictures from dining experiences and character meals, like the
KA WA'A luau and
Makahiki breakfast, aren't included and need to be purchased separately. If you’re interested in more information on the different packages, private portrait sessions, and pricing, check out the
Photography Services page on the Aulani website.
Speaking of Makahiki, my family loves to start one of our mornings there with a leisurely breakfast with Mickey and friends. But you’ll also find so many other
character meet and greets throughout the day at Aulani, and those will be included in that standard photo package.
Be sure to download the
Aulani Resort Mobile App so you won’t miss any of the fun. I like to take a peek before my trip to get an idea of the activities that might be happening while I’m there. If you don’t see the character meet and greets right away, that’s because they don’t usually appear in the app until each morning, typically between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. I love meeting characters at Aulani because it’s more laid back than in the theme parks, and there are some rarer friends, like 'Olu Mel and Angel!
I also wanted to mention two other activities that are always must-dos for my family. First is the
Menehune Adventure Trail, which will take you on an interactive scavenger hunt around Aulani. You’ll just need to stop by the
Pau Hana Room to get started. I recommend playing at dusk or in the evening because there are some fun effects that are easier to see when it’s darker. One of my other favorite activities is ending the night at
Mo'olelo Fire Pit Storytelling. I could listen to Uncle play the ‘ukulele and recount infamous Hawaiian tales all night!
Safe travels, and I hope you have the most magical stay at Aulani! If you have any other questions, you’re always welcome back at planDisney.
JoAnna