Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa: Adventures by Disney excursions

September 30, 2011 By

During a stay at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, families have the opportunity to participate in something very unique: authentic Hawaiian excursions run by Adventures by Disney. As a huge fan of what Adventures by Disney does–expose families to a region’s culture and history in an adventurous way–I was eager to sample some of what they offer Aulani guests. I was fortunate to participate in two: Aulani’s Catamaran Experience and Kailua Sea Kayaking Experience.

Aulani-Adventures-by-Disney

The Catamaran Experience began on-board a 53-foot Gold Coast Catamaran, as we set sail from a nearby harbor (transportation time was less than 15 minutes). For this excursion, Adventures by Disney works with a local tour operator crew who did a wonderful job making us feel right at home on the boat. Not only was the entire catamaran at our disposal (daring guests can even sit on the mesh at the aft of the vessel as the boat glides through the tropical waters), but we had on-board entertainment in the form of expert information and ukulele music. Food was provided, and the catamaran takes families to one of the best snorkeling locations on the coast. During our sail, dolphins were spotted, and many photo opportunities were taken. Kids as young as four can participate, and you won’t worry: the Hawaiian Ocean Adventures crew were professional, fun, and educated about their beautiful coastline!

The Kailua Sea Kayaking Experience takes place on Oahu’s lush windward side of the island; families shouldn’t leave Oahu without seeing it. The drive time to the stunning Kailua beach where the kayaking begins (consistently voted one of the top five most beautiful beaches in the world) is about 45 minutes, but you won’t notice: the scenery is absolutely stunning (and some guests might recognize it as the location where the TV show Lost was filmed). Once in Kailua, guests meet up with Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, who bring you beachside where your kayaks await you. After instruction, you set out across crystal-clear water (never more than 10 feet deep!) to the bird sanctuary at Flat Island, where their guides (one a marine biologist) teach you about the Shearwaters (sea birds) who nest here as you hike the small island. Once back onboard kayaks, families catch the current back to shore. I loved being on the water–we even saw a sea turtle swim by!–but the unexpected highlight was definitely the nature walk and education about this unique area.

Adventures-by-disney-kailua

The logistics: For all Adventures by Disney excursions, guests meet guides in the open-air lobby of the Aulani, where transportation is provided for them. Adventures start at approximately $150 per adult (less for kids), and vary by excursion. Reservations can be made in advance (the website lists which days each excursion takes place) or once families are at Aulani, by stopping by the Holoholo Tours and Travel Desk.

I strongly believe in families exploring their surroundings and getting to know local culture while on vacation, and I’m convinced that Adventures by Disney excursions are the absolute best way to do this. There is tremendous value in the level of both customer service and local knowledge on Adventures by Disney excursions, which is why I highly recommend budgeting at least one during an Aulani vacation. If one is all your family’s budget allows for, it’s still easy to explore more of the island: in addition to their nine Adventures by Disney excursions, Aulani’s Holoholo desk can book dozens of publicly offered excursions directly through local Hawaiian tour operations. The difference is that families will not be attending as part of an Adventures by Disney tour, which means it will not include transportation, snacks, and the full treatment of educational components. It will, however, include peace of mind: the operators are all fully vetted by Disney, and families can still expect a quality experience away from the resort. On the other end of the price-point scale, families can book three-day Adventures by Disney Explorer package, which include three full days’ worth of Adventures by Disney excursions (running Tues-Thurs.), with virtually everything taken care of for your family.

When considering additional, non-Adventures by Disney excursions at the lower price point, I suggest renting a car for one day (available through Aulani on-site for approximately $30 cheaper per day than airport pricing). Just be sure to return the rental car in the evening (again, conveniently at Aulani), even if you’ve reserved it for 24 hours, to avoid the overnight parking fee.

Oahu on Dwellable

Aulani, a Disney’s Resort and Spa: what’s included in the Aulani value

September 28, 2011 By

There’s no doubt about it: Aulani, Disney’s new Hawaiian resort on the leeward side of Oahu, is jaw-droppingly fabulous. Throughout my stay, I experienced first class service, amenities, and activities across the board. For the average traveling family, however, it’s also jaw-droppingly expensive. Utilizing a quick room rate and availability search on Aulani’s reservations page, I was hard pressed to find a standard room for under $400 a night. Families of five or more can go ahead and double that (though room rates vary considerably depending on season, type, etc). Is the value worth it? I believe the answer is yes, if families take advantage of all that comes included with a stay and educate themselves on resort values.

So what is included in that rack rate? Much more than is offered at most high-end destination resorts. With the price of a room, families will not pay a penny extra for the following amenities:

Within the room itself, families will love the extra touches provided for convenience. For starters, all rooms come pre-stocked with a port-a-crib. All rooms also feature a mini fridge (snacks and breakfast foods are available in Kalepa’s Store as well as across the street from the resort for a more reasonable price), flat-screen TV, wireless internet (at no extra charge), an iPhone/Pod docking station, and a large-for-standard-rooms table and chairs. Suitcase storage is provided under every bed to increase usable space in the room, bathrooms include deep bathtubs as well as showers, and toilets are separate from the main vanity, making heavy bathroom traffic more bearable.

Your kids will love the kids’ club at Aunty’s Beach House. Designed for kids ages 3-11 (up to age 13 welcome), Aunty’s is a cozy and welcoming respite where children are fully supervised for no additional charge. Just drop in anytime during open hours (open until 9 pm or 11 pm). With multiple (adorably themed) rooms for different ages and activities, as well as a large outdoor play area, kids have the run of the place, enjoying individualized attention from staff and engaging in fun and educational activities (think volcano or space goo creations!). While I stopped by during my Aulani stay, I watched a ten-year-old girl receive an impromptu ukulele lesson, preschoolers play dress up with the many Disney costumes, and a group of boys engaged in a computer game competition. Daily special events are also offered (to be listed in each day’s resort schedule.) The Disney details are abundant at Aunty’s: kids love the way it always rains outside the windows of the media/movie room (because you can only watch movies in Hawaii when it’s raining outside!), the climbing fort outside, and ‘Uncle’s workshop’, an extensive art and craft center. What I loved best: special toddler programming for kids too young to be dropped off at Aunty’s is offered for parents to enjoy with their kids…and these programs are scheduled for select mornings at 7:30 am, a time when kids are up and restless, but other activities are not yet open. (Bonus: parents can go off-site while kids are at Aunty’s…nearly unheard of in the resort business!)

Everyone will love the unlimited water recreation in the Waikolohe Valley. Cruise the lazy river (complete with volcanic bubble action underfoot!), play in the free-form pool, slide down the plunge and tube slides, soak in the whirlpool spas, or just hang out in the lush garden areas. Papalua Shave Ice is the best deal going: for $3.75, kids get a huge snow cone with up to three tropical flavors.

The instant beach access means time and money saved on a car rental. Not only can guests dip their toes in the Pacific just a few steps from their room in the Aulani Lagoon, but miles of additional beach access is available as well. Snorkeling is an option right in the lagoon, but only two short coves away by foot (past the JW Marriott) is an absolutely fantastic snorkeling location. Bring your own snorkeling gear, or rent gear for a reasonable fee at the beach rentals shack on the lagoon (you get to use it all day). If you have young kids who might be intimidated by the (small) ocean currents, Aulani also offers Rainbow Reef, a manmade snorkeling cove in Waikolohe Valley. There is a $20 fee per person, which seemed steep until I realized that for the price, you can keep your gear all day, using it in the ocean as well as the reef. (Tip: If you want to try Rainbow Reef, be sure to rent your gear from that location, not the beach shack. You can take Rainbow Reef gear into the ocean, but not vice versa.)

Fish feeding viewings are both free and fun to watch. Families can watch the fish feeding at Rainbow Reef (at 8 am and 1:30 pm), or go next door to the JW Marriott to watch their daily 7:30 am ocean feeding. Tropical fish will swim right up near shore, where kids can watch them as they gobble up fish food.

Free cultural tours, evening entertainment, and fun is offered multiple times a week. At any time during their stay, guests can drop in at the Pau Hana Room, the starting point of the interactive Mehehune Trail (a bit like a scavenger hunt) and location for Mo’Olelo Storytelling, offered multiple times nightly. Additionally, ‘Ohana Disney Movie Nights are held every Friday on the Makaloa Garden lawn, starting at dusk.

Access to characters are free at Disney Friends Meet and Greets. Three times daily (on the week of my visit), Disney characters such as Stitch, Mickey, and Chip and Dale made appearances.

Teens can hang out at Painted Sky. Designed for kids ages 14-17, Painted Sky is one part teen spa, one part teen dance club, and one part teen computer cafe. Events are planned there daily, such as Xbox Zumba Fitness or teen movie nights, but kids can also just congregate there to hang out and chat.

Parents will appreciate the state-of-the-art Mikimiki Fitness Center. Located adjacent to the impressive Laniwai Spa, the fitness center includes weight-lifting and toning equipment, cardio equipment, and classes both in the center and on the beach (though a fee applies to some).

Do all these perks add up to that pricy rack rate? I believe they do, especially when you add the intangibles on top: I’m speaking, of course, of the Disney touch. In addition to the total immersion into the culture and fantasy Disney so effortlessly seems to provide in all their experiences, guests can also count on the Disney standard of guest services and quality. Could you spend less at a another hotel brand on Oahu? Certainly, but when families pay Disney prices, they get…well, Disney. And that’s pretty priceless.

Honolulu on Dwellable

A stay at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa

September 26, 2011 By

I’ll admit it: as my airport shuttle pulled up to Aulani, Disney’s destination resort on Oahu, I expected to find Mickey front and center. I was prepared to greet that familiar pair of mouse ears from every angle: in person, in silhouette, in every scrap of signage and decoration. I was wrong. And while I have nothing against the guy, I’m so glad I was wrong.

Throughout my four-night stay, my experience at the resort emphasized one key fact time and again: Aulani is not a Disney resort that just so happens to be in Hawaii. It’s a Hawaiian resort that just so happens to be (expertly) owned and operated by Disney. Put another way, if Aulani were a cupcake, the Hawaiian environs and culture would be the cake, its people and traditions the frosting. Disney would be only the sprinkles on top. What does that mean for vacationing families? It means you’ll be treated to a true Hawaiian experience, a rarity at large destination resorts. Will your kids also see Mickey? Of course! But as with everything at Aulani, the mouse and his friends are only one part of the greater Hawaiian story being told.

Families are immersed in the Hawaiian culture in a multitude of ways at Aulani, some of which most guests will never notice. The attention, of course, is in the details (this is Disney, after all). Hawaiian artwork by local talent is implemented throughout the resort (from the Maka’Ala lobby murals to the kapa textile in every guest room), taro fields (the indiginous plant used to make the food staple poi) line the outside entry, and everywhere you look (if you think like a kid), menehune, Hawaiian culture’s legendary mischief makers, are celebrated in sculpture and wood carving.

Guests who’d like to know more about any one of these features need only ask: Aulani Cast Members not only exemplify the Disney standard in guest relations, but are very knowledgable about the traditions and customs illustrated throughout the resort. Or join local artists, storytellers, and experts at one of the many family activities scheduled daily: take Ohana Hula from a local practitioner, attend Mo’Olelo storytelling in the Pau Hana Room, or learn how to carve a pineapple or prepare poi. Walk the Menehune Trail or take one of several self-guided cultural or environmental tours.

The design of the resort itself is a nod to Hawaiian tradition as well as Disney’s tradition of nurturing childhood delight. I had the pleasure of meeting several of the talented artists whose work adorn Aulani’s walls and corridors, and the word each of them continually used was ‘pride’. When asked about his vision from an engineering standpoint, Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Vice President and Creative Executive Joe Rohde explained that he tried to design the resort in a way that would make children notice the details before adults do.

Of course, Aulani is also all about recreational fun: there’s so much for families to do together on-site, you could be outside all day. The resort’s two main towers cradle the central Waikolohe Valley, where the Waikolohe Stream (lazy river) flows, the Menehune Bridge (water play structure) beckons, and the Rainbow Reef snorkel lagoon promises tropical fish sightings. In addition, families will love the zero-depth entry pool, water slides, infinity whirlpool spas, a quiet pool, and of course, the beach, with floating swimming platforms, snorkel and recreational gear rentals, and plenty of space to sit back and relax is located only steps away.

While there’s plenty to do at Aulani, families will want to book excursions at the Holoholo Desk, where it’s possible to choose from a number of off-site Oahu experiences in three distinct price ranges. Book an adventure with an affiliated local tour operation (fully vetted by Aulani), opt for one of several Adventures by Disney two-hour to half-day excursions, or participate in a multi-day Adventures by Disney program. The Excursions Guest Services team has done all the work for you, finding the best Oahu has to offer, and no less.

No matter how much families do (or don’t do) while on an Aulani vacation, one thing is certain: they’ll be surrounded by the rich storytelling tradition that always equals a magical time. From the moment I stepped onto the property, I was fully emersed in this wonderful story being told, a feeling emphasized during a meeting with Bob Iger, President and CEO of Walt Disney Company, and Tom Staggs, President of Parks and Resorts. Both emphasized what I was already finding true at Aulani myself: that Disney is indeed in the experience business, not the hotel or theme park business.

Date last visited: September 20-24, 2011

Room rates and options: Standard Aulani rooms feature five distinct view categories (all of which are very decent), and sleep up to four. They are just under 400 square feet, and include a spacious balcony or veranda. Rooms come with mini-fridges, coffee makers, hot water kettles, and bathrooms with deep tubs as well as showers and separate spaces between toilet and vanity. Parlor suites sleep five and include a separate bedroom area and additional half-bathroom. (Tip: for families of five, it’s more economical to reserve two adjoining standard rooms.) Aulani is also a Disney Vacation Club property, and guests also have the option of reserving DVC one-three bedroom villas as available.

Rates vary depending on view, season, and room type, so it’s best to check the reservations page online for current pricing.

Kids’ Club: Aunty’s Beach House is included in guests’ room rate, and offers unlimited care and fun for children 3-12. Painted Sky, also complimentary, is designed for kids 14-17.

Dining: Aulani includes several quick service dining options (including One Paddle, Two Paddle), two bars (The Olelo Room, which teaches you the Hawaiian language while you sip your cocktail, and Off the Hook, which also serves a poolside menu), Makahiki Buffet (with a character breakfast option two days per week), and ‘AMA’AMA, a signature dining restaurant. Dining is not inclusive, and menus reflect typical resort pricing, but families have the convenience of charging meals and snacks to their room card. Reservations can be made through the room phone or in advance (recommended for character breakfasts).

Directions: Aulani is located in Ko Olina at 92-1185 Aliʻinui Drive, Kapolei, HI, only 17 miles from the Honolulu International Airport. Car rentals are available at the airport of course, as is The Bus, the local public transportation (which will get guests within 1 mile of Aulani).

As I disclose whenever applicable, my stay at Aulani was fully hosted by Disney. My opinions, however, remain my own: this compensation came with no expectation of a positive review.