Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa

The newest Disney Vacation Club resort, Aulani, continues to move towards completion and the opening date of August 29, 2011.

This blog, courtesy of DVCnews.com includes an update on the new Child Care area and a video of the resort.

Aulani Beach House no ordinary childcare facility

In creating Aunty’s Beach House at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, designers have taken a page out of the Disney Cruise Line playbook.

One feature shared by many Disney Vacation Club resorts is the Community Hall–a play-space where families can break from the Disney parks to engage in light activities ranging from foosball to ping pong to light arts and crafts projects. Community Halls tend to be rather bland in their design, indistinguishable from child care facilities found at a local supermarket.

Aunty’s Beach House is no Community Hall.

Disney Imagineers have infused Aunty’s Beach House with its own backstory and theme, resulting in a space that is more reminiscent of the Oceaneer’s Club and Lab found on the Disney cruise ships.

According to legend, “Aunty” is an island local who has lived in this location her entire life. She is beloved by all and regarded as an expert on Hawaiian history and culture.

The Beach House itself is designed to blend into its island surroundings. From the piles of straw hats and flip-flops on the front porch to the seashell collection on the fireplace mantle to the overgrown back yard, the space faithfully adheres to the backstory developed by Imagineers.

One expects Aunty herself to appear at any moment to tell the tale of the mischievous Menehune or other island folklore.

The Beach House is a 5,200 square foot facility with a host of familiar activities including video games, arts and crafts, a Disney movie room and so on. But Disney has also included a number of interactive elements to enhance the experience. An enchanted fireplace, rain windows in the movie room and “magic portals” with ever changing imagery are just a few examples.

For the rest of the story, visit the DVCnews.com.

Disney has released a more extensive Behind the Scenes video.

The clip runs nearly 3 1/2 minutes and has a similar feel to the Disney theme park or Disney Vacation Club promotional videos. It features a nice overview of the resort itself, resort activities, character appearances and more.