The Amazing Disney Hotel You've Never Been To

What’s your dream Disney hotel?

Maybe it’s in Disney World and is something like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Maybe you’ve always wanted to stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Resort in Disneyland. But for many of us, that dream hotel is Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawaii.

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai’i, sits on 21 oceanfront acres in the Ko Olina Resort Community & Marina. Visitors to the resort can enjoy three unique gardens, character meet and greets, free activities, free kid’s activities, five pool areas, and a private beach.

When we asked YOU, our readers if you would ever consider staying there, many of you responded that you already had — and loved it.

One reader said, “Yes, went last summer and can’t wait to go back. Great place to truly relax and close enough to Waikiki to see what we wanted to see and then return to a peaceful resort.”

For reference, Aulani is only 26 miles from Waikiki, so it’s an easy day trip to make.

Another agreed, “I’ve been twice and I love it. A little piece of Disney in paradise.”

One reader has also visited, but there was some disappointment with the resort: “We did. The spa was wonderful. The children’s program top notch. They got rid of their teen space when we went and that was a huge issue. At the time we had a 13 yo and two kids children age. They ran teen activities but no space for them meant we had to work around her being by herself waiting for the activity time. It was our biggest disappointment, especially after numerous Disney cruises. Everything else was top-notch.”

Another reader even had a suggestion for others who might want to visit Aulani: “Went last December and it was awesome. Go around the island. Don’t just stay at the resort the whole time or you’re missing out.”

Many of our readers would love to visit Aulani but find the price of the trip a little too high. Flights to Hawaii are certainly not inexpensive, and Aulani is pretty pricey in comparison to other Disney resorts.

Someone replied, “If I could afford it, and given the chance, I would go in a heartbeat!!!!”

Others explained why Aulani isn’t currently in the budget: “Oh yea! But I am going to WDW this next month so I will be Disney Dollarless soon.”

This reader doesn’t think it may ever happen: “Would love to! But I live [on] the East Coast of Canada. Cost of flights will probably always be out of my budget,” while another agreed, “Yes, but the flight alone is incredibly expensive, so I don’t know if or when I’d be able to swing it. But yes, I’d love to go.”

The Moana Dole Whip Sundae. ©Disney Parks Blog

Others just think it’s a little too far away to travel to. “I considered it multiple times and then I looked at the price of flights. And I hate flying as well. the thought of how long the flight is gives me severe anxiety. But I’m determined to one day make the leap.”

Others said something similar: “Absolutely!! Though Hawaii is sooooooo far away from us on the east coast of Canada it would be a major trip! Even just the time zone change would be 7.5 hours difference!!”

Finally, some of you have been to Aulani but didn’t think it was worth it, at least compared to other trips. A reader replied, “We have and it was beautiful but not sure if we would do it again. There was so much more to enjoy and places that were just as beautiful to stay [on] the island.”

Another said, “I think everyone should go to Hawaii at least once. That being said, it would not be a place I went frequently as a repeat visitor. Aulani is the same. One in a Blue moon trip for us.”

Finally, this last reader was underwhelmed by Aulani: “I visited on our last trip to Oahu. I was underwhelmed. Oahu is incredibly beautiful, but not Aulani. It’s a resort with a man-made waveless cove beach. It’s extremely out of the way from Oahu activities, so all you end up doing when you stay there is hustling down to the pool at 8am to reserve lounge chairs for the whole day to play in the pool and buy overpriced fish and chips. That’s all fine, but you can do that anywhere in the country. Don’t waste your precious Hawaii vacation time by staying here, unless for some reason you don’t care to leave the resort area more than once or twice.”

It’s certainly not the same as going to Disney World, but we get the desire to want to visit Aulani and not quite being able to. But we’ll continue to keep an eye out for Aulani news — including deals and discounts — so be sure to check back with AllEars again soon.