Best Aulani Tips for 2021: What You Need to Know

Are you thinking about planning a vacation to the Aulani, Disney’s resort in Hawaii?  And are you wondering how you can save money at Disney Aulani?  My family and I recently traveled to Aulani on the island of Oahu and had a great time.  As a result, I’m sharing best Aulani tips for 2021.  From Hawaii’s travel requirements to upgrades, saving money, access to a private airport lounge and much more, here’s what you need to know before going to the Aulani!

Check Hawaii’s travel requirements.

The first thing you’ll want to do if you’re considering a trip to Hawaii or the Aulani, is check Hawaii’s travel requirements.  When my family and I traveled to the Aulani this past May, we had to undergo a pre-travel test within 72 hours of our final departing flight to Honolulu in order to avoid a ten day self-quarantine. Once we had our negative results, we uploaded them to the Hawaii Safe Travels website.  It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t as complicated as I thought it was going to be.  To find out more, click here.

Now, all fully vaccinated individuals who travel to Hawaii can bypass quarantine without a pre-travel test.  But again, you’ll want to make sure you check the websites I’ve linked above because of all the changes and to make sure you’ve uploaded all the necessary documentation.

Find out more about Aulani’s safety protocols that are currently in place.

Travel guidelines and restrictions are changing daily.  So the best thing to do is check Aulani’s website here to find out its safety protocols, including whether face coverings are required.  

Check for Aulani discounts.

The next thing you’ll want to do is click here to see Aulani is offering any discounts.  It is expensive to stay at the Aulani so every dollar counts.  When I booked my family’s reservation, the Aulani was running a discount.  Guests could save up to 30% on select rooms for stays of 5 or more consecutive nights.  Not only that, but at the time, Disney was also running a promotion for guests who booked their reservations with their Disney Visa card.  Specifically, guests could receive a $250 resort credit.  This isn’t advertised very well, so definitely ask about it when you book your reservation if you are booking with your Disney Visa card.  That $250 resort credit can be used for meals at the resort and Mickey bars 🙂  Plus, you can redeem the points you use to book your reservation at the resort.

Book the view that you want and/or can afford BUT don’t be afraid to ask for an upgrade upon check-in.

When I booked my family’s reservation, I booked the cheapest rate available which was the Island/Garden View Studio.  A few days later, though, I decided to book an Ocean View Studio instead.  Except by then, rooms were no longer available.  However, when we checked in at the Aulani, I asked if if we could upgrade to a room with an ocean view.  A few minutes later, we were told that there was an ocean view room available!  It was an additional $80/night, but it would have been more expensive if we had originally booked it on the website.  Needless to say, there went our $250 resort credit 🙂  But that view was oh so worth it!

It worked out in our favor this time, but next time, I probably won’t chance it.  But if you end up in the same situation at check-in, don’t be afraid to ask.  You never know when you’ll get some pixie dust.

Consider renting a car.

Do you need a rental car at the Aulani?  This primarily depends on what you plan on doing at the resort.  For example, do you plan on just spending all your time at the resort?  Then, you don’t necessarily need a rental car.  And in that case, there are shuttles available to the Aulani from the airport, such as Hele Hele Shuttle or Charley’s Taxi Service.

But, if you plan on exploring the island, which I absolutely recommend if it’s your first visit to Hawaii, then I do think that a rental car is necessary.  If so, I highly recommend booking the car rental as soon as possible.  There is currently a car rental shortage so that is something you’ll want to keep in mind.  Alamo has a location at the Aulani for guests who want to rent a car for the day, but again, keep in mind that rental cars are currently in short supply and you’ll still need transportation to and from the airport (assuming you are flying to Hawaii).  Which brings me to my next point……

If you’re flying to Hawaii, consider booking a nonstop flight.

I know, I know.  This is easier for those who live on the west coast.  But, if you live near an airport that has direct flights to Honolulu, take advantage of it!  My family and I flew out of Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, and it was one of the best decisions that we made.  Not only did we not have to deal with delays or cancellations of connecting flights, but our travel day went a lot quicker.  If you’re traveling from the east coast or internationally, consider breaking up your trip and staying overnight on the west coast, especially if you’re traveling with younger kids.

Prepare with a travel packing checklist.

I used my free travel checklist for Hawaii and it worked wonders for me.  As I planned our trip, I wrote down additional items, like water shoes, so I wouldn’t forget about them.  And as I started packing for our trip, I was able to refer to my checklist to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.  

I also like my checklist because I can tweak it depending on the type of trip I’m planning.  For example, for the Aulani, you’ll want to add water shoes, lanyards (for your room keys), and a waterproof pouch (for your phone) to the checklist.  You’ll also want to make sure you pack reef safe sunscreen since it is the only sunscreen that is allowed in Hawaii.

The Aulani isn’t an all inclusive resort but some things are complimentary.

The Aulani doesn’t charge a resort fee, unlike many of the other resorts in Hawaii.  While it’s not all inclusive, though, there are items that are complimentary for guests to use at the Aulani, such as pool/beach towels, boogie boards, and sand toys.  For the pool and beach towels, there are three kiosks where guests can check them out.  

The beach at the Aulani is a public beach so anyone can go there.  However, in order to use the pools, the lazy river, and the slides, guests must be wearing a wristband they obtain at one of the kiosks described above.  

The kids club at the Aulani (aka Aunty’s Beach House) is also complimentary; however, it is currently not open.

My family and I are also DVC members and we were able to receive free popcorn refills after purchasing an Aulani popcorn bucket.*

*If you are a DVC member, you will need to show your blue card to receive the free popcorn refills.

**Is Disney Aulani still selling refillable mugs in 2021?  No.  The Aulani used to have refillable mugs but they currently aren’t available.

Menehune Adventure Trail 

The Menehune Adventure Trail is also complimentary for guests of the Aulani and it’s a family friendly activity that I highly recommend.  It’s basically like an interactive scavenger hunt.  My family checked out a tablet at the Pau Hana Community Center and my son used the tablet to go from one location to another to solve different clues.  Not only is it an educational activity because it teaches guests more about Hawaiian culture, but it’s fun to see how it unlocks some of the clues.  I highly recommend this one!

The Ko Olina Club Lounge at the Honolulu Airport

It’s always sad when it’s time to leave paradise, but guests staying at the Aulani can access a private lounge, called the Ko Olina Club Lounge, at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (aka the Honolulu Airport) while waiting for their flights to depart.  

This private lounge is relatively new and only open to guests staying at the Aulani, Marriott Vacation Club, and Beach Villas at Ko Olina.  To find out more, click here.  It was the first time my family waited in a private lounge at the airport and we could easily get used to it.  Not only does it have private bathrooms, but the chairs in the lounge area are also extremely comfortable.  The lounge also includes complimentary water and hot chocolate.  By far, it’s one of my favorite perks of staying as a guest of the Aulani.

Everything else costs extra at the Aulani.

This is the not-so-fun and expensive part.  Everything else, such as food, drinks, and entertainment at the Aulani is not included.  Most activities aren’t included either, such as snorkeling at Rainbow Reef and paddle board rentals.  Even feeding the fish at Rainbow Reef costs extra.  As a result, you’ll want to budget accordingly.

Is a cabana at the Aulani worth it?

I was really torn on this one.  My family and I have reserved private cabanas at waterparks before and loved it.  However, those were a lot cheaper than renting a cabana at the Aulani.  Cabanas get reserved very quickly so if this is something you want to do, I recommend booking it as soon as possible.  The Aulani didn’t initially have cabanas available for the date I wanted it; however I kept calling back and was finally able to reserve one.  Nevertheless, a few weeks before our stay, I decided to cancel it.  I just felt like it wasn’t going to be worth it for us.   I don’t regret canceling it, especially since another guest told me that she and her family rented a cabana for the day and didn’t think it was worth it due to the location as well as the minimal amenities it came with.  Another family might feel differently, though.

Try to avoid the crowds and long lines.

For the most part, my family was able to avoid long lines and crowds.  For example, on our resort days, we’d go on the slides first thing in the morning since those lines would get longer as the day progressed.  Snagging lounge chairs near the pool can be difficult and as a result some people snag them super early in the morning.  We didn’t do that, though, and we were able to find lounge chairs throughout the day, although it was challenging at times.  When in doubt, we could always find available lounge chairs at the beach.  But, there are only three of us, and this could be more of an issue for parties traveling with more people.

On non-resort days, we’d usually leave to explore Oahu early in the morning, and return later in the afternoon.  We’d quickly change and head to the pool and beach and it seemed less crowded late in the afternoon, too.  

Consider booking a photo session for family photos on the beach.

This was by far the best thing I purchased at the Aulani!  I always wanted family photos taken on the beach.  So I ended up booking a mini portrait session and paid extra for sunset photos.*  It was well worth it.  

If you decide to book a photo session at the Aulani, try to book it for the beginning of your stay.   That’s because your session might be canceled due the weather and you’ll have a better chance of rescheduling it during your stay. You and/or your family might also get sunburns during your stay and that will look/feel worse as the days progress.

*DVC members receive a discount towards the mini portrait session.

The Aulani Character Breakfast 2021.

Is the Aulani character breakfast in 2021 worth it?  I thought so, but of course, this answer can vary from person to person.  There are a limited number of characters present.  For example, guests can have socially distanced photos taken with Mickey and Minnie at the beginning of the breakfast.  Similar photos with Goofy and Pluto can be taken once inside the restaurant.  If you want the photos that the Disney photographer takes of your family with Mickey and Minnie, you will need to purchase those photos.  It was a limited experience and it wasn’t cheap.  However, the food was delicious, and my son loved it so it was worth it to me, especially after everything we’ve all been through.  The meal itself isn’t buffet style; instead a server brings food out to your table on plates after you place your order.  The Aulani character breakfast menu and prices can be found here.

The Aulani Luau.

Similar to the character breakfast, is the KA WA‘A Luau at the Aulani worth it?  Again, this answer will depend on the family.  But, my family and I thought so, especially as Disney fans.  I mean, Mickey and Minnie make an appearance on stage, lol.  Like the character breakfast, you’ll want to make a reservation asap.  There are two options for the luau:  preferred seating and general seating.  I wanted to book the preferred seating but they were all sold out for our date.  So, general seating it was!  I don’t feel like we missed out on anything.  Although to be fair, I can’t compare it to preferred seating.  But we were able to participate in the activities at the beginning of the luau, like making our own leis.  And we had a good view of the stage.  Our food was brought out to us in trays and the alcohol is unlimited even in general seating. So it all worked out in the end.  There are also kid friendly options - I wish I had my son’s dessert, which was a piece of chocolate cake 🙂

You can also have photos taken with the Aulani luau dancers but like the character breakfast, if you want to keep the photos, you will need to purchase them.  Which I did 🙂  

Buy groceries to save money at the Aulani.

There are several dining locations at the Aulani, but the food is expensive and quickly adds up.  However, there are grocery stores near the Aulani, such as Target, Safeway, and Costco.  My family and I ended up stopping off at the Safeway nearby and buying bottled water, soda, and breakfast food like muffins and bagels.  That way, we were able to save money on breakfast at least.    

If you don’t have a rental car, you can also order groceries via Instacart.

Download the official Aulani app and/or check out the Daily ‘Iwa.

I was a bit disappointed with the official Aulani app since it didn’t seem to contain a lot of information.  Hopefully over time, though, it will become more useful.  But, you can still access some info on the Aulani app.  

I thought that the bulletin board in the lobby with the Daily ‘Iwa was more useful so you’ll definitely want to stop by the lobby and take a look at the bulletin board.  Of course, I discovered this on our last day when we were checking out!  But there, you can find out more about the activities that are available, dining and shopping options, hours of operation, and the character experiences for that same day.

Aulani Character Experiences

Speaking of character experiences at the Aulani, you can also dial 2447 from your hotel room to find out when and where the characters are going to be for that same day.  You will need either a room key or wristband in order to have photos taken with the characters.  At the moment, guests can’t stand right next to the characters for photos; instead, the characters are usually on a stage with guests standing in front of them, maintaining social distance.  Like Disneyland and Disney World, PhotoPass photographers are present to take photos (and then you can buy the photos).  However, you can also use your own camera to take photos.

Sign up for activities at the Aulani ASAP.

There are several activities available at the Aulani such as feeding the fish at Rainbow Reef, “make your own mickey ears,” “stargazing,”  and “painting with light.”  All of these activities costa extra and they get booked up very quickly.  I don’t think the Aulani advertises them very well so some guests might not even be aware of them.  Some of the activities (like make your own mickey ears and painting with light) can be booked at the Pau Hana Room while snorkeling and feeding the fish at Rainbow Reef can be reserved at Rainbow Reef.  

My son enjoyed feeding the fish and snorkeling at Rainbow Reef and we both enjoyed making our mickey ears.*  I would have liked to have signed up for the painting with light activity, but it was already booked when I tried to sign us up.  So definitely reserve a slot as soon as soon as you check in to the Aulani.

*DVC members can get special “make your own mickey ears” as well as receive a discount for that particular activity.

Guests can participate in pin trading at the Aulani.

Once a day, guests can participate in pin trading, in the Maka’ala just outside Kalepa’s Store.  We brought a pin with us to trade, but unfortunately didn’t get around to it because we always missed the one-hour window.  If you are a fan of pin trading, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss the one-hour window.

Take advantage of all the Disney snacks.

Is there Dole Whip at the Aulani?  Heck yes!  There are also mickey bars, mickey donuts, cupcakes, and shaved ice.  The Disney snacks aren’t free, but they are convenient.  And delicious 🙂

I could talk all day about the Aulani!  Please let me know if you have any questions if you are planning a trip there.  And if you use any of my tips, please tag me on social media 🙂