I’ve always loved anything Disney. So when I found out a couple of years ago that Disney was opening a new resort in Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, I was beyond excited. It sounded perfect, and now that we are back from our trip, I can say that it was everything we hoped it would be and more. My husband and I have the Disney Visa card, which means that we can sometimes book a vacation package at a special rate. Our package was not only at a discounted rate, but it included daily resort credit and a character breakfast. It also included a rental car for the day, and transportation to and from the airport, but because we were flying back home late at night, and wanted a rental car for the week to drive around the island, we opted out of that particular offer.

We decided to go to the Aulani the first week of November. Our decision was based on two things: we didn’t think the resort would be as crowded during that time, and our son would also be able to participate in the programs at Auntie’s Beach House (he had just turned 3 years old, and in order for a child to be dropped off at the Beach House, he/she needs to be 3 years old and potty trained).

Parking at the resort, and check-in, was a breeze. We were enthusiastically greeted by the employees once we entered the resort and my son was given a special menehune necklace while my husband and I received leis. We arrived late in the day, so we settled into our room, and ordered room service for dinner.

This was our view the following morning:

 

The rest of the week was very relaxing. The resort has several fun pools, slides, and a lazy river. And not to mention the beach, where you can rent kayaks as well as beach toys. You can also go snorkeling in a separate area called Rainbow Reef. While we didn’t go snorkeling, my son loved looking at the fish and the people snorkeling.

What I loved the most about the resort - Auntie’s Beach House. My son got to make space goo with Stitch, and participate in special programs like Surf’s Up with Chip and Dale and Fish Are Friends, Not Food (Stitch’s Space Goo is included in the cost of the stay but Surf’s Up and Fish Are Friends are part of the special programs and therefore cost extra, but in my opinion, well worth it). Months later, he still likes saying “fish are friends, not food. Other fun features of the Beach House - dressing up in costumes, dance parties, building with blocks, and for the older kids, computers.

As I mentioned, our package also included a character breakfast. It was perfect for my son’s age. There are not a lot of characters - just Mickey, Minne, and Goofy, but it was not overwhelming for my son. All the kids seemed to enjoy it and they were able to get up and dance with the Minnie, Goofy, and Auntie. And the food was delicious. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

 

We alternated between enjoying the amenities at the resort, and exploring the island (sadly, I didn’t discover the Mickey Bars until the end of our stay). Oahu is a great island to explore. We enjoyed the Dole Whip ice cream at the Dole Plantation, took a movie tour, and just enjoyed driving around, seeing the beautiful scenery. I would definitely go back to the Aulani (and Hawaii!)