Our Family’s Aulani Vacation: What We Loved, What We’d Change, and Why We’d Stay Longer

When people ask me about our recent Hawaii vacation, the first thing I tell them is that it felt completely different from a Disney theme park trip.

We’re used to rope drops, Lightning Lanes, walking miles every day, and trying to fit as much as possible into a vacation. Hawaii was the opposite. It was slower, more relaxing, and far less structured than our usual trips.

In May, Tracy and I traveled to Oahu with our daughter Heather, son-in-law Steve, our two granddaughters, and our son Will. We spent six nights at Disney’s Aulani Resort before making a brief stop in California on the way home.

Why We Chose Aulani

This was a multi-generational family vacation, and Aulani turned out to be a perfect fit.

Our son Will flew in from California a few days before we arrived and spent time exploring some of Oahu’s historical sites on his own before joining us at the resort. Having everyone together under one roof for the week gave us plenty of family time while still allowing everyone to enjoy the vacation at their own pace.

We stayed in a two-bedroom DVC villa using Disney Vacation Club points. The extra space made a huge difference with seven people sharing accommodations.

First Impressions

Our trip got off to an unusual start.

After arriving at Aulani, our room was ready, but a power outage affected portions of the resort. Our original lunch plans at Off the Hook disappeared when the restaurant closed, so we regrouped and headed to Waikiki instead.

While the unexpected change wasn’t ideal after a long travel day, it ended up becoming one of those vacation stories we still talk about.

We enjoyed lunch at Duke’s Waikiki, stocked up on supplies at Target, and adjusted our plans on the fly.

The Surprise: How Relaxing Aulani Is

The biggest surprise of the trip was how relaxing the entire experience felt.

Aulani is a Disney resort, but it doesn’t feel anything like a Walt Disney World vacation. There was no pressure to rush from attraction to attraction. Instead, our days revolved around the pools, the beach, good food, family time, and simply enjoying where we were.

By the second day, we had settled into a completely different vacation rhythm.

The girls made Mickey ears, participated in activities around the resort, met Disney characters, and enjoyed the Menehune adventures. Tracy and I spent time enjoying the resort while Heather and Steve were even able to celebrate their tenth anniversary with a spa day and an overnight stay in Waikiki.

That’s one of the things I appreciated most about Aulani. It worked equally well for grandparents, parents, teenagers, and young children.

The Cabanas Were Worth Every Penny

We rented poolside cabanas twice during the trip.

If you’re considering one, my answer is simple: yes.

They are expensive, but they became the home base for our family during our pool days. Having dedicated seating, shade, and a comfortable place for everyone to gather made the experience dramatically more enjoyable.

If your budget allows, I’d absolutely do it.

In fact, if we stayed longer, I’d probably book even more cabana days.

Pearl Harbor: A Powerful Experience

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Pearl Harbor.

I had been there before, more than twenty years ago during Air Force travels, and Steve had visited previously as well. For everyone else, it was their first visit.

The museums and exhibits were interesting, but the most powerful moment was taking the boat to the USS Arizona Memorial.

The Navy boat crew emphasized repeatedly that visitors should be respectful and quiet while visiting the memorial. The atmosphere immediately changed as everyone stepped aboard.

Standing above the remains of the Arizona and seeing the famous “Tears of the Arizona” oil droplets still rising to the surface was a sobering reminder that this isn’t simply a tourist attraction. It’s a memorial to the sailors and Marines who lost their lives on December 7, 1941.

For our family, it was one of the most meaningful experiences of the trip.

Exploring Oahu

After Pearl Harbor, we continued across the island to the Dole Plantation.

Like many visitors, we stopped for the famous Dole Whip, explored the grounds, and enjoyed seeing another piece of Hawaii that most Disney visitors never experience.

One thing we learned during this trip is that Oahu offers plenty to see beyond Aulani. At the same time, we also discovered that we were surprisingly happy spending most of our vacation at the resort.

That balance is something we’d probably approach differently on a future visit. We enjoyed seeing Pearl Harbor and other parts of the island, but if we returned tomorrow, we’d likely add several more nights at Aulani rather than adding additional sightseeing days.

The Best Experience: Aulani’s Luau

If I had to recommend just one experience at Aulani, it would be the luau.

Mickey and Minnie do the Hula at Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa’s Luau

We attended both Aulani’s Ka Wa’a Luau and the luau at the Hale Koa Hotel later in the trip.

Both offered Hawaiian entertainment and food, but Aulani’s production was on an entirely different level.

The storytelling, music, dancing, setting, food, and overall production quality created one of the most memorable evenings of our vacation.

If you’re only going to do one luau during your trip, I’d choose Aulani’s.

The Food

One of the pleasant surprises was how much we enjoyed the dining throughout the trip.

Duke’s Waikiki was outstanding and easily one of our favorite meals on Oahu.

At Aulani, Makahiki ended up being our favorite dining experience. We also enjoyed Ama Ama, although it’s probably more of a special one-time splurge than something we’d repeat regularly given the price.

On the way home, we spent two nights in California and made a return visit to Din Tai Fung. We’d loved it on previous trips, and it absolutely lived up to expectations once again.

On the Way Home

On the way home, we spent two nights at Disneyland Resort. The plan being to ease the transition back to Eastern Time while also giving us an excuse to visit Disney California Adventure, enjoy Din Tai Fung, and the Broken Spell Lounge, two of our Disneyland Favorites. It was a fun way to end the trip, but Hawaii was unquestionably the focus of this vacation.

What We’d Do Differently

The biggest lesson from this trip is simple.

Stay longer.

Six nights sounded like plenty when we booked the vacation. By the time we left, it didn’t feel like enough.

If we return, we’ll likely spend less time in Waikiki. While Duke’s was excellent, the area felt much more like a busy tourist city than the relaxed Hawaiian atmosphere we enjoyed at Aulani. Between the drive and the crowds, we’d probably dedicate more time to the resort itself.

I’d also be more cautious about booking an Ocean View room category without understanding exactly what Disney means by “ocean view.” While our villa technically qualified, it wasn’t quite the view we had envisioned when making the reservation.

Final Thoughts

Aulani is expensive.

There’s no way around that.

But it also delivered one of the most enjoyable family vacations we’ve ever taken.

What surprised me most wasn’t the resort itself. It was how little desire we had to leave it.

Before the trip, I assumed we’d spend much more time exploring Oahu. Instead, we found ourselves wanting to spend more time at Aulani enjoying the pools, beach, dining, activities, and simply being together as a family.

For multi-generational travel, I honestly think that’s one of Aulani’s greatest strengths. Everyone can enjoy the vacation differently while still sharing the experience together.

If you’re considering an Aulani vacation, my biggest advice is simple:

Stay longer than you think you need.

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