Aloha Madison, and welcome to planDisney! Aulani is such a special place, with its tropical vibes, celebration of Hawaiian culture, and, of course, Disney magic. So let’s make sure you have all the information needed for your trip.
I like to buy discounted Disney gift cards throughout the year to use on my vacations, including at Aulani. I spoke with a Cast Member to be absolutely sure, and she confirmed that you can use a Disney gift card to pay for your room at check-in. You may also be asked to put a credit card on file for any incidentals, like charging dining or merchandise purchases to the room. If you’d like to pay for that balance with a Disney gift card, stop by the front desk before check-out day to apply your gift card.
Before your visit, be sure to download the
Aulani Resort Mobile App so you can start seeing what kinds of activities might be happening while you’re there (keep in mind that character meet and greets are added to the schedule each morning, typically between 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.).
There’s just so much to do at Aulani, I’m excited for you to experience everything that they have to offer. My family loves to start the day enjoying breakfast with Mickey and friends at
Makahiki (you can make dining reservations up to 30 days in advance). There are lots of opportunities to
meet characters throughout the day at Aulani, but we love getting quality time in with a few friends before we’re busy swimming and playing in the sand all day.
Some of our other favorite activities include snorkeling with fish in
Rainbow Reef (anyone who wants to stay dry can also watch from the windows!), going on a scavenger hunt on the
Menehune Adventure Trail (I recommend playing this game at dusk when it’s easier to see the interactive features), and learning to play Disney songs on the ‘ukulele (sign up for the ‘Ohana Ho’okani Pila ‘ukulele lessons up to 45 days in advance through the
Pau Hana Room page).
And finally, we love to end the night at either the
KA WA’A luau or the complimentary
Mo’olelo Fire Pit Storytelling. Both are a great way to learn about classic Hawaiian tales and legends… including the story of Maui!
I hope you have a magical stay at Aulani! And if you have any other questions, you’re always welcome back here at planDisney.
JoAnna