Disney’s Aulani Resort Hawaii

Disney’s Aulani Resort Hawaii

ever wish you could experience a Disney vacation minus the stress of it all then I think it’s about time I introduce you to the lovely island getaway disney’s Alani [Music] aloha everyone it’s AJ for Disney Food Vlog we’re going somewhere completely different today not Orlando not Anaheim not even Tokyo but Disney’s Alani Resort out in Hawaii got your Lays and Hoola skirts ready then let’s check this resort out and see what it has to offer that’s completely different from other Disney vacation destinations so welcome my friends to Alani Aloha this might be a Disney vacation destination but you’re not going to find roller coasters and lightning lanes and fireworks shows here instead you’ll be staying at an expansive Disney Vacation Club resort that immerses you in the legends of the Hawaiian Islands so you’re going to find things like Hawaiian art and Hawaiian activities and crafts and island excursions and so much more it also is important to note that Alani isn’t overly Disneyi like the parks and cruises are sure you’re going to see a few Disney characters here and there and yes you’ll be able to order a shave ice in the shape of Mickey’s head but the Disney detailing is very very subtle alani is more focused on creating an authentic Hawaiian experience beaches luau and all by the way don’t worry about writing any of this information down we’ve got an entire Disney Alani guide already written up and ready to send your way for absolutely $0 so scan the QR code you see on the screen now or head to disneyfoodblog.com/alani after this okay let’s talk room types first off to bat we got the standard hotel room which sleeps up to four guests again very similar to a standard room you’re going to find at a deluxe resort in Disney World the room is about 382 ft comes with either two queen-siz beds or one king-size bed and one queen-sized sleeper sofa and includes all the basic amenities of a hotel room plus it’s going to give you a private porch or balcony hello sunrises now if you’ve got an extra member in your party you’ll want to upgrade to either a one-bedroom suite or a signature one-bedroom suite the regular one-bedroom is over double the size of a standard room approximately 764 square ft and features a separate master bedroom and living room area but the signature one-bedroom is even bigger at 1,528 square ft and comes with two full bathrooms and has a full kitchen area with a fridge full sink dishwasher etc or you can splurge for the signature two-bedroom suite which sleeps up to six guests and has the same features as the one-bedroom option plus yet another bathroom making that three bathrooms total and more space overall approximately 1,910 square ft that’s like way bigger than a lot of houses that now leaves us with the DVC studio and villa options the DVC Deluxe Studio despite its deluxe name is going to be your smallest room option but it still sleeps up to four people similar to a regular one-bedroom suite the DVC one-bedroom villas sleep up to five guests they only have one bathroom inside each room but still give you a full kitchen area plus a washer and dryer the two-bedroom DVC villas actually sleep up to nine people for much bigger travel groups and the DVC 3bedroom grand villa can sleep up to 12 people you can spread out across a whopping 2,174 square ft and these rooms will give you the whole 9 yards three full bathrooms an extra-large private balcony a washerdryer full kitchen amenities robes and slippers the works and how about those room views well several of Alani’s rooms will hook you up with ocean views not all of them will room view options can also include poolside garden views island garden views or a standard view of like the parking garage or parking lot or conference center if getting a specific room view is important to you look carefully at these specifications before you book okay let’s get to the food when it comes to dining and snacking Alani has quite a few kiosks and quick services and themed sitown restaurants you can choose from but today I’m going to tell you about the best of them we’re going to start with the main star of the Alani dining circuit Kawa Aluo on Aahu ka takes place on the Haloai lawn which is tucked away toward the back of the resort on your lefthand side if you’re facing the lobby this nighttime event is part dinner part show and 100% an emphasis on Hawaiian history and culture basically if you’re looking for an authentic Hawaiian luau this is where you’re going to find it this luau is a multi-hour long experience starts at 5:00 p.m and you’re going to be able to take part in the prefestivities which include crafts and activities like flower arranging and poounding then once 6:30 p.m rolls around the luau officially kicks off dinner is a buffet consisting of island favorites which may include things like Kalúa pork poi passion fruit cake and a variety of other traditional Hawaiian style foods both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are also included in the event price and in all honesty there are better places to eat around Alani this is very much that buffet quality where things are good but nothing really stands out as being great that being said the experience of the Luauo as a whole is what makes Kawa’s price tag worth it during dinner you’re not just munching on all you can eat buffet grub but you’re also experiencing an evening of hoola dancing and ukulele tunes and stories featuring the history of Hawaii and more and that’s what makes this place a musto in Alani advanced dining reservations for the luau are required but you can make 30 days in advance of your trip okay here is another pricey restaurant that doesn’t have the same level of luau entertainment that Kawa has but tends to have higher quality food and an overall more elegant feel this is Amma Alma it looks like a beachside house but like a really nice beachside house featuring mosaic designs and a fountain a reflecting pool and light fixtures inspired by Hawaiian fish baskets here you’re going to experience a four course prefix dinner where each course focuses on high quality ingredients plus fish and produce that are locally sourced some dishes you may find include smoked salmon pate pork belly scallops lamb and coconut fla in our past experience Amma has given us immaculate views provided fantastic service and presented an elevated cuisine that we don’t mind splurging on for those highquality Hawaiian eats one more prefix dinner then I promise I’ll get to the more affordable stuff next makahiki is a three course prefix dining experience available for breakfast and dinner and during breakfast you’ll get the chance to meet characters like Mickey and Chef Goofy maybe even Goofy’s son Max cuz he likes to help out his dad around the kitchen and that is amazing cuz you don’t get to meet Max too many places now during your meal you may also get to hear a few ukulele tunes from auntie or uncle who are lifelong residents of Aahu breakfast typically includes some sort of starters like fruit and malasadas which is a Portuguese sugar donut and your choice of entree where you can choose from things like Kalúa pig omelette Hawaiian style locomokco and punaloo sweet French toast as far as dinner goes you’ll get a three course meal with your choice of starter which may include soup and salad options an entree options like salmon local catch of the day pasta and steak and a dessert with options like our personal favorite the roasted pineapple cobbler dinner has more of an upscale elegant vibe here so you’re not going to see Disney characters at that time which is kind of why we actually prefer breakfast over dinner here but after all there are other elegant restaurants we can choose from at Alani but character dining is more of a rarity just look over the menu carefully and see what prefix options are going to be best for you and your group okay now we’re moving on to the quick bites and onthe-go dining scene ulu Cafe serves convenient made to order and self serve items like breakfast grub poke bowls sandwiches aai bowls and pizza too you’ll find this spot on the first floor of Alani over by Wana Pool breakfast is served from 6:30 to 11:00 and then the all day menu is available from 11 to 9:00 and like I said menu options are basically a mix of familiar favorites along with Hawaiian inspired specialties the Olelo Room which is also on the first floor of the resort lobby not too terribly far away from Makahiki might be a more upscale bar but it still serves grab-and-go morning options as well as evening appetizers and various cocktails in the morning expect to find things like Melissadas those Portuguese sugar donuts that we absolutely love specialty cocktails coffee and tea and in the evenings appetizers can include stuff like py or sashimi sushi tacos sliders desserts and more basically this is your happy medium lounge when it comes to classic Alani dining without having to splurge over a hundred bucks per person and if you need to brush up on your Hawaiian the bartenders inside the Olo room can help you out fun fact Olo actually is the Hawaiian word for well word now don’t sleep on this open air bar off the hook is a good time off the hook is in front of Amma sandwiched between the main pool and Auntie’s beach house in terms of drinks you’re going to find plenty of cocktails wine beer and more and in terms of eats you’ll typically find appetizer options like flatbreads pork ribs and py salads sandwiches pasta dishes entre like huly hulie chicken or salmon and a few limited desserts too off the Hook also offers quick breakfast options like coffee drinks espresso drinks avocado toast French toast Mickey waffles and garlic spam fried rice don’t knock it till you try it honestly if you’re searching for a good old specialty coffee drink Off the Hook is going to be your best bet there in the morning okay now Papaua shave ice is where you’re going to find that iconic and colorful Mickeyshaped shave ice that you’ve more than likely seen on social media somewhere before there are a lot of unique shave ice flavors at Papa including potential options like green tea litechi guava halia which is a Hawaiian coconut pudding and licoy which is of course passion fruit you can also add on things like sweetened condensed milk or vanilla ice cream to make your shave ice even sweeter if you want what just might be the best dolph experience of your life check out Little Opiehis Beachside kiosk next to Makiki Joe’s on Coalina Beach little Opehees feels different because it’s located on that beachfront that’s shared between Alani and the nearby Four Seasons Resort you can order character inspired Dole Whip bowls fruit on a stick boba tea or even a classic Mickey ice cream sandwich you can order any of these items at the counter of the kiosk or you can get beachside service from the convenience of your Alani lounge chair out on the beach now let’s take a moment to talk about the weather not every day in Alani is all sunshine and dole whips weather can play a huge factor in your day itinerary if it’s just raining like a little drizzle here and there that’s totally normal for Hawaii and the entire outdoor area of Alani will stay open the pools will stay open the outdoor bars stay open alani won’t completely close these outdoor experiences unless there’s lightning and or a torrential downpour that could potentially flood the area one of your best options for keeping the fun going for the kids while weather is rough and tough is spending some time over at the Pauhana room where indoor family activities and crafts take place at select times during the day super stormy weather could also cancel some of your dining reservations completely during our last visit to Alani we experienced a day with massive storms and these massive storms ended up cancing our dinner reservation to Amma because of this Alani gave us alternative reservations for Makahiki instead though anyone who previously had Amma reservations was given a Makahiki reservation instead meaning this restaurant was packed that evening okay enough about the bad weather let’s get back to the outdoor Alani fun in the good weather the best activities included with your stay at Alani are all going to be waterbased but maybe that’s a given since we’re hanging out on an island and all the beach at Alani Resort Coalina Lagoon is a calm water beach that’s usually shared between Alani and the neighboring Four Seasons Resort but don’t worry you’re always going to have plenty of room to spread out and enjoy some snorkeling and swimming and paddle boarding and overall relaxation without being on top of other resort guests at all times items like boogie boards snorkel sets and more can be accessed over at Makiki Joe’s Beach Rentals located on the beach walkway just behind Alani and as an Alani resort guest you’ll have access to free boogie board rentals too if you want to check out Alani’s specific pool areas the Walo pool is the resort’s main and largest pool this is where you can find the volcanic vertical slide which is a tunnel body slide and daily pool parties too you can also float away your troubles on the Wola High stream around this area you’re also going to find the Tubestone Curl an open air tube slide that spits you back out into the lazy river for a much quieter pool experience you’ll want to visit Wana Pool this spot is exclusive to those 18 and older and is situated right next to the Wana pool bar and near the center of W Kohay Valley you can find a self-contained 3,800 ft saltwater snorkeling lagoon called Rainbow Reef there are all kinds of Amma here that you can swim alongside prices vary and are subject to change but they can be around $30 per adult 10 plus and $25 per kid 9 and under if you’d rather just buy a pass that’ll give you access throughout the length of your stay that’ll cost you around $50 per adult and $40 per kid there are several other pools and water areas to explore around Alani that we discuss more in depth in our free Alani guide but before you head over to any of those Alani water areas make sure to pick up your daily wristbands over at the tower station in the main Wola pool area wristbands are required for those wanting to use the pools pool chairs and beach chairs at Alani since these are all reserved for overnight guests only now this is as relaxing as it gets on a Disney vacation lanivi a Disney spa offers a full slate of spa and salon services what makes this spa super unique is its premium 5,000 square ft Kula outdoor hydrotherapy garden which includes whirlpool spas six different rain showers a cold water plunge pool and more according to the Alani website in order to gain access to Kulawawaii you will need to book a body treatment massage or facial at Lonivi first there are also some cheaper salon services you can book too if you want to get your hair nails etc done but these services do not come with access to the outdoor hydrotherapy garden lanivi also has a fitness center the fitness center is free for all guests staying at Alani but select fitness classes will be a premium experience you’ll want to book through the Alani website ahead of time if I got into all the details of what you can do around Alani this video would be a million years longer than it is so here’s what I’m going to do instead i’ll give you a quick list of island entertainment that goes beyond Alani’s pools and restaurants so you know what other activities to potentially pad your days with when you’re out on Aahu at Alani you can embark on the Menahooni adventure trail for an interactive adventure gather around the fire pit for Molelo storytelling book an excursion that’ll take you beyond the Alani resorts excursion packages are available for an extra cost on the Alani website and often include adventures like ziplining volcanic crater exploration Pearl Harbor tours and more you can play around a golf at the Coalina course kids ages 17 and under get to golf for free here after 3:00 p.m when accompanied by a paying adult you can shop around Alani’s numerous gift shops to take home a little tropical trinket or two you can even take ukulele lessons no extra fees necessary and that’s not even everything you can fill your day with out at Alani in Aahu just a few of the main highlights alani is definitely different from your average Disney vacation this tropical getaway is less about the Mickey ears and more about immersing yourself in an island culture that’s so rich and beautiful and peaceful too our free Alani guide goes into even more detail about the extra experiences you can find around this tropical Disney Vacation Club resort so don’t forget to pick that up over at disneyfoodblog.com/alani when you get the chance and be sure to check out some of our other resort videos after this for even more Disney hotel fun and facts and full tours thanks for listening everyone and thanks for watching as always this is AJ for Disney Food Blog and we’ll see you real soon aloha

Ever wish you could experience Disney vacation MINUS the stress of it all? Then I think it’s about time I introduce you to the lovely island getaway…. Disney Aulani.

https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/aulani

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