Reflects recent average nightly prices reported by our partners, and may not include estimated taxes or fees. Price at checkout may differ.
Cheaper
Average
Higher
About
4.5
#5 of 6 hotels in Kapolei
Location
4.3
Rooms
4.5
Value
3.6
Cleanliness
4.7
Service
4.4
Sleep Quality
4.5
Discover a family paradise with a touch of magic at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai‘i. There's something for everyone to enjoy at this award-winning Resort, and so much is included with your stay and more!
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travelers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
This summary was created by AI, based on recent reviews.
Powered by AI
Nestled near attractions like Dole Plantation, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa offers a location that some guests find ideal for relaxation but slightly inconvenient for exploring further afield. While the resort receives accolades for its cleanliness and family-oriented amenities, numerous travelers consider the costs steep relative to the value. The rooms garner mixed reviews for their size and comfort, yet issues with crowding and maintenance are noted.
Service at the hotel is generally commended for being friendly, though episodes of unresponsiveness have marred the experience for some. Additionally, the atmosphere's shift towards catering more to families has left certain guests longing for past ambiance.
Location
Isolated
Atmosphere
Neglected
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Underwhelming
Was this helpful?
Tripadvisor is not responsible for this summary or the opinions in it. For more information, please read the traveler reviews and learn more about how the site works.
Aloha! Disney magic Hawaiian style! Three words. It was fantastic! My husband and I took a 28th anniversary trip to the islands. Our very last night, we decided to splurge and do one night at Aulani to see what it was like. So worth it!
We checked in early about 12:00 and our room was ready so that was awesome! Our room was immaculately clean and thoughtfully decorated Disney style. We had a partial ocean view and a beautiful, private lanai. Beds are SO comfy. This is true of the Disneyland Hotel and Grand Californian Hotels in Anaheim too. Best night of sleep we had our whole trip. AC worked great. Bathroom is large and had a separate toilet area. Tub is huge! Plugs are plentiful and USB chargers. Big TV with casting available from any device. WiFi is included.
We were going to rent a car but decided not too last minute. We did however ask about EV charges as we’re going to be renting an electric car. They had several plug ins free of charge.
The beach was beautiful and so calm for kids and families alike. Plenty of chairs available. The pool areas look so fun and they were bustling with kids and families. We found a quiet pool off on the side which wasn’t busy at all and very shady. Lifeguards are at each pool and are very attentive.
There are water refill stations so bring water bottles. Prices are typical for a resort and Disney. A kids meal is about $3 more than CA in the states. A pizza at Ulu’s is $20 but could easily feed 4 kids or 2-3 adults.
We also were able to do a late check out the following day - which is just 1:00 hour later- and then we stored our luggage, and went to the spa. The spa was AMAZING! if you love spas and being pampered, Disney does a great job! You’ll love it! You also have an 60 min prior to your appointment to enjoy the spa amenities too. Everyone was so kind and professional. After our time at the spa, we took advantage of the Lounge which is a room you can reserve a time to shower and get ready for those taking a late flight like us.
The lounge had just 2 showers, 2 bathrooms, and 2 sinks in the mens and womens locker rooms. There are also couches and tables to hang out while you wait for family to finish. There were probably about 10 people in the womens locker room when I was there so a bit crowded. I had to wait for a turn with the showers. The teens took a while! Plan on taking a quick shower, and then changing in the bathroom stall and getting out of there. It was crazy! But grateful they had the option.
We ate a Roy’s and Monkeypod nearby for dinners. The staff is happy to take you in the golf cart too!
Overall, we loved it! One of the best resorts we’ve ever been too! Crowded but Disney does crowds the best! If you want a quiet resort, this may not be it. The Four Seasons next door shares and beach with Aulani and it looked very chill. Kids and families are plentiful at Disney.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:Partial Ocean View rooms are really nice! Ask for an early check in and late check out! Reserve...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stopped on Oahu just to visit this resort. As long-time DVC members we were excited to finally stay here. We visited Oahu before and stayed on Waikiki Beach. While Aulani is a beautiful resort with amazing pools and ocean views, its location on the island is not ideal. There are so many things to see and do in Waikiki and Honolulu, but you’ll need a car and about 30 minutes to get to any of those activities. This is an added expense when you are already spending a significant amount on accommodations.
We stayed in a one-bedroom suite and it had a pullout couch as well as a twin Murphy bed under the TV in the living room. This was ideal for our two kids as they each had their own sleeping space. The bathroom was setup so the shower and tub were in two separate spaces and each space had a sink/mirror so two people could get ready at one time.
The pools were all spectacular. We grabbed some chairs near the infinity pool. This was close to the cafe and bar. Also, all members of your party were required to get a bracelet that showed you were a resort guest in order to enjoy the pool area and receive a pool towel. They would only provide you with one towel, even though they were not large enough to cover a lounge chair.
There is a lazy river that was very relaxing and we enjoyed riding the inter tube down the slide and traveling around it. The kids enjoyed a Mickey shave ice. We also took a trip to the lagoon to try snorkeling. We didn’t see anything in the water and the beach was ok. It wasn’t too crowded. We walked the path near the lagoon and passed several resorts. It was a nice path and provided some different views of the ocean and resort. There was grass and places to picnic in these areas.
All in all a nice resort that definitely lives up to Disney standards. It’s just not well-placed. When you go to Oahu, make sure you get to Pearl Harbor, Honolulu Zoo, Diamond Head, Downtown Market and enjoy the many restaurants the city has to offer.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Don’t make this your only stop on the island!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveler reviews.
Every negative review for the Aulani has truth to it: 1. The beds are awful. They are plasticky and feel like you're sleeping in a youth hostel in Sarajevo. You turn in bed and you're likely to wake your partner next to you from the crunching noise of the plastic mattress. 2. They nickel and dime you like crazy. No bottles of water on arrival and if you call down to ask for some, they will charge you $5 a bottle. This one really ticks me off. Almost everyone who checks into this hotel is coming off a long flight, straight to a cab for another 45 minute drive with kids in tow and will arrive dehydrated. Even a Comfort Inn will provide you with water. Don't give me a COVID excuse. Disney can get a bottle of water for free from any company who would die to advertise their water at their hotel. It's just poor form. 3. Our room had a ripped screen door, a malfunctioning AC unit, a leaky shower head, and a filthy carpet. 4. The pools are super chlorinated for obvious reasons. (read: pee pee and poo poo) to the point that our swim trunks turned different shades in just one outing. Don't wear nice swimsuits to their pools.
But the kids had the time of their lives.
The common grounds are amazing, the staff is super friendly and the pools and water slides/activities are wonderful. The beach is great, although the water is not very clear.
The wife and I would like to stay at the Four Seasons right next door next time for nearly the exact same price. But if you don't have an Aulani wristband, you can't use their facilities. And THAT's where they get you. My kids would not have had half the fun at the Four Seasons that they had at Aulani. And probably the biggest benefit to the Aulani vs FS, you can let your kids run around like maniacs and scream in the pool and play silly games and no one will bat an eye, because their kids are doing the exact same thing. If you're next door, you'll have to shush your kids to keep them from disturbing the rich people sun bathing next to you.
Bottom line, if your kids are around my kids age (6&4) then Aulani is worth it. If they've aged out of Disney, go to Four Seasons. And if you go to Aulani, stay in your room as little as possible. The more time you stay in your room, the more upset you'll be at what you're paying for.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2022
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:ask for the Eastern wing (Ewa?) A view of sunsets and I heard they're in better condition
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paying ridiculously high prices for a fully booked resort with only the pools open and not enough pool chairs for everyone is not worth it. NO daily housekeeping (only take trash everyday), NO free Aunty's Beach club for the kids, NO fitness center, NO spa, NO drinking fountains or refillable water stations - must buy wasteful $4/bottle plastic) . Simply too many people in a small area. You'll pay $250 for the character breakfast for a family of 4-5, and then pay $35 more for the pictures with Mickey and Minny standing 6 ft behind you outside. You have to be masked when taking your own pictures with Goofy and Pluto even though the restaurant is basically open to the outside. You'll also pay $99 for the photopass pics taken during your stay. Pools are crowded and look dirty. The rooms are tiny, have poor dark lighting, small tvs, and carpet feels really dirty. Ocean view room is really a partial ocean view, and we were on the 8th floor of the Waianae tower (804) and had constant a/c or generator electric humming. They were not able to move us because "they were fully booked." Staff is not rude but also not genuinely welcoming. Everything is overpriced and you'll need to go across the street to get better food. The beach is ok but the sand is not the best with shells and debris in it, its safe for snorkeling but otherwise like a giant pool. We just came from the Grand Hyatt Kauai and WOW, that is a real resort experience - they were cleaning rooms ever other day, the spa and fitness center were open, the pool complex is the best in Hawaii, the club lounge was open for Globalists, relaxing and calming environment, all staff were super welcoming, the sand on the beach was much cleaner/softer and kids enjoyed jumping the waves, sea turtles everywhere, filtered water stations throughout). I would NOT recommend Aulani at all. It's like being at Disneyland with all the people and high costs for everthing but none of the rides or magical fun. The Menehune trial hunt was amusing but tedious for parents to zig zag a hundred times across the resort with kids...just put the clues closer together as you end up passing future clues and seeing them anyways. Prepare to sit on lounge chairs at 7:30 am and remain there. Went because it was recommended by DVC friends but I would never stay here again. They cannot fully book the hotel and only have one included amenity open (the pools).
Read more
Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Disappointing experience with my family over 10 days at Aulani Resort. 1. Self-parking is a joke. I'm sure most of the people how rented cars and opted to part at the resort can agree to do this, but a lot of people were having trouble coming in and out as the key card would not work. Especially, when you try to leave the parking structure unless your key card works, you will sit there and wait for the intercom to work. It happened to me 5 times and they ask you some questions about the room number and stuff. it's pretty annoying. I've replaced my key all 5 times. 2. Pool area. are we in a pandemic or not? very questionable protocol. When you get the towels and kid's foam vest, they require you to wear the mask. I'm sure this is to protect the employees. What if you were in the pool you happen to lost and/or destroyed your mask? you can't get a towel? they don't have a spare one at the booth? so, they expect you not to dry up, go to your room, get a mask, come down and get a towel? when you are lounging or sunbathing, no one is wearing masks, if you are required to wear a mask to get towels, how come when people come over to take orders of your food, they don't ask that? All they want to do is soften the rules when it involves revenue. I laugh at the people who 'pretend' to spray down the tubes for the slides. they ask people to put them back to stack them, but they don't spray them down. They just hold a spray bottle to give us a sense of comfort. No water filling stations anywhere. 3. Food. I should write a separate review regarding the restaurant on the 1st floor, but since it's part of the resort, I will include them in this. The restaurant on the 1st floor used to be a buffet. They serve you buffet quality food with a $$-$$$ price tag on it. Service and the staffs are very friendly, but I would recommend avoiding as much as possible. 4. Room service. This might surprise you. When you stay for an extended period, but do not want your room serviced, they will still come in to empty the trash even though you have a 'Private' sign on your door. This is pretty annoying as kids will be taking a nap and the room service will knock on your door to take out the trash. Also, even when you are not there, they will still come in and take out the trash.
Read more
Date of stay: June 2021
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Do not get the room in south building facing the parking structure and hill. You will be annoyed...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The food was great and kids enjoyed the water park amenities. But to be honest this hotel doesn’t have the Disney magic we have experienced in more than 5 cruise ship trips and a couple of Disney resort hotels. Staff is rude and unapologetic, and some of them seemed to dislike children. Due to COVID they say they have canceled housekeeping service but didn’t let us know at Time of check in, which actually took around 45 minutes. We stayed there for three nights and they just removed trash daily and replaced bathroom amenities once. Rooms don’t have bottled water or mini bar and the furniture, carpet and decoration feels dated. We hardly saw Disney characters in fact we saw a couple of characters that were not Disney at all and my kids know all the movies from Disney+ so that made us doubt about the Disney involvement at this hotel. For $600 a night We were expecting more and on top of that you have to pay for most of the sports and character activities. Huge disappointment.
Walking distance you can find a nice cafe, shops and mini market.
Read more
Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip:Book early for the Luau and character activities
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Completely underwhelmed by our experience compared to the price we paid for this hotel (even at a 40% off promotion)
The beds were absolutely terrible. Hard lumpy pillows, too soft mattress and no blankets or comforter. The beds seriously just had sheets on them! Never seen that at a hotel before, much less a high end resort.
Garbage wifi. Had to use cellular data the whole trip because the wifi was so slow.
Okay food. Much better dining experiences at the shopping center across the street or next door at the four seasons. We had a character dinner and breakfast, dinner at Ama Ama and grab and go food from Aulani, all of which were underwhelming and overpriced. Mina's fish House at the 4 seasons is better for a fancy dinner, Monkeypod across the street is better for a regular dinner, and Vintage Coffee and, Eggs N things across the street both have better coffees a breakfasts.
The Character breakfasts and dinners require a reservation. We tried to go once without and they took our name down and called 2 hours later - for a breakfast buffet! The experience when you do have a reservation is this: wait in line to check in at the hostess stand, directed to another line to wait 15 minutes for a character photo. Go over to another waiting area and be brought to your table. Buffet food. 3 more characters visit your table. Breakfast every day we were at the hotel always had the same characters - Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy. Not sure if the dinner characters ever changed up, but when we went it was Donald, Daisy, Pluto and Stitch. Maybe it would be worth the $55 per person if our 4 year old was more into the characters, but she just wanted to know why they wouldn't talk and why Pluto was walking on 2 feet.
We did enjoy the lazy river, slides and water play areas. The beach view is nice and you can see sunset over the water.
Overall we did have some fun but the hotel left much to be desired and we'll stay elsewhere on future Hawaii visits.
Read more
Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in a 1BR suite with out 12 and 17 year old boys and it was great. The resort is really well kept and we felt comfortable letting the boys go down to the pool area on their own. It wasn't too bad finding seating by the pool but once this place is back to full capacity I could see how it would fill up super quickly and then not find any seating. We rented a car from the on sight service and it was super easy and very efficient. Restaurants were
Read more
Date of stay: April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My husband and our two sons 11mo and 2.5 years old stayed to celebrate our 11mo turning 1. Our first time staying at the resort. Overall we had a great time and the resort is beautiful. Most of the staff was nice, especially Jimbo who made our days swimming in the pool with some adult drinks ;) great pools and beach for young kids and water slides. We ate at each restaurant food was good, especially at the 3 course meal restaurant. Only disappointment was they didn’t seem to cater to their guests. It was set up their way and that was it. The concierge was not helpful, and we had someone come to our room to empty trash at 1p everyday when our children nap and woke them up. We had the sign on the door handle occupied and when she knocked and no one answered she came right in. We called and asked if we could skip this service they said no it’s their policy everyday. Not only did we not enjoy them waking up our children’s naps but also with covid we didn’t feel it’s okay they come in when we requested not to. Also not very many activities at night for entertainment, even with covid we thought they might have something. Other than that nice family resort, very expensive but it’s Disney and Hawaii so expected.
Read more
Date of stay: April 2021Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This was my first visit to Oahu after first traveling to Kauai. Although it seems the whole island is susceptible to weekday traffic, this resort is far enough away from the hustle and bustle and kitchiness of Waikiki that you can actually relax.
Like all Disney resorts, the service here is exceptional. The entire resort is immaculately maintained. The lobby floor corridors had beautiful Hawaiian scents that I will never forget.
Although less than 10 years old, the guest rooms are starting to show some age. For example, the TVs are quite old and most of the channels are NOT in HD. Also, it seems Oahu has very hard water so the bathroom fixtures had quite a bit of limescale on them. Other than that, the rooms are essentially no-frills, basic rooms with a decent amount of closet and drawer space.
The lagoon is a nice touch, however, it's important to know that they're aren't any waves. So if you or your kids want to boogie board or surf, you'll have to find another beach.
The hotel does a good job to not overwhelm you with Disney. It's primarily a Hawaiian resort than it is a Disney resort. They say the characters are on vacation there so they're not always present. However, you you'll have many opportunities to see them. There's a hotline you can call from your room to see what times and where characters will be. Also, one of the best ways to see the characters is at character breakfasts and dinners a Makahiki.
Read more
Date of stay: March 2020
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
North Andover, Massachusetts8 contributions9 helpful votes
Sorry, didn't take any pictures of the menus/prices. Everything was expensive. If it helps, we found the quick serve food quality to be very good, if you want to avoid the extra expense of tipping at a sit down restaurant.
There are more places to choose from in the Kapolei area.
PRICE RANGE
$683 - $1,036 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
aulani, a disney resort & spa in hawai`i hotel kapolei, aulani, a disney resort and spa in hawai`i
LOCATION
United StatesHawaiiOahuKapolei
NUMBER OF ROOMS
819
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
Is This Your Tripadvisor Listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
