Aulani is more than just a destination - it's a portal to Oahu. And, with so much to see and experience, you will want to stay an extra night - for FREE. Jennifer Dunyon, VP of Communications for Get Away Today recently spent a week at Disney's Aulani Resort and Spa exploring all there is to do at this incredible Hawaiian resort, unlike any other. Here are some of her firsthand experiences from Aulani:
"I had extremely high expectations for the new Disney Aulani. I’ve been promoting and learning about the property for several years. I am happy to announce that the resort met and even exceeded my expectations.
Location: I had never been to Ko Olina before. It is located about 20 minutes west of the Honolulu airport. It’s an easy freeway drive there. The location is serene. It’s on the drier side of the island so the weather is beautiful. When it might be raining on other parts of the island, you’re basking in sunshine on the beautiful beach. The beach consisted of a
protected lagoon. It was wonderful! The water was smooth and the sand was great for building sand castles.
The Aulani Hotel: When you first glimpse the hotel from the distance you can’t wait to get there. The exterior of the hotel is beautiful. It’s very Hawaiian. When you check-in you are greeted by Hawaiians who give you the traditional lei and then welcome you to the hotel. The lobby area is open aired and tells the Hawaiian story beautifully. The view from the center of the lobby to all the grounds is fabulous. It makes you want to jump right in the pools and start your vacation! The check-in area has a beautiful collage of pictures that represent a beautiful rainbow. Our rooms were on the 14th floor overlooking the pool area and ocean (the views couldn’t have been better!) Also, we stayed in the Parlor Suites. They were so spacious. There were two rooms and one and a half
bathrooms. The master bath was huge! It had the most amazing rain shower and Jacuzzi tub. For a family of 5, our room was the most comfortable we’ve ever stayed in Hawaii.
Activities: We didn’t want or need to leave the hotel- there was so much to see and do! We started off each day jogging the beach trails. Then we’d come back and get our swimsuits on and head for the Waikolohe pool area or beach. There were so many great areas to find lawn chairs, that can be a problem at big resorts, but they’ve created tons of spots for people to relax and still have a great view of their kids swimming. The waterslides and pool area were open from 8:00am-8:00pm and they had tons of lifeguards on duty that whole time. You need a wristband to get towels and to use the pool areas (the kids really enjoyed collecting those!).
The waterslides were so much fun. One was a dark corridor that had tons of twists and surprises (it was actually super fast and fun). The other was a tube slide that you could ride as a single tuber or on a double tube. Both were great for all ages and they even allowed younger kids who weren’t as strong as swimmers to wear life vests. Plus, they provided life vests at the pool area (Yeah! One less thing to pack!) The tube ride sends you into the lazy river which was about a ¼ mile long with lots of waterfalls and beautiful lush grounds. The lifeguards were amazing. Their motto is “when in doubt, jump in.” My 7 year old was swimming and was under the water a little longer than normal and they jumped in and saved her. She was fine, but it was sure great as a parent that they take your child's safety swimming so seriously.
The Menehune bridge play area for kids was great. This was a glorified splash zone that was great for smaller children (my 5 year old and her 3 and 2 year old cousins loved it the most). This was a fun bridge area with smaller waterslides and tons of splashing water."
And that's just the beginning. Read our blog next week where Jen talks about the beach, spa, entertainment, dining, and Auntie's Beach House. But, before then, make sure you book your Aulani vacation! Book by Feb. 29 and you'll receive your 6th night free* when booking a 6-night or longer stay at Disney's Aulani. Plus, as an added bonus, each guest in your party ages 3 or older is entitled to receive a complimentary continental breakfast at The ‘Olelo Room each day of their stay. This limited time special offer is available for most stays taking place between March 1-17 and April 15 - May 31, 2012. Availability is limited, so be sure to book your Aulani vacation today by calling 800.523.6116!
*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Excludes Resort fees and taxes. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Offer excludes suites and 3-Bedroom Grand Villas. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Offer applied once per reservation and not valid for previously booked rooms. Check for offers for other lengths of stay. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and subject to room occupancy limitations. Breakfast entitlements expire upon check out. Children under the age of three are not entitled to the complimentary breakfast. Advance reservations required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.