Disney's Aulani Resort on Oahu - Not Just for Little People

A big happy birthday to my wonderful

husband!  We took him to Hawaii to

celebrate and are staying at the

Disney Aulani Resort

on Oahu.

The Aulani Resort is only a little over a year old

and done up in Disney style 

with all of the amazing details you expect from Disney.

The architecture of course if stunning and grand.

We were able to find a special on a two bedroom suite. 

This is the master bedroom

and the secondary bedroom.  both were beautifully appointed.

The master bath had a huge shower and a garden tub

and the secondary bath even had a rain head and a

hand held shower in the bath.  Such nice accommodations.

The living area had a pull out couch and a pull out chair

so the suite could accommodate nine.

The kitchenette was really nice, although we didn't end

up doing any cooking in it, but it was nice to have a

fridge.

This resort is on the leeward side of Oahu and doesn't have

natural beeches so they created lagoons with fabulous

white sand beaches.

There are four lagoons, the other three serve other resorts.

Everything is so spread out here that you don't feel

the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, but an amazing

sense of peace and relaxation.

You can see at the back of this picture where the rock

has been opened up and dug out to create the lagoon.

The lagoon features all kinds of fun ocean activities and

the water is so pristine.  It was really warm this time of year.

This is one of the hot tubs on property.  It is a two level

hot tub and one of the nicest hot tubs I have ever

seen.

You are looking over the zero edge of the hot tub and seeing

into the lower hot tub here.

I am sure it gets a lot busier during the holiday season and

the summer but in October, it was not crowded and there

was plenty of space. 

It definitely wasn't just for families with children as we 

saw many, many couples just like ourselves enjoying

the amenities.

There is the birthday boy on the right with your friends,

James and Rachel Williams.  James is an architect

and he is working on the Polynesian Cultural Center

on the north side of Oahu so that is why we came

along.  It was his suggestion that we stay at the

Aulani as he had walked through the property before.

James is the architect that 

I posted about before that created Pirate's Cove.

As you would expect, the pools are amazing and a big part of the

amenities here.  This is the mountain in the middle of the pool

which has two great water slides and is surrounded by a

lazy river.

It is very lazy, but it seems to go on and on.

There are waterfalls all through the lazy river.

There is even a snorkeling area where others can watch you 

snorkeling or just watch the fish.

You know me, I just couldn't stop thinking how much

my kids and grandkids would love this place!

While there are still hidden Mickeys to look for throughout

the property, there are more Menehunes to hunt for.

Menehunes are mythical creatures who love to create 

mischief.  You might find one peeking from the rafters

in the restaurant, or hidden in the plants, or even

hiding up in the corner of the elevator.

The Menehune dominate the water park for kids.  

Doesn't this look fabulous for kids?

Of course you are going to see the famous Disney characters

throughout the day.  Actually they are a lot easier 

to find here than they are at Disneyland or Disneyworld.

Here Goofey actually was dancing in the water

with the kids.

Minnie preferred not to get wet, but she was there

at the pool entertaining and posing for pictures too.

We were thrilled with the quality of food and for Hawaii resort

food, we thought the prices were very reasonable.

This was a fruit crepe for breakfast at the oceanside

Ama Ama restaurant.

How about a Mexican take on eggs benedict?

Or maybe you would rather have french toast stuffed

with chocolate, peanut butter and bananas and served

with chocolate and peanut butter sauces.

What about this banana bread pudding topped with creme anglaise

served in a coconut shell and topped with a macadamia nut

cookie as a lid.  This is all served alongside a scoop of

macadamia nut ice cream sitting on a bed of chopped

macadamia nuts.

The problem is definitely going to be fitting into 

my swim suit!

There is fun and delicious food everywhere and for

us, that is part of the Disney magic.

One day they even brought frozen pops around

the pool and handed them out!

Of course they have wonderful shaved ice at

the pool and lots of other goodies.

I love the presentation of the poolside food.

Since we were in a suite, I decided to have a little

fun and create a 

Disney Aulani Tablescape

using all of their kitchen items.

I just love this fun banquet seating with the two little stools.

We actually found the stools to be really comfortable.

Can you spot the hidden Mickey in the fun upholstery

on the back of the banquet?

A Hawaiin Mickey lamp becomes the centerpiece 

with the kukui nut lei the men receive upon arriving

at the resort.

Wine glasses and regular glasses are stocked in the kitchenette.

There is an ample supply of white dinnerware

which got dressed up a little with orchids that are left in your

room daily.  They also have bowls of orchids around

the property and you are encouraged to take

as many as you like.

The fun aqua accents are so pretty against the dark wood

and I love the carpet with its highly textured

tropical leaf pattern.

The flatware was surprisingly heavy and elegant for such a use

as this.

We had to laugh wondering what the maid thought

as she saw the table set up.

In my opinion, Mickey always makes for a great party.

And speaking of a great party, we traveled to the

north side of the island to see all of the work

James Williams has been doing on the

Polynesian Cultural Center.  

This is the beautifully remodeled dining facility

that he has been working on.

It is extremely impressive and grand with a fabulous mural

that circles the building telling Hawaii's history.  

This is one of the massive double doors that you 

enter the dining facility through

I just loved the lights on the gigantic lodge poles.  The

quality and detail reminds me of Disney-like

construction.  

The current project they are working on there is 

a remodel of the IMAX  theater that is

being recreated into a volcano.  We

were able to go behind the scenes and

see this work in progress.

While we were there we also attended their famous

Haunted Lagoon Ride.

Although I couldn't take any pictures on the ride,

it was a fabulous and thrilling ride in 

large canoes with about 25 people in

each canoe.  Each canoe has a driver who operates

it with a pole.  The spooky story is told with

actors and lighting and sound effects along eac

side of the canoe as you travel the lagoon and

under bridges....

BUT

the real thrill is when characters jump into the

water and come after the canoe, or characters -

swamp people - come up out of the water and 

lean on your side of the boat. 

 It takes about 45 

minutes and is a lot of fun.

It is wildly popular so expect a long wait in line,

but you can spend some extra money and get

a fast pass, which is what we did.  They also 

do a keiki ride (little children ride) at the

beginning of the evening where the characters

and actors just wave at the kids.

The birthday boy and his wife (that's me) got a special 

birthday treat by an afternoon in the Laniwai spa

at the Aulani resort.

I think this was the most wonderful spa experience

we have had because of the marvelous staff

who were so warm and friendly and

really explained how to best use the facility.

Our favorite part was using the facilities out in the

private garden both before and after our treatment.

There were multiple hot tubs with varying 

temperatures and a cold plunge.

There was also a circular structure made of stone that had

six or more different showers that were heated to 95 degrees.

We enjoyed the garden for an hour before our massage

and then were encouraged to go back out and

enjoy it.  I think our friends thought we were 

never returning!

Alas, sunsets come too early and a wonderful vacation

like thisends too early too.

But with sunsets come beautiful views

and great memories of a wonderful

Hawaiian experience done with Disney style!

Have a little Disney Magic.

Poor Beaulah got all dressed up with a shell

lei and a flower in her hat and even posed in front

of a palm tree, but alas, she had to stay home -

she would have taken up too much room 

in my suitcase!

I will be posting this with

Let's Dish

Tablescapes Thursday