Overview
Located in Ko Olina on the island of O’ahu, Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas are a celebration of Hawaiian history and traditions with a little Disney magic. Disney Imagineers worked closely with cultural experts and local artisans to create an authentic experience that tells the story of the local culture from the resort’s architectural design down to the Menehune found throughout the resort. Ko Olina means “fulfillment of joy,” and that is exactly what you will find in this relaxing tropical paradise with its 21 oceanfront acres, Rainbow Reef lagoon, and Laniwai Spa. Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawaii opened in 2011, and DVC contracts there end on January 31, 2062.
Aulani had a refresh in 2021 that updated the soft goods as well as some appliances. Note that this refresh did not include the Murphy beds that many other DVC resorts have recently added.
What DVC Fans Have to Say about Aulani
Pros
It’s a resort you don’t want to leave. So many activities, good food, gorgeous views, the CMs [cast members]- first class. Aulani forces you to relax and take it all in. Our teenage kids even said they’d rather go back to Aulani than WDW. We had zero complaints. The 9 hour plane ride is long, but sooo worth it. –Susana V.
The overall design and storytelling when you’re there feels very Hawaiian and not even a watered-down version like you might expect. The character interactions feel so personal and you have so much more time with them in a way you’d rarely get in the parks. –Prince S.
I love the Ko Olina location. There is a Costco and Super Target nearby to purchase food and drink. The Ko Olina beaches are perfect for parents who don’t want to be in the water nonstop. There are not waves in the lagoon and it is a gorgeous area. The store at Aulani had lots of fun and unique Disney Merchandise. –Andrea O.
A piece of Disney magic in paradise, away from the busy parks. Amazing spa, pools, lazy river and gorgeous views. Place to relax and connect with your family. Great for people who love Disney but aren’t huge park fans. –Kelly V.
Best value of any DVC resort. No need for separate park tickets with the characters included, lazy river is the best that I have ever been on, Rainbow reef is definitely worth the extra price. –Jonathan V.
Cons
Aulani has some of the most expensive food in all of Disney. If you want to do other things on O’ahu, Aulani’s location isn’t ideal on the geography of the island for getting to some of the more popular tourist spots. You must have a rental car to do Aulani and O’ahu. –Jill C.
It’s a long flight from NY. Expensive from east coast. Not worth the long flight unless you are going to stay for minimum of week. On-site food is average. Most touristy places are not close by. –Shelly C.
The beachfront experience doesn’t feel worth the price, nor exclusive/private when you know there are others experiencing the same lagoon for less (or even for free). You want to stay longer to make it worth the flight over, but then you’ll also want to spend more time doing things outside the resort! And I guess it’s more of an O’ahu Con: The traffic is coconuts! –Prince S.
You need to provide your own transportation to most activities, even excursions booked through Aulani. The restaurants you can walk to are expensive. The waves are too flat for my personal preference. –Jimmy M.
More kids running amuck than at any other Disney resort and certainly anywhere in Hawaii. Mediocre food except for AMA’AMA which is still closed. –Peter G.
Resort Map
Room Details
Room categories at Aulani include Standard View, Island Gardens View, Poolside Gardens View, and Ocean View. Standard View tends to overlook the parking lot, parking garage, or conference center. The Island Gardens View includes at least a partial view of the landscaping, mountains, or spa whereas the Poolside Gardens View overlooks the pool, water features, courtyards, or landscaping. Ocean View rooms have at least a partial view of the ocean. Standard Hotel Rooms only offer Standard View, and the Grand Villas offer a choice of Standard View or Ocean View. All other villa types offer all 4 view categories. Photos of different balcony views can be found on the DISboards.
Villa types at Aulani include Standard Hotel Rooms, Deluxe Studios, One-Bedroom Villas, Two-Bedroom Villas, and Three-Bedroom Grand Villas. One-Bedroom Villas and larger have full size kitchens stocked with pots, pans, and kitchenware and washers/dryers. Detergent is provided. Deluxe Studios have kitchenettes with a microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, mini-fridge, and sink. They also have paper plates, bowls, towels, and cups as well as plastic cutlery and dishwashing liquid. Standard Hotel Rooms have a coffee maker and mini–fridge.
Standard Hotel Rooms
At 382 square feet, Standard Hotel Rooms accommodate up to 4 guests with 2 queen-size beds, and they have 1 bathroom. There are 8 Standard Hotel Rooms at Aulani. As the room type with the lowest point value, the Standard Hotel Rooms have limited availability most of the time.
Deluxe Studios
At 356 square feet, Deluxe Studios accommodate up to 4 guests with a queen-size bed and a queen-size sleeper sofa, and they have 1 bathroom. There are 246 Deluxe Studios at Aulani. With their lower point value, the Standard View Deluxe Studios are often booked up before the 7-month mark. The other categories have some availability at the 7-month mark, depending on the season.
One-Bedroom Villas
These 756-square-foot villas can accommodate up to 5 guests with a king-size bed, a queen-size sleeper sofa, and a single pull-down bed, and there is 1 bathroom. There are 245 One-Bedroom Villas at Aulani. As with the Deluxe Studios, availability for the One-Bedroom Villas is more limited for the Standard View whereas the other views have greater availability.
Two-Bedroom Villas
Aulani has Dedicated Two-Bedroom Villas as well as Two-Bedroom Lock-Off Villas. Lock-Off Villas consist of a One-Bedroom Villa and an adjoining Deluxe Studio.
The 1,125-square-foot Dedicated Two-Bedroom Villas can accommodate up to 9 guests with a king-size bed, 2 queen-size beds, a queen-size sleeper sofa, and a single sleeper sofa, and there are 2.5 bathrooms. There are about 245 Dedicated Two-Bedroom Villas, and they often have availability at the 7-month mark, with the exception of the Standard View ones.
The 1,112-square-foot Two-Bedroom Lock-Off Villas can accommodate up to 9 guests with a king-size bed, a queen-size bed, 2 queen-size sleeper sofas, and a single pull-down bed, and there are 2 bathrooms. There are about 193 Two-Bedroom Lock-Off Villas. Since these villas partly consist of Deluxe Studios, the availability patterns for Two-Bedroom Lock-Off Villas follow those of Deluxe Studios.
Three-Bedroom Grand Villas
There are 20 Grand Villas at Aulani. Each is about 2,174 square feet and can accommodate up to 12 guests with a king-size bed, 4 queen-size beds, a queen-size sleeper sofa, and a single sleeper chair. There are 3 bathrooms. The Standard View Grand Villa can be very hard to book, even for owners at Aulani while the Ocean View Grand Villa is more likely to have some availability at the 7-month mark.
Transportation Options
The closest airport to Aulani is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, which was formerly called Honolulu International Airport.
Dining
Quick Service
- Ulu Cafe (Breakfast, sandwiches, flatbreads, poke bowls, and hot entrees)
- Little ‘Opihi’s – Beachside Kiosk (Fresh fruit, ice cream bars, Dole whip, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages)
- Mama’s Snack Stop (Fish and chips, coconut shrimp, chicken tenders, and snacks)
- Pāpālua Shave Ice (Shave ice with a variety of different bases and flavors)
Casual Table Service
- Makahiki – The Bounty of the Islands (Start your day with the Makahiki Character Breakfast, which is a preset 3-course breakfast with Mickey and friends, or enjoy a preset 3-course dinner featuring locally sourced ingredients.)
- KA WA’A – A LŪ’AU (Discover Hawaiian history and culture through a combination of song, dance, and storytelling as you dine on a buffet dinner with island fish, prime rib, and local produce.)
Signature
- ‘AMA’AMA (This fine dining location has beautiful views of Ko Olina Beach and will serve dinner featuring locally-inspired dishes.)
Bars and Lounges
- The ‘Ōlelo Room (Listen to live music as you enjoy sushi, sashimi, sliders, wings, cocktails, beer, and wine in this lounge that celebrates the Hawaiian language.)
- Off the Hook (Located in the Waikolohe Valley pool area, this lounge offers burgers, sandwiches, salads, cocktails, beer, and wine.)
- Wailana Pool Bar (Here you’ll find burgers, tacos, flatbreads, and starters with a little Hawaiian flair as well as cocktails, beer, and wine.)
Amenities
Pools
- Ka Maka Landing (This area includes the Ka Maka Grotto, an infinity-edge pool that features stunning views of Ko Olina Beach and glittering lights after dark. It also has a whirlpool spa and the Keiki Cove Splash Zone for children ages 5 and under.)
- Menehune Bridge (Children under 48″ tall can enjoy this 2,100-square-foot splash zone with 2 waterslides and interactive water elements.)
- Rainbow Reef (Go snorkeling in this 3,800-square-foot saltwater lagoon where you’ll find thousands of tropical fish.)
- Waikolohe Pool (This 8,200-square-foot pool is the largest at Aulani and open to guests of all ages. It features the Volcanic Vertical body slide and pool parties with your favorite Disney characters.)
- Waikolohe Stream (Enjoy the relaxing lazy river or the thrilling Tubestone Curl tube adventure.)
- Wailana Pool (This quiet pool features a waterfall and tropical shade trees.)
Shopping
- Hale Menu
- Kālepa’s Store
- Lava Shack
- Painted Sky
Recreation
- Aunty’s Beach House Kids’ Club
- Guided Walking Tours
- Hawaii Excursions
- Ko Olina Golf Club
- Makiki Joe’s Beach Equipment Rentals
- Menehune Adventure Trail
- Mikimiki Fitness Center
- Mo‘olelo Fire Pit Storytelling
- Laniwai – A Disney Spa
- Painting with Light
- Pau Hana Community Hall
- Poolside Cabanas
- Pulu Bar Mixology Station
- Sunrise Yoga on the Beach
Additional Details
Points Charts
Dues
As of 2023, the Annual Dues at Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawaii are $9.1424 per point for contracts that were purchased before July 27, 2011 and $6.8727 per point for contracts that were purchased on or after July 27, 2011.
Confirmed Reservations
Looking to try before you buy? Rent a reservation at Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawaii through our sponsor, DVC Rental Store.
Resale Contracts
Looking to purchase a contract at Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawaii? View listings from our sponsor, DVC Resale Market.