It’s official. After years of anticipation, Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, is officially open in Ko Olina, Hawai’i.
At completion, Aulani Resort will include 360 hotel rooms and 481 Disney Vacation Club (DVC) timeshare villas along with a spa, conference center, kids’ club, wedding lawn and two restaurants, with foods unique to Hawaii.
After visiting Hawaii this year for the first time, I am ecstatic about the opening of Aulani in Oahu. My family has grown up with Disney, and after spending so much time at the parks and resorts– new Disney resorts, like Aulani, automatically feel like home. When you have a destination as far as Hawaii — for us on the east coast — that sense of familiarity is welcome.
I think Aulani is going to make Hawaii very accessible for families looking to travel there for the first time.
I wish I had some new images or photos to share with you, but they’re still trickling in. Until then, here are a few facts about Disney and Hawaii:
— Disney’s fascination with Hawai’i began in the company’s infancy, with founder Walt Disney. From the 1937 Mickey Mouse animated short รขโฌลHawaiian Holidayรขโฌย to the Hawaiian setting of Disneyland’s groundbreaking Enchanted Tiki Room attraction, which debuted in 1963, to the inclusion of Disney’s Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World Resort, Walt often pulled inspiration from the islands.
— The Walt Disney Company does extensive film work in Hawai’i, including on-location production for the hit ABC series รขโฌลLost.รขโฌย The Walt Disney Studios feature film รขโฌลPearl Harborรขโฌย also was shot on location in O’ahu.
— Ko Olina means รขโฌลplace of joy.รขโฌย
For more information on Disney’s Aulani Resort, visit Aulani.com.
