8 Reasons to Love Disney Hawaii

When I was a little girl in Maryland, we would go to Bethany Beach or Ocean City every year in the summer. It was a blast. I love the beach! But I didn’t love everything about the beach. I didn’t love the craggy feeling under my feet as I gingerly approached incoming waves on the denouement. The little rocks and shells were OK, but what else was down there? Once in a while, there were jellyfish. Those guys can sting. Still, the ocean! The waves could be pretty ferocious for a little child, and maybe for anyone. But that was the way it was and I loved it. It was all I knew.

Remember that Fiddler on the Roof song, with the line “Now I have everything and not just everything, I have a little bit more?” That line summarizes my feelings about the Disney Aulani Resort in Ohau, Hawaii. This place has all of the beloved beach things. But it also has a little bit more. I didn’t know a beach resort like this existed before one of our daughters and her husband invited us to join them there. Here are eight things I love about Disney Aulani:

1. It’s safer than any beach I have known, and I have been to a number of beaches in Maryland, California, the French Riviera, and other places in Hawaii. Nothing compares in terms of the calmness of waves, and pure visibility. In other words, the waves are small and manageable. And you can see across the entire vista of beach landscape. You can see where your children are at all times. Even the Moana-style Catamaran ride feels safe. Our toddler granddaughter fell asleep on it! 

2. The food is really quite good, and you can see the beach from one of the restaurants.

3. There are pools, just like you would expect, and they are so well designed for children. There is a “lazy river” with tubes, but nothing scary. And there is a huge slide, inside a “volcano”, but nothing fearsome here either. Just fun!

4. The curated sand is everything I didn’t know I wanted in sand. I think they had all the sand brought in. No problem. I love this high quailty, super clean, super squishy, sand between my toes. Sandcastle builders unite!

5. The resort has a family friendly vibe that just sings. It was designed for families with young children, and you can feel that wholesomeness everywhere. It’s a pretty delicious, safe feeling.

6. Disney characters are on site! There are also kid friendly activities, like making your own Mickey Mouse ears, hair braiding, etc. 

7. The resort is not far from the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is a happening place that deserves its own future blog post. But just for now: it houses the best show I have ever seen in my whole life. Girl Scouts Honor (placing two fingers on my heart:). You can not die before you see this show. It’s called “Ha, the Breath of Life.” I have seen a hecka lot of Broadway things on Broadway, and the West End, but no other show brings the peaceful/happy vibe combo like this one. The dances alone, from Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, etc., are worth the price of admission. We haven’t even talked about the fire dancing. I told my eight-year-old granddaughter on the way in: “You will never forget tonight and this show.” On the way out she grabbed my hand “That was the best night of my life!” she said. Kids of all ages are welcome.

8. There is a dreamy spa for moms. The Hawiian theme is omnipresent. You are “guided” to choose your own meaningful stone, inscibed with an inspiring word. You then add to the word to the wishing pond, and at the end you take home bath salts that correlate with your inspirational word. That’s five percent of the experience. There are healing pools and saunas, and of course your facial, or massage. Much of the spa is outside, in the Hawiian sunshine. Not too shabby:).

Daughter Katie and me, at the Disney Aulani Spa.

If you go, have fun! I hope to be back next year. Maybe I will see you!:D