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Makahiki Character Breakfast at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

We had the pleasure of dining at Aulani's Makahiki breakfast and it was a delightful, delicious experience! Makahiki is a restaurant at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai'i. The Aulani Resort is recognizably Disney as soon as you pull into the property. Its well-manicured gardens, water features, and stunning lobby look like a Deluxe Resort at Walt Disney World.  As off-site guests to Aulani, (we stayed in Waikiki, but that's another blog) I have some helpful tips for visiting the resort, whether it be for the restaurants, the beach, or both! Makahiki – The Bounty of the Islands is open daily and reservations can be made 30 days in advance. I made my reservation on the Aulani website. There were a few times to choose from. I chose the earliest available that day, which was 8:30 a.m., because we had jetlag from the trip. A friendly Cast Member called me a few days before the reservation to confirm it with me. You can, however, find earlier times on other d

Restaurant Review: Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii

Aulani, a Disney Resort in  Ko'Olina, Hawai'i For those who have the opportunity to experience Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii, the dining options can be somewhat of a mystery until you arrive and experience them for yourself.  As I was pleased to discover, the food at Aulani is very delicious! For the incredible 10 days I was there I managed to try new foods and find new favorites.   There are two restaurants on-site that take advanced reservations, Ama Ama and Makahiki .   I suggest booking 6 months prior to travel to get your preferred dining times, especially for Ama Ama . Try to get a dining time during sunset for a gorgeous view. Ama Ama Restaurant SO many delicious desserts! The sunsets in Hawaii are exquisite and watching it from a table at Ama Ama while you enjoy your meal is amazing.  The restaurant is open air, and there’s a beautiful view of the beach and the ocean.  A word of caution, the food is delicious, but may be a bit expensiv

Hawaiian Excursions to add to your Disney Aulani Vacation

On a Hawaiian vacation, it is tempting to just relax around the pool and take it easy enjoying the island life.  During our fabulous 10-day vacation at Disney's Aulani Resort, we did leave the property to partake in some great excursions outside the resort--and then we rushed back for more pool and beach time! A must-do for any first-timer in Hawaii is the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. This is the place to go for souvenirs for yourself and friends back home.  It’s a huge flea market, with tents full of flowing dresses, Hawaiian shirts, hair accessories, native fruit and nuts, wood carvings, doll clothes, suitcases, jewelry, knives, and more.  There is something for everyone!  Next time we go, we are bringing empty suitcases and buying all our clothing there!  My daughter mostly wore the dresses she bought there, and my son even got into the shopping spirit upon finding knives for sale.  We ended up returning with a huge haul of souvenirs! Another recommended activity is visiting is

Aulani = Paradise

I recently enjoyed 10 wonderful days at Aulani.  That sounds like plenty of time to experience the resort as well as see the sights of Oahu, Hawaii, right?  But it turns out that Aulani is like Hotel California; you can enter but you don’t want to ever leave!   Upon first arriving, you’re presented with leis: flowers for the girls, kukua nut leis for the boys.   (Lucky them, theirs last longer than the flowers! But they certainly don’t smell as nice!) The resort itself is impressive as you drive up.  It's sandwiched in between 2 other very modern looking resorts but is recognizable right away.  Aulani has that distinctive feel that only Disney resorts have.  The theming and architecture really help you feel that you’re in an authentic Hawaiian resort, rather than a high-rise apartment building in a metropolitan city. If you're familiar with deluxe resorts at other Disney destinations, you know that their lobbies always make a grand first impression.  Aulani's does not