12 Ways to Enjoy Disney’s Aulani Resort Simply & Slowly

Simple and slow are two things that don’t often come to mind when thinking about a stay at a Disney property. 

As a slow travel enthusiast whose dream vacations often involve cold, hard-to-reach islands, many people are surprised to learn that I’m a fan of Disney resorts.  I’ve shared why I enjoy them in hopes that this opens your mind to rethink how you vacation and to consider embracing slow travel.

On what was one of our family’s longest journies to date (5100 miles as the crow flies), we were able to experience a 22-hour travel day with ease then enjoy a week in Hawaii at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, truly slowing down and relaxing...and it wasn’t just reading by the pool or lounging on the beach.  With curiosity and an open mind, simple, slow travel experiences are possible, even in places you might not expect it.

Here are 12 ways to enjoy Disney’s Aulani Resort Simply & Slowly.

1. Immerse yourself in learning about the Hawaiian culture – An important element of slow travel is learning about the culture of the place you are visiting. The resort offered three different cultural tours during our stay, two of which I participated in. The cast members leading these tours were excited to share their knowledge of the Hawaiian culture, wildlife, and nature.

A few fun things I learned on the tours and throughout our stay:  There are only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet; there are 8 main Hawaiian islands, one of which (the big island of Hawaii) is sinking, plus an additional island is rising up; Hula means to tell a story with hands and a smile; Pico means the center and there’s a special nod to this on the property; Aulani means messenger of the King.  Traveling provides a fully immersive and rich learning experience. It was exciting to learn so much during our stay.

2. Watch the sunrise – Spending time in nature is another element of slow travel.  With zero cost and little effort, watching the sunrise is an easy way to begin the day simply and slowly.  From our balcony, we were able to watch the sunrise over the mountain while also watching the rainbow of colors fill the sky over the ocean.  The property is still quiet during these early morning hours, so it is especially peaceful, whether you’re on the balcony, on the beach, or somewhere else on the property.  Spending time in awe of nature’s art is one of my favorite simple joys and it can be enjoyed anywhere in the world.

3. Paddleboard – Engaging in physical activity, especially outdoors is another way to embrace simplicity. Aulani offers many opportunities to get outside, from golfing to kayaking.  My husband and I rented paddleboards and spent an hour paddling around the cove while also getting in a workout.  And an added bonus: getting to take in the view from a different perspective-out on the water.

4. Have your photos taken at sunset – Watching the sun rise is one simple joy and savoring the sunset at the beach is another experience.  At sunset, the property is bustling with activity, but it is still possible to distance yourself from the noise and take it in alone, or with your family.  We spent each sunset a little differently, some from our balcony, one from the outdoor dining areas, and several on the beach. 

Cast members wait down by the water to take photos.  Private sessions are also available for a fee, but if no one else is waiting, the photographers will take more shots. We did this two evenings, one while we were dressed up for dinner and the other in our casual summer clothes.  They can use your camera, making this a free experience, or they will use theirs, then you can purchase a Photopass that includes all photos you’ve had taken on the property during your stay (which is what we did).  Check out all their photography options here.

5. Find a bench and people watch – If you’re like me and you enjoy people watching, there are plenty of opportunities to do this at Aulani, both indoors and out.  I enjoy relaxing on a bench and just watching the ebb and tide of people coming and going and interacting with others. It’s especially fun when it’s at a place where people are happy and experiencing moments of joy.  Watching people flow about sparks my curiosity and almost becomes a meditative practice.

6. Sleep when you are tired – Leaving plenty of time for rest is a key element of slow travel.  Embrace the idea that you don’t always have to be on the go!  We had a 22-hour travel day from Boston to Aulani, and a 5-hour time difference adjustment. We decided before our trip that we wouldn’t force ourselves to adjust to the new time zone.  We agreed to listen to our bodies and give ourselves permission to take a nap if we got tired.  No guilt, no “pushing through” the mid-afternoon slump, just grace.  We woke up each day without an alarm between 6-7 am and went to bed between 8:30-10 pm most nights.  We only napped a couple of times but knowing that we could do this guilt-free made all the difference.

7. Don’t over plan your activities – Have you ever come from your vacation feeling like you need another vacation?  If so, refrain from planning out your entire trip.  Choose a few things you know you want to do, especially if they require advance booking, then let the rest unfold organically.  This is key to enjoying a slow travel experience.  We booked one offsite excursion (to Pearl Harbor) prior to our trip, but that was it.  We figured out the rest as a family, during our stay.  Some activities are only offered on specific days, so we worked together to choose “for sure” and “would be nice” activities.  Working as a team and giving ourselves grace with this approach made for a simple and slow time filled with “just enough” activities and events.

8. Listen to live music – Music brings joy and has the power to transport you away from the stress of everyday life.  There were plenty of opportunities to enjoy music throughout the property-different types at different times.  We embraced this opportunity outside, inside, and from our unit.

9. Take an art class – Engaging in native, creative activities is another way to immerse yourself into the culture of a place. We found many opportunities to tap into our creative sides during our six days on-site.  The activities center offers different activities each day, both with and without a fee.  My favorite was the Animation Art activity and the Learn to Play the Ukulele class.  Note that both of these experiences were included with our stay but are only offered on specific days and they fill up fast. I chose to wait in line to secure our spots for these activities and I ended up having a great conversation with another guest about traveling.

10. Sleep with the door open –  This is an easy way to bring the outside in and embrace the sounds of nature.  Who doesn’t dream of listening to the ocean while they sleep?!  We took full advantage of this and slept with our doors open every night.  Note that the screens were shut and we were on the ninth floor so safety wasn’t a concern.  This might have been my favorite simple joy of the trip!  Falling asleep as the restaurants and garden areas quieted down and waking up to the sound of the water, the birds, and the area slowly coming alive was especially relaxing.

11. Watch the fish in Rainbow Reef – We try to do activities during our travels that we can’t easily do at home.  Something we all found fascinating and relaxing was watching the fish swim around in Rainbow Reef.  While we all opted out of swimming with them, we still enjoyed watching them in their habitat.  This was another simple, no-cost, nature-related activity that we could do whenever we wanted.

12. Do sunrise yoga – Offered through the onsite spa, my teenage daughters and I enjoyed a morning of sunrise yoga out on the lawn near the beach.  This experience was offered for a fee and was another highlight of my trip.  I especially enjoyed the incorporation of Hawaiian language into the instruction and the ending phrase of “malama aina” (referring to how we care for ourselves and the land) instead of the typical “namaste” closing.

I was pleasantly surprised that we were able to enjoy so many moments of simplicity and slowness during our stay. Helpful (and entertaining) cast members, friendly chatter with fellow guests, and a variety of simple, slow experiences made for an unforgettable stay.   

Have you been to Aulani?  What simple and slow experiences have you and your family enjoyed?  Send me a note - I’d love to hear about your adventures!

To Simple, Slow & Joy-filled Travels,
Lisa

A few notes about our stay… This article is not sponsored, and no experiences were comped during our stay.  All thoughts and observations are my honest assessments.  Operational details and pricing mentioned are subject to change at any time. Our stay was in mid-February of 2020, which was shortly after the large renovation of the pool and patio areas.