Imagine if you will that adults and seniors at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa have a relaxing memorable vacation with out their children or grand children. Imagine that adults and seniors at Aulani can have ‘me’ time while on a multi-generational vacation. This is not a dream. It is reality.
Do not make the mistake in thinking that Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa is simply a Disney theme park built for kids and young families surrounded by a hotel.
It is not.
It is a wonderful, paradise vacation destination for older adults and seniors.
My wife Nancy and I are both seniors. We spent 4 nights in Kauai followed by 5 nights at Disney’s Aulani on the island of Oahu, Hawaii in September 2024. We had such a good time that we cancelled our Mediterranean cruise for next year. And, yes, we are replacing it with a return visit.
In this article we present to you 20 tips to help you, an older adult or senior at Aulani to make the most of your Hawaiian vacation.
Checkin for Adults and Seniors at Aulani
#1 – Do not plan to arrive early for check-in as you likely will not get into your assigned room. Nancy and I intentionally arrived at 9:30 in the morning yet we did not have our Disney Vacation Club studio assigned and made available to us until well past 3:30 in the afternoon….that’s 6 hours. We could have slept in, had a nice breakfast and so on rather than waking up before dawn, driving to the airport in the darkness, etc.
#2 – If you do arrive before check-in time, as adults or seniors at Aulani, bring a backpack or small tote bag with your swimming attire, sun block and all the essentials so you can take advantage of the pools, the beach, the Pacific ocean and so on. This will let you check in your luggage upon arrival while you then after check-in take your small bag to change from your travel clothes and begin to enjoy the resort.
The Beach? The Good and Caution Tips
#3 – Adults and seniors at Aulani; consider an early morning sunrise walk along the beach. If you are arriving in Oahu directly from North America or Europe then you will be jet lagged by the time difference your first night or two…..and thus will typically be wide awake before the sun rises to begin its day. Take adventage of this. This is a wonderful time to walk on the beach and take in the beauty of being in paradise.
#4 – If it is a hot sunny day, be careful of the hot, hot sand on the beach. Yes, it will be very, very hot. It was so hot that for it became uncomfortable to use the lounge chairs on the beach. We strongly recommend that you find a lounger for your day of relaxation not on the.
Pools, Hot Tuby and Lazy Rivers
#5 – Consider camping out at the 18 years of age and older pool and hot tub areas. The over -18 years of age pool is called Wailana Pool. It is situated within steps of everything you need to make your day in Hawaii as relaxing as possible….the bathrooms, the adult beverage bar, counter service food. The over-18 years of age multi-level hot tup is called ‘Alohi Point. Here is the link to the video we have on the Wailana Pool and ‘Alohi Point so you can see how wonderful they are.
#6 – At the Wailana Pool, if you will be there mid-day and want shade then do not use the row of loungers right at the pool’s edge. They will get full sun for several hours. Find a lounger behind this row or at the end of the pool
#7 – The water temperature at Rainbow reef, the snorkeling pool on property, is kept at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So, to acclimate yourself be sure to take advantage of the shower right by the entrance which will cool down your skin right before entering.
#8 – Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa has one of the best lazy rivers Nancy and I have ever experienced. It is wonderful. Yet, it can get busy because it is so popular, especially in the afternoons. When this happens it is not quite as a relaxing experience as it is in the mornings.
The Casabellas For Rent
#9 – Another option to consider are the Casabellas. There are many different types with different prices and amenities. Nancy and I tried the least expensive option, and with one exception, it was great. This was the view we had inside the one we were assigned. You get a Disney Vacation Club discount, the covered Casabella for two with four towels and an attendant. You should reserve in advance before you arrive as they can sell out.
#10 – Our Casabella experience was so wonderfully relaxing we tried it again two days later. This one was not so enjoyable because we ended up with Casabella number 4 you see here….and as you can see it does not have its own umbrella so we were in the hot, hot sun for most of the afternoon…so uncomfortable we left around 3 pm.
