If you picked up the May issue of Conde Nast Traveler, you may already know that Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai`i, is one of 12 U.S. hotels included on the “Hot List” for 2012. Also on the list, in the spa category, is Laniwai, a Disney Spa at Aulani.

Conde Nast Traveler’s annual May Hot List is the ultimate insider’s guide to the hottest new hotels, spas and restaurants of the year. Editors traveled to 49 countries and evaluated 172 new hotels to discover the best in the world, and Aulani was included among the best.

In their evaluation, Conde Nast editors particularly cited “the resort’s main attraction…the pool area” (aka Waikolohe Valley) and noted, “Apart from meet-and-greets with Mickey and Minnie and themed activities like ‘Surf’s Up’ time with Chip and Dale, the property feels more like a five-star family-focused resort than a Disney showcase. And it lives up to its promise to educate kids about Hawaiian culture…”

The “Hot Spas” citation noted the six outdoor rain showers and the “tranquil, wood-paneled” interior, and observed “excellent technicians choose just the right massage pressure and products.” Of course the Aulani and Laniwai teams always strive to provide Disney levels of quality and service, so it’s nice to be recognized by veteran travelers.

Tagged: Aulani, DVC

Filed: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club

Be sure to tune in tomorrow at 7/6c on ABC for Part One of the “America’s Funniest Home Videos” Season Finale – from Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa! The countdown begins to determine who will take home this year’s grand prize – a membership in Disney Vacation Club. I’ll be back next week with a special peek at next week’s Part Two – from Cars Land!

Tagged: Aulani, DVC

Filed: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club

If you’re planning a family vacation, we’ve got two more reasons for you to visit Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai`i. In addition to the delicious food, fun-filled water play areas and activities for all ages, guests visiting Aulani can enjoy these new offers, when booking travel today through July 14:

Kids Eat Free and So Much More at Aulani*
Kids (ages 3-9) eat free from the Kids Menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and receive a Length of Stay Rainbow Reef Pass with a five-night minimum stay, for travel between August 29 through November 3, when booked before July 14.

You can choose from the following table-service or quick-service restaurants for all three of your meals:

• ‘AMA’AMA includes: 1 appetizer (lunch and dinner only), 1 entrée and one dessert (lunch and dinner only); 1 single-serving, non-alcoholic beverage
• Makahiki Buffet includes: 1 full buffet (breakfast and dinner only)
• ‘Olelo Room includes: 1 continental breakfast (breakfast only)
• One Paddle, Two Paddle, Mama’s Snack Stop or Lava Shack quick-service meal includes: 1 entrée or 1 complete combo meal; 1 dessert (lunch and dinner only); 1 single-serving, non-alcoholic beverage

Save 25% on Hawaiian Airlines Fares**
Fly Hawaiian Airlines to Aulani as part of your vacation package and save 25% on round-trip airfare when you travel August 29 through November 3, when booked before July 14. Offer is available for flights out of John F Kennedy International Airport, Oakland International Airport, San Jose International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Los Angeles International Airport only.

Visit DisneyAulani.com for more information!

* The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Not valid in combination with any other discounts or offers. Additional per adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room. Dining entitlements and Rainbow Reef pass are for registered guests only, expire upon check out and are non-transferable. Advance reservations required. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

**Reservation must include a minimum one-night stay at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa. Limited supplies are available and discount may be applied over all travel dates (8/29/2012 – 11/03/12). Fares on some dates may be higher. Not valid on K & L fares. Maximum of 6 passengers per reservation. Travel must originate from one of the following Designated Airports: John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Oakland International Airport (OAK), San Jose International Airport (SJC), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), or Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Fare is subject to seat availability. Child/infant or other discounts do not apply. If ticket changes are made, the value of the original round-trip discount may not be applied and is subject to availability. Date and routing changes may be made with applicable penalties, and fare differential may apply. Cancellation penalties will apply. Discount will be applied to the published base fare at the time of booking, based on a round-trip itinerary originating from a Designated Airport to Honolulu, Hawaii and includes Base Fare, Fuel Surcharge, and U.S. taxes. Fare shown includes taxes and fees including a $3.80 ZP tax per segment (defined as one takeoff and one landing), a $2.50 per enplanement September 11th Security Fee (not to exceed $10) and PFC surcharge of $4.50 (not to exceed $18 round-trip) where applicable will be applied. For complete listings of fees and baggage charges, visit http://www.hawaiianair.com/moreinfo.

Tagged: Aulani, Dining, DVC

Filed: Aulani, Disney Dining, Disney Vacation Club, Vacation Planning

Now in its second year, the four-day Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival features more than 50 internationally renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers. The festival starts September 6, 2012, and will culminate on Sunday, Sept. 9, with “Cuisines of the Stars: A Magical Journey of Food & Culture” at Ko Olina Resort, featuring Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, and JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa.

During this special event, a team of world-renowned chefs will create a culinary tour of ethnic foods from around the world using local produce and products. The featured chefs will include Andrew Sutton of Napa Rose in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and Patrick Callarec of Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.

Tickets are now available here, so don’t miss your chance to celebrate Hawaiian food and culture with Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa.

Tagged: Aulani, DVC

Filed: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club

I know I’ve already told you a lot about the Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa experience, but I wanted to share this great video that underlines how much fun everyone in the family can have at the resort.

The video also demonstrates – just in case you had any doubt – that no Aulani vacation can be fully enjoyed if you don’t get really, really wet.

Slide into the darkness of the Volcanic Vertical and, after you land in the pool at the bottom, wait in a corner so you can hear the screams of the next person to slide down (I love the point-of-view shots in this video). Sail down Tubestone Curl and into the drifting Waikolohe Stream, where you can spot Menehune-in-hiding without too much trouble. Recently I even stood under the Menehune Bridge (although I was clearly the oldest guy on the playground) just long enough for the magically refilling bowl to turn over and drench me.

Speaking of the Menehune, another family fun highlight shown in the video is the Menehune Adventure Trail, a high-tech scavenger hunt that leads you through Waikolohe Valley as you solve riddles, search for hidden statues and discover surprises left by the Menehune, with special effects involving fire, water, light and animation…all part of the magic of Aulani.

Check out these posts to learn more about Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa:

• New A La Carte Dinner Menu at Makahiki at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
• Imagineer Joe Rohde Shares a Story of the Menehune at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
• Confirmed: The Pleasures of Laniwai, a Disney Spa at Aulani

Tagged: Aulani, DVC, Video

Filed: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club

We love a buffet, but sometimes it’s just nice to sit back and, well, be waited on…and enjoy a generous plate instead of lots of small bites (since our tendency is to try a taste of this ‘n’ that at the buffet).

Guests at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, head to Makahiki for breakfast and dinner, where the buffet stretches with dozens of global tastes. At breakfast, you can have all-American eggs and toast, or a taste of the islands with miso soup with dried seaweed and pickled vegetables. The dinner buffet is equally interesting, from fresh seafood to roast chicken, fried noodles, nishime (Japanese vegetable stew) and roasted veggies.

The new a la carte dinner menu is a nice combo of tastes, from a classic Caesar salad to pork and vegetable spring rolls and a simple shrimp cocktail for starters. Entrée standouts include amazing island-style barbecue pork ribs, a half-pound Angus bacon cheeseburger, and country fried chicken with mashed potatoes. You still can get a curry bowl with chicken and steamed white rice, or teriyaki-grilled salmon with Japanese noodles, but most of the dinner choices are more mainstream, such as bow-tie pasta with veggies and creamy basil pesto or a rib-eye steak with roasted red potatoes and creamed spinach.

Kids get a choice of cheese or pepperoni pizzas, pasta or chicken. And for sweet endings, sip a cup of Kona press pot coffee and eat a New York-style cheesecake with fruit sauce, Hawaiian chocolate cake or apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Sit back, relax…ahhhh, that’s vacation.

Tagged: Aulani, Dining, DVC

Filed: Aulani, Disney Dining, Disney Vacation Club

One of my assignments at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, was to find and photograph as many Menehune as I could. I found out that it was easier said than done.

This first one was in an elevator that I rode every day, but didn’t I see him until almost the very last day of my trip. I just know he was laughing at me every time I took that elevator.

I really enjoyed photographing this next pair of Menehune. It was a perfect day, no wind at all – at least that’s what I thought. After about five minutes standing under the water, trying to get the perfect star effect in the photo, this big gust of wind came up and drenched my camera and me. Mischief makers or just mother nature? I’m not sure.

Whether under the water, on top of telephones outside the conference center, or hiding in a canoe as you’re enjoying the water slide, the Menehune will eventually make their presence known!

Tagged: Aulani, DVC, Menehune

Filed: Aulani, Disney Vacation Club, Menehune