New Sake and Poke Chef at Aulani

Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina, Oahu is the most distinctive property in the Disney Vacation Club portfolio. It is the only DVC resort outside the continental United States, and it offers an experience that is meaningfully different from every WDW resort: genuine Hawaiian culture, world-class pools, and a setting on the western shore of Oahu with sunset views over the Pacific.

The dining at Aulani is a real highlight of the resort, and it is worth understanding before you decide whether an Aulani resale contract makes sense for your vacation style.

Aulani Dining: What Members Actually Eat Here

Aulani's dining program is more ambitious than most DVC resorts, drawing on actual Hawaiian and Pacific Rim culinary traditions rather than generic American resort food.

AMA AMA: The flagship table-service restaurant sits at the water's edge with direct views of the lagoon. The menu focuses on fresh seafood prepared with Hawaiian and Japanese influences. Fresh poke, local fish, and dishes built around relationships with Hawaiian farmers set this apart from typical resort dining. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for sunset seating.

Makahiki: A character dining experience with a Hawaiian-inspired buffet. Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy appear in resort casual attire appropriate to the Hawaiian setting. For families with young children, this is one of the best character meal experiences in the DVC portfolio because the setting feels special rather than perfunctory. The food is genuinely good by buffet standards.

Ulu Cafe: The quick-service option, open for breakfast through late evening. Hawaiian plates, Asian-influenced bowls, and standard resort quick-service items. Convenient for families who want to eat quickly and get back to the pools.

Lava Shack: A poolside bar and grill with shave ice, tropical cocktails, and casual food. The shave ice is legitimately excellent. This is where most DVC members spend their afternoon break from the pools.

Wailana Pool Bar and Olelo Room: Cocktail bars serving tropical drinks, local Hawaiian craft beers, and light food. The Olelo Room in particular has become a favorite evening gathering spot for adult guests.

The Pool Complex: Best in the DVC System

No other DVC resort comes close to Aulani's pool experience. The complex includes:

• A meandering lazy river (Waikolohe Stream) that winds through the resort grounds
• A large family pool with a 200-foot waterslide
• A separate adults-only infinity pool with ocean views
• A private beach lagoon for swimming (protected from ocean waves, safe for young children)
• An interactive area for younger children with water features and shallow splash zones
• A tubing run through grottos and past waterfalls

For families with children who love water parks, Aulani's pool complex often rivals or exceeds what they experience at WDW's Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach, with the advantage of being at a resort rather than requiring a separate park ticket.

Cultural Programming: What Makes Aulani Different

Disney worked closely with Native Hawaiian cultural advisors to build authentic programming into the Aulani experience. This is not decorative Hawaiiana applied to a generic resort. It is a genuine effort to honor the culture of the islands.

Regular programming includes:

• Hula lessons offered at the poolside lawn most mornings
• Lei-making workshops
• Storytelling sessions with traditional Hawaiian narratives
• Ukulele lessons and live Hawaiian music throughout the day
• The Menehune Adventure Trail, a resort-wide interactive scavenger hunt based on Hawaiian legends

These programs are included with resort stay. They are not add-on experiences that cost extra, which makes the value proposition of an Aulani stay stronger than it might appear at first.

DVC Ownership at Aulani: The Practical Side

Aulani DVC resale currently runs approximately $110-$140 per point, which places it in the mid-range of the DVC resale market. Disney's direct pricing for Aulani DVC has historically been higher, so the resale savings follow the same pattern as WDW resorts: typically 20-40% below direct pricing.

The point chart at Aulani runs slightly higher per night than most WDW resorts. A studio at Aulani in an adventure or standard view runs roughly 16-22 points per night during value and regular seasons, compared to 10-17 for a similar studio at Saratoga Springs or Old Key West. The Hawaii premium is real in the point chart, not just in the purchase price.

This means Aulani ownership makes the most financial sense for members who plan to stay at Aulani regularly. If your primary vacation goal is Walt Disney World, a WDW-based DVC contract at a lower point-per-night cost will serve you better. Aulani DVC ownership is best suited to:

• Hawaii-based residents who vacation on Oahu regularly and want DVC-quality accommodations
• West Coast members (California, Pacific Northwest) for whom a Honolulu flight is practical
• Members who have family in Hawaii and visit the islands annually
• Families who prioritize the beach and pool experience over theme park access

Booking Aulani with DVC Points

Aulani is subject to the standard DVC booking windows: 11 months out for home resort owners, 7 months out for all members. The 11-month window genuinely matters at Aulani for peak periods. Winter holiday weeks (late December, President's Day) and summer (June through August) book solid at 11 months for Aulani home resort owners. At 7 months, options in those periods are severely limited.

If you want to stay at Aulani regularly during peak Hawaii travel periods, owning there is worth considering. If you are open to shoulder seasons (September through November, late January through March), non-home resort bookings at 7 months are more realistic.

Should You Purchase Aulani DVC Resale?

The honest answer depends almost entirely on how often you visit Hawaii. If the answer is "once every few years," Aulani ownership probably does not pencil out. The points are priced at a Hawaii premium and the resort is not close to WDW if that is where you spend most of your vacation time.

If Hawaii is a regular part of your life, Aulani resale at $110-$140 per point compares favorably to what you would spend on comparable resort accommodations on Oahu. The cultural programming, dining, and pool complex make it a legitimate destination resort, not just a place to sleep between park visits. The savings over booking Aulani rooms at retail rates can be substantial for families who visit multiple times per decade.

Our team has brokered Aulani contracts and can walk you through the point chart, current inventory, and what to expect from the ROFR process on Aulani contracts specifically. Reach out here if you have questions, or browse current DVC resale listings to see what is available now.

Dining at Aulani as a DVC Member

One of the best parts of staying at Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, is the food. The resort offers a range of dining options that blend Hawaiian flavors with Disney's attention to quality. 'AMA'AMA serves fresh seafood with oceanfront views, while Makahiki features a character breakfast that families love. The Off the Hook pool bar keeps things casual with poke bowls, fish tacos, and tropical drinks. For DVC members who enjoy exploring local cuisine, Aulani's location on Oahu puts you within a short drive of dozens of excellent restaurants in Kapolei and beyond.

What sets DVC ownership apart from a standard hotel stay is the full kitchen in every villa. Aulani's studios include a kitchenette with a microwave, mini fridge, and coffee maker. One-bedroom and larger villas come with a complete kitchen: full-size refrigerator, stove, oven, dishwasher, and all the cookware you need. For a family of four spending a week in Hawaii, cooking breakfast and lunch in your villa and dining out for dinner can save $150 to $200 per day compared to eating every meal at resort restaurants.

The Value of an Aulani DVC Contract

Aulani consistently ranks among the most popular DVC resorts on the resale market. Hawaii vacations are expensive, and DVC ownership at Aulani locks in your accommodations at today's price for the life of the contract, which runs through January 31, 2062. A one-bedroom villa at Aulani during peak season can run $700 to $900 per night at rack rate. With DVC points, that same room costs a fraction of the price.

Resale contracts at Aulani typically trade between $90 and $130 per point depending on the point count, use year, and available points. Disney sells Aulani direct for significantly more. The savings on resale are substantial, and the booking access is identical: 11-month priority at Aulani and 7-month access at every other DVC resort worldwide.

Browse Aulani Contracts Today

If you have been thinking about DVC ownership in Hawaii, our current Aulani inventory is available at dvcsales.com. Every listing includes the point count, use year, available points, annual dues, and asking price. Our brokers can walk you through the numbers and help you find the right contract for your family's travel plans. Call Mark Webb at (407) 205-1435 to discuss Aulani resale options.

Why DVC Resort Ownership Beats Booking Hotel Rooms

The math on DVC ownership versus hotel booking is clearer than most people realize. A Deluxe Studio at Polynesian Villas during a moderate season costs roughly 17 to 19 points per night. If you paid $165 per point for a 150-point resale contract, your cost per point over 40 years of ownership works out to about $4.12 per point per year, plus annual dues of around $8.31 per point. Total cost per point per year: roughly $12.43. Compare that to booking the same Polynesian studio at rack rate, which runs $700 to $900 per night in peak seasons. That's the gap DVC ownership closes.

Beyond the savings, the villa rooms are a different category of accommodation than standard hotel rooms. Even a Deluxe Studio includes a kitchenette, mini-fridge, microwave, and a full bathroom setup. One-bedroom villas add a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and a separate living area with a pull-out sofa. For families with young kids, having a kitchen to store snacks and breakfast food saves $50 to $100 per day on food costs alone. Two-bedroom villas sleep up to nine guests, which makes the per-person cost far lower than booking multiple hotel rooms.

DVC Sales lists resale contracts at all 16 DVC resorts, updated daily with current pricing and available points. If you're trying to decide which resort fits your travel pattern and budget, our team can walk you through the tradeoffs. Call us at (407) 205-1435 or visit dvcsales.com/dvc-resale-listings to see what's available right now.