Aulani
Encyclopedia
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa is a beachside hotel, resort and vacation destination at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina
in Kapolei
on the Hawaii
an island of Oahu
. Part of the Disney Vacation Club
, it is the third Disney Vacation Club Resort located outside of a Disney theme park property. The resort opened on August 29, 2011.
, who said he was committed to integrating environmentally friendly initiatives into the resort.
and Minnie Mouse
will be seen at the resort, however unlike at theme parks where they act as hosts, at Aulani they will be presented as fellow guests.
sales in July 2010, and began taking room reservations in August 2010. On August 12, 2011, Disney suspended Aulani timeshare sales indefinitely and fired three executives, including Disney Vacation Club president Jim Lewis, after senior management realized that the annual dues had been set too low to cover maintenance costs.
Ko Olina Resort
thumb|260px|Ko Olina as seen by airThe Ko Olina Resort is an area of beach and resort development on the leeward side of Oahu, Hawaii between Nanakuli and Kapolei on Farrington Highway and is part of the City and County of Honolulu. Known officially as "Ko Olina Resort & Marina", it has become a...
in Kapolei
Kapolei, Hawaii
Kapolei is an unincorporated community in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States on the island of Oahu and is colloquially known as the "second city". Second to Honolulu in size, it is not a legal municipal corporation and thus not properly a city....
on the Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
an island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. Part of the Disney Vacation Club
Disney Vacation Club
Disney Vacation Club is a vacation timeshare division owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. It allows buying real estate interest in a DVC resort. Disney Vacation Club's President is Claire Bilby....
, it is the third Disney Vacation Club Resort located outside of a Disney theme park property. The resort opened on August 29, 2011.
Background
Initially announced in October 2007, Disney unveiled the resort's name in January 2010. The project was estimated to cost $800 million and eventually generate about 1,000 jobs at the resort. The project is managed by Disney Vice-President Djuan RiversDjuan Rivers
Djuan Rivers is the Vice President and General Manager of the forthcoming Disney Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii.-Background:Djuan Rivers is an Orlando native and attended Emory University where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1987....
, who said he was committed to integrating environmentally friendly initiatives into the resort.
Theme
Walt Disney Imagineers collaborated with local architects and cultural experts to design and construct what will celebrate the customs and tradition of Hawaii. Disney characters including MickeyMickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
and Minnie Mouse
Minnie Mouse
Minerva "Minnie" Mouse is an animated character created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney. The comic strip story "The Gleam" by Merrill De Maris and Floyd Gottfredson first gave her full name as Minerva Mouse. Minnie has since been a recurring alias for her. Minnie is currently voiced by actress Russi...
will be seen at the resort, however unlike at theme parks where they act as hosts, at Aulani they will be presented as fellow guests.
Facilities
There are four room categories from studios to grand villas: two full-service restaurants, a buffet eatery, two lounges, and two pool-side "shacks" that serve beverages and pūpū's. The grounds include a 8200 square feet (761.8 m²) pool complex that includes two slides, a lazy river and an artificial snorkeling lagoon. Other amenities include Disney kids' club custom-planned activities and adventures, a spa encompassed 18000 square feet (1,672.3 m²) and a 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) conference center with approximately 40000 square feet (3,716.1 m²) of outdoor venues.Purchase/Reservations
The resort began timeshareTimeshare
A timeshare is a form of ownership or right to the use of a property, or the term used to describe such properties. These properties are typically resort condominium units, in which multiple parties hold rights to use the property, and each sharer is allotted a period of time in which they may use...
sales in July 2010, and began taking room reservations in August 2010. On August 12, 2011, Disney suspended Aulani timeshare sales indefinitely and fired three executives, including Disney Vacation Club president Jim Lewis, after senior management realized that the annual dues had been set too low to cover maintenance costs.