Disney in Hawaii: Visit the Aulani Lagoon for Free

Planning a trip to O’ahu for the Honolulu Color Run, Mapquest showed the 5K race course just down the street from the Disney Aulani Resort & Spa in Ko Olina. With lodging already booked in Waikiki, near the Diamond Head Crater and the Honolulu Zoo, I popped off an email to the Resort inquiring about a day pass to the swimming pools as long as we were in the neighborhood.

Question: I’m coming to Oahu next week from Nov 1-3 to participate in The Color Run just down the street from the Aulani Resort & Spa. While I have already arranged for accommodations elsewhere, I’m interested in visiting the Resort pool area with my seven-year-old daughter. Do you have day passes available?

Aulani_Lagoon

Answer:  Thank you for your interest in Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa. We are excited to hear you will be visiting us! You will be able to visit the restaurants, spa and gift shops which are open to the public. You may also spend a day at the lagoon which would be a public beach. Currently the pool area including the Menehune Adventure Trail, the Waikolohe Pool and Waikolohe Stream (Lazy River) as well as Aulani activities are exclusive to in-house hotel guests only.

Where to Stay

Find family-friendly accommodations near Waikiki, Hawaii from traditional hotels to private vacation rentals through Stay22.com:

SAVE on Oahu Attractions & ToursSo…we slathered on the sunscreen, rolled up the towels, and set off towards Ko Olina to check out the beach. Securing a parking spot in the public lot at the end of Kamoana Drive, we made a short walk down the paved trail to the waterfront. With clean sand, crystal-clear water, and a bay protected from large waves, the Aulani Lagoon ended up being one of our favorite spots while in O’ahu. Surrounded by families with kids of all ages, my daughter happily befriended a boy from Toronto and played to her heart’s content. Away from the hustle-and-bustle of Honolulu and the wavier and more crowded Waikiki beach, the 30-minute drive was worth the solitude.

Aulani Lagoon and Beach

Note that parking is available at Aulani for daytime visitors. Here’s the policy: “Valet parking is $35 per day; Self parking is $10 for the first hour and $5 for every half hour after that, with a maximum day rate of $35. When you spend $35 or more at Aulani dining venues or at Laniwai Spa during a single visit, you’ll get validated valet or self parking for up to 4 hours. Next time, we would stay for lunch and take advantage of this amenity. (fine print: rates subject to change)”

About the Author

Julie Henning
Julie Henning is a freelance writer and journalist based out of Eugene, Oregon. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and owner of the family-travel website RoadTripsForFamilies.com. She is a recent past member of the Midwest Travel Writers Association and the Association for Great Lakes Outdoor Writers. In March 2018 Julie Henning published the book "100 Things to Do in Eugene Before You Die" (Reedy Press). She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and recent past member of the Midwest Travel Writers Association and the Association for Great Lakes Outdoor Writers. She has been published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Wisconsin State Journal, Travel Wisconsin, Travel Oregon, Hometown News Group, The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Illinois), the Rochester Post Bulletin, Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine (DNR publication), Experience Michigan Magazine, the Official Oregon Wine Touring Guide, Metro Parent Milwaukee Magazine, Eugene Cascades & Coast Official Visitors Guide, Trivago, Intercom Magazine, Roadtrippers.com, Amtrak.com, Eugene Magazine, and FTF Geocacher Magazine. Julie has appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio, Ohio Public Radio, and KCBX FM Central Coast Radio. She has produced episodes for Journey of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, a National Public Radio travel podcast. Julie has also produced travel apps with Sutro Media and Bindu Media. She works full time in marketing. Julie has appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio, Ohio Public Radio, and KCBX FM Central Coast Radio and is an affiliate producer with the Journeys of Discovery with Tom Wilmer, a National Public Radio travel podcast. She has blogged for TravelWisconsin.com, Travel Oregon, and VISIT Milwaukee. Julie travels with her three kids and black lab as much as possible and lives by the motto, "Not all who wander are lost." Check out some of her best work at www.juliehenning.com.