Last week Angel and I went on our honeymoon to celebrate our marriage and being the huge Disney fan that I am, we originally planned on going to Disneyland. But with all the uncertainty around travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, we did a staycation at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa instead. It was perfect timing too since Aulani reopened its doors on Nov. 1, 2020. Watch our honeymoon vlog to see what activities we did and restaurants we ate at, or keep reading for an idea of what it’s like to stay at the resort during the pandemic.

Note: Some of the activities or restaurant statuses at Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa may have changed since this blog post vlog was posted in November 2020. Please visit disneyaulani.com for the most up-to-date information.

How Much it Cost

Total cost: $750

One of the perks of being from Hawaiʻi is the Kamaʻāina discounts. Because we booked our stay within the first few hours of Aulani reopening, we got our room for $250/night — 50 percent CHEAPER than what the discount was pre-pandemic.

CHECKing in

A few days before our staycation, Aulani emailed to tell us about their new check-in procedure with their mobile app. There was a glitch the day of check-in so we ended up checking in at the front desk. When we got to our room, the first thing we noticed was the bagged TV remote marked “clean”. Then we found a frame explaining the deep cleaning process. This extra step in communication really eased my mind about staying in a big resort like Aulani during the pandemic.

Resort Activities

Before the pandemic, guests could view the day’s activities in the Daily ʻIwa, a daily bulletin that guests could pick up at the front desk. Now, guests can view the day’s activities in the app and see which activities, restaurants, and stores are open or temporarily closed. Being able to view the resort’s amenities on the app was extremely helpful because it eliminated having to carry a piece of paper around with you all day (especially when you’re at the pool). I’d also like to think that getting rid of the paper version of the Daily ʻIwa is Disney’s nod at being a little more sustainable. Here’s what resort activities were open (and temporarily closed) during our staycation at Aulani:

• Aulani Beach Resort Lagoon

• Aunty’s Beach House (temporarily closed)

• [Socially Distanced] Character Experiences

• Hawaiian Ocean Adventure Canoe Sailing

• Menehune Adventure Trail

• Pools – Ka Maka Grotto, Keiki Splash Zone, Menehune Bridge, Waikolohe Pool, Waikolohe Stream, Wailana Pool, Whirlpool Spas

• Rainbow Reef

What we did: Swim at the Pool

We spent the majority of our time at Aulani’s many pools, snorkeling with the fish at Rainbow Reef, and sailing on a canoe with Hawaiian Ocean Adventures. At the pools, the lounge chairs were socially distanced 6 feet apart and guests were mandated to wear their masks while lounging (unless eating or in the water). Poolside employees were around to clean used lounge chairs and remind guests to wear their masks.

What we did: Rainbow Reef

Total cost: $100

Rainbow Reef is an on-property lagoon where Aulani guests can enjoy snorkeling with the fish. I was a little hesitant at first to use the snorkel gear that was provided at the lagoon, but after seeing the way it was being separated and cleaned, I felt a little safer. I also just really wanted to swim with the fish since Rainbow Reef was closed for cleaning the last time we were at the resort.

What we did: Hawaiian Ocean Adventures Canoe Ride

Total cost: $100 (this was like a “welcome back” discount)

The highlight of our honeymoon was a private canoe ride with Hawaiian Ocean Adventures. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, the navigators were only taking one family at a time out on the ocean. Since Angel and I are a family of two, we had a nice, intimate experience with our two navigators. We went all the way out to Nānākuli beach, where we met up with some playful dolphins. I highly recommend booking this activity during your stay at Aulani. We booked our tour at Makiki Joe’s Beach Rentals.

Dining at Aulani

Hereʻs what restaurants were open (and temporarily closed) during our staycation at Aulani:

• ʻAmaʻama – Contemporarily Island Cooking (temporarily closed)

• Character Breakfast at Makahiki (temporarily closed)

• Little ʻOpihi’s Beachside Kiosk (temporarily closed)

• Makahiki – The Bounty of the Islands (temporarily closed)

• Mama’s Snack Stop (temporarily closed)

• Off the Hook Bar & Lounge

• ʻŌlelo Room Bar & Lounge

• Pāpālua Shave Ice 

• Ulu Cafe

• Wailana Coffee / Pool Bar

Where we ate: Off the Hook Bar & Lounge

Off the Hook Bar & Lounge is a little restaurant off one of Aulani’s many pools, in fact, they are the restaurant that provides pool-side food and drinks service to resort guests. The menu is okay… hamburgers, salad, chicken tenders, french fries — the usual pool-side service food. Where they really knocked it out of the park is the drinks. Off the Hook has one of the best drink menus ever. My favorite drink was the Mango Mojito.

Where we ate: ʻŌlelo Room Bar & Lounge

The ʻŌlelo Room was the only nice, sit-down restaurant that was open during our staycation. Seating was limited to outside seating only and the waitlist was long, so I highly recommend booking a reservation as soon as the restaurant opens (or earlier if you can book earlier). The food there is pūpū (appetizer) style. I didnʻt care too much for the food on the menu except for the freshly made sushi — that was ʻono (delicious). In fact, thatʻs pretty much all I ate there. At the time of our staycation, Hawaiʻi had just entered the stage where it was okay for Hawaiian entertainers to play live music at restaurants again, so it was nice to see a lot of my friends playing music again.

Where we ate: Pāpālua Shave Ice

This little shave ice shop near the pools is a refreshing treat after spending hours in the sun. Shave ice is Hawaiʻi’s version of a snow cone, but better. There are two shave ice options: regular shave ice or Mickey shave ice. Of course I spent the extra money to get Mickey shave ice! My favorite flavors are lilikoʻi and guava.

Overall, our stay at Aulani felt safe and I highly recommend kamaʻāina book a staycation before tourism opens up again. If you’re a tourist reading this blog post before your trip to Hawaiʻi, please take some time to familiarize yourselves with our pandemic rules. Remember, your vacation is our home. Please respect the land, the residents, our wildlife, and support Hawaiʻi’s local businesses.