It turns out that May is a particularly great month for a family vacation at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa on the beautiful island of Oahu. It’s Mahalo Mama Month which means special offers and activities designed just for Mom are worthy of an impromptu trip to Hawaii.
How do I know? I was invited to preview what it’s like to be a pampered mom at this luxury Disney resort. Having heard so much about it and with my daughter unable to join, I actually went by myself which didn’t prove to be odd at all.
Diverse amenities make it so that any type of traveler can carve out their own Aulani experience. Plus, the spa is one of the best I’ve been to.
Start With Breakfast in Bed
My first morning at the resort involved the delightful breakfast Aulani chefs created exclusively for Mahalo Mama Month. If you like Hawaiian bread, this is definitely for you. It’s Hawaiian-style French Toast stuffed with chocolate and strawberries and topped with warm strawberry compote and powdered sugar.
In addition to this sweet treat, I also enjoyed a carafe of coffee and side of papaya. There’s really no reason not to indulge at this resort because of so many fitness offerings and opportunity to swim. So, indulge I did throughout my stay without guilt.
Snorkeling Discounts at Rainbow Reef
After breakfast and a few magazines, it was time to snorkel around Rainbow Reef with my GoPro which was a hoot.
Throughout May, moms will receive a 10% discount on a day pass or pass good for an entire stay at Rainbow Reef, Oahu’s only private snorkeling reef. I suggest the latter as it was fun to go in and out at leisure to experience fish feedings in the morning and soak up a little sunshine in the late afternoon.
There are thousands of tropical fish in here! Tickets also include snorkeling gear.
Mahalo Mama Package at Laniwai Spa
As a frequent spa-goer, I can honestly tell you that Laniwai Spa has one of the best lounging facilities I’ve ever been in. “Laniwai” means “freshwater heaven” in Hawaiian which is probably why there is a 5000-square-foot outdoor sanctuary featuring Oahu’s only outdoor hydrotherapy garden.
It is absolutely a must to arrive early for your treatment in order to unwind in this space. I bounced between the multiple vitality pools, walked the reflexology path, tested a few of the six rain showers, and had my back massaged by whirlpool jets.
There’s no need for a phone or clock to keep time as a member of staff will alert you when it’s time to shower off before a treatment. So that’s what I did before proceeding to the waiting room for my Mahalo Mama treatment.
It started with a Signature Lomilomi Hawaiian massage featuring gentle, rhythmic pressure and warm river stones to relieve tension. I had my therapist focus mostly on my back and neck for the 25 minutes. Next, my tired skin was revived with a Cinderella Facial which involved cleansing, exfoliations, a few extractions and moisturizing. I was able to stay chilled out on the same heated table for both lovely experiences.
The final portion of the package included a pedicure in the nail salon. However, earlier in the day, I realized my toes were in tip-top shape but my fingernails were definitely not, so they graciously swapped to a manicure (the same price would apply for this, however) that managed to survive further water activities throughout the rest of my stay without issue. The nail and hair salon are equally beautiful and I appreciated that my treatment ended with a delicious mini muffin and tea since I had been in there for a while.
The bottom line is that you can’t visit Aulani and not book into the spa. It’s a must. There is even a teen spa next door.
Gifts for Mom in the Pau Hana Room
Dad’s can whisk kids into the Pau Hana Room while Mom is at the spa to create special photo frames to document special moments with her. The Pau Hana Room is a recreation space filled with games, crafts, movies and much more to entertain all ages. Guests may stop in here at leisure.
‘Ohaha Hula
Every Sunday in May, mothers and children can enjoy special time together by both creating a head lei and learning the Aulani hula (make reservations for this experience).
Complimentary Print With Photopass CD
Moms can receive a free 8×10″ print with the purchase a PhotoPass CD in the month of May. One of the benefits to Aulani is that there are photographers who can capture the entire family in certain spots throughout the resort. I appreciate this so much because I’m always the one behind the camera!
Other Activities for Mom
Moms can unwind on the resort via activities including relaxing on the beach, long walks, the adults-only and family pools, coconut mojitos and other festive drinks, live music, sunset meals at beachside Ama Ama (pictured above) and floating around the lazy river.
I meant to stand-up paddleboard but found the comfort of my beach chair too alluring. It’s on my to-do list for next time. There are even mini bottles of Duckhorn, one of my favorite Napa wines, to-go in the Ulu Cafe that are perfect for a quiet glass after the kids are tucked into bed.
Final Thoughts
A Hawaii vacation is the perfect way to celebrate Mother’s Day with May an excellent time to visit before the peak summer season. The luxury resort does such an excellent job of catering to families which means it’s also popular. There are a lot of kids, but that is to be expected when booking in and actually a reason to book in for many.
As I was posting on social media during my stay, I was told by several recent visitors that Aulani is one of the only resorts where they can truly relax as a family because parents can enjoy the spa and a little alone time while kids are thrilled to stay at the Aunty’s Beach House (one of the most impressive kids’ clubs I’ve seen). Everyone wins here… including moms.
Have you visited Aulani lately?
*Thank you to Aulani for hosting my stay. All opinions are my own as always.
Katie Dillon
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