Around the World - Disney's Aulani Resort, Oahu, Hawaii - Part 1 of 3
From Economy Class to Aulani Elegance: A Time-Warped Arrival in Disney's Paradise
There’s something mildly unsettling and yet rather magical about leaving Tokyo on a Monday night and landing in Honolulu… on Monday morning. Crossing the International Date Line may be the closest I’ll ever get to time travel, and honestly, I think I deserve a certificate for it. But my journey wasn’t just about bending time—it was about bending reality. Because after spending seven hours in economy class (where personal space is a myth and sleep is a joke), I was suddenly catapulted into luxury mode the moment I landed, as if I’d flown through one of Dr. Strange’s inter-dimensional portals.
Immediately after picking up my luggage, I was greeted by the representative for my private van transfer—because if I was going to go from budget airline peanuts to Disney resort indulgence, I figured I’d do it with style. The drive to Aulani was a blissful 30 minutes of me trying to process how I was somehow still living the same Monday but in an entirely different world.
The first glimpse of the towers of Aulani brought tears to my eyes. Yes, it was a relief to reach my destination after a long night, but more importantly, this was the culmination of one of my biggest travel dreams. This stay completed the entire Disney list and I would now be able to say I’d visited every Disney resort and theme park in the entire world! I had to take a moment to acknowledge my good fortune and thank the gods for the amazing gifts that have led me to this milestone.
I reverently stepped into the lobby and stared at the soaring ceiling with its colorful murals representing Hawaiian culture. I may have stared a bit too long. The cast member manning the check-in desk—clearly used to time-traveling zombies—gently touched my shoulder and handed me a lounge pass so I could relax while my room was prepared. I gratefully took it and headed straight for the shower, washing away that grimy red-eye flight feeling and changing into fresh summer clothes. I was prepared to wait until the 3:00 PM check in time, but before I could even start planning how I’d entertain myself for the next few hours, my phone buzzed with a text notification, "Aloha! Your ocean-view room is ready now."
I may have done a little dance of glee before heading up to my room. Nobody saw it, you’ll never prove it.
Up on the 10th floor, I stepped into ocean view perfection. I immediately headed out onto my balcony, overlooking the pools below and the waves beyond. Close enough to feel the vacation vibes, but just far enough to let the joyful shrieks of children blend into an unobtrusive background hum. Past a small crescent of beach, the sea stretched out, transitioning in blue hues from aquamarine to indigo, and for the first time since boarding the plane in Japan, I felt fully human again.
After a short stint of gazing at the scenery, I decided a walk around the resort would be the perfect way to get my bearings. I casually strolled past Moana (who appeared to be giving directions to the spa), admired the traditional Hawaiian art with Disney touches (Aloha, Stitch), scoped out the manufactured snorkeling cove for tomorrow, and admired the lava rock formations and tropical landscaping. The only thing missing? Food.
So I found myself a poolside spot and ordered a crab cake sandwich, because nothing says welcome to Hawaii like perfectly crispy seafood in a brioche bun. As I finished my last bite, the sky darkened, the winds picked up, and I made it back to my room just before the heavens opened up.
I took it as a sign to indulge in the ultimate luxury—an afternoon nap while rain drummed a soothing percussion against the balcony.
By the time I woke up, it was time for dinner at Ama Ama, Aulani’s open air fine-dining restaurant. What I thought would be a simple meal turned out to be a four-course, prix-fixe situation—so naturally, I leaned in and upgraded to the wine pairing, because when you’re having a once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience, you fully commit.
The evening went like this:
Course One: Kabocha soup (Japanese winter squash) with shrimp, a creamy broth that was both sweet and savory. Paired with a buttery chardonnay that evoked a baked apple drizzled with vanilla and caramel.
Course Two: Pork belly with huli huli glaze (soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic) and ‘uala puree (Hawaiian purple sweet potato). Perfectly caramelized, paired with a sweet Riesling that was as crisp as a green apple.
Course Three: Wagyu beef with shiso gremolata (an herb with hints of mint, basil, and citrus). Cubes of rare meat that dissolved like melting butter in my mouth and made me rethink my preference for medium rare. Accompanied by a deep, rich Cabernet Sauvignon that slid over my palate like smoky velvet.
Course Four: Coconut flan with tres leches cake, pineapple bits and a caramel honeycomb, conjuring the idea of a desconstructed pina colada. Served with a sparkling rose so effervescent, it felt like sipping fireworks.
As if the food wasn’t enough, the rain stopped just in time for the restaurant to raise the protective shades, revealing a panoramic view of the ocean. The storm clouds still hung in the distance but I watched the horizon turn a dreamy shade of gold, then the sun burned through the mist, hanging like a gilded ornament over the sea. As it disappeared, the clouds turned a deep indigo, and I lingered over dessert, taking 100 photos that all looked the same but felt different.
Eventually, I made my way back to my room, where the night air was stirred by a refreshing breeze and the sound of Hawaiian slack guitar drifted up from the lobby. I left my patio door open, curled up in my luxurious bed, and let the melodies carry me into sleep—no cramped airplane seat, no turbulence, just pure, uninterrupted peace.
So that’s how I went from economy class survival mode to making my Disney-resort travel dream come true in a single, time-bending day. And there are still 2 more days to go!