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The Character Breakfast at Aulani - a Disney Resort and Spa in Ko Olina - An Aulani Dining Review
by Katrina Stillwell

Love Disney character breakfasts? Whether or not you are staying at Aulani, at another resort in Ko Olina, or are an Oahu resident, you can enjoy meeting Mickey Mouse and his friends at their Disney Character Breakfast at Makahiki Restaurant.

If you are not staying at Aulani, you can still visit the resort. Directions are fairly simple: take H1 and head leeward (away from the airport), turn off at the Ko Olina Lagoons exit and Aulani is the second resort on the right after the train tracks. Parking is $37 for up to four hours. They will validate your ticket at the restaurant if you spend $37 or more. I made reservations a month earlier for an 8:45 am seating for three adults and one infant. Once we arrived at Aulani and parked, we walked inside to the beautiful airy lobby, which is on the second story of the resort. If you have ever seen pictures or been to Aulani you know its beautiful! The artwork of the Hawaiian culture is breath-taking. Off the lobby is a balcony overlooking the Waikolohe Stream, lazy river and Pu’u Kilo, “a majestic mountain in the Waikolohe Valley". Past the boundaries of the resort, you can see where the Pacific Ocean touches the sky.

The Disney Character Dining takes place at Makahiki-“The Bounty of the Islands”, a buffet style restaurant. The cost was $35 per adult and $18 per keiki (children ages 9 and under). The restaurant is located on the first floor. After arriving at the restaurant, we were directed to stand in line to meet Mickey Mouse! The wait to see Mickey was only 5-10 minutes. He was all ready for his vacation in his Hawaiian shirt! The line ran through the Olelo Room Bar. Olelo in Hawaiian means “word’ or “to converse”. Behind the bar you found signs explaining how to pronounce Hawaiian words like “honu” meaning turtle or “`elua” meaning the number two.

A photographer, similar to PhotoPass Photographers, is there to take your picture along with another cast member who will use your camera or phone to also take pictures. I love that Disney will always take photos with your camera and they sometime catch the best candid moments. After meeting Mickey, we were directed to the waiting area, we sat for about 10 minutes. In this area, there is a small alcove to the side with seating and more Hawaiian words with definitions and beautiful hand carved wooden artwork along with information about Hawaii.

We were seated at our table on the lanai overlooking the Waikolohe Stream. We couldn’t have been placed at a better table. The trade winds were blowing that day and kept us nice and cool. Seating is also available inside but is much better suited for families with older children. My son, who was only six months at the time, was not old enough to participate alone in singing and dancing with Auntie.

Just as we were seated, Goofy came over to greet us. My son was stone faced the whole time. When Goofy came back my son still just stared at him! Once we were settled in the waitress asked what drinks we wanted. My mother and I got our food first then my husband went to get his food. While we were waiting for my husband to return Minnie Mouse came over and joined us. She was dressed to perfection in her blue Hawaiian dress! She mimed asking how old my son was and we took lots of pictures with her. Again my son was not impressed. My husband had not returned in time to meet Minnie so I asked her if she would come back. About 30 minutes later when everyone had breakfast, Minnie returned.

The Aulani website describes the buffet as a “Delight in a full buffet of delectable dishes.” That does not even begin to describe the food options they have for breakfast. There are breakfast choices for everyone: American or Asian, vegan or vegetarian, or any kind of allergy. They also have the keiki (child) corner where the counters are built for your keiki to reach their own food. Sample menus can be found on the Aulani website. My favorite station was the made to order omelet station. The chef was wonderful! She spoke both English and Japanese. While she made my omelet I asked her if she enjoyed working at Aulani. She commented that she had been there since the resort opened and loved it!

Auntie walks around talks with the guests and sings to the keiki. She came over to our table and sang to my son. This put a smile on his face and ours. She called all the keiki to meet in the middle of the restaurant where they were handed gourds filled with beads to shake. Auntie lead them on parade all around the restaurant dancing and singing.

Aulani, like any Disney dining, wants to celebrate birthdays and special occasions with you! While I was refilling my plate at the buffet, my husband told the waitress it was my birthday. When we had finished our meal our waitress bought out a mini cake with a candle. Everyone sang “Happy Birthday!"

An Aulani cast member will bring the picture that was taken with Mickey to you table for purchase during breakfast. You can purchase the photo at your table or later that day in the gift shop. The experience from check in to leaving the restaurant took about two hours.

While you are at Aulani, walk around the resort. The pools are for guests use only but it is a beautiful leisurely walk around the lazy river. Aulani has its own entrance onto the beach at the Ko Olina Lagoons. We walked in the sand and put our feet in the water. Then we went and got Mickey ice creams at Little Opihi’s Beach Kiosk. They also serve: Dole Whip, Mickey Pretzels, light meal items and beverages. If you get the Mickey ice creams, trust me, eat them quickly or they will melt.

Prices quoted in the article are from August 2015.

Added to PassPorter's Article Collection on 03-01-2016 07:03 AM

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