Yesterland Side Trip: Yester Aulani & Future Aulani

A SIDE TRIP FROM

Disney Goes Hawaiian, Part 23:
Yester Aulani & Future Aulani

After publishing 22 earlier articles about Aulani—starting when there was just an empty 21-acre lot and the future resort did not yet have a name—I finally stayed at the Disney resort in the Aloha State. My short review: All the great things you’ve heard about Aulani are true.

Today’s article takes a look at the current construction at Aulani and what it replaced. Who would have thought that there would already be a Yester Aulani?

, Curator of Yesterland, July 19, 2013

Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, at Yesterland

Photo by Werner Weiss, July 2013

Welcome pin or apology pin?

Current Aulani guests are getting a pin on a card when they check in. “We’re glad you chose to stay with us at this exciting time,” the card says.

Translation: Sorry. Part of Aulani is a construction zone. Some of the grounds are off limits. Here’s a pin for you.

For the vast majority of what Aulani has to offer—especially the Waikolohe Valley, with its Waikolohe Pool, lazy river, slides, whirlpool spas, and Rainbow Reef snorkeling pool—it’s business as usual.

Some features of Aulani have gone to Yester Aulani.

Photo by Werner Weiss, July 2013

Temporary model center

The first Aulani structure to go to Yester Aulani was the temporary model center.

The structure opened July 2010 with a sample two-bedroom Disney Vacation Club (DVC) villa and a sample hotel room. Prospective DVC buyers could tour the model villa. The structure was demolished in February 2011 when it became possible to provide hardhat visits into the actual resort buildings.

Rendering copyright Disney

Disney Fairy Tale Weddings at Aulani

The former location of the model center would become Makaloa Garden, a lawn for weddings and the resort’s Starlit Hui performances.

The Makaloa Garden closed in October 2012. The resort’s Halawai Lawn, which had been a staging area for building construction, became the new location for Starlit Hui and the site for large, outdoor weddings.

Photo by Kate Carey, October 2011

Makai Preserve—permanently closed

Adjacent to the Makaloa Garden, the Makai Preserve had provided an opportunity for resort guests to swim with stingrays. It went to Yester Aulani in October 2012. The stingrays were moved to new homes at three aquariums in Hawai‘i.

Photo by Werner Weiss, July 2013

Wailana Pool and Wailana Pool Bar — temporarily closed

Wailana is a Hawaiian word meaning calm or quiet water. The Wailana Pool was to be an escape for adults. “Separated from the excitement of the main pool area,” the Aulani website explained, “this relaxing retreat beckons you to unwind.” With the popularity of the other pools and deck areas, the Wailana Pool became an overflow rather than a retreat.

The Wailana Pool closed temporarily around the same time as the Makaloa Garden and Makai Preserve, but will reopen—although reportedly with enforced age restrictions.

Perhaps the most unexpected addition to Yester Aulani is the ground-floor DVC Grand Villa at the very end of the Waianae Tower, facing the ocean. It’s been gutted.

Rendering copyright Disney

Waikolohe Valley enhancements

The reason why the Makaloa Garden, Makai Preserve, Wailana Pool (temporarily), and ground-floor DVC Grand Villa have all gone to Yester Aulani is to allow an expansion of the resort’s already impressive Waikolohe Valley water recreation facilities. The improvements were announced August 30, 2012, the first anniversary of the opening of Aulani. Here’s how the Aulani website now describes the plans:

Waikolohe Valley will soon delight Guests with more pool experiences and dining options, including:

A themed family pool (Ka Maka Grotto), featuring an infinity edge, a misty grotto with beautiful sunset views and an after-dark experience with glittering lights
A kids’ splash zone (Keiki Cove) that’s designed to resemble a tidal pool, with images of tidal pool creatures on the pool floor, rainbow water jets and hidden menehune—the legendary “little people” of the islands
Additional deck space, chairs, chaises and cabanas surrounding the new water features
A poolside dining venue (Ulu Cafe) serving breakfast, lunch and dinner—and featuring an outdoor patio with beautiful ocean view

Disney’s goal is to complete everything in September 2013.

The artist’s rendering shows inviting enhancements to Aualni, but it doesn’t do justice to the size of the project.