Aulani Reviews Coming In

A few more reviews for Disney’s Hawaiian resort are trickling in. Most note how Disney has emphasized telling the story of Hawaii over traditional Disney touches, but I would argue that storytelling is the quintessential Disney touch.

Read the original: 
Aulani Reviews Coming In

Aulani get mixed reviews in opening weeks

Aulani, Disney’s first hotel not located near one of its theme parks, is getting mixed reviews in the first few weeks of operations. Some of this is no doubt related to the usual issues that have to be worked out at any new large resort, but any bad news is not good after under-priced DVC sales forced the ouster of three executives at the Walt Disney Company. …there have been some early grumblings and glitches at Aulani, from inconsistent service and steep food prices ($43 per person for a dinner buffet) to murky, algae-filled water in the resort’s hands-on stingray pool (which costs $50 per session for adults, $45 for kids)

The rest is here: 
Aulani get mixed reviews in opening weeks

What happens to Disney after Aulani

There’s an interesting question that arises with the current struggles Disney is experiencing with Aulani, one of Disney’s first attempts to see if they can build a Disney resort experience without a Disney park nearby.

Read more:
What happens to Disney after Aulani

Imagineer Joe Rhode Video Tour of Aulani – Disney’s Hawaiian Resort

Walt Disney Imagineer Joe Rhode moved to the Aulani project a few months into its life. Since then he’s focused on adding the sort of details that Disney’s Animal Kingdom became famous for under his leadership. With the hotel’s grand opening coming August 29th, Rhode took some time to make a quick video showing some of the magic you’ll find at the resort Previously : Video of Lobby and Water Play area and Aulani photo update

Read the rest here: 
Imagineer Joe Rhode Video Tour of Aulani – Disney’s Hawaiian Resort

Video Tour of Aulani

Yesterday we got a sneak peek at Disney’s new Hawaii resort Aulani via a couple hundred snapshots . Today here’s a video tour of the lobby and grounds of the Ko Olina property. This was taken about on the 12th, about 15 days before the grand opening

Here is the original post: 
Video Tour of Aulani

New concept art from Aulani, the lobby revealed

Pictured above we have a newly released rendering of the main lobby area for Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. Disney Imagineer Joe Rhode has been dispatched to keep an careful eye on the project and it looks like his background will come in very handy. The highly anticipated Disney destination resort currently under construction on the Hawaiian island of O‘ahu now has an official name and a dynamic new Web site offering an inside look at the project.

Continued here:
New concept art from Aulani, the lobby revealed