Contact: +1 (888) 605-1350
Choosing between Ala Moana Hotel and Aulani, A Disney Resort And Spa? This in-depth comparison breaks down location, vibe, rooms, food, amenities, price & more so you can decide which resort is the best fit for your next getaway.
Best for travelers who want a convenient Honolulu base with all-ages appeal, city access, on-site dining, and an easy walk to shopping, convention facilities, and nearby beaches.
Better for families who want a destination-style Disney resort experience in Ko Olina with immersive theming, pools, beach time, and kid-focused vacation energy.
If you want a practical Honolulu hotel with strong walkability, Ala Moana Hotel is the easier pick. It works well for travelers who plan to explore, attend events, shop, dine out, or use the hotel as a comfortable base rather than spend every day on-property.
If your priority is a full resort vacation built around Disney atmosphere, family pool time, and a more self-contained Ko Olina stay, Aulani, A Disney Resort And Spa is the stronger choice.
Bottom line: choose Ala Moana Hotel for convenience, value-minded Honolulu access, and a flexible all-ages stay; choose Aulani for a more immersive family resort vacation with Disney character and a beach-resort setting.
| Category | Ala Moana Hotel | Aulani, A Disney Resort And Spa |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Vibe | Large, practical Honolulu hotel with an urban-resort feel, a refreshed pool deck, on-site dining, and easy access to shopping, events, and nearby beaches. | Immersive Disney beach resort experience with a stronger focus on family vacation time, themed surroundings, pools, and a more destination-resort feel. |
| Location | At 410 Atkinson Drive in Honolulu, adjoining Ala Moana Hotel shopping mall and across from the Hawaii Convention Center, with Ala Moana Beach nearby. | In Ko Olina, better suited to travelers who want a resort-centered stay away from the busier Honolulu hotel zone. |
| Rooms & Suites | Large high-rise hotel with multiple room categories, including Waikiki Tower options, free in-room WiFi, and a straightforward city-hotel layout. | More resort-oriented accommodations for travelers who want the stay itself to feel like the main vacation setting. |
| Dining | Two on-site restaurants plus a lobby Starbucks Lounge and Café 410, with highlights including a 36th-floor steak and seafood restaurant with Honolulu and ocean views. | Better for guests who want to keep more of the vacation dining experience within a Disney resort environment. |
| Pools & Beach | Outdoor resort pool with a refreshed sundeck and loungers, plus nearby access to Ala Moana Beach and other Honolulu beach areas. | Stronger choice for families who want pool time and beach time to be central to the resort experience. |
| Kids & Family | All-ages hotel where children are welcome, best for families who want Honolulu convenience and flexible plans outside the hotel. | More purpose-built for a family resort vacation, especially for travelers who want Disney theming and kid-focused atmosphere. |
| Price & Value | Best value for travelers who want a central Honolulu base, on-site amenities, and walkable access without paying primarily for a themed resort experience. | Best value for families who will make full use of the Disney resort setting and want the hotel to be a major part of the trip. |
Rooms at Ala Moana Hotel are geared toward a practical Honolulu stay, with a large high-rise layout, multiple tower-style categories, and essentials like free WiFi in guest rooms.
Ala Moana Hotel is the better pick if you want a straightforward room base near shopping, the convention center, and Honolulu beaches rather than a fully themed resort stay.
Aulani is built more around the resort experience, making it the stronger fit for travelers who want their accommodations to feel connected to a Disney vacation from start to finish.
If the room is mainly a base for Honolulu exploring, Ala Moana Hotel makes more sense; if the resort environment is the trip, Aulani is the more immersive choice.
Dining at Ala Moana Hotel is convenient and varied for a city hotel, with casual breakfast options, a lobby coffee stop, and a high-floor steak and seafood restaurant for a more polished night out.
Expect:
Aulani is the better fit if you want dining to stay wrapped into a resort vacation, especially when the goal is an easy family schedule in a Disney setting.
If you want flexible Honolulu dining access and strong on-site basics, Ala Moana Hotel works well; if you want dining to be part of the Disney resort bubble, Aulani has the edge.
Ala Moana Hotel has an outdoor resort swimming pool with a refreshed sundeck and loungers, giving guests a simple place to relax between Honolulu outings.
Aulani is the stronger choice if pool and beach time are central to the trip, especially for families who want the resort grounds to anchor most of the vacation.
If you want a pool plus easy Honolulu access, choose Ala Moana Hotel; if you want the pool-and-beach scene to be the main event, choose Aulani.
Ala Moana Hotel welcomes children of all ages and works best for families who want convenience, walkability, and the freedom to plan days around Honolulu rather than around a resort schedule.
Aulani is the more obvious family-vacation pick when Disney atmosphere, resort downtime, and kid-friendly energy are the main reasons for the trip.
If your family plans to explore Honolulu, Ala Moana Hotel is easier; if your family wants the resort itself to carry the trip, Aulani is the better match.
Ala Moana Hotel offers the most value when location, convenience, and practical amenities matter more than a themed resort environment.
Aulani is the better value when your group will make the resort experience a major part of every day, especially if Disney atmosphere is a top priority.
Choose Ala Moana Hotel if you want a convenient Honolulu stay with an outdoor pool, on-site dining, free in-room WiFi, and excellent access to shopping, events, and nearby beaches.
Aulani is the better pick for families who want Disney atmosphere, a more self-contained resort vacation, and a Ko Olina setting built around beach and pool time.
For travelers who want to explore Honolulu, attend an event, dine around town, or keep plans flexible, Ala Moana Hotel is the more practical and better-located choice.
If you want the hotel to be the destination—and Disney theming is a major reason for the trip—Aulani delivers the more memorable resort-style family vacation.
Questions? Contact Us!
Explore more helpful planning guides and insider articles for Ala Moana Hotel:
