Aulani

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa
Aulani Resort in August, 2011
Hotel chain Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
General information
Location Kapolei, Hawaii
Address 92-1185 Aliʻinui Drive
Opening August 29, 2011 (2011-08-29)
Owner The Walt Disney Company
Technical details
Floor count 16
Other information
Number of rooms 359 hotel rooms
460 Disney Vacation Club Villas, including 19 Grand Villas
Number of suites 16
Number of restaurants 4
Website
Official website

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa is a beachside hotel, resort and vacation destination offering complimentary children's activities and programs at the Ko Olina Resort & Marina in Kapolei on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Part of the Disney Vacation Club, it is the third Disney Vacation Club Resort located outside a Disney theme park property. The resort opened on August 29, 2011.

History

Initially announced in October 2007,[1] Disney unveiled the resort's name in January 2010. The project was estimated to cost $800 million and eventually generate about 1,000 jobs at the resort. The project was managed by Disney Vice-President Djuan Rivers.[2]

The resort began timeshare sales on July 15, 2010, and began taking room reservations in August 2010.[3][4] On August 12, 2011, Disney suspended Aulani timeshare sales indefinitely and fired three executives, including Disney Vacation Club president Jim Lewis, after senior management realized the annual dues had been set too low to cover maintenance costs.[5]

A view from the hotel

Theme

Walt Disney Imagineers collaborated with WATG and Architects Hawaii Ltd. and cultural experts to design and construct what will celebrate the customs and tradition of Hawaii.[6] Disney characters including Mickey and Minnie Mouse are seen at the resort, however, unlike at other theme parks (where they act as hosts), at Aulani they are presented as fellow guests.[7]

Non-Disney Vacation Club members may stay in Aulani villas on cash reservations.


References

  1. ↑ Allison Schaefers (October 6, 2007). "Disney's travel club cannot sell in Hawaii: A resort on Oahu is set, but the firm needs an OK to offer time shares". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved December 3, 2010.
  2. ↑ Disney Resort Taking Shape on Oahu; Expects to Invest $800 million, Employ 1,000 / October 2009
  3. ↑ "New Disney Hawaii resort gets a name". Pacific Business News. January 19, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Disney to open reservations a year before resort opening". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. July 2, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
  5. ↑ Jason Garcia (August 15, 2011). "Disney halts sales and fires executives amid financial issues with Hawaiian resort". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ Kain, Matthew (2011-10-12). "The Co-Branded Kingdoms". Honolulu Weekly. Honolulu. Archived from the original on 2013-06-01.
  7. ↑ McClintock, John (July 22, 2010). "An Early Peek at Aulani". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved October 29, 2010.

Coordinates: 21°20′20″N 158°07′22″W / 21.338916°N 158.122707°W / 21.338916; -158.122707

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.