In creating Aunty's Beach House at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, designers have taken a page out of the Disney Cruise Line playbook.
One feature shared by many Disney Vacation Club resorts is the Community Hall--a playspace where families can break from the Disney parks to engage in light activities ranging from foosball to ping pong to light arts and crafts projects. Community Halls tend to be rather bland in their design, indistinguishable from child care facilities found at a local supermarket.
Aunty's Beach House is no Community Hall.
Disney Imagineers have infused Aunty's Beach House with its own backstory and theme, resulting in a space that is more reminiscent of the Oceaneer's Club and Lab found on the Disney cruise ships.
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Aunty's Beach House (copyright 2010 Disney Enterprises)
According to legend, "Aunty" is an island local who has lived in this location her entire life. She is beloved by all and regarded as an expert on Hawaiian history and culture.
The Beach House itself is designed to blend into its island surroundings. From the piles of straw hats and flip-flops on the front porch to the seashell collection on the fireplace mantle to the overgrown back yard, the space faithfully adheres to the backstory developed by Imagineers.
One expects Aunty herself to appear at any moment to tell the tale of the mischevious Menehune or other island folklore.
The Beach House is a 5,200 square foot facility with a host of familiar activities including video games, arts and crafts, a Disney movie room and so on. But Disney has also included a number of interactive elements to enhance the experience. An enchanted fireplace, rain windows in the movie room and "magic portals" with ever changing imagery are just a few examples.
Enchanted Fireplace (copyright 2010 Disney Enterprises)
Disney describes Aunty's Beach House as "a place of fun...and discovery...and magic...where things are not always as they seem."
Aunty's Beach House is a supervised child care facility with trained Disney Youth Counselors on staff at all times. Similar to Disney Cruise Line child care facilities, children aged 3-10 are signed in by parents and remain in the Beach House until claimed. Adults are then free to relax on their own, enjoying a spa treatment, round of golf or simply time alone on the beach.
Use of Aunty's Beach House is included with all Aulani stays; there is no additional fee to resort guests. This philosophy is a pleasant departure from typical Disney hotel philosophy. Walt Disney World resorts charge around $12 per hour, per child for supervised care.
Select premium services--like professional hula dance lessons--will require an additional fee.
Aunty's Beach House is just one unique element of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa located in Ko Olina, O'aha. Aulani is a mixed-use resort featuring 359 hotel rooms and 460 Disney Vacation Club timeshare villas.
The first phase of the resort is scheduled to open on August 29, 2011.
