Are you wondering how to meet Disney Aulani characters in Hawaii? Keep scrolling to get all my tips for seeing Disney Hawaii characters at the Aulani Resort on Oahu.
This post about Disney Aulani characters in Hawaii was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Look, I’m going to be completely honest with you. The first time we visited Aulani, I made a huge mistake.
I didn’t pay attention to the character schedule and we missed SO many opportunities to meet characters.
My kids were devastated when they realized Donald and Daisy had been out by the pool while we were eating lunch. Total mom fail.
But here’s the thing about Disney character meet and greets at Aulani. They’re nothing like what you’d experience at Disneyland or Disney World.
I’m talking almost no lines, characters wearing adorable Hawaiian outfits, and way more relaxed interactions where you actually have time to chat instead of feeling rushed.
After 40+ visits to Hawaii and multiple stays at Aulani, I’ve figured out exactly how to maximize character time without spending your entire vacation waiting in queues.
And as a professional tourist and Hawaii travel expert, I’m sharing all my insider tips so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
Want someone to handle all the planning for you? I offer personalized Hawaii travel consultations where I can help you map out the perfect Aulani character schedule and so much more.
The Secret to Finding Characters at Aulani
Unlike the Disney parks where character locations and times are posted weeks in advance, Aulani keeps things super casual.
The daily character schedule isn’t finalized until morning, which honestly threw me off during our first visit.
Here’s how to get the schedule:
Call the character hotline from your room phone by dialing CHIP (2447). The recording lists each character, time, and location.
Fair warning though, a cast member told me they don’t update this until around 9am, so calling at 7am will give you yesterday’s info.
Check the Daily ‘Iwa. This is Aulani’s activity schedule. You can view it on the Aulani app, on the digital billboard in the lobby, or grab a printed copy at the front desk.
Ask cast members wearing purple shirts. These are the PhotoPass photographers and they always know what’s happening with characters.
I learned the hard way to set phone reminders 10 minutes before each character appearance I wanted to catch.
It sounds obsessive, but trust me, when you’re relaxing by the pool with a Mai Tai, time flies and suddenly Moana’s already gone.
The Makahiki Character Breakfast (Is It Worth It?)
Short answer? Absolutely yes, especially if you have young kids who are obsessed with Mickey.
Makahiki serves a character breakfast daily from 7am to 11am. The format changed from a buffet to a three-course prix fixe meal. Current pricing is $55 for adults and $34 for kids ages 3-9.
Here’s what makes this breakfast special. When you check in, they walk you outside to a beautiful spot by the koi pond where Mickey is waiting.
This is a private meet and greet before you even sit down, and there’s a PhotoPass photographer right there capturing everything.
Then during your meal, usually Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy come around to your table.
When we went, we actually got photos with both Mickey and Minnie at the same time, which is super rare at other Disney locations.
The food is really good. You get fresh island fruit, malasadas (Hawaii’s version of Portuguese donuts that are absolutely addictive), and your choice of entree. My kids love the Mickey waffles, and I always get the loco moco.
Pro tip: You don’t need to be staying at Aulani to book this breakfast. Make reservations 45 days in advance through the Aulani website or call 808-674-6200.
If you can’t get a reservation, try walking up right at 7am for the best chance of getting in.
And hey, if planning an Oahu trip feels overwhelming, I created a free 7-day email course on how to plan a trip to Oahu that walks you through everything step by step.
Character Meet & Greets Around the Resort
Okay, this is where Aulani really shines. The character meet and greets scattered throughout the resort are SO much better than park experiences.
During a recent visit, we literally walked up to every single character with zero wait. The longest line we saw was maybe three families ahead of us.
Compare that to Disneyland where you’re looking at 30-45 minute waits minimum.
Where to find characters:
The locations rotate, but you’ll typically find them at:
- Halawai Lawn (the big grassy area between the hotel towers)
- Front of the Ewa tower
- By the koi pond overlooking Makahiki
- Manawa Island
- Near the Waikolohe stream entrance by the wristband station
When it rains, they move everyone indoors to the convention center and ballrooms, so don’t let weather ruin your plans.
Which characters you’ll meet:
Here’s the lineup of characters who vacation at Aulani:
Mickey and Minnie are pretty much guaranteed to appear daily. They wear the cutest Hawaiian outfits and are always up for photos and silly conversations.
Moana is huge at Aulani since she’s Polynesian. We got to meet her on the Ka Wa’a Luau stage which looks exactly like her canoe.
Since she’s a face character, we had an actual conversation with her about voyaging, and my kids were completely starstruck. She’s much easier to find here than at Disney parks.
Donald and Daisy usually appear together wearing matching aloha outfits. Donald is hilarious as always with his temper tantrums.
Stitch and Angel make regular appearances. Angel is nearly impossible to find anywhere else in the US except Aulani. My 7-year-old is obsessed with Angel, so getting photos with both of them was a huge highlight.
Duffy and Shellie May are wildly popular in Japan but rare stateside. The Aulani gift shop is packed with Duffy merchandise if your kids fall in love.
Goofy and Max sometimes appear together, which makes my husband super happy since those are his favorite characters.
Pluto, Chip ‘n Dale, and Olu Mel (a Disney Friend of Duffy) also rotate through.
Not every character appears daily. They mix it up, so you might see Duffy one day and then not again for a couple days. That’s why checking the schedule each morning is crucial.
How This Compares to Disney Parks
I’ve done character dining at Disneyland and Disney World probably a dozen times at this point. Here’s the honest comparison.
At Disneyland and Disney World, you’re dealing with massive crowds. Lines for popular characters like Anna and Elsa can hit two hours.
You get maybe 30 seconds with each character before cast members are ushering you along.
At Aulani? We chatted with characters, told them jokes (my kids have a whole collection of funny Hawaii jokes they love to share), and never once felt rushed.
The PhotoPass photographers took multiple shots to make sure we got good ones.
Plus, seeing Mickey wearing board shorts and an aloha shirt instead of his regular outfit just hits different. These are exclusive costumes you can only get photos with at Aulani.
My Best Tips for Character Meetings at Aulani
Always check the schedule first thing in the morning. I cannot stress this enough. Set yourself a reminder or you’ll end up like me on our first visit, missing half the characters.
Bring props. Pack stuffed animals of the characters you’re meeting. Or grab new ones at the Aulani gift shop. Photos with matching stuffies are ridiculously cute.
Dress up a little. This is totally optional, but your photos look so much better when you make an effort.
We love wearing our Mickey ears or matching Hawaiian shirts. Some families go all out with coordinated outfits for character photos and honestly, those pics are adorable.
Watch for characters at the pool. Sometimes characters wave to guests from the bridges around the pool area. These aren’t official meet and greets, but perfect for quick selfies.
Get the PhotoPass. This is currently $99 for your entire stay and includes unlimited photos taken by Disney photographers throughout the resort (except the separate Makahiki breakfast photos).
If you’re strategic, you can get it for just $19.99 by having all your character photos taken on the same day.
The sunset beach photos alone make PhotoPass worth it. Photographers camp out on the beach an hour before sunset specifically for family portraits. We’ve gotten our Christmas card photo this way multiple times.
Consider booking a private portrait session. If you want really professional, posed family photos, Disney offers 20-minute private sessions starting at $275. These book up fast, so call ahead at 808-674-6988.
Need to capture your vacation memories? I always recommend Flytographer for family photo sessions.
You can save $20 using my link, and they’ll meet you anywhere on Oahu for gorgeous candid shots.
Getting to Aulani and Around Ko Olina
Aulani is located in Ko Olina on Oahu’s west side, about 25 minutes from the airport and 35 minutes from Waikiki (without traffic).
Do you need a car? Not really, if you’re planning a resort-only vacation. There’s a small store within walking distance for groceries, plus several restaurants nearby. Alamo rents cars right from the resort if you want one for just a day or two.
But if you’re planning to explore Oahu, I recommend booking through Discount Hawaii Car Rental using my referral link. They consistently have the best rates.
Or skip the car entirely and book tours with pickup from Aulani. Way less stressful than navigating Oahu traffic yourself.
Looking for a complete Oahu itinerary? My Oahu Travel Guide for Families includes daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and exactly where to eat. Takes all the guesswork out of planning.
How to Book Your Aulani Stay
If you’re ready to book Aulani after reading this, I always send people to Get Away Today. They have the best prices and their customer service is incredible. I’ve used them for years.
Current deals for 2026 include up to 30% off stays of four nights or longer from January through April. They also offer a flexible $200 deposit option where you pay the balance 30 days before check-in.
Want someone else to handle all the booking and planning details? That’s literally what I do.
My Hawaii travel consultation service takes the stress out of planning so you can just show up and enjoy.
Real Talk: Is Meeting Characters at Aulani Worth It?
Absolutely. But I want to be honest about what to expect.
This isn’t a Disney park experience. You won’t see characters every 50 feet or have 20 different meet and greet opportunities in one day.
Aulani keeps the Disney presence more subtle, which honestly makes it feel more special when you do see characters.
If your kids are hardcore Disney fans who need constant character interaction, they might prefer a park vacation.
But if you want a relaxed Hawaiian vacation with some Disney magic sprinkled in? Aulani is perfect.
The biggest advantages:
- Almost no wait times
- Exclusive Hawaiian-themed character outfits
- More personal interaction time
- Rare characters like Angel and Duffy
- Beautiful photo backdrops
The character meet and greets at Aulani made our vacation so much more magical. My kids still talk about telling jokes to Goofy and getting to meet Angel for the first time.
Just don’t make my mistake. Check that character schedule every single morning. Set reminders. Make a plan. Your kids will thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I meet characters without staying at Aulani?
The only way to meet characters as a non-resort guest is to book the Makahiki character breakfast. All other character meet and greets are exclusively for resort guests.
What characters are guaranteed to appear?
Mickey and Minnie show up pretty much daily. Beyond that, characters rotate, so there’s no guarantee. Check the daily schedule to see who’s appearing during your stay.
How much does the character breakfast cost?
Currently $55 for adults and $34 for children ages 3-9. This includes a three-course meal with Mickey meet and greet before you’re seated, plus visits from other characters at your table.
Is there character dining at dinner?
Not currently. Makahiki only offers character experiences during breakfast.
Do I need to book character meet and greets in advance?
Nope. The resort meet and greets are casual and don’t require reservations. Just show up at the scheduled time and location.
Can I use Disney PhotoPass from Disneyland or Disney World?
Aulani uses the same PhotoPass system as Disneyland. If you’re visiting both locations close together, you might be able to combine them under one package.
Are the characters the same as in the parks?
Yes, but they’re wearing exclusive Hawaiian outfits you can’t see anywhere else.
Plus, Aulani has rare characters like Angel, Duffy, Shellie May, and Olu Mel that don’t regularly appear at other Disney locations.
Planning a Disney Aulani vacation takes some strategy, especially when you want to maximize character time while still enjoying everything else the resort offers.
That’s exactly why I put together my free email course on how to plan a trip to Disney Aulani. Seven days of tips delivered straight to your inbox.
Meeting characters at Aulani honestly ruined us for Disney parks. The relaxed vibe, short wait times, and personal interactions are tough to beat.
If you’re planning a Hawaiian vacation and your kids love Disney, this is the perfect combination of both worlds.
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- Complete Disney Aulani Resort Review
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