Aulani has a surprisingly large Disney character lineup. Depending on the day, you may see Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Moana, Stitch, Angel, Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Chip and Dale, Max, Duffy the Disney Bear, ShellieMay and ‘Olu Mel.
The important thing to know is that Aulani does not use one fixed character roster. Characters, times and meet-and-greet locations can change from day to day, so you should always check the resort’s current schedule rather than planning your trip around a specific location.
During our stay, meeting characters felt quite different from Disneyland or Disney World. The greetings are spread around the resort rather than concentrated in one obvious area. We saw Mickey, Minnie and Pluto during breakfast at Makahiki, and Stitch was one of the characters we encountered elsewhere during the trip.
Which Disney Characters Can You Meet at Aulani?
Recent official Aulani schedules have featured characters from several different Disney groups. Not everyone below will appear during every stay, but these are characters that have appeared on Aulani’s official schedules:
| Character group | Characters seen on Aulani schedules |
|---|---|
| Mickey and Friends | Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Chip, Dale and Max |
| Lilo & Stitch | Stitch and Angel |
| Moana | Moana |
| Duffy and Friends | Duffy the Disney Bear, ShellieMay and ‘Olu Mel |
This rotating lineup is one reason Aulani can be especially interesting for character fans. Along with familiar characters such as Mickey and Minnie, you may find characters such as Angel, Duffy, ShellieMay or ‘Olu Mel that aren’t part of the standard character lineup on many U.S. Disney vacations.
If meeting one particular character matters to you, don’t assume that seeing the character on somebody else’s trip report means the same character will be available during your stay.
How to Check the Aulani Character Schedule
The best way to find Aulani characters is to check the Daily ‘Iwa, Disney’s resort activities schedule. Disney makes the digital Daily ‘Iwa available through the resort and the Aulani Resort mobile app, and character appearances can be added with specific times and locations.
You can also check Disney’s official Aulani activities schedule. One thing worth knowing is that Disney sometimes posts a day with a message to check back for character schedules, so the full lineup may not be available far in advance.
- Check the schedule on the day you want to meet characters. Times and locations can change.
- Prioritize your must-see characters. If Moana or Stitch is important to you, plan around that appearance instead of trying to catch every character.
- Arrive before the posted time. Popular greetings can attract a line, so showing up a few minutes early is easier than arriving near the end of an appearance.
- Check again later in the day. Additional appearances or updated character information may become available.
Where Are the Aulani Character Meet-and-Greets?
There isn’t one permanent Aulani character meet-and-greet location. Disney moves characters around the resort, which is another reason the daily schedule matters more than memorizing a particular spot.
Official schedules have used locations including Hālāwai Lawn, Ewa Tower, the Ballrooms, the Koi Pond, Manawa Island, Kawele Korner and Hoku Hideaway. A character may appear somewhere different on another day.
That was one of the biggest differences we noticed at Aulani. You aren’t walking through a theme park filled with permanent character locations. The resort atmosphere is much more relaxed, and the day’s schedule tells you where you actually need to go.
Can You Meet Moana at Aulani?
Moana is one of the characters who regularly appears on Aulani’s official schedules, although her availability is still subject to change. Recent schedules have placed her at locations such as Ewa Tower, the Koi Pond and other designated character areas.
You may also notice activities such as Wayfinding with Moana on the Daily ‘Iwa. That’s a separate scheduled activity, sometimes with its own age requirements, so don’t confuse it with a standard Moana character greeting. Look for an entry that specifically lists Moana as a character appearance if your goal is a photo or meet-and-greet.
Can You Meet Stitch at Aulani?
Stitch is another character to watch for. He appears on Aulani schedules both by himself and alongside other characters. During our trip, Stitch was one of the characters we saw more than once, and he’s a particularly fitting character to meet while you’re in Hawaii.
Angel also appears at Aulani. Recent schedules have included dedicated Angel meet-and-greets as well as regular character appearances, making Aulani a particularly good Disney resort for fans of the Lilo & Stitch characters.
Aulani Character Breakfast at Makahiki
If you want to build a character experience directly into your plans, breakfast at Makahiki is the easiest option. Disney specifically advertises Disney characters as part of breakfast at the restaurant, although the exact character lineup can vary.
When we ate there, we saw Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. Each character came around for photos, which meant we could enjoy breakfast instead of moving around the resort trying to match several different character times.
Makahiki currently serves a three-course breakfast, rather than the buffet format the restaurant has used at other times. Disney recommends dining reservations, and reservations can currently be made up to 45 days in advance.
For the current cost, see our breakdown of how much the Aulani character breakfast costs. If you’re trying to secure a popular breakfast time, our guide to Aulani restaurant reservations covers the booking process.
Are Disney Characters at Aulani Every Day?
Disney characters are a regular part of the Aulani experience, but you shouldn’t expect every character to appear every day. The number of greetings, character lineup and locations can all vary.
That’s especially important if you’re hoping to meet one of the less predictable characters such as Duffy, ShellieMay, ‘Olu Mel, Daisy, Max or Angel. They have appeared on official Aulani schedules, but that does not mean they’ll be there during every visit.
Mickey, Minnie, Moana, Stitch and the rest of the rotating lineup are best treated as part of the resort’s daily programming rather than a permanent attraction with fixed hours.
The Best Way to See Characters at Aulani
I wouldn’t spend a vacation walking around Aulani hoping to stumble onto characters. Check the Daily ‘Iwa first, choose the two or three characters you care about most, and fit those appearances around your pool, beach and resort plans.
If characters are a major priority, adding Makahiki breakfast gives you another dedicated opportunity without using up much of the rest of your day. Then use the regular character schedule for characters such as Moana, Stitch or any of the more unusual names that happen to be appearing during your stay.
For the rest of your vacation planning, our Aulani guide covers the resort, activities and other practical details.
