Jim Lewis, president of Disney’s time-share component, said Hawaii makes “perfect sense” with its rich culture, traditions, warm greetings, family values, friendships and storytelling.  The Walt Disney Co. recently gave a peek of its sprawling, beachside Hawaiian resort that is under construction and scheduled to open next year.

“Aulani” is Disney’s first major standalone resort away from a theme park and could serve as a model for future projects as the company diversifies and expands its vacation offerings.  Aulani will have 359 hotel rooms, 481 time-share units, restaurants, a convention center, a 15,000-square-foot spa and massive water play area that includes a volcano tube slide and snorkel lagoon.  The largest units at Aulani are 3-bedroom “Grand Villas” — 2,300-square-foot timeshare units that are larger than most Hawaii homes, sleep 12 and have sweeping views of the Pacific.

The resort sits on 21 acres on Oahu’s Leeward Coast in the Ko Olina development, known for its white sand lagoons, scenic golf course and colorful sunsets. Ko Olina is about an hour west of Waikiki, where most of the hotels and tourists happen to be.

Currently the resort is a jungle of concrete, steel, wires and pipes with no Mickey and Minnie in sight. Aulani is scheduled to open Aug. 29, 2011, with hotel reservations to begin in September 2010 with Timeshare sales having started in late July!!!

David Uchiyama, of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said Disney’s arrival is a “validator” of the Aloha state as a family destination.  “”Others” usually lay out a structure, put pictures up and put a canoe here. These guys went way beyond that…the extent that they took to connect with the host culture should be commended.”

Source: Disney Vacation Club, June 30, 2010

On August 2nd, guests will be able to begin booking reservations for one of Disney’s 360 hotel rooms or 481 two-bedroom at Disney Vacation Club villas on the island’s west side; arrivals will commence on August 29, 2011.

The resort, which has been under construction on 21 acres of beachfront property for the past year, will also feature an 18,000 square foot spa, a wedding lawn, a convention center, and two restaurants.  Disney plans to market this resort located, at Ko Olina on the almost always sunny west side of Oahu, toward luxury oriented family vacationers.

Disney’s newest Hawaii vacation resort will include almost 50,000 square feet of outdoor features and will include snorkeling lagoons, waterfalls, fishponds, sunset-facing hot tubs, water slides, and more.