Rainbow Reef

I loved this place. I love snorkeling in the ocean but this is a great place to go with your kids to prepare them for snorkeling in the ocean. The water’s a bit chilly and you have to rinse off prior to going in the reef. You also have to rent the actual gear (snorkel & life vest) prior to going in. I chose to select to rent out the vest/​snorkel for the length of our stay because it made more sense economically. You can also use the snorkel gear at the beach.
My son absolutely loved it here but he was a bit scared to put his little head in under water. Still, it was a great place to prepare him for our snorkel & sail trip on a catamaran later that week. We went in this place several times a day during our trip because it was so much fun.
Go during fish feeding times. During our visit, it was at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm. It was awesome to feed the fish and have them come closer to you. They had a photographer there, named Bob, who was amazing! We have several pics which I will cherish forever. The lifeguards kept commenting on how much my son was laughing and that no other kiddos laugh as much as he does. I had a great time and definitely recommend this place. So much fun! They also have 2 lifeguards, one in the reef and one right outside which is great! Highly, highly recommend.

What a great snorkeling experience for little ones! The water is chilly, and my sister definitely was done after a certain point. It does cost a lot to go in, which is a bummer when it’s so cold that you can’t spend that long in it. There is a glass wall so you can see in, which is nice for younger kids, but teaching your kid to snorkel is a wonderful experience and it’s such a safe environment. They provide life vests that everyone must wear, does not depend on your age (which I found annoying as a 20 year old chronic snorkeler). There can be a line, but it’s worth it, or wait 15 minutes and there won’t be. Also, don’t forget to shower before and after so the chlorine doesn’t alter the pH of the water!

Located at Aulani, Disney’s resort and Spa, this is perfect for kids who are afraid of sharks, waves, sharp coral, vana, and other unpredictable things that you might come across out in the open sea. There might even be a hidden Mickey in the reef!
They provide inflatable life vests that help keep your body horizontal, and the mask/​snorkel to help you see the fish. My daughter just used her goggles because she felt more comfortable just breathing above water instead of through the snorkel. So the rules are that you have to use your hands to move (and not your legs) but my daughter was holding onto one of my hands for dear life and I had the gopro in the other hand so I had to use my legs but they don’t really want you splashing and kicking your legs.
The water is cold, about 10 degrees colder than Lazy River, so it’s probably best to go in the late afternoon. I’ve done this twice. The first time was a few years ago and we lasted all of 3 minutes because it was too cold for my son, and that’s the only thing he remembers, so he didn’t even want to go this time. This time I took my daughter in the late afternoon at 4pm and we had the entire reef to ourselves. The reef closes at 5pm but after about 30 minutes she had seen enough. It was her first time swimming with real fish and she loved it. However, she did not want to let go of my hand even though she had the aqualung life vest on and can swim in all the other pools by herself. Something about the fish added a new dimension to this swimming adventure for her.
COST: $ 15 adult, $ 10 all day in/​out privileges, you can also pay a little bit more for an entire length of stay in/​out privileges. No reservations needed, just walk up to the check in desk and they’ll charge it to your room.
Is this like the real thing? Of course not. You are at a Disney resort, and everything here has a little bit of make believe. Isn’t that why you come here in the first place?

Turns out Hawaii doesn’t have the best snorkeling, at least if you are interested in coral. Something about the water being too cold. We’ve been twice. Once near the warm runoff from a power station, and another time, at Molokini, a volcanic crater. So I wouldn’t be to quick to begrudge the artificial reef created by Disney magic. My young daughter was skeptical at first, it is cold compared to the warm Hawaiian weather, but ended up loving it. And now she loves snorkeling. There is a hidden Mickey, maybe more. I recommending going at feeding time. Surprise, surprise, Rainbow Reef is great for kids and a gateway into some more adventurous snorkeling. Did I mention the power station runoff and Molokini. By the way, Hawaii is a great place for diving.

As a certified diver, I was a bit skeptical when I realized this was a manmade snorkeling tank.
Having now experienced the reef for the past week and seeing how much fun my 10 year old had and the world it opened to her (which I love so much), I am truly grateful. It allowed my daughter, to explore the wonders of ocean life without having to do it in the intimidating ocean. And, that is where this reef is great. For those who aren’t confident swimmers, afraid of the ocean or things in it or no parent willing to take them, the reef is the next best thing.
Sure, for a certified diver, it is not that exciting. But, to be able to share an experience like the ocean with your children is just so great. And, family members who won’t or can’t take a dip into the reef, Disney has two large viewing windows, where people can watch, take pictures of simply get a glimpse of underwater life.
This was a genius idea executed as only Disney could have…