DVC President Jim Lewis

According to the man who would know, Disney’s impressive, new Aulani resort is finishing up right on schedule for its August grand opening.

I sat down to breakfast with Jim Lewis, President of Walt Disney Vacation Development this morning (though you may know him from his greetings editorials in the DVC magazine, or even his appearance on “America’s Funniest Home Videos” this season) to talk about all things Disney Vacation Club. No, really – I actually sat with Jim for breakfast. I was on my best behavior.

We agreed that DVC isn’t quite “Disney’s Best Kept Secret” anymore, and he told me there are now 470,000 members spread throughout all 50 states and 100 countries around the world. His pride in being the fastest growing such business was evident, but even more important to Lewis was that DVC is ranked no. 1 in owner satisfaction.

Naturally, the conversation turned to DVC’s newest resort, Aulani, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu’s leeward coast.  This destination is situation on 21 acres of lush Hawaiian Oceanside property – a spot Lewis took more than two years to settle on. It’s located close to Hawaii’s largest airport, and allows guests to get away from the urban setting. However, it’s still close enough to spots like Waikiki or Pearl Harbor to allow guests plenty of sightseeing options and excursions.

Lewis likened visiting the resort to being a parent. He said people often tell you what it’s like to have children, but you don’t really understand until you have your own. Traveling to Aulani is similar, he said, in that you can’t do it justice until you see it, and you won’t really understand until you arrive.

“It’s much more Hawaiian than it Disney,” he said.

He detailed and Lainwai Spa, an 18,000 square-foot oasis located both within and outside the resort’s walls. There will be a teen spa, an internet café and a yogurt bar. Aunty’s Beach House is a fun place for kids to go, with interactive activities.

There are the Menehune, a mythical people that rarely come out, and can be either helpful or mischevious. Kids can hunt all around the property in an attempt to spot a Menehune.

The Waikolohe Valley is packed with water amenities, featuring a sprawling pool, tubing on a lazy river, a snorkel lagoon and a conservation pool.

“It’s like I always say: If you have children and don’t bring them to Walt Disney World, it’s like child abuse,” Lewis laughed. “If you can afford it and you don’t go to Hawaii, that’s some kind of personal abuse.”

Over a final sip of coffee, Lewis assured me that if I travel to Aulani, I may not want to leave.

I do believe he knows me better than I thought.