Aulani & DL to meet Santa Update 06Jul12 Page 10 Christmas at Disney

[areweindisneyyet]

Swimming with Dolphins today.

Our plan was to catch the bus to the Sea Life Park. The bus system is so easy here. What we didn't plan on was a major accident and a small landslide which delayed our bus majorly.

We needed to be at the park by 9am so when we had no bus at 8.20 it was time for back up plan - a cab. We did get one but even this was a challenge because of traffic. Our cab driver got us there in no time for just over $50, a little more than $12.50 on the bus but we were there.



The park does not open until 10.30 however our swim was booked for 9.30am. We thought Grandpa was going in with the girls but he did not bring togs so DH was the responsible adult for supervision.

DD1 has always loved dolphins. They had no idea where we were going today, all that we had said was we were taking a bus around the island and that we should pack our togs just in case we found a nice place to swim. On our way to the bus stop DD2 saw a bus advertising the Sea Life Park and asked if we could go. I told her we would look into it.

When we arrived she said, were we always doing this She was most happy. DD1 saw that you could swim with dolphins and still noone was letting the cat out of the bag. She began to get a little moody, but this all changed as we received our wrist tags. Lifejackets were collected and off they went for their Dolphin Encounter.


A happy DD1 getting a kiss

The girls learnt lots about dolphins and were very excited. They want to save to come back and do the Royal Encounter where you can be pushed along by your feet

Over breakfast Grandpa and Grandma explained that this was their Christmas present. DD2 replied, well that's a little early Only her.

We then explored the park. Very small but great staff. We hand tossed food to the turtles which was great to watch. Even green sea turtles like their lettuce and broccoli.



The girls loved the touch tank and got to touch a baby sea turtle. Grandpa loved this.

We headed back into Waikiki just after 2. The bus ride took some time as it became part of a school run.

We headed back to Denny's for dinner (noticing a trend here) where this time I had the pecan pie for dessert.

A late night swim at the pool finished off a magical day.

[PrincessInOz]

Originally Posted by areweindisneyyet

I can't believe I was shopped out. A Christmas miracle.

More a case of an Aussie nightmare!

[aussietravellers]

We have been away on Hamilton Island since the end of November so have missed your live TR, have just done a big catch up.

LOVING your report. Seeing all of your hawaii photos brings back so many memories. We have been so many times, growing up as kids and now as an adult. Benihana at HHV is one of my favourite restaurants, have not been to Honolulu and not had a meal there, YUM. Your shopping at Ala Moana has made me drool I'm so jealous Can't wait to hear about Aulani!

DL for Christmas is going to be amazing, I see you are doing the holiday tour, we did this and loved it.

Enjoy the rest of your trip

[OziJo]

Sea Life Park Ala Moana Paddle Boats We are sooo following in your footsteps

[lovintheland]

Ok, you have inspired me!!! when I first read you were doing the dolphin thing I thought "how cool, would love to do this for my 3 as a surprise but when I checked the price it was about $180. Was gonna add to their xmas present but thought it a bit exy. After reading your post i went back and check and we can do the dolphin encounter for $104. So we will go with that. My eldest Dd has always wanted to do this at Seaworld here. She will be beyond excited, as will the other two. Would you say it was worth the $$$? it is a lot more expensive to do it here.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

That swimming with dolphins experience sounds great. I was just telling my DD13 about it and she says she absolutely wants to do that one day if we go to Hawaii.

[aussietravellers]

Originally Posted by lovintheland

Ok, you have inspired me!!! when I first read you were doing the dolphin thing I thought "how cool, would love to do this for my 3 as a surprise but when I checked the price it was about $180. Was gonna add to their xmas present but thought it a bit exy. After reading your post i went back and check and we can do the dolphin encounter for $104. So we will go with that. My eldest Dd has always wanted to do this at Seaworld here. She will be beyond excited, as will the other two. Would you say it was worth the $$$? it is a lot more expensive to do it here.

They have a Dolphin swim at the Kahala Hotel too. Actually they had many different packages from memory. We have done the Dolphin swim at the Kahala Hotel many times and my DS has done a special kids program that was amazing (he's done it several trips). They educate them on dolphins, do a swim, teach them some hand signals, feed stingrays, collect turtle eggs at the beach and other things (not exactly sure as parents don't go). It's called Dolphin Quest. Not sure of the prices though or how they compare to Sea World.

[lovintheland]

Hi Aussietravellers, thanks for that, I just checked out the dolphin quest. Both it and the resort look amazing but it was a lot more expensive than both the sealife park or seaworld It's a shame because it truely sounds amazing

[WAMUMOF4]

looks like your having a great time I have to say I am adding so many things to our want to do lists that i think DH may end up banning me from the disboards

[shushh]

Ok! I'm here now!!! Ears and eyes ready for Aulani...

Your trip sounds fabulous so far. I am definitely in for the "sit and do nothing" holiday which can be hard sometimes for someone like me who doesn't want to miss out on anything!

By the way the photo of your daughter handing onto that lego box is priceless! As is the photo with the dolphin

[areweindisneyyet]

Originally Posted by lovintheland

Ok, you have inspired me!!! when I first read you were doing the dolphin thing I thought "how cool, would love to do this for my 3 as a surprise but when I checked the price it was about $180. Was gonna add to their xmas present but thought it a bit exy. After reading your post i went back and check and we can do the dolphin encounter for $104. So we will go with that. My eldest Dd has always wanted to do this at Seaworld here. She will be beyond excited, as will the other two. Would you say it was worth the $$$? it is a lot more expensive to do it here.

The Encounter was great, they got to use hand signals for a kiss, to hold the dolphons fins, rub the belly, make them sing. If you could stretch it I would probably have gone with the $180 as they would have gone out into the deeper water with them especially if the kids are strong swimmers. If they are not strong swimmers than the dolphin encounter was perfect. My two are fish and the Royal Encounter was happening in the same pool and whilst way excited looked on with envy. NEXT TIME... They really did enjoy it and learnt lots... I have been told that the purple starfish in the touch tank feels just like a dolphin although the dolphin is less slimey and you get fish breath from kissing them

[areweindisneyyet]

Thanks to everyone reading along. Flew from Hawaii to LA yesterday and am now waiting for everyone to get up to hit Goofy's and then the parks this morning. It feels like we haven't left.


I will finish off Hawaii tonight and answer some more of your wonderful posts.

I have to try and find the Lego in LA. Should have got it in Hawaii but NO thought why fly it when I can just grab it there. Downtown Disney may get a new delivery Thursday!

Otherwise my brother is still in Hawaii, he may just need to come to the rescue. How can I disappoint that!

[australiankaren]

hey
holding my breathe for the next installment..i do love live trip reports

happy holidays

[alicia1506]

funnily enough, the one place we couldn't find harry potter lego was in wwohp.

and we looked as my sis, the harry potter fan is also a huge harry potter lego fan.

have you considered walmart or some of the local retailers nearby? they might have some, as they were our back up plan

[aussietravellers]

Originally Posted by areweindisneyyet

I have to try and find the Lego in LA. Should have got it in Hawaii but NO thought why fly it when I can just grab it there. Downtown Disney may get a new delivery Thursday!

There is a big Toys R Us near DLR on South Harbour (not walking distance). We took a cab there specifically to go to Toys R Us, it's just near an in and out burger (which we just happened to stumble upon, so a nice bonus). But you may find the lego there (if you know the name you could call ahead). There is also the Target store, up the road (Harbour I think), that may also have lego.

Looking forward to more updates