Boardwalk, BLT and Atlantis Bahamas trip report with photos

[fflmaster]

Day 5: July 7th Part 1

well we were very sad to say goodbye to disney, but very excited to travel to atlantis. however, this was going to be one long day and not alot of fun.
well maybe alittle fun after i look back at it.

as i said earlier i WILL NEVER use magic express again. we were told that the bus would pick us up at 8:55am. now if you have been reading my report you probably get that we don't get up early that often on vacation, but 8:55 isn't early and shouldn't be an issue.

as expected everyone is up and ready and we walk out of our room and head down to get the bus. we get there at 8:58am, 3 mins late no problem right? WRONG! magic express works on a schedule and damn are they prompt with that time. i guess that is also a good thing for them, but wow we missed the bus. i know it is our fault as i didn't think anything of it and figured we would be getting in line and putting our stuff on the bus and all. no way they are ready to leave by 9am.

ok, i screwed up and said to the door person that we needed to get on the next bus to the airport. he said don't think that will happen. HUH? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? ARE THEY FULL?

a nice CM called to see what could be done and magic express said no we have plenty of room but they would not let us on. WHAT? did i understand that correctly. they have the room and are also stopping at the BLT but don't want to let us on. you see they have a rule that you must be on the bus a certain time before your plane is to leave. i always thought they did this to make sure you didn't miss the plane, but i guess it is a hard fast rule because they explain we can't make our time of 4 HOURS BEFORE THE PLANE. we were going to be 3 hours before the plane (international flight).

wow what are we going to do? the door person says well you can take a taxi, but it cost about $80. that is just wrong.

i don't know if disney owns magic express (i guess they do), but the CM is incredibly nice and says disney will get a taxi to take us to the airport and take care of the fee. that was very nice of him and i did very much appreciate that.

taxi picks us up and we get to the airport with so much time to spare i actually watch a video (started watching just go with it). i guess that was a good movie to start watching since that would be the day we had.

the plane ride is great about 1:15 mins. but guess what customs is no joke when you leave the country. my advice BE PATIENT, because in the bahamas damn they move at a snail's pace. it took over an hour to get thru customs. we sure picked the wrong line and watch person after person that was on our plane get thru a different line.

we go to pick up our bags and our worried they won't be there anymore.. lucky for us they are. ok on to atlantis.

TIP #1 for bahamas atlantis. don't pay atlantis for transportation to the resort. they charge something like 50 a person and the taxi for the four of us cost 42 plus tip.

here are a couple of pictures of the resort:

this resort is absolutely amazing looking. my kids kept saying this is the most amazing resort we have ever seen. wow.

this is one of the top two nicest resorts i have ever stayed in. the only one i have stayed that beats this one was a hotel in arizona (same hotel the pro football owners have their meeting at)

we walked around the resort just to see the different areas and get a plan for the next couple of days. this resort is really big. i think it takes at least 20 mins just to walk from our room to the other side of pool.

this resort is made up of a water park, an aquarium, movie theater, comedy club, casino, kids play areas, multiple adult clubs, teen club, 5 different hotels to stay at and a marina area. i may have left something out, but you get the point it is just the biggest single resort i have ever stayed at and maybe one of the biggest in the world for all i know.

after an hour or two we head back to our room to get ready for dinner and that will lead me to tip #2. but i will talk about that one tomorrow.

i will post pictures of the dig (inside aquarium) and the marina tomorrow.

 

[moericus]

Which tower did you stay in? Did you like it?

 

[es45]

Very informative report with good tips. Thanks for adding the Atlantis part as we always think of going there.

 

[Sandy321]

The dragon is from the Movie Pete's dragon, a 1977 movie, his name was Elliot

Love that movie - I dont know why I keep thinking he is Figment!! Definitely he is Elliot! Helen Reddy stars and sings in the movie.

PS - per the Lions always sleeping - there was a whole thread on the Theme parks that people posted pictures of the Lions that were awake!! Very interesting!

 

[Plutofan]

Thanks for sharing. I can not wait to hear what you think about Atlantis.

 

[darbry]

Love the report...looking forward to hearing more about Atlantis as I have always wanted to take the kids there.

 

[rascalmom]

Great trip report!! Your pictures have made me want to try BLT at some point - if for nothing more than the TOTWL access. Loving the pics from Atlantis...hoping you can include some of the room.

You have a beautiful family.

 

[fflmaster]

Day 5: July 7th Part 2

to answer a couple of questions:

sorry i didn't take any pictures of our room, but it was a normal hotel room with two beds and about normal in size.

we stayed at the royal towers (2 queen beds) west tower facing the pool.

TIP #2: when checking in at the royal towers request the west tower even side if you want the pool or odd side if you want to see the dolphins cove.

i suggest the dolphins. they are fun to watch swim around.

we did stay at atlantis once before without the kids and after our long weekend just said we have to bring the kids back as they would love this place.

TIP #3: either bring a ton of money or eat at the pool before it closes.

damn this place is expensive. don't get me wrong the food is very good at the restaurants, but at 50-75 per person that is expensive. hell the buffet in the hotel (the marketplace) was 46 per person for dinner. the marketplace must be good because it is packed all night long. i didn't go there as i am not paying that much for four people for dinner at a buffet.

we decided to eat at bimini road. very nice sandwiches at a decent price.

well that night we spent walking around THE DIG and the marina. here are a few pictures of each:

The Dig is an indoor and outdoor aquarium that you can spend hours just walking around. they have all kinds of fish and sharks. not to mention the main attractions the manta rays.

manta rays get up to 26 feet long and are amazing looking creatures. the sad thing about this trip was that the manta ray named zeus would put on a show (do belly rolls at the top of the water after being fed) was placed back in the wild. the new manta rays are younger and do not do this roll.

here are a few night pictures of the marina:

if you want to see some really rich people and a bunch of yachts this is the place to be.

this one is my wife's dream. it was called big city. it had three levels and was at least 75 foot long. damn the rich life.

then we meet this guy:

that's right bulls fans its scotty pippen.

i have to say he is a really nice guy. his family was on their vacation and he was extremely nice to everyone. he would talk to anyone and take pictures and all. his wife must be used to this as she and their kids just played with all the instraments and other things the kids were doing in the marina.

the next day at the pool he had to be escorted to a more exclusive area. he liked being around people, but some others were snobs and actually didn't like all the attention they had to deal with when they were close to him on the pool lounges.

the most surprising thing. he didn't even have a body guard at all.

the last time i was at atlantis they did some kind of all-stars show and you had a bunch of so called stars. mia hamm, terrell owens and a bunch of others i can't remember. most had body guards and you were not allowed anywhere near them. i can understand alittle as these people get hounded and they want a vacation as well.

well it was late and tomorrow the kids would get to see the water park.

 

[Sammie]

Great report and your photos especially the fireworks ones were fantastic. Once at DAK, very early in the morning, not summer, late Feb. the male Lion was up moving about and roaring.

 

[darbry]

Well, fortunately for Scotty Pippen I'm not a basketball fan and he would have been just some other tall guy to me ;0) Ha Ha...happened one other time at the Crystal Palace...some big basketball player came in and people were asking for autographs and my family is sitting there like...who in the world is this guy? Still don't know his name!

 

[robert@dvcstore]

Great trip report and photos. Thanks.

Just to clarify, it was Helen Reddy, not Anne Murray, staring in Pete's Dragon along with Mickey Rooney and Elliott.

Robert

 

[fflmaster]

Day 6: July 8th

today was going to be a long day at the waterpark.

my wife was a trooper as she would get up early each day and walk down to the pool and setup some chairs in a nice location for all of us.

thank you honey as the chairs would be gone by 10am each day.

the water park at atlantis is great. they have two water slides that go thru a shark pool, another slide that is dark and goes into a pool with an aquarium and the best lazy river i have ever seen. throw in a few more slides and a kid area and you have a water park that is tons of fun for the whole family.

we spent the entire day at the park with just a break to watch the sharks get fed.

here are a few pictures of the day's actions:

heading up the ramp to the two slide choices 'the drop' or 'the falls'

even after the slide was over you still are going to get wet

here comes the 120 foot drop of 'leap of faith'

close up of my son and i can see why i decided to take the pictures

this is the start of the lazy river. atlantis calls this 'the current'

the lazy river is more of a hour long slide

after a few hours of riding the slides we take a break to see the sharks feed.

most of the sharks in the pool are nurse sharks, but they have a few that are reef sharks i think.

it is like they know exactly when feeding time is as they quickly all start hanging around the area the trainer is going to feed from.

they feed the sharks consistently every other day at the exact same time so maybe they have learned to tell when that time is coming.

here are a couple pictures of the action:

well the water park is closing at they kick us out of the pools.

tonight we decide that since it is after 8pm before we are ready that a quick bite would be best. we hit johnny rockets for some burgers.

i love johnny rockets.. i actually think they are one of my top 5 burger places and in no particular order here are my other 4: five guys, red robin, ruby's diner and fuddruckers. i am a huge burger and fry person and will always try a new place to see how theirs compares.

afterwards the boys head to the game room and spend an hour or so while my wife and i take to the casino.

after a long great day we are all in bed and can't wait to hit the beach tomorrow. we are going to snorkel and see some wild fish. that should be fun

 

[arthur06]

Enjoying your TR! Thanks for sharing the photos!

 

[heaven2dc]

Day 6: July 8th

heading up the ramp to the two slide choices 'the drop' or 'the falls'

I have a question - is that a man standing up or kneeling between your sons and your wife? I had to do a double take because I couldn't figure it out.

here comes the 120 foot drop of 'leap of faith'

close up of my son and i can see why i decided to take the pictures

Oh....my.....gosh!!! I could never do that even if I were 30 years younger!!! Did your son enjoy it?

 

[fflmaster]

answers to the questions just asked:

1. the man in the float behind my kids was sitting up and looking over the side.
that wasn't my wife in the float as she decided to sit back and relax.

2. one of my sons (austin.. they are twins) loved the ride and couldn't wait to do it again. the other son said no way he was doing again, but i missed his picture so i talked him into doing it as our last and final ride the last day before we left. surprisingly the son who loved the ride WILL NOT do tower of terror as he hates to feel like he is failing. go figure

tonight i will post a few pictures of snorkeling in atlantis. we didn't do the snorkel in the ruins, but we did get to see some nice fish.

 

[Sandy321]

Great trip report and photos. Thanks.

Just to clarify, it was Helen Reddy, not Anne Murray, staring in Pete's Dragon along with Mickey Rooney and Elliott.

Robert

Thanks for catching that - dont know why I keep doing that! (maybe its the songs? )

Love the TR from Bahamas!

 

[corvair]

Hi...love the report...we are wanting to go there...we only ever go to disney for like 15 years...

I was wondering if saying there...is the waterpark and snorkleing extra cost? I know they have swim with the dolphins and that would be extra..

Also, I know you said the food was expensive...we love johnny rocket...is that on site at Atlantis...or did you go off site?


thanks...
amy

 

[GrnMtnMan]

is the waterpark and snorkleing extra cost?

Waterpark: no, think of the water park as the hotel's pool. It really not a traditional water park in that sense....it's the pools and water attractions all over the resort.

Snorkeling excursions: yes...extra. Bring your own snorkel and fins, free, but not much to see compared to offshore reefs.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Joining in! Sandy321 was kind enough to let me know about this thread. I've posted a thread on the CB asking if anyone has ever stayed at Atlantis, their experiences, etc. so this was exactly what I was looking for! Can't wait for more updates.

 

[fflmaster]

Day 7: July 9 Part 1

to answer an earlier post, yes snorkeling is much better off-site for a fee.

we decided to stay on-site. we usually just rent the snorkel gear when we get there, but were shocked to see that it cost $13 per hour per person. wow

my sons haven't been snorkeling yet. this would be their first time, which is why i wanted a very easy trip for them. next time i would take them out on a trip.

TIP # 4: an earlier poster was correct. BRING YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT IF POSSIBLE.

however, we didn't. so we went to the store across the street from atlantis (they have a little strip mall across the street from atlantis. it has a nice restaurant, liquour store and groceries)

the cost was 25 per pair. we bought three. i would just use my mask that i brought with me.


i will say the snorkeling is not that great. its ok, but nothing special.

it sure can't compare to our last trip to maui in march. here is a nice picture i took while snorkeling off black rock:

there were four sea turtles and a ton of fish to have fun with

well this trip isn't going to compare, but i knew that going in.

here are some pictures of what was there:

my son thought he could swim down and catch a fish

not so bad for just off the beach

fish feeding frenzy

hey didn't i see you earlier in 'The Dig'

be careful the stingray are everywhere

after a couple of hours my son was toast

usually i will snorkel the whole day. my wife likes to say i am part fish, but my sons were tired so they just headed in to see some of the fish ponds.

TIP #5: when swimming in the ocean at atlantis watch for stingrays, jelly fish, and SHARKS.

did i just say shark? actually i was talking with the life guard and he said the reef sharks like to come in sometimes, but they usually are easily scared off. sometimes they have to get a wave runner to scare them away.

i asked him about how big they get. he said some about 6-7 foot

don't let this scare you. it is very safe and a nice calm beach to swim at and spend the day.

the locals are really nice people. i suggest talking to them as they will give you some good recommendations. i actually had a challenge with the life guard on who could swim underwater longer.

i can general hold my breathe about 3-4 mins but the life guard kicked my a**. lol

after a nice high five and some fun with the life guard, i caught up with my wife to see some of the interesting aquarium areas of atlantis.

i will post those pics tomorrow.

to answer another question from a poster, johnny rockets is in the marina that is on the property of atlantis.