Crazy Nassau Question

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Tell me if I am nuts here... My family really wants to do the dolphin encounter. I really want to see Atlantis (and I know ds would love seeing the sharks). For some reason that I cannot get an answer if I book the Dolphin Encounter through Disney (which I would because of not having to worry about the taxi/carseat issue with my 3 and 5 year old) Disney will charge my 3 year old to do the dolphin encounter whereas the company themselves if I booked directly would not (I have asked Disney about this and they will only tell me thats their policy and I would have to pay it).

Sooo..... due to these issues here is something I've thought of. Tell me if I am completely nuts to even consider this. I would book the Atlantis Beach day through Disney which leaves at 9:00 am. Spending the morning at Atlantis then walking 5-10 mins to catch the ferry to the dolphin encounter (booking directly through the dolphin place) at 1:30. Doing the dolphin encounter then catching their ferry back to Paradise Island, where we catch the Disney excursions shuttle (from the Atlantis beach day) back to the boat. Is this too much? I'm not worried about my kids. They can go from open to close at Disneyland without blinking or being at all grumpy for 5 days straight (seriously, they just sleep like 5 days straight when we get home). Just overall it being to much. I mean vacation is about relaxing. But to do it this way, i don't have the transportation issues, I also get to see what I want, and its only $45 more then booking just the dolphin encounter through Disney (since booking it directly is so much cheaper and my youngest would now be free for that). Has anyone ever attempted this? And is it even logistically possible? I have looked at all the times to and from everywhere and it seems like we would have at least 3 hours at Atlantis and same for the dolphin encounter. The bus runs till 5 from atlantis and we have late dinner seating so as long as we made it back from the dolphin ferry by then we would be okay.

What do you think? BTW, it will also be our 7th wedding anniversary that day.

 

[1stNoel]

We thought about doing that. Instead we are doing Discovery Cove in Orlando for the dolphins and spending the Nassau day at Atlantis.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Thought about that. My kids are too young to do the dolphin experience at Discovery Cove.

 

[1stNoel]

Oh well. You might ask about past cruisers Nassau dolphin experiences with kids in that age range. We had a room next to the dolphin pond at the Hilton Waikoloa (where I think it was 5 years and up) and we witnessed lots of crying and scared kids, climbing up their parents when the dolphins came close.

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I have thought about that too. But my kids have been in waist deep (to them) water and had a shark encounter (nurse sharks, baby leopard sharks, and some others) and had no problem petting them. They love this sort of thing. And I'm not the type of parent to be upset if they do change their minds once we there. I understand they are kids and may get scared. I'd rather spend the money and give them the opportunity, knowing they may get frightened (or may love it), then to not give them the opportunity at all... and who knows when we would get a chance like that again. Sure we plan on traveling tons more, but life may have other plans for us. And dh is really excited about this (and he rarely gets excited about travel plans).

BTW, how was the Hilton Waikoloa? We are considering that for our 2006 trip. Unfortunately ds still wouldn't be 5 then... I had looked at that too as a possible alternative to doing the dolphin encounter this year. Can you tell I really want to see Atlantis?

 

[1stNoel]

The Hilton Waikoloa is the best hotel for kids on the Big Island. The pool is great and so is the snorkel lagoon. I'd say the only downfall is a lack of food choices, but there is a small food court in the Kings Shops Mall by the resort.

My nieces and nephew like the Grand Wailea on Maui better though. They'd rather go there than WDW. It has a water park and a great beach.