goldcupmom
<font color=black>BL6 Black Team Co-captain<br> <f
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2004
- Messages
- 4,596
Incredibly AWESOME!!!!!! Well worth every penny, and yes, we'd do it again!
Arrived at DC at 7:50. Valet Parking included in price. Had bag searched, about a 5 min line to get our 'badges'. Went to the cart which had free coffee, decaf, hot tea and orange juice. Asked to wait in the chairs up front for our trainers.
8:20 3 staff members came to get the 12 TFAD people and take us to our trainers. On the way they had us stop for our group photos. Stopped at the gift shop so DD and I could pick up prescription goggles - you sign them out and there is a $200 charge if not returned. Then they took us to pick up our mesh bags with snorkel, goggles and packet of sunscreen. Next stop a cabana to get either wet suit, wet vest that zipped or life vest. Changed and when we came out 3 trainers were waiting for us, gave us large lockers, took our shirt sizes, and handed out fuji disposable waterproof cameras. The smallest women's wet suit is size 6. Largest looked like a 20, but vests are all sizes imaginable. We were told to go up one size from normal dress size.
At 8:50 we headed thru the river to the aviaries. Divided in 2 groups of 6. Our group did Aviary 3,then 1, then 2. In each we were given dishes of food/fish to feed birds. Were told about them, touched them, held them, etc. Walked thru the 'back' area after the aviaries to the Sand Dollar Cabana to prepare for pre assigned 10:20 dolphin interaction. They preassign the TFAD people a time. Our DIP (dolphin interaction program) was mixed with non TFAD people. 8 per group. We got the dolphin AKAI. There was a brief 5 - 10 min talk/video before we headed to the water.
DIP #1 was touching the dolphin, giving it basic hand commands, and ended with a dolphin towing us each, then the 4 dolphins in the POD did jumps, etc. VERY neat experience, but 30 min goes by very fast.
After DIP we were led to a different cabana to look at/order pictures. I had already planned to buy, so was not surprised at prices/etc. Each group was at a computer screen where you look at your whole group, select pics of you, then can look back thru those and enlarge/order. Prices ranged from a single pic for $15.99 to a CD of 20 for $200. Video is still $59.99. I ended up with a video and 2 different packages for a total of 5 5 x 7, 2 keychains, 4 wallets for about $160.00. Each pkg could have all different pics in it, only the sheets of wallets had to be the same.
After pics was lunch. VERY large portions and very good. Choices I can remember are:
roast beef sandwich on hoagie roll w/ fries
Burger (cheese & bacon if wanted) & fries - DD had this and said VERY good
steak or chicken fajitas
grilled chicken platter
chicken w/ chinese vegs, rice and pineapple - I had this and it was delicious
baked salmon - DD thought it quite "evil" they served fish in DC
Caesar salad with either salmon or chicken
You also got a choice of salads/sides - slaw, potato salad, tossed salad, melon, berries, etc
Choice of dessert: jello, pudding/mouse, cheesecake, carrot cake, red velvet cake, chocolate fudge cake,
And drinks - tea, coffee, bottled water, punch, lemonade or soda (I'm pretty sure it was pepsi products - barqs rootbeer is the only one I remember for sure)
After lunch we had about 1/2 hour free time. We swam the river - quickly - as we turned the wrong way. At lunch they gave us our DC TFAD t shirts. They only have adult sizes available - fine for us.
After free time we were again divided in 2 groups. our group went first to the ray pool. Keeper came out with a large tray of shrimp and gave us instruction on feeding the rays. other park guests were instructed to "keep back" for about 20 min while we fed the rays. There were employees keeping them away. DD loved this part as pretty much every ray/fish in the area came to us, and even slid up your sides part out of the water looking for food.
Traded spots with the other group and we then went snorkeling. VERY cool. Again, we had an Aquarist(sp) w/ us explaining things the whole time, answering questions, etc. DD liked the wrecked ship with the barricuda. You look thru windows to see them.
After snorkeling we again met up with the other group and went 'back' to the sharks. We were briefly told about the different species that other guests see thru the windows of the snorkeling reef. We were only about a foot away from the open tank, then we got to feed the nurse sharks.
Next, we went into the 'back' area to see the other animals. We saw/fed/touched the sloth, anteater, and several birds. Parrots, owls, etc. Brief talks by their trainers about each.
From there we headed to our 2nd dolphin time. Trainer knew I was low of film, so took me to the cabana to get another camera.
Splitting up again, our group went first to the kitchen area to learn about feeding, etc. Very interesting and incredibly clean. Next we learned briefly how they schedule everything and track everything at the park.
Then we were behind where the DIPs happen and were divided into 4 groups each with a trainer and another employee who used our cameras to take pictures. We saw the baby dolphins and walked on narrow walkways around the pools to a smaller pool for more instruction on commands, touching, feeding and interacting. This time we did not get in the water, but knelt or stood on the small walkways, gave commands, etc. This time DD and I had Scarlet.
Left again thru the back and went around for our final interaction. This time it was just the 12 TFAD and about 7 trainers total with 4 dolphins. They cleared that area of the DIP pools for just us. Back in the water for more commands, touching, and then towed by 2 dolphins. This time we had LaToya and Hallie.
After this our 3 trainers walked us back to the lockers, gave us a folder of info, a book for each on training animals/animal careers, and answered questions. This was about 3:45.
The weather was getting bad, and was sprinkling during our last DIP. DD and I went to pick up our pics, and the lightning began and they cleared the pools. We went to gift shop and waited, walked around til about 5 and since the weather was not clearing, ended up leaving. We could have done whatever area we wanted for about 1.5 hours had the weather cooperated.
Showered, changed and left. Restrooms are very nice with curtained showers, changing rooms, towels, rolls of plastic bags for wet things, baskets of swim diapers, tampons, etc. Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in dispensers.
They take your name and number of persons as you are leaving to ensure that everyone is accounted for.
Back in Lakeland at my sisters later we realized we never picked up the pic they took when we entered the park. Also discovered that the video I bought was fine on the part that showed us, but the info about the park does not work right, sound cuts in and out, gets no signal in parts and tracking is bad - tried on 3 different machines.
I called the park this morning and they said to just stop by and they will walk us to get our pic and will have another tape ready for us.
When I asked DD what her favorite part was, she summed it up accurately - "Everything from 8 - 5" She emailed DH from the park and told him we were never coming home - she wanted to live there.
I had doubts about spending the additional money to do TFAD, but would definitely do it again just for the additional DIP times and other animal interactions.
Today we rest, tomorrow Sea World and get out stuff at DC, then Thurs home.
Arrived at DC at 7:50. Valet Parking included in price. Had bag searched, about a 5 min line to get our 'badges'. Went to the cart which had free coffee, decaf, hot tea and orange juice. Asked to wait in the chairs up front for our trainers.
8:20 3 staff members came to get the 12 TFAD people and take us to our trainers. On the way they had us stop for our group photos. Stopped at the gift shop so DD and I could pick up prescription goggles - you sign them out and there is a $200 charge if not returned. Then they took us to pick up our mesh bags with snorkel, goggles and packet of sunscreen. Next stop a cabana to get either wet suit, wet vest that zipped or life vest. Changed and when we came out 3 trainers were waiting for us, gave us large lockers, took our shirt sizes, and handed out fuji disposable waterproof cameras. The smallest women's wet suit is size 6. Largest looked like a 20, but vests are all sizes imaginable. We were told to go up one size from normal dress size.
At 8:50 we headed thru the river to the aviaries. Divided in 2 groups of 6. Our group did Aviary 3,then 1, then 2. In each we were given dishes of food/fish to feed birds. Were told about them, touched them, held them, etc. Walked thru the 'back' area after the aviaries to the Sand Dollar Cabana to prepare for pre assigned 10:20 dolphin interaction. They preassign the TFAD people a time. Our DIP (dolphin interaction program) was mixed with non TFAD people. 8 per group. We got the dolphin AKAI. There was a brief 5 - 10 min talk/video before we headed to the water.
DIP #1 was touching the dolphin, giving it basic hand commands, and ended with a dolphin towing us each, then the 4 dolphins in the POD did jumps, etc. VERY neat experience, but 30 min goes by very fast.
After DIP we were led to a different cabana to look at/order pictures. I had already planned to buy, so was not surprised at prices/etc. Each group was at a computer screen where you look at your whole group, select pics of you, then can look back thru those and enlarge/order. Prices ranged from a single pic for $15.99 to a CD of 20 for $200. Video is still $59.99. I ended up with a video and 2 different packages for a total of 5 5 x 7, 2 keychains, 4 wallets for about $160.00. Each pkg could have all different pics in it, only the sheets of wallets had to be the same.
After pics was lunch. VERY large portions and very good. Choices I can remember are:
roast beef sandwich on hoagie roll w/ fries
Burger (cheese & bacon if wanted) & fries - DD had this and said VERY good
steak or chicken fajitas
grilled chicken platter
chicken w/ chinese vegs, rice and pineapple - I had this and it was delicious
baked salmon - DD thought it quite "evil" they served fish in DC
Caesar salad with either salmon or chicken
You also got a choice of salads/sides - slaw, potato salad, tossed salad, melon, berries, etc
Choice of dessert: jello, pudding/mouse, cheesecake, carrot cake, red velvet cake, chocolate fudge cake,
And drinks - tea, coffee, bottled water, punch, lemonade or soda (I'm pretty sure it was pepsi products - barqs rootbeer is the only one I remember for sure)
After lunch we had about 1/2 hour free time. We swam the river - quickly - as we turned the wrong way. At lunch they gave us our DC TFAD t shirts. They only have adult sizes available - fine for us.
After free time we were again divided in 2 groups. our group went first to the ray pool. Keeper came out with a large tray of shrimp and gave us instruction on feeding the rays. other park guests were instructed to "keep back" for about 20 min while we fed the rays. There were employees keeping them away. DD loved this part as pretty much every ray/fish in the area came to us, and even slid up your sides part out of the water looking for food.
Traded spots with the other group and we then went snorkeling. VERY cool. Again, we had an Aquarist(sp) w/ us explaining things the whole time, answering questions, etc. DD liked the wrecked ship with the barricuda. You look thru windows to see them.
After snorkeling we again met up with the other group and went 'back' to the sharks. We were briefly told about the different species that other guests see thru the windows of the snorkeling reef. We were only about a foot away from the open tank, then we got to feed the nurse sharks.
Next, we went into the 'back' area to see the other animals. We saw/fed/touched the sloth, anteater, and several birds. Parrots, owls, etc. Brief talks by their trainers about each.
From there we headed to our 2nd dolphin time. Trainer knew I was low of film, so took me to the cabana to get another camera.
Splitting up again, our group went first to the kitchen area to learn about feeding, etc. Very interesting and incredibly clean. Next we learned briefly how they schedule everything and track everything at the park.
Then we were behind where the DIPs happen and were divided into 4 groups each with a trainer and another employee who used our cameras to take pictures. We saw the baby dolphins and walked on narrow walkways around the pools to a smaller pool for more instruction on commands, touching, feeding and interacting. This time we did not get in the water, but knelt or stood on the small walkways, gave commands, etc. This time DD and I had Scarlet.
Left again thru the back and went around for our final interaction. This time it was just the 12 TFAD and about 7 trainers total with 4 dolphins. They cleared that area of the DIP pools for just us. Back in the water for more commands, touching, and then towed by 2 dolphins. This time we had LaToya and Hallie.
After this our 3 trainers walked us back to the lockers, gave us a folder of info, a book for each on training animals/animal careers, and answered questions. This was about 3:45.
The weather was getting bad, and was sprinkling during our last DIP. DD and I went to pick up our pics, and the lightning began and they cleared the pools. We went to gift shop and waited, walked around til about 5 and since the weather was not clearing, ended up leaving. We could have done whatever area we wanted for about 1.5 hours had the weather cooperated.
Showered, changed and left. Restrooms are very nice with curtained showers, changing rooms, towels, rolls of plastic bags for wet things, baskets of swim diapers, tampons, etc. Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel in dispensers.
They take your name and number of persons as you are leaving to ensure that everyone is accounted for.
Back in Lakeland at my sisters later we realized we never picked up the pic they took when we entered the park. Also discovered that the video I bought was fine on the part that showed us, but the info about the park does not work right, sound cuts in and out, gets no signal in parts and tracking is bad - tried on 3 different machines.
I called the park this morning and they said to just stop by and they will walk us to get our pic and will have another tape ready for us.
When I asked DD what her favorite part was, she summed it up accurately - "Everything from 8 - 5" She emailed DH from the park and told him we were never coming home - she wanted to live there.
I had doubts about spending the additional money to do TFAD, but would definitely do it again just for the additional DIP times and other animal interactions.
Today we rest, tomorrow Sea World and get out stuff at DC, then Thurs home.
