"Discover Atlantis" Excursion

[CRSNDSNY]

Does this excursion include time to explore the resort on your own and visit the casino?

How long is the tour through the Resort and Aquarium?

 

[WDWLVR]

My advice is not to do the excursion - you can do this very easily on your own. We've done it twice.

When you get off the ship take a short walk off the pier where you'll find an area with a lot of cabs (vans). Tell them you want to go to Atlantis and set a price before getting in the cab (should be no more than $4-5 per person). They may wait until they have a full cab of 7-8 people but they will get them quick. They drop you off right at the tour (on the tour you take a water taxi over and then have a couple block walk to the hotel).

Where you walk in is a very upscale shopping mall. Past that is the Casino. If you want to walk the grounds and visit the Dig (the large aquarium) go into the Casino and look for a booth with a large blue/white glass sculpture on top (they call it the Temple of the Moon). Wristbands can be bought for $25 per person. This allows you to go into the Dig and roam around the resort. You cannot use the pools or the beach but you can walk around all the areas.

When you are done with everything just go back through the casino, past the shops and out into the driveway. There will be a bellman there who will get you a cab (usually a couple are already waiting). Again verify the price (the same $4-5 before getting in).

The benefits of going on your own vs. the tour is that you can take everything at your own pace. Both times we've done it we've had tour groups go past at a very fast pace. We like to stop and enjoy things. Also on your own you will have the place more to yourself instead of sharing each room with 20-30 people on the tour with you.

Be sure and walk around outside as well. There are stingray pools a shark lagoon and so much to see. It is a beautiful resort.

Both times we've gone we went right after the ship had clearance, were able to walk all around, even play in the casino and get back to the ship for lunch.

A word about Atlantis and why we went back to the ship for lunch. It is EXPENSIVE! Walking around we stopped for a can of pop and it alone was $2.50.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Originally posted by WDWLVR
My advice is not to do the excursion - you can do this very easily on your own. We've done it twice.

Thank you so much for the help, Mary! Sounds like you have it down pat!

DH and I went to Atlantis on our own this past January and we felt very out of sorts without the structured tour. This time I'm taking my Mom and I don't feel comfortable trying it again on my own. I feel like DH and I missed out on so much because we really didn't know what to do or where to go when we got over there. The place is so big! We went through the expensive shop area, stopped in the Casino and then looked at the tanks from inside the dining area. We really felt like we didn't know where to go or what to do. That's why I figured I'd book a structured tour where somebody knew what they were doing -- I don't want to be lost with my Mom who will already be nervous enough! LOL -- Hey Mary, you wouldn't happen to be going on the December 14th Wonder, would you?

Oh! One more thing regarding the food thing...I booked the 1pm tour so that we could eat onboard before we left! There's no way I am going to spend a fortune to eat lunch when it's already paid for onboard.

 

[LargoLori]

Does anyone know if you can take a 7 year old through the casino entrance. If not, where should we enter? Thanks

 

[WDWLVR]

Melody - sorry I don't get back on a DCL ship until next December! If you want to pay our way (can't leave DH home especially since he is the Atlantis pro) we'd be happy to join you.

Only you know what is best for you and your mom. We really did find that exploring things on our own was very easy and they give you a map. The first time we did it on our own and the 2nd time we took another couple with us and had a great time. I'm sure you will enjoy the excursion as well.

Lori - as far as walking through the Casino to get your wristbands etc. I don't think that would be a problem with a 7 year old. I think it would only be a problem if you started hitting the slots with them around.

BTW - there is a great photo op right outside the casino. There is a large throne you can stop and have your picture taken on.

You can check out some more shots from Atlantis by clicking on our web site link below and then clicking on the SS Member Cruise link and the May 2002 4-day Wonder cruise link. Enjoy!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I can't wait to take my Mom's picture on this throne! Thanks for the link to your pictures!

 

[Cruisin]

We took the booked excursion to Atlantis and I don't think we would do it again. We would go on our own though.
First off, those water taxis are really scary. They pile so many people on that you wonder if you are going to make it there or not.
There is also a very long hike from the water taxi terminal to actually get to the casino. It might be too much for some people. If you go on your own and take a taxi at least you get dropped and picked up right at the door.
With WDWLVR's description on where to go and what to look for I think I would feel very comfortable going there on our own. That was a very nice detailed description. Thank you WDWLVR!

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Hi WDWLVR, how long did it take you to get to the "Dig" from where you got off the taxi? My kids are 4 and 7 and I wonder if they can manage to walk for so long. I have never been there but I heard that it is quite a long walk.

 

[WDWLVR]

Here's a map that my DH did that might help. BTW you get a copy of this map when you get your wristband. You carry it with you and it makes it easy to find your way around.

A is where the taxi lets you off.

B is where you get the wrist bands.

C - H are things like the slides etc. that you can only get access to with a room key

X shows some of wildlife lagoons.

The area shaded in red shows the Dig areas. S marks the start of it. It starts under the main lobby and winds underneath the hotel. You can see some of it from the lobby area. You walk downstairs and to get into the Dig area you just show your wristband. Then you take a walk outside and you join the second part for the predeator tank under the large round building near letter E.

It is a lot of walking if you want to take in all the outside stuff as well. We walk all around out near the beach and everything. There are lots of little lagoons that have stingrays, sharks, etc. There is also a great rope bridge that I think the kids will like. It is a lot of walking but if you do it on your own you can do as much or as little as you want.

I agree with Cruisin'Kroezes that the water taxis look scary. I took one in Nassau years ago (before Atlantis) and never want to take another one!

Any other questions please don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Cruisin]

If you take the excursion you have to first walk to the water taxi, which is a 10 minute walk from the ship, once you get to the other side it is about maybe a 20 minute walk from the taxi terminal to the resort. Then you have to go through the casino. Of course you have to do it all again in reverse order.

There is quite a bit of walking just touring the exhibits.

If you go on your own, you get a taxi right at the end of the pier and it drops you right at the door of Atlantis.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Hmmm ...I am rethinking this again. If I have a plan ahead of time and read the map and directions on this thread I think I could do it.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I think we left at like 9 or 10 AM for the excursion (it was the first one of the morning). We met in one of the clubs, and then all left the ship together, and got on a boat. It was a quick ride, maybe 15 minutes. We then walked over to Atlantis (it's not a bad walk at all). Then, we broke into groups for the tour. After the tour we had lunch, spent some time in the casino, and headed back to the ship. We were back probably by 2 or so. Have fun!