Is a visit today the Dole plantation fun?

[fairytalelover]

is it worth a visit ?

 

[frank808]

It is worth it as a stop on the way to or from the north shore or on your way to polynesian cultural center. There is dole whip without the long lines like at disney parks. But there is also a maze and small train ride to see a reservoir and fields where pineapple was grown. Also it is interesting to see the history of pineapple in hawaii.

 

[nkereina]

We thought it was fun, but we did stop there on the way to the North Shore. I don't know if I'd drive there just for that alone. We got there shortly after they opened which I'd recommend because parking fills up and the lines get long throughout the day. We did the train ride first because it only had a 15 minute wait at the time. We then got a dole whip and browsed the gift shop. Spent about 2 hours there and got some good/easy souvenirs for people back home too.

 

[wanderlust7]

It's fun for the kids and a convenient stop on the way to the North Shore. The train is cute and interesting to see pineapples and other tropical fruits growing in the field. We did the maze one year when DS was 5. They give you a little map and a card to collect stencils around the maze, DS had fun with that. It was an overcast day and the temperature was comfortable. I imagine it may not be as fun if it was a hot day. Last trip, we discovered the koi pond and the kids had fun feeding them (a quarter for food from the dispensers). There are so many trying to get at the food that they end up on top of one another and out of the water.

 

[GeneralTso]

We loved it, but we love a good tour, the cornier the better

The gift shop there is quite impressive. It was huge and has a ton of cute things. (all relative, I know)

It exceeded my expectations all the way around. I'm really happy we did it.

 

[hilarys]

I think the gift shop there is quite good. You don't need to plan a long visit.

 

[Pintail]

Yes, try the plate lunch, the maze, and the train - it is fun and not that pricey. We stopped there on the way to the beach.

 

[xlxo]

I love the train and low acid pineapples.... Yummy.

 

[mrswillson]

If you are out in the area, it is definitely worth a stop. It's very touristy (as to be expected), however the maze, train ride, and Dole whips are fun things to check off your list.

They also have a great selection of foods and novelty items to bring home with you as well.

 

[kdonnel]

I thought it was worth it just to learn how long it takes a pineapple to grow.

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

My family liked it! I learned a lot from the train ride. We went on the way to the North Shore (we loved the North Shore!) I have some photos:

http://savingforadream.blogspot.com/2015/03/hawaii-trip-report-part-6-dole.html

 

[longboard55]

You spend all this money to go to Hawaii and your twelve year old son tells you the pineapple maze was his favorite activity. Kids love it

 

[heybets30]

Definitely. We had a blast. We were there probably 4 hours total, included just missing a train, and just relaxing while waiting for the next one. Gift store is awesome - not too overpriced, and had a GREAT selection - everything from shirts/food/tchochkes/cookie cutters/ornaments/wood carvings, something for everyone. We got most of our souvenirs here. Maze was a blast (we were there in October ... bring bug spray - gnat-type bugs). Wear a hat if you do the maze - the sun beats down on you, no shade in parts. We did the goofy photo shoot at the front entrance. Like $25-30 for purchasing the pics. The kids really got into the maze, so we did the whole thing. We got in line for a whip right before a bus was dropped off, so we didn't have a wait at all, but within 3 minutes, there were like 200 people in line. Timing is everything! Wonderful afternoon out of the hotel!

 

[TagsMissy]

We had fun despite me getting some allergic reaction to some plants there. We're planning on returning on our next visit as the maze is fun to do. I'll just take a dose of antihisthamines before I go LOL

 

[ktlm]

I'd say it was our least favorite thing we did on our Hawaiian trip---- not bad, just if we had it to do over again, we probably would have driven by so that we wouldn't have missed as much time at the Polynesian Cultural Center (which we liked much more than we expected we would based on some reviews we read- we thought it was a ton of fun and would like to go back to see the things we missed and do the luau again). The Dole Plantation is a big tourist store, a train ride, a maze, and a walk through garden. I think what might be different for us and made it not as exciting or fun is that it is very similar to a farm experience we have at home--- we have a place with a very similar feel (minus the pineapples) that has a very similar train ride, a smaller but similar type store, a large maze (corn), and several other activities including playgrounds, petting zoo, pony rides, "gold" mining, bouncing pillows, tricycle races, and more. So, for us, aside from the taped information regarding pineapple growing played during the train ride (which was interesting), the place itself was very similar to something we can do at home, but far more limited and not as fun as the same type place we have at home. Plus, at least the time when we were there, we didn't really see any pineapples growing out in the fields, we saw several empty pineapple fields with the soil turned up, and some other types of plants/groves. It was fun, but we found a lot of places that were more fun.

If you are just going to the North Shore or beach for the day, I would say it is worth a stop on the way. If you are going, it is best to be there right when they open because a ton of people go there on the way to somewhere else and the train line builds up quickly. We got there about half an hour after they opened and the line for the train was about an hour. That is what put us way behind schedule to get to the PCC. If I had it to do over again, I would have had us to the PCC right when it opened at noon, because there were areas we ran out of time to explore there.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

I thought it was worth it just to learn how long it takes a pineapple to grow.

Right?!I had no idea!

 

[DVCjj]

Definitely. We had a blast. We were there probably 4 hours total, included just missing a train, and just relaxing while waiting for the next one. Gift store is awesome - not too overpriced, and had a GREAT selection - everything from shirts/food/tchochkes/cookie cutters/ornaments/wood carvings, something for everyone. We got most of our souvenirs here. Maze was a blast (we were there in October ... bring bug spray - gnat-type bugs). Wear a hat if you do the maze - the sun beats down on you, no shade in parts. We did the goofy photo shoot at the front entrance. Like $25-30 for purchasing the pics. The kids really got into the maze, so we did the whole thing. We got in line for a whip right before a bus was dropped off, so we didn't have a wait at all, but within 3 minutes, there were like 200 people in line. Timing is everything! Wonderful afternoon out of the hotel!

We loved it even though we could only stay 35 minutes (darn!). We needed to drive to Turtle Bay for our Segway appointment. Hated to leave even though it was raining.

The whole place makes you feel happy.

Next trip to Aulani (fingers crossed for a 2nd trip to Hawaii) will definitely allow several hours at Dole.

 

[FireflyTrance]

I thought it was worth visiting. Like others mentioned you could also go to the North Shore. We left for the North Shore early in the morning and then headed to the Dole Plantation for lunch on the way back. I think it's generally a good place for kids, my daughter loved the train line.

 

[kailuagirl]

It is fun, if you are in the area, but I wouldn't make a trip just to go there. But they do sell Dole Whip there There is a maze, train, shop and pineapple growing gardens

 

[apple9117]

I thought it was worth it to at least stop by!