Is Atlantis Worth it with a 3:45pm All Aboard?

[goofman]

We are on a 4-Night Bahamian on the Wonder out of Miami. I contacted DCL to confirm that the Nassau stop has a 3:45pm All Aboard. Is the Atlantis Excursion worth it with such an early departure time? We are a family of five and even thought about getting a Comfort Suite but that was before I found out that the departure time was so early. Thanks

 

[dmunsil]

We are on a 4-Night Bahamian on the Wonder out of Miami. I contacted DCL to confirm that the Nassau stop has a 3:45pm All Aboard. Is the Atlantis Excursion worth it with such an early departure time? We are a family of five and even thought about getting a Comfort Suite but that was before I found out that the departure time was so early. Thanks

It's difficult to say. With a 3:45 all-aboard, I'd be heading to the exit by 2:45. For us, that was about when the thunderstorms rolled in and closed the park, but we were getting ready to go anyway. If you get going bright and early, you can get on the slides promptly at 10, and frankly after almost 5 hours I think you might be ready to go.

But really, it's hard to say. For us, we spent a fair amount of time just getting oriented in the morning. It's a huge, confusing place with inadequate signage and disorienting layout.

My advice for an Atlantis touring plan:

• Get your wristbands as early as you can, and head straight for the water park. Ignore the Dig at first (which is tough if you end up coming into the park through the Dig; it'll make you want to slow down and look), and go as quickly as possible to the Hospitality Center.
• Get lockers (if you need them), get towels, and snag some loungers right there near the Hospitality Center. It's a good place to meet up, as there's only one Hospitality Center and all the staff can direct you there.
• You can enter the Current right there next to the Hospitality Center, but don't ride it yet. Instead go ride the various slides and get them out of the way early.
• Depending on how busy it is and on mechanical issues, they may have some of the Power Tower slides set up to enter from the Current, or they may have you enter all of them via a staircase. Ask an employee, or just head up the staircase and see what slides you can enter from there.
• If you have to get into the Current to go on some of the Power Tower rides, walk around the Current until you get to the Current entry point just ahead of the Power Tower water entrance, which is just to the northwest of the Power Tower.
• All of the Power Tower slides dump you into the Current fairly near the Hospitality Center, hoping to induce you to stay there. If you want to ride more slides, get out of the Current and walk back around to the entry point near the Power Tower to go on another slide. If you ride around the current, it'll take much longer to get to the Power Tower.
• Once you're done with the Power Tower, hit the Mayan Temple. It has several body slides and one or two tube slides, all of which are accessed via staircases.
• Once you've ridden all the slides and/or gotten tired of the long lines, spend the rest of the day until you need to leave riding the Current and/or viewing the Dig.

Have fun!

 

[goofman]

dmunsil
Thank you so much for your time in responding!! Your plan will be well used. Thanks again!