Partridge4ever
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2000
- Messages
- 740
(warning, this got kinda long). Before our cruise, I scoured the boards for reports on the Disney Atlantis Aquaventure, so I thought I'd share our experience now that we're back. Yes, it's expensive. But the room at Comfort Inn was running $298 plus taxes and resort fees, no transportation, and no lunch. Plus with the Disney excursion if we didn't make the port, we wouldn't have been charged.
We met in Studio Sea at 9:15. There was a liability release form and tickets on the desk in our cabin when we boarded the ship. We were supposed to bring the form to the meeting, some forgot, but they did have extras. One person from each party has to show everyone's Key to the World card and photo id for the adults. We were given a Pluto sticker to wear. Once everyone was checked in, we followed a DCL person holding a Pluto picture down to the gangway. The captain announced ashore time as we were heading down the stairs. We were given wristbands and lunch vouchers and escorted to the buses. Not one person tried to get us to buy stuff. This was a huge plus. I know it's the way it works but it makes me uncomfortable walking past all those people yelling at you. The bus wasn't big enough for everyone in the group, but another pulled up right away.
We were let out at the Coral Tower. A guide met us and walked us to the park area. It's a pretty good hike through the gift shop and casino portion of the hotel, but not too bad. We each got a towel and were told to leave it on a chair and that chair would be ours for the day. (They have really nice chairs with awnings.) By this time it was just a bit after 10 am.
We saw the beach area. It was very nice, but the beach was closed due to high winds. The water in the slides was too cold for my taste, but the kids were fine once they got used to it. We could've seen the aquariums, too, but time was short. We didn't feel like it was crowded at all. We did notice crowds picking up after lunch when we saw 2 large groups from another ship being escorted in. Oasis of the Seas (I think that's the name....the REALLY big one) was docked as well as 2 other ships and the Wonder.
We had lunch at Pisces. It's over near the beach access. Not as convenient as some of the other locations, but well worth it. The best fried chicken I have ever had in my life. I'm in Alabama. We know fried chicken. We each got a breast, thigh, and leg, plus fries and a canned drink. This would have cost $16 each. There were other places to redeem the vouchers, but this was the only one with fried chicken. Other choices were hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwich, turkey wraps, pizza and a salad. Most everywhere had the same stuff. It's listed right on the voucher so it was easy to decide where to go.
I can vouch for the lifeguards.
At one point, the lazy river forks. We were trying to go to the right to go up the Power Tower. My kids made it. I was heading toward the rapids area on the left. Not wanting to lose my kids, I foolishly tried to get out of my tube. Bad move. Now I didn't really NEED a lifeguard, but according to my DD, "he went into bionic mode" and came after me. He fished me out and walked me to a calmer portion. He was very concerned and wanted to check me over for cuts and bruises, but I assured him nothing was bruised except my pride. Another lifeguard grabbed my kids in their tubes and sent them down the rapids so that we didn't get separated.
If you let your kids go on a slide, be aware that the printed map is deceiving. They don't "pop out" where you think they will.
The return bus runs every half hour from 1 pm-5 pm. (All aboard time was 6 pm, we had 5:45 dinner, so that cut our time some.) On our bus ride back, the driver gave us a nice talk about the things we were passing and some history of the Bahamas. Very interesting.
We did have to walk through that little flea market area to get back to the ship, but it wasn't bad. Time from getting on the bus to boarding the ship was 30 minutes.
Having now done it both ways, I can say that at least for this time of year when the Comfort Inn is so expensive, I would definitely recommend the Disney excursion. We just felt nice and secure and didn't have to deal w/getting a taxi ourselves, checking into the hotel, etc. Now if the savings were significant, I'd probably stick w/booking at Comfort Inn.
That said, the 3 night cruise flew by. We've done Atlantis twice now. We are lucky enough to get to sail again later this year. We are staying onboard and saving the $160 pp.
We met in Studio Sea at 9:15. There was a liability release form and tickets on the desk in our cabin when we boarded the ship. We were supposed to bring the form to the meeting, some forgot, but they did have extras. One person from each party has to show everyone's Key to the World card and photo id for the adults. We were given a Pluto sticker to wear. Once everyone was checked in, we followed a DCL person holding a Pluto picture down to the gangway. The captain announced ashore time as we were heading down the stairs. We were given wristbands and lunch vouchers and escorted to the buses. Not one person tried to get us to buy stuff. This was a huge plus. I know it's the way it works but it makes me uncomfortable walking past all those people yelling at you. The bus wasn't big enough for everyone in the group, but another pulled up right away.
We were let out at the Coral Tower. A guide met us and walked us to the park area. It's a pretty good hike through the gift shop and casino portion of the hotel, but not too bad. We each got a towel and were told to leave it on a chair and that chair would be ours for the day. (They have really nice chairs with awnings.) By this time it was just a bit after 10 am.
We saw the beach area. It was very nice, but the beach was closed due to high winds. The water in the slides was too cold for my taste, but the kids were fine once they got used to it. We could've seen the aquariums, too, but time was short. We didn't feel like it was crowded at all. We did notice crowds picking up after lunch when we saw 2 large groups from another ship being escorted in. Oasis of the Seas (I think that's the name....the REALLY big one) was docked as well as 2 other ships and the Wonder.
We had lunch at Pisces. It's over near the beach access. Not as convenient as some of the other locations, but well worth it. The best fried chicken I have ever had in my life. I'm in Alabama. We know fried chicken. We each got a breast, thigh, and leg, plus fries and a canned drink. This would have cost $16 each. There were other places to redeem the vouchers, but this was the only one with fried chicken. Other choices were hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwich, turkey wraps, pizza and a salad. Most everywhere had the same stuff. It's listed right on the voucher so it was easy to decide where to go.
I can vouch for the lifeguards.
At one point, the lazy river forks. We were trying to go to the right to go up the Power Tower. My kids made it. I was heading toward the rapids area on the left. Not wanting to lose my kids, I foolishly tried to get out of my tube. Bad move. Now I didn't really NEED a lifeguard, but according to my DD, "he went into bionic mode" and came after me. He fished me out and walked me to a calmer portion. He was very concerned and wanted to check me over for cuts and bruises, but I assured him nothing was bruised except my pride. Another lifeguard grabbed my kids in their tubes and sent them down the rapids so that we didn't get separated.If you let your kids go on a slide, be aware that the printed map is deceiving. They don't "pop out" where you think they will.
The return bus runs every half hour from 1 pm-5 pm. (All aboard time was 6 pm, we had 5:45 dinner, so that cut our time some.) On our bus ride back, the driver gave us a nice talk about the things we were passing and some history of the Bahamas. Very interesting.
We did have to walk through that little flea market area to get back to the ship, but it wasn't bad. Time from getting on the bus to boarding the ship was 30 minutes.
Having now done it both ways, I can say that at least for this time of year when the Comfort Inn is so expensive, I would definitely recommend the Disney excursion. We just felt nice and secure and didn't have to deal w/getting a taxi ourselves, checking into the hotel, etc. Now if the savings were significant, I'd probably stick w/booking at Comfort Inn.
That said, the 3 night cruise flew by. We've done Atlantis twice now. We are lucky enough to get to sail again later this year. We are staying onboard and saving the $160 pp.
I'm thinking that the family needs to go to the public beach for the day!! 
Hi Donna!
Jen
And yep just any bus on the way back, no need to sign up, just show at the bus stop (make sure you at least make the last one) LOL!
