Welcome, Foolish Muggles! IoA/US/MK/SW *July 2013 Trip Report Link*

[natebenma]

Wow it just looks so great! Your boys have gotten so big. Isn't it sad how fast time flies? They'll be in college before we know it.
Yeah, Nate did look like a girl in those pics.

Atlantis is such a fun place! I have loved going back and looking at how much the boys have changed in 3 years. College? I can barely deal with high school next year!

Yes, Nate was the daughter I never had!

 

[natebenma]

Arrival Day/Comfort Suites

Most of you don’t need introductions to my family- you either know me from past trip reports or from the Beach Club FAQ board. But for the record, our travelers are me- a stay at home mom who rarely stays at home, my DH Mark- we have been married 25 years, teenager Nate (13)- who denies knowing any of us and Ben (10)- who alternates between total sweetheart and stubborn mule at the drop of a hat.

There is one more companion joining us on this trip- my new Lumix TS3 point and shoot underwater camera. I love taking pictures. Nothing fancy, no processing except for red eye correction and an occasional crop. Because I love the water, I have exclusively used a camera rated for underwater use since 2008. The problem is, you have to be careful of leaks when you are swimming with the cameras and they tend to die at the most inopportune times, like when you snorkeling on vacation.

I have owned 3 Olympus Toughs (two died at the Barcelo in Mexico in consecutive years), one is currently in use, a Canon Powershot D10 (died in Puerto Rico in March) and the new Lumix. I’ll offer a review at the end about what I like and do not like about each of the cameras, but the advance review is I was pleased with the Lumix. The only problem is, every time you turn it on, you get a warning to check to make sure the camera is sealed to protect the waterproofness of the camera. The delay necessary to close out this message caused me to miss a couple of pictures early on in the trip.


Flight schedule:

Boston to Philly 6:30 am to 8 am, Philly to Nassau 9:45 am to 12:44 pm

I like to get to the airport a couple of hours before our flight, but since the flight was so early on a Sunday morning, I figured that with a pickup at 4 am and hour long ride to the airport, we would arrive an hour and a half before takeoff. That should be plenty of time, right?

10 minutes into our ride, our car service driver had his cell phone up to his ear. Who is he calling at 4 am???

“I’ve never seen THIS check engine light before!”

Um, this is not a good start. The van was rattling and the driver continued to talk to his dispatcher. Apparently, unbeknownst to the driver, the van had been exhibiting these symptoms, had been checked out at the mechanics but nothing was found. The dispatcher recommended that driver keep the speed under 55 MPH for the remainder of the trip.

That seemed to help- the van only rattled intermittently during the rest of the trip. I was fairly keyed up during the ride, but we arrived shortly after 5:00 and had no issues in the airport.

The rest of the trip to Nassau was uneventful, except that I experienced two of my missed photos from the plane- in Boston, as we were taking off, we quickly passed a lighthouse during sunrise, but

Camera on. Review precautions message? Click No. Click OK = missed shot

Same thing in Philly- after the flight, Ben asked me if I got a picture of the fort and the big tankers as we were landing. I didn’t.

Not to involve you all in a family debate, but… is my camera one of the electronics that must be shut off upon takeoff and landing? I’m skeptical that a couple of clicks from my Lumix could interfere with the operation of the airplane, but what do you guys think?

Immigration in Nassau was painless, we hailed a cab (van, $39 plus tip) and arrived at the Comfort Suites in about 40 minutes:


Comfort Suites:

The Comfort Suites is not part of the Atlantis resort, but guests enjoy all of the amenities of Atlantis for A LOT LESS $$$! We priced out the trip with stays at both CS and the Atlantis Beach Towers and this trip ended up being about $2,000 cheaper.

As many of you know, cruisers who have stops in Nassau will often book a room at the CS because it is less expensive to get access to Atlantis than it is to book it through the cruise line. With each room, you get 4 bracelets to use. Now families of 5 have a bit of a dilemma- what I have been suggesting is to try to hook up with a family of 3 on the same cruise through one of the meet-up boards and split the cost of two rooms.

Breakfast Lounge

At 7 am

At 9:30 am

Pool

Here is a picture taken the exit at Comfort Suites closest to Atlantis. The pink building is part of Atlantis. I think it is about a 3-5 minute walk from here to one of the hallways into Atlantis.

Continued in Next Post...

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[natebenma]

Comfort Suites/Room 291

From tips I have read, people suggest a 3rd floor room in the wing closest to exit door. I didn’t make any room requests and we ended up in a first floor hallway, about the furthest you could get from the Atlantis exit. But I really liked the location- we were one hall away from the breakfast lounge- very close, but no noise or traffic from the breakfast crowd and we were two hallways away from the lobby. So every morning, I would take my travel mug, fill it with coffee and head to the computer room to check in on the DIS while I waited for the family to wake.

The beds were comfy, but they were doubles so they were a little on the small side. Nate slept on the couch. I think it pulled out into a sleeper, but he just used it as is.

The fridge was huge! There is a microwave in the breakfast lounge, so if you make a grocery stop on the way to the hotel you can get a few things for the room and save money (beer, cold cuts, etc)

The safe was also large. But not free! Rental was $2 per day, but well worth it.

Another additional charge added at the end of your stay is the housekeeping charge- $5 per person per day (kids were half price, so it was $15 per day). It felt really weird not leaving a tip for the maids every day, but I figured the $15 covered it! There was also some sort of energy use surcharge. I believe both of these fees were disclosed to us when we booked.

The room was super quiet. The only time we heard noise from other rooms was when we were in the hallways. An unusually high number of people had their doors propped open as we walked by.


So how did the two resorts compare?


Room

Beds looked to be the same (doubles). The room at CS was a little larger, had a desk and couch (Beach Towers had a small table and two chairs), a HUGE refrigerator and a wet bar.

Atlantis:

Comfort Suites:

Balcony/View

Hands down, Atlantis!!! In fact, this has been the best room view we have had anywhere.

There was no balcony at the CS. The view overlooked a maintenance storage shed and the back of the Convention Center at Atlantis.

Comfort Suites

Breakfast

Quality marks go to Atlantis- The Marketplace buffet had a huge variety of delicious food. But the cost was around $20-$25 per person, which was covered by the meal plan.

The CS breakfast was included in the cost of the room. There were scrambled eggs every morning, sausage (bacon one day), donuts (good), pastries (nasty), yogurt, cereal, hardboiled eggs, juices. Certainly enough to fuel us up for the day.

Atlantis:

CS:

Connectivity
Free WiFi in the resort at CS, plus two computers for guest use in the lobby. I believe you have to pay for access in Atlantis.


Distance from Atlantis Amenities
Here is the surprise- we actually had a shorter walk from the CS than we did when we actually stayed at Atlantis!


My conclusion- If the prices were comparable, I would choose Atlantis but I would not hesitate to stay at the CS again.


Next Up: Aquaventure Water Park

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[Missyrose]

I liked the comparison. But I really loved that view from Atlantis, wow! Seeing that gorgeous blue water makes me really miss the Caribbean.

 

[JanetMom]

Hi Dee,

I'm just getting caught up on my Dis reading and I'm thrilled to see I haven't fallen too far behind on this report.

I've always been fascinated by Atlantis, but so far Disney always wins out. I'm loving seeing Atlantis through your eyes.

Thanks for comparing the two resorts - great to learn through you.

The tube ride through the shark tank looks great.

I must admit that the pictures of Nates hair in 2009 did make me smile.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Loving the comparisons so far-for such a huge price difference the comfort suites looks grand to me
Have to say even though I "know" you from your other trip reports I love your description of you as a "SAHM who never stays home"
I could be your Irish alter-ego (except I'm a year older and married a year less)

 

[natebenma]

I liked the comparison. But I really loved that view from Atlantis, wow! Seeing that gorgeous blue water makes me really miss the Caribbean.

The prettiest colors in the world are the colors of the Caribbean Sea. I think it was on a tour in Aruba (your happy place) that a guide told us about the 7 different shades and colors of the water and what they meant. Wish I could remember more than that!

Hi Dee,

I'm just getting caught up on my Dis reading and I'm thrilled to see I haven't fallen too far behind on this report.

I've always been fascinated by Atlantis, but so far Disney always wins out. I'm loving seeing Atlantis through your eyes.

Thanks for comparing the two resorts - great to learn through you.

The tube ride through the shark tank looks great.

I must admit that the pictures of Nates hair in 2009 did make me smile.

I'm so glad you are here!

Disney and the Caribbean are definitely competing interests for me and my family.

The shark tube and the Current, the "lazy" river, are my favorite rides. But the other tube rides are really fun too. Hopefully I'll get to those in the next day or so.

We were at Disney the summer before this trip, and Nate was not feeling well. I was reviewing some of the Photopass pictures at a kiosk in MK and the CM there said. You should really retake these pictures. Your daughter does not look well.

Loving the comparisons so far-for such a huge price difference the comfort suites looks grand to me
Have to say even though I "know" you from your other trip reports I love your description of you as a "SAHM who never stays home"
I could be your Irish alter-ego (except I'm a year older and married a year less)

More like 2 grand!!!

CS is definitely the way to go.

One of the problems with CS (and most of Atlantis, I believe, too) is that they do not accomodate larger families. There are limited options for where groups of 5 or more can stay.

When Nate was first born and I was headed out to playgrounds and other moms groups, I made up my own buiness cards to hand out to people I met. They had a cartoon woman running and that tag line as my "employment".

 

[Ninja Mom]

Wandering over here from the Yacht Club FAQ Board. I am enjoying reading your trip reports. It's like going on (somebody else's) vacation for free!

Thank you for sharing.

 

[jenseib]

Thanks! I am finally going to get started on this thing!



The Aquarium part is definitely worth a visit. Do you know if the tours are entirely guided or if you get free time to explore on your own? We saw a lot of guided tours through the Dig Ruins, the Predator Lagoon and the other exhibits.

I think it's partly guided then they leave you on your own and you can return when you like to the ship.

Love the pictures. I really like the comparison you gave too. Both places sound fabulous.

 

[MHTeacher]

Nice to read your comparison between CS and Atlantis. I've actually priced out a trip to Atlantis before, but with our party of five, it's always so expensive. It's nice to read about a less expensive option.

 

[Mommy2BnB]

I'm glad to see you've started your newest TR. I loved the comparison between the two resorts, and I'm glad to know there is a cheaper option. Thanks!

 

[natebenma]

Wandering over here from the Yacht Club FAQ Board. I am enjoying reading your trip reports. It's like going on (somebody else's) vacation for free!

Thank you for sharing.

Glad you are enjoying the reports.

I think it's partly guided then they leave you on your own and you can return when you like to the ship.

Love the pictures. I really like the comparison you gave too. Both places sound fabulous.

That's good that you have some free time. It would drive me crazy to see something that really interested me and then not be able to go back and spend more time there.

Both resorts fit the bill. This is definitely a place where the room is not the star, it is a place to sleep and put your stuff.

Nice to read your comparison between CS and Atlantis. I've actually priced out a trip to Atlantis before, but with our party of five, it's always so expensive. It's nice to read about a less expensive option.

I can't believe the limited options for a family of 5. I was not aware of that until coming here on these boards.

I'm glad to see you've started your newest TR. I loved the comparison between the two resorts, and I'm glad to know there is a cheaper option. Thanks!

Thanks! Good to have you aboard here.

I hope to start on the descriptions of the waterpark attractions in the next day or two.

Next up: Best. "Lazy" River. Ever!

 

[disneyxo]

Loving the report so far! And really enjoy the pictures. I didn't take near enough pictures. Next time my camera is going with me every time I leave the room!!! I am interested in the comparison of the water safe cameras as I would like to purchase one before our next trip there.

 

[natebenma]

Loving the report so far! And really enjoy the pictures. I didn't take near enough pictures. Next time my camera is going with me every time I leave the room!!! I am interested in the comparison of the water safe cameras as I would like to purchase one before our next trip there.

Thank you! There will be many many more pictures. In fact, most of the report is going to be pictures with just a little bit of description.

I was looking at all of the flyers from the Sunday paper yesterday and there were lots of cameras on sale- Mother's Day- they had the next generation of a few of the waterproof cameras I have/had. I kept showing them to Mark. I think he was a little annoyed. "You already HAVE two underwater cameras!"

 

[Missyrose]

I meant to ask before, did you have better camera luck on this trip than in Puerto Rico (other than the delayed snapping)? Meaning: Were no cameras harmed (or killed) in the making of this TR? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

 

[JimShockz]

I meant to ask before, did you have better camera luck on this trip than in Puerto Rico (other than the delayed snapping)? Meaning: Were no cameras harmed (or killed) in the making of this TR? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Lol, That's not even funny the wife and I went through three digital camera's (Over $600) last summer at WDW.

-JH

 

[natebenma]

I meant to ask before, did you have better camera luck on this trip than in Puerto Rico (other than the delayed snapping)? Meaning: Were no cameras harmed (or killed) in the making of this TR? Sorry, I couldn't resist.

No cameras were harmed in the making of this TR!

Wish I had thought of that!

Both the Lumix and the Olympus survived. I was concerned because we hadn't water-tested the Lumix and this is a brand new brand for me. I would have been crushed if I didn't have a camera for our snorkel with the Mantas.

Lol, That's not even funny the wife and I went through three digital camera's (Over $600) last summer at WDW.

-JH

Oh no! What happened?!?

 

[ddluvsdisney]

great comparison!!
You are so helpful. Have you ever thought of being a travel agent?? I think it's your calling
The CS looks pretty good. If we ever make it there I would definately consider it especially for the $$$ you save.
But the view from Atlantis- OMG it is gorgeous!!!

 

[DrMomof3]

Love the comparison! How do the rooms compare to a Disney room?

Amanda

 

[HockeyMomR]

Dee- enjoying the comparisons. Loved that view from your previous stay! So.peaceful. look forward to reading more and of course that food porn as promised. Glad you are sharing again