Are You Ever Coming Home?...No! I am playing with Wizards, Farkles and Sparkling Friends completed 10/21/2017 - Page 12 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Wow, thank you so much for your honest assessment of this. I read it out to Mark and we're decided we will NOT be doing this. It's definitely too much for both of us and not what we were looking for. As you said, the description does not give any indication that it will be like that. We will definitely go for something else.
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Looks like a lot of fun in the jeeps and hope you find areas of Aruba where there may be more than animal and plant life. Must be on the other shore.
I think the whole island is dessert like. But it really was a beautiful place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
This excursion looks like so much fun! I'm looking forward to seeing what it's like when you get to the natural pool. I'm not sure if I went there or not. I know we went to a natural bridge somewhere on the coast of Aruba.
It was really adventurous and we had so much fun together.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
Wow, thank you so much for your honest assessment of this. I read it out to Mark and we're decided we will NOT be doing this. It's definitely too much for both of us and not what we were looking for. As you said, the description does not give any indication that it will be like that. We will definitely go for something else.
I do try to tell it how it is. We had a great time, but I know it would not be for everyone.
See the waves? This how the water seemed to be everywhere we went in Aruba. I am not sure if it that rough on all sides of the island, but it was really rough here.
We made it down and they told us to set our stuff down and then walk over the pool…which you had to climb rocks to get to. This may look like sand….but it’s tiny pebbles that are super sharp on feet that are blistered.
I was stupid and set my things too far away and then attempted to walk. I am not a barefoot girl. I could never walk on stones as a kid and I still can’t. I regretted it half way and thought about going back to my stuff to bring it closer, but I just kept going. I made it over where we had to hold on to rocks and climb through to get to the pool. That wasn’t as bad as some of the rocks were smooth, but some were pointed with sharp edges. My regret was not bringing my water shoes this trip. If I ever come back, water shoes would be a must here. I was actually surprised the pathway wasn’t any better or smoother with all the people who come here.
We finally made it to the water and I plunged in. It was a little cold, but we got used to it fast. I did some snorkeling and took pictures off and on. I will state right now that I forgot to put new rainX on my camera lens as that helps keep water drops off of it. They usually slide off or come off with a shake. It’s been about a year since I last had done it and you can tell. I have a LOT of pictures with spots in them and sadly I didn’t always clean off the camera later and there are spots on a lot of future pictures from this trip. Sorry…..
We saw that we would be leaving soon, so Jeanne and I decided to try and get a head start to climb out before it got full of people. The plan was good in theory…but we got behind a lady who just had a lot of trouble walking on flat surfaces…so forget about trying to climb out of here. She was so incredibly slow and she had guides helping her along the way. Of course she seemed to stop every time I was on a sharp stone and the pain was horrid. If I could have walked out fast, it would have been fine, but I couldn’t get around her. I think some of the guides thought I needed help too and I told them no, I just couldn’t move till this lady did.
Once I got to the flat ground with all the pebbles I could barely walk though. I had Claire go and get my shoes once I got half way so I could make it back. I have such horrid feet and those little buggers killed me.
We dried off and headed back up the steps. I knew I would be slow and Jeanne said she would be too. Amazingly I think I beat her up, but I think I started before her too.
When we got back up, we were given water and a granola snack bar to eat. We dropped off our snorkeling gear on the side of the truck and then loaded ourselves back in for the trek back. Our guide told us that our drive out won’t be so bumpy because we now knew how it was and it will just seem like less bumps. Oh good!
And bumped along…and it did not feel better….it seemed worse! Really bad. I made a comment about how this thing has no shocks….it was throwing us all over.
All the trucks were playing around and climbing hills and being silly.
We went up a hill and slammed on the breaks and all the other trucks started going around us and honking. I thought it was just in fun, but then we backed off the hill and went a little further and stopped. Our guide came out and said we had to get out as we had a flat tire. Kelsey and Emily said they heard a big pop quite a ways back and I bet that was our tire and why it was so freaking bumpy.
We thought we were going to have to ride in another jeep, but nope, they were going to change it right there. We stood around and took pictures while we waited.
Soon we had a new tire and were back to bouncing around. Whoa!!!! Wait! I am REALLY bouncing….I forgot to put my seatbelt on! Shoot. I had my phone in one hand and camera in the other and trying to buckle while bouncing. Claire and Jeanne were sure I would fly out. I handed off my phone and finally got buckled in and was safe again.
We were off to our next stop…the natural bridge…which also would have bathrooms…..something I was looking forward to more than the bridge at the moment.
Looks like a fun excursion! Quite a bumpy ride and the walk on the beach with the sharp rocks does not sound like fun! Some nice views on the ride and from the water.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Ouch! When they were saying you needed close toe shoes, they should have actually been explaining you needed water shoes!
Once you were in the water it looked fun, though.
The scenery is beautiful, but I still wouldn't do this tour. I must admit I am looking at your descriptions and the photos and thinking "I've read about that in a shore excursion."
The pool looks like so much fun! But I don't know if I would have made it in there without water shoes. I'm one who hates walking on sharp rocks, too!
I really wish I had brought them, but I decided for some odd reason not to pack them this cruise.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Looks like a fun excursion! Quite a bumpy ride and the walk on the beach with the sharp rocks does not sound like fun! Some nice views on the ride and from the water.
It really is a beautiful island with a lot of beautiful views.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Ouch! When they were saying you needed close toe shoes, they should have actually been explaining you needed water shoes!
Once you were in the water it looked fun, though.
Exactly. I left mine home of course this time.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
The scenery is beautiful, but I still wouldn't do this tour. I must admit I am looking at your descriptions and the photos and thinking "I've read about that in a shore excursion."
LOL. It was an adventure that's for sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by patclairesmom
The pool looks great! Not sure about the drive though.
The pool was really nice and you can only get there by jeep or off road type vehicles. I have heard some regular guys make it, but they can get damaged easily on the drive there...plus I didn't really see signage so my guess is you have to know how to get there too.
We pulled in and I shot out to use the bathroom. I was doing the pee pee dance at this point. I ran inside and there was a desk and they were charging $1 to use the bathrooms. I asked if I could pay on the way out and they said yes and I made my way in. When I came out, I handed over my dollar to another lady and she didn’t seem to understand why. I guess I could have gone for free. LOL.
Now this was annoying, but I was ok with paying…I had to go. But this is not something Disney likes. If they are going to charge for the bathroom, it is supposed to be told to them so they can note it in the description…or they include it in the price. There should NOT be extra charges like this on any Disney excursion. Disney did take note (so I was told by others later) of the excursions that did not follow Disney policy. These ports are new, or visited not often by Disney and they can only be improved with feedback.
I came out and found everyone and the guides were giving them a talk and it was just finishing up.
Claire told me that the “big” natural bridge actually wasn’t there anymore. It had collapsed a few years ago…but the small one was still there….again not something I saw mentioned in the description. In fact I am almost positive it said we would see the big and small one…..and I just went to look to see if it is still listed and it is. “•Make a 20-minute photo stop at the Natural Bridge and the Baby Bridge.”
I also believe that we were supposed to stop at one other stop and we never did. I know we were running late and we did get back later than we were supposed to, but also our time in port had been extended till 1 AM, so it was no big deal being late.
It was so pretty. I swear the water was bluer than I have ever seen it. I am not sure if sailing in the summer was the reason…or maybe I am just crazy.
The beach looks nice, but a bit rough. Love the views and amazing how blue the water looks!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
You're right - it does say about both natural bridges in the description, as Mark read that out to me the other night and I told him I'd read in the guidebook that there was only one now, as the other had collapsed. He was really shocked Disney got that wrong in the description....
The beach looks nice, but a bit rough. Love the views and amazing how blue the water looks!
The water was gorgeous!
Quote:
Originally Posted by pamcarey
That's a bummer that the big natural bridge wasn't there anymore. I definitely went there on my honeymoon.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
I know! I would have loved to see it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
There's another formation like that somewhere that recently collapsed, but I can't remember where...
Oh wow. I guess with time it can happen, but so sad since they are beautiful.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
You're right - it does say about both natural bridges in the description, as Mark read that out to me the other night and I told him I'd read in the guidebook that there was only one now, as the other had collapsed. He was really shocked Disney got that wrong in the description....
I wondered if the tour operators gave the descriptions to Disney and they never checked on them then.
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Quite a bumpy ride and the walk on the beach with the sharp rocks does not sound like fun! 
Some nice views on the ride and from the water.
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