In Reply to: hi jacqui posted by stormy on Tuesday, 12. February 2008 at 21:00 Bali Time:
Hi Jacqui, you will have a great day but take swimming stuff for adults and kids. Our 17yr olds joined the 8 yr old on the waterslides and they fitted on the slides well and us adults splashed about in the shallows cause we didnt bring bathers - bummer. The pool is like a mini waterbom park with tilting bucket etc and it was really nice to cool of there and refresh before the drive home. The lifeguards didnt have a problem with our bigger kids on the slides or us and the places was deserted, we were the only people in the swimming area. There is also an adult depth lap pool for you to cool off in - they are catering for the villas residents. We got kicked out at 5pm but could have stayed another 3 hours easily, so go early to you get the most out of your day. Try and go on a weekday as the weekends are busier with locals.
There are 2 restaurants to eat at, the window one in the lion enclosure is more expensive (not drastic) but lovely atmosphere, its A/cond and makes great cappucino's!!.
You can even see a lion from ladies toilets and all their paw marks down the dunny window!! It makes you happy the glass is tough !! If you ask here they will take you on a tour of the accommodation villas.
The other restaurant is more like a food hall type area, very big and cheaper, nearer to the swimming pool area and shops. The shop was quite cheap especially when compared to Aussie prices. My little ones spent their pocket money here on huge stuffed tigers (about 1 metre long) for Au$10 -12, similar size ones back in Qld at dreamworld were about $80. They were very happy and used them as pillow on the plane cause they wouldnt fit in any of our luggage.
It got us thru customs at both ends rather nicely as they were a talking (read distraction) point!! Not that we had anything to hide!!
Apart from the extra cost of lunch and drinks we paid extra 20,000 per person($2.50 about) for photo sessions (use your own camera and they let you take as many photos as you want) with every animal on show as they were all incredibly responsive and fun and you would rarely get that opportunity in Australia.
I will wait til 2009 for my next visit and stay in a villa as by the time the marine side opens it will be a 2 day excursion for sure to see it all well.
They also have a small kiddy land rides area which you pay for seperately which the kids loved. The guys gave them extra rides without paying, they were so happy to have customers I think !!
They were in middle of building the bumper cars and roller coaster for the bigger "kids" but i dont know when they will be finished.
There is an ATM onsite if you need more money.
Have a terrific time.
cheers Deb