In Reply to: Bali first timer with Family in tow! posted by genoch on Wednesday, 28. July 2010 at 21:14 Bali Time:
Bali Safari Marine Park web site says there is a shuttle bus that collects from the Dynasty Hotel. The shuttle is a free service. Schedule can be found on their site under Visitors Info. They will return you also.
The Elephant Park is north of Ubud and will take some time to get to from Kuta. Bali Adventure Tours has a price on their site quoting park admission for a family of USD$44 and with an elephant ride USD$160. Might be a more difficult journey given the ages of your children.
We have been to both and with 11 days, I would choose only 1 of these and that would be the Safari Park because of the range of animals and activities compared with elephants only at Taro.
Don't forget to allow a day at Waterbom Park which is just up the road from where you are staying. Book a cabana near the children's pool. Out of peak time, you can pre-book your preferred cabana a day ahead.
As jubillee said, book tours up there and also get a price from a couple of tour booths along the street before committing.
I'm not sure of the particular monkey tour you mention but monkeys can be unpredictable and jump around quite quickly so also again, with the ages of your children in mind, they might be a little scared. I wouldn't do this.
Allowing a couple of days to settle in, and given the nature of your hotel and the children's activities on offer there, you might be happy to restrict your tour days to two or three only.
TIP - Unless you want a time share talk, do not take a card off anyone on the street or agree to answer questions for anyone carrying a file board saying they are doing a tourism questionnaires. The time-share touts are rife along that stretch up to Discovery Mall and then around the Kuta Art Markets and Kuta Square. Don't worry, they really don't hassle once you decline though.
Enjoy your holiday.