On the Way to Swim with the Dolphins!
My daughter Quinnlin was recently granted a wish that has been in the works for over 2 years. She was recommended to the Make-A-Wish Foundation by her Child Life Specialist and health care team at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta because she has a chronic, life-threatening illness (recessive polycystic kidney disease) like her brother and has included kidney failure and a kidney transplant at age eight.
Quinnlin’s first wish didn’t come through because what she thought was one way they handled a celebrity wish (meeting iCarly star Miranda Cosgrove) wasn’t the way the wish was coming together so my daughter decided to change her wish with the support of her volunteers and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
She decided on a Disney Cruise and was lucky enough to get it scheduled on their new ship; the Disney Dream. Months before we left we arranged a couple of excursions of her choice. A dolphin “experience” while docked at Nassau, Bahamas and a stingray “experience” at Disney’s own island. We splurged outside our provided budget. Big time. But when you have a sick kid (or two) and they’ve been through a lot, when and if you get the chance to do something magical, well, you just do, so $199 per person didn’t seem like that much to “receive the unique opportunity for playful, educational interaction with these wonderful animals in the beautiful turquoise waters of our natural ocean lagoon.”
Did I mention she survived years of kidney failure, treatment, tests and a kidney transplant?
Yeah. That.
I could just taste the irresistible video and photos I would get of her and her brother swimming with the dolphins all giggly and smiles and I COULD NOT RESIST IT even though I am all for the ethical treatment of all animals and some people could find this dolphin experience questionable. I should also say even though I eat some kinds of animals (none of them dolphins!) I still want them to be treated ethically.
I mean, for the record.
But I know. I know! Many people are not fans of any kind of captivity/shows with animals but, but, but…we each kissed, danced and played with the pair of dolphins that were assigned to our family! It was magical! The dolphins looked happy (as far as my happiness trained eye could tell) well cared for, and the people that cared for them seemed genuinely interested in educating people about dolphins and their habitats.
Taken by the fine people who care for the dolphins, paid for by me.
I’m sorry there are dolphins being made to work for tourists (kind of)! I’m sorry that we spent a lot of money paying the people to continue making them work for tourists (not really)! I’m sorry it was so fantastic to be swimming with the dolphins! We frolicked and we have a video and pictures to prove it. Oh, by the way, we also snorkeled with captive stingrays (I know, we’re horrible).
Sorry PETA, even looking back I know for certain I would absolutely do it again. Because honestly, who could resist a kid being kissed on the temple by a happy dolphin?
Not me.
About Julia Roberts
I love this post! What a great photo. And yes, I’m a big animal lover and I’ve always thought those dolphins probably like the affection. Sending good thoughts to you and the kids. My gosh, is she cute!!!
Twitter Name: suitcasetricks
I know! They seemed happy! That did make ME happy. And well, the cuteness. I couldn’t resist! Thanks for agreeing with the cuteness, of course!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
Awesome! I love that your family got to do this! I remember providing the opportunity for my sons to participate in a dolphin program in CA, it was awesome (I cried the whole time, I know, I’m whack).
I cried a little, too. Luckily that isn’t on the grainy DVD we bought for 60 bucks. It WAS magical though!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
I completely understand the PETA point of view… But they are dolphins! And you get to swim with them! And they look so happy! I don’t think that dolphin minds, do you?
Twitter Name: ssfrigerio
No, they didn’t mind at all! I’m (mostly) sure of it! Plus, we got some great pictures and video.
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
I love it I am also all for animals being respected and not abused or forced to perform for out amusement. I have some issues with PETA though because someone from peta or claiming to be working with them once tried to “free” my service dog from my care. Told me I was using her as a slave. So not the way a good service animal and person partnership works. My dog is well cared for and loved. TYVM I love the pictures. I hope your family had a wonderful time and the dolphin looks happy to me too
Twitter Name: lillytiger
I can’t believe someone/group would begrudge service dog – dogs WHO CLEARLY LOVE TO SERVE – should be ashamed of themselves.
The dolphins were well fed and happy!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
Anyone (and by anyone, I mean PETA) who would judge you for this, after all you’ve been through/ go through, needs to take a giant step back and literally… Well, you know the rest.
Looks so fun!
Twitter Name: LisaACOTA
It was so fun! And well, PEOPLE JUDGE you know? Just last week I got hate email for a post I did about a hate site (making fun of kids in strollers for sheer sport, not taking into play invisible disabilities.
You know some people do not like our dolphin fun! But it was so worth it…
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
Dear Julia, I don’t know you, but someone I care about does and thinks you rock so that carries a lot of weight with me. As far as PETA or anyone else wanting to go all apeshank, batshiv crazy on your for giving YOUR children this experience. Let me offer to you this little buffer. The smile on their faces, the bounce in their anticipation, the memories they will surely pass on in a paper or story is something that is theirs forever. Disney is remarkable for their treatment of these animals, and although just like you, me and every person who has ever held a picket sign or thrown red pain on someone no one can make everyone happy. You and your children have the right to be happy. You didn’t order fresh monkey brains, with a side dish of near extinct triple ring lemur liver. Don’t apologize for making beautiful memories with your beautiful children, with these beautiful mammals who are indeed quite social. The memory is too happy to taint. XO my dear XO
Twitter Name: IamThePeachy1
First…who thinks I rock? I must know! Also? Thanks for your kind words and support! We did love all we did…and especially the dolphin experience!
All great memories!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
I don’t blame you a bit. Esp. cause one of our favorite trips to take each year is to SeaWorld with the kids and I’ve been chomping at the bit waiting for them to get old enough to swim with dolphins, dance with penguins and all that jazz. What an amazing experience for your kids. The photo of your gorgeous daughter and the adorable dolphin is priceless.
Twitter Name: coolwhipmom
I can’t wait for your kids to be old enough to swim with the dolphins! Such a great memory for us!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
Screw PETA!
So glad you had the opportunity to take this amazing trip and make some special wishes come true. The Disney Dream looks amazing! As long as no children/moms/dads/dolphins/stingrays were hurt in the making of these wishes come true (like you weren’t dolphin HUNTING for goodness sake), people should shut up and be happy for you!
Twitter Name: HeatherSchiavo
All dolphins and stingrays were treated well! In fact, we couldn’t get with them until we went through a little training!
And the Dream? Well, it was a dream! Big, for sure. We’re interested in talking a cruise on their smaller ship.
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
Dominant PKD runs in my family. We have to stick together – I will totally whup some PETA ass in your defense if you need me to.
Twitter Name: escameron
Yes we do! If they come after me you’re the first one I’m calling!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1
I live near PETA headquarters and I can tell you those people are NUTS. If they had happened to choose that day to “demonstrate” their disapproval of the dolphins’ treatment, do not think for one second that they would ever have considered that they were ruining your children’s special wish, or anyone else’s beautiful day for that matter. They would have given no consideration to that at all.
I love what you did for your kids and I hope you don’t feel the need to apologize AT ALL.
Yeah…I’m guessing they wouldn’t have cared about her wish, which is why I didn’t link to the dolphin people’s site!
Twitter Name: juliaroberts1