Discovery Cove

[minnie2000]

Has anyone here been to Discovery Cove? We haven't been, because of the cost, but DDs will be 10 and 7 this year, so we are considering it. They are both mad keen on animals, particularly dolphins, and are both good swimmers. I would love it, but always thought that we would only do it once, so I want the girls to be the right ages to enjoy and remember it.

Also, if entry is limited to 1000 guests per day, that means that Saturday would be no busier than any other day, right? It is so busy at the MK on a Saturday, I thought this would be a good day to do DC! Is it true that you also get a free ticket to Seaworld?

 

[crazydaveh]

DC is a great place to visit, but yes, it is pricey.

I believe your young ones are the best age to do it. You might want to make sure they both meet the weight requirements to swim with the dolphins.

Just to let you know, you don't get to "swim" with the dolphins. You're placed in a group of 8-12 people and you do an on land 30 minute presentation about dolphins and then to go into the water. There is one dolphin per group. Everyone gets to kiss the dolphin, touch the dolphin, ask the dolphins to do several behaviors, and yes, you get to swim out about 15 meters and let the dolphin swim you back to shore.

You are wearing life vests the entire time you're in the water.

The rest of DC is better than the dolphin swim in my opinion. They have a huge coral reef with thousands of fish that you can snorkel with. They also have a stingray lagoon where you can swim with them (barbs have been removed) and they have a really cool lazy river that floats through a bird aviary.

It's all inclusive so you can eat and drink all you want (including beer) so take advantage of that (adults).

I highly recommend going once, and yes, when DC is at capacity, it's hardly even noticed. You do not wait in lines and you don't battle for space. They built it to make you feel like you're not in a theme park!

Have fun.

 

[minnie2000]

Thanks. I didn't know about the weight requirements. Do you know what they are? Both my daughters are pretty skinny, so that may be a problem.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

We've been twice (2003 & 2006)

One thing to bear in mind - purchase of DC tickets INCLUDES 7 consecutive days admission to SeaWorld (either before your DC swim or afterwards). Now no-one I know is going to do 7 days but even if you only do SeaWorld twice then that puts the cost of DC into the more affordable bracket.

Plus as has been mentioned - There's a continental buffet style breakfast when you arrive, then theres lunch (both all you can eat - just rejoin the line) and snacks and drinks all day long.

In my opinion DC is well worth the money.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions

 

[KevGuy]

DC looks like an awesome time, a buddy of mine at work is going to do the trainer for a day thing for his oldest daughter when he goes down in a month or two. It was super expensive though, like $450 each to do it. But I guess you get behind the scenes and shadow a trainer all day through all their tasks including swimming with them/feeding them.

I would have sprung for the regular half hours swim if I had realized for our trip next month, but we should be happy with the regular action at the park and now we have an incentive for going back. My kids(6 & 9) have already informed me that we WILL be swimming with them next time we make the trip to Orlando lol.

 

[coasterphil]

I went to Discovery Cove this past Christmas and everything was perfect except the weather. The park was at capacity, but there was still plenty of room so don't worry about that. The dolphin experience was a little underwhelming, but everything else was so much better than expected that it made up for it.


Its a completely different experience from WDW. You really don't feel like you're at a "park" at all. The service is excellent, and the food is good for park fare. Plus, its nice to have the 7 day pass to SeaWorld. Depending on how you schedule things on your trip you could just go to the park for a few hours when its not busy instead of cramming everything into one day and fighting crowds.

 

[bayoutinkbelle]

I would definitely agree with what others here already have posted. DC is something we always do on our summer trips. My 13 yo DS absolutely loves it and would float down the river all day long, over and over again.

It's very relaxing and not at all like your typical theme park experience.

 

[crazydaveh]

And if you don't want to see Shamu, but want to hit the coasters at Busch Gradens, you can get seven days there instead of SeaWorld, and the shuttle is (it was a few months ago) included with the DC price.

The Trainer For A Day program is awesome. I did it a while back and you are feeding the dolphins and other fish in the coral reef.

We were lucky, ours included some Shamu stuff, I don't think it still does.

 

[kirst_al UK]

We visited in '05 for my birthday - really enjoyed it but agree with others........the actual dolphin experience is an experience but a short one at about 30 mins !! In our group there was about 8-10 - would have been better and more intimate if the groups were smaller !!

Have never been snorkling before so we started in the basic "no fish" lagoon and then went into the actual coral with (as another post states!) thousand of fish !!! I think my partner was a bit disapointed with me as soon as i set foot in the coral i stepped back out !! A 30 foot ray (well maybe not that big !!) swam by me and totally freaked me out !! Im not a very confident swimmer as it is and i got scared incase i stepped on one !! Unfortunately, my day only included the lagoon, buffet, dolphin experience, bird sanctuary and the sun !! Mind you, i shouldn't really have said "only included" as what i did do was fantastic !! Was really nice and relaxing - oh yes and i managed to top up my tan to show off back home in the rainy/cold UK !!!

Would highly recommend it - you dont have to be a fantastic swimmer to swim with the dolphins although in the lagoons there are some deep areas but there are rocks on the each side to hold on too if needs be !! Also, what i think is great, is the fact that you can do a "swim" and a "non-swim" - so if some of your party dont fancy the dolphin swim you dont have to pay full pops !!

Anyway, hope this helps !!

:wave:

 

[Jenna]

I loved DC-Went at the end of July 06 and it was awesome

Found the dolphin swim the best part although I also loved the tropical fish lagoon-I must admit I nearly died anytime a ray came near me lol! Scaaary!

Like the resort pool aswell, was fun just to mess about with the snorkels etc.

Didnt venture into the aviary as I dont like birds but it is an awesome experience! My sisters who did it with me were 10 and 6 and loved it too

Will be going to DC again when we return to orlando in 08! Will also be getting the 7 day Busch garden pass as we went to seaworld last time!