Dolphin swim and splashes

[snookhams]

This is probably going to sound a really stupid question, but do the dolphins splash you very much during the swim?

I will explain my reason for asking, my youngest son (6yrs) has always had a slight fear of water, but has been having swimming lessons for just over a year and his confidence was improving so we booked, last Nov, the Dolphin swim etc for the whole family, but we have just had a disaster, a new swimming instructor wanted him to pick something up from the floor of the pool and when he wouldn't she physically held him under the water 3 times. He is now absolutly petrified to get the water on his face, and I am worried that he will not enjoy this magical experience as much as he would have, I am having great problems getting him to go swimming now, and Daddy has even booked himself in for lesson in the hopes that this will help. Just to add that the instructor involved was instantly dismissed as this is not an approved teaching method here in the UK (she was canadian and said that this was a reconised teaching method there).

What I really want to know is will he be frightened or do you take everything at the pace of the people involved..........

[Cindy B]

YOu will get splashed (sorry), at the tail end of the show, our dolphin (DASH) did a "shark" impression. Everyone in our group got wet..

Remember its an animal.. and they love to jump. We did get wet quite a bit, but we enjoyed it a lot.

[EKIMR]

Hi,

Not sure if you have been and gone by now. But we only got wet really when we did the dolphin ride.

Other groups had the shark attack thing, we didn't.

Your child could alway wear the snorkel goggles which were supplied before the ride anyway.

Best of luck

Mike

[robvia]

Shark attack thing? They never did that with my group.

I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. The kid will have a mask on so you can look under water at the dolphin. You'll be standing in waist deep water. Sometimes the dolphin will splash as they swim away, but it's really nothing. Most people laugh when this happens. It's a gradual process. You wade into the water, they bring the dolphin up, you pet it, make it do a trick, listen to the trainer for a few minutes talk about the different parts, then you get a ride to the shore. By this time any fear will be gone because everyone is having a great time.

I wouldn't let a bad incident at home ruin a good trip. See if your kid can go in the water with a mask on in the shallow end. And tell your kid they'll have a wet suit on the entire time which keeps them on the surface of the water. It's very hard to go under water.

[Suzan]

I am a bit confused. I read that when the dolphin tows you to shore that you start in 30 feet of water instead of waist high. Which is correct? Thanks!

[robvia]

Both are correct.

After your little educational lesson about the dolphin, a kiss, and the trick, you do the ride to the shore.

You paddle out to the middle of the pool, only about 10 yards. You can't sink because you have a wet suit on, you automatically float. You pet the dolphin, then each person gets a ride to the shore.

OR

You can do what is called a "slingshot ride" where you start on the shore, the dolphin takes you to the middle and back without stopping.

There was a girl in my group who couldn't swim and she did this and had a great time. She was laughing the entire way.

Go to my web site with pics to get an idea of what is going on.

http://www.pompano.net/~robvia/SeaWorld1.htm

[jennymouse]

Hey robvia, I enjoyed your report. It was very informative. I'm sending my DD and DGD to Discovery Cove on our trip to Florida in October. I read somewhere that the actual dolphin encounter was about 90 minutes long....is this how long you're in the dolphin pool total? I guess it's really only 20 minutes?

[robvia]

Thanks.

The swim is 20 minutes. It used to be more but they cut it back a little bit.

You watch a little video and talk with the trainers before going out, and then after the swim, you can ask the trainers more questions. The entire time from when you start to when it's over is about 1 hour, but the actual swim is over in a flash, but well worth it.

[CdnMom2]

I just had to reply snookhams regarding your poor son's "swim" lesson. I am Canadian with 4 children in swim lessons (through various fear stages) for over 6 years (MANY different instructors and at several different locales/camps over the years). I can't imagine where such an ASSAULT on a child would be considered "an approved teaching method." Certainly sounds like a made up bluff to me. I'm sure with taking things low pressure in the water with your son (but definitely continuing in/near water) from now until your trip and the entirely different atmosphere people describe at the DC he will be happy to join in by the time you go. So sorry to hear what happened to him. Good luck.

[ivanova]

I can totally sympathize -- when our DD was 3yrs old we had a babysitter with a pool that was gung-ho on making sure all her charges were "water safe." Unfortunately her methods included "dunking" the kids under water ... don't see how that works to help them learn how to swim!!

My DD was scared of water after that, especially any kind of water on her face. She will be turning 12 in a couple of weeks, and just learned how to swim without freaking in the last summer or two.

She's thrilled about doing the Dolphin Swim ... once she knew she'd be wearing a vest & wouldn't have to worry about drowning (hmmm, holdover from her trauma at age 3 ya think??).

My only suggestion would be to talk discreetly with the trainers before your scheduled swim time. See if they can help you out ... maybe putting you between your DS and dolphins so he doesn't get splashed?

[Granny]

ivanova....you said exactly what I was going to suggest. The trainers are there to ensure guest and dolphin safety but also to make sure the guests have a good time.

snookhams...I'll bet if you talk to the trainer (out of earshot of your son), he/she will make sure the encounter is a "fright free" experience.

One note...not meant to frighten anyone, but these dolphins are a little bigger than I thought they'd be. And their power is incredible...you can really feel it as they tow you through the water.

If a child doesn't enjoy "thrill rides" at the parks, the dolphin "ride" might not be a great idea. Just a thought. I would hate any child to be scared of what is an unbelievable experience.

[seaworld2004]

i did the dolphin befor and it was great i swimmed with goofi

[snookhams]

I just had to let everyone know that since my first post back in February Matthew - my youngest has come on in leaps and bounds with his swimming, all helped by Daddy taking lessons too and the purchase of a pair of goggles - we always go swimming as a family at least once a week but treat this as funtime and not an extended lesson although we sometimes work on things that he is finding difficult and last week he swam 25 metres on his back and then 25 metres on his front - I am soooo looking forward now to DC by the time August is here he will be like the 'man from Atlantis' and has now gone up from the beginners class to the intermediates and he is so proud of himself.

He had a dreadful experience but I am glad to say that he managed to put it behind him, and if anything it seems to have made him more determined to swim - but will we be able to take his goggles into DC I know they give you a mask but am unsure how he will feel without his trusty companions............

[Laurajean1014]

How early do you need to book the Dolphin swim? A day, week, month, year? We were hoping to do it the day we arrive in Orlando before our cruise.

Also, how much is it? Can a family of three go together?

Thanks in advance :p

[Suzan]

The cost is about $200.00 per person. I made ressies about 4 months in advance with no problem. You just need to call as soon as possible to check on availability. They only allow 1000 people in a day. Oh, the $200.00 admission includes a 7 day pass to seaworld and all you will need at Discovery Cove, such as, towels, a locker, lotion, snorkle gear and dinner. You do go as a group so all in your party will swim with the dolphin at the same time. Hope this helps. You can also go the the DC website:www.discoverycove.com for more information.

[Pixie_Dust]

I have booked this for October and am a little ticked to read here they have cut the swim short since we have paid many hundreds of dollars for the experience.

As for the 7 days to Sea World pass, when I first started researching this trip I had been told, and posted here, that if I had an annual pass to Busch Gardens I would get $30 off the DC tickets, but what they didn't tell me then is that if you get the $30 off you do NOT get the 7 days to Sea World. This is the opposite of what they told me at first, but fortunately I learned this before I bought the DC tickets. So we decided to buy the annual pass to Sea World instead, which means we won't need the 7 days anywy, plus we'll get free parking at Sea World. In the regular situation you get 7 days for the extra $30 each but also have to pay $20 extra for a parking pass.

As for Busch Gardens, we decided to get one day plus one extra for $10.95 each passes and stay at the Days Inn within walking distance so we don't have to park. Having the Sea World annual pass gave us discounts to their Howl-O-Scream night, as well as discounts to the Sea World luau and some other stuff.

Cheers :)

[snookhams]

just got back, landed at Gatwick yesterday morning.

Our day at DC was magical, and Matthew loved it although he was a little clingy during the dolphin swim, I think it was partly excitment and partly how cold the water was, just watched the video, felt that it was a little amateurish for the money but would have bought it anyway as a memory of the holiday. The rest of the day was out of this world and the only fault that we could come up with was the suncream, we all burnt, although we applied it liberally and regularly, but even this did not spoil what was a magical day with memories that we will cherish for a lifetime. I'm hoping to persuade DH that we will need another visit on our next Florida holiday in 2004

[pgcg]

I have booked discovery cove during our trip but I was wondering how it will work. There are 7 of us going but only 2 will be swimming with the dolphins. My 2 7 year olds will be doing the swim. Where will the rest of us go? Will we be able to watch? Also, this sounds like a full day with dinner?

Thanks for your help.

[pattyT]

I assume that the others in your group are paying the $119 wich allowed you access to everything but the actual half hour Dolphin swim -

Definately make a full day of it! There are many other things to do - lay around in a hammock - (my husbands favorite)the lazy river - (my 2 year old sons favorite-)the Bird Atrium - swim in the Coral Reef and the sting Ray Lagoon are all available for those not swimming with the Dolphins!

The rest of you might be able to see the actual swim very well depending on where they are schedualed for there swim! It appreared to me that only one of the spots was a distance away from the 'shore' I loved just watching the other groups through the day as well! The Dolphins are amazing!

It was one of our favorite - relaxing days! HAVE FUN :cool:

[Eclpz314]

My husband did not do the dolphin swim with the boys and I, but enjoyed every aspect of the rest of the place. He also managed to get some great video of us all during the swim! He was on the rock divider wall with other people and no one told them to move back to the beach. I just posted about my online album somewhere here. Every picture of us with the dolphins was taken by my husband (plus we bought the irresistable one of Hailey the dolphin w/boys.....then I bought a frame in the gift shop for it....couldn't resist! lol We had a blast and would pay to do the whole thing over again! Only difference would be to not buy the 4-park length of stay pass (US, IOA, SW, WnW) Didn't know until too late that the DC badges would be good for 7 days at SW....and WnWild wasn't really impressive. Oh, btw, how cold WAS the dolphin water? Well, our guide told us to go kneel, shoulder deep "all at once just like pulling off a bandaid" lol (if you look at the pictures in sequence, you'll see which one of us had the most trouble with that ; )
Send me a pm with your email address and I'll send you to the photos!

[JoniGirl]

Originally posted by snookhams
I just had to let everyone know that since my first post back in February Matthew - my youngest has come on in leaps and bounds with his swimming, all helped by Daddy taking lessons too and the purchase of a pair of goggles - we always go swimming as a family at least once a week but treat this as funtime and not an extended lesson although we sometimes work on things that he is finding difficult and last week he swam 25 metres on his back and then 25 metres on his front - I am soooo looking forward now to DC by the time August is here he will be like the 'man from Atlantis' and has now gone up from the beginners class to the intermediates and he is so proud of himself.

He had a dreadful experience but I am glad to say that he managed to put it behind him, and if anything it seems to have made him more determined to swim - but will we be able to take his goggles into DC I know they give you a mask but am unsure how he will feel without his trusty companions............

Glad to hear it - enjoy your trip!

[snookhams]

Just wanted to upsate everyone, we went to Orlando again this August, encountered 'Charley' don't want to see another hurricane again, but we went to DC again (we used some of DH redundacny money) and Matthew enjoyed it so much more this time, I really wish we had waited for him to have more water confidence, this time the 2 boys swam out together for the swim/pull back to shore, and DH stayed at the ledge to watch, it was really nice to see them enjoying it (this had been booked as a surprise and they had no idea that we were going until we parked in carpark), they both snorkelled in the stingray lagoon as well , in fact the only one to chiken out of that was DH but he is the weakest swimmer of the four of us, all in all we had a fantastic day again, the atmosphere and surroundings are fantastic only spoiled slightly by a terrible (and boy do I mean terrible) thunderstorm in the afternoon when a lightening bolt hit really near by and we weren't allowed to walkaround had to stay under cover or in shop/restaurant for about 20 mins, Matthew got a bit panicked then as he thought that another hurricane was on the way, and this time we did not have the safety of the closet we had hidden in, but the staff were brilliant at calming him down and taking his mind of it and we were all soon back in the water, and we stayed until closing time.

[Mouseman11]

You can speak to the trainer before you get in the pool and explain the situation to them. Your son will be able to pet and give the dolphin a kiss and have his picture taken with the dolphin but they will tell you he can't ride the dolphin if he is scared of getting water on his face. It will limit the experience but he will still have fun. We had goofy as our dolphin and he was great. He helped my propose to my girlfriend by getting a toy from the other side of the pool that said "will you marry me". He swam under water all the way right up to her and gave it to her. Anyway good luck you'll have ablast

Didn't realize the post was from 2002 but hay I'm new to this