DC trip report

[NHMickeyLvr]

As the previous post says, Discovery Cove is AMAZING!

We went on April 1st. Arrived at the Cove at 8am, and without requesting a specific dolphin swim time, we were told to report to our cabana at 8:50am. We went for our lockers, than our wetsuit/swim vests, and headed to the breakfast buffet. We arrived there at 8:40 and thought the line would be too long to get our food, eat, and get to the cabana in 10 minutes, so we just headed to the cabana. There we were split in to three groups, A, B, and C. It seemed each group consisted of two families. It was four of us, and a family of four visiting from the UK. We were lucky and had two dolphins for our interaction. First was Iggy, an 18 month old who was in "training" and was joy to experience. For our dorsal tow, we had Coral, an 8 year old who was the first dolphin born at DC. It was the experience of a lifetime to interact with such beautiful and gracious animals. A shot of the beach stretching in front of the three dolphin pools:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2397.jpg

Then we made it back to the breakfast buffet, which is served until 10:30.
After that, we made our way over to the Coral Reef and Stingray pool.

A few shots of the pool area on our way over:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2398.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2401.jpg

The stingray pool:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2404.jpg

The Coral Reef area:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2405.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2402.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2400.jpg

Some underwater pics:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/PICT0041.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/PICT0044.jpg

Let's try a video or two:

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<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/CoralReef3.flv">

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/CoralReef1.flv">

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/CoralReefStingray2.flv">

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/CoralReefStingray.flv">

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/CoralReefBarracuda.flv">

Then it was time for the Lazy River:

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/LazyRiver2.flv">

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/DarbyLazyRiver2.flv">

<embed width="448" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" src="http://i191.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/DarbyLazyRiver.flv">

Then we hit the bird aviary:

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2431.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2426.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2455.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2418.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2419.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2422.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2424.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2436.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z195/Filippics/100_2442.jpg


This was without a doubt worth every penney, and I want to go back next week:yay:. I may very well change my name to dolphinguy247.


:worship::worship::worship:

[NHMickeyLvr]

Thank you Phamton:thumbsup2

[scootch]

Thanks for the report. Did you like having that early time??? or if you could chose again, would you go for a bit later???? great pics and videos.

[wen8jr]

Great report & pics! Glad you had a good time.

Was the park filled to capacity that day? It seems like there were quite a few people there on your day compared to other pics of DC I have seen. Did you find it crowded at all?

[NHMickeyLvr]

We were actually glad to have gotten the early time, we relaxed the rest of the day, without having to have that "watch checking" worry.

The park was full. I hate crowds and didn't feel a bit crowded. There was one time in lazy river where there was a bottleneck of people, but it was really only maybe 10 people, not a big deal at all. Lines for breakfast and lunch were miniscule, 5 minute wait each time. I can't say enough about how well coordinated the place is.

I would suggest grabbing some beach chairs near the pool/lazy river/coral reef area. We first grabbed chairs near our dolphin pool, than quickly realized for the rest of the day we would be at the other end of the park.

I'm still daydreaming about the place:
:yay::woohoo::banana::worship::cheer2::jumping3:

[wen8jr]

Thanks, that makes me feel better. We hate crowds too, plus DH is not a big swimmer so I'm hoping the crowds will be a little lighter as I think that would add to his enjoyment in the water. :)

Do the people thin out a little in the afternoon (people that are leaving early, etc.)?

Should we get chairs first thing upon check in or go for wet suits, etc. first? I'd like chairs with an umbrella since it will probably be pretty hot down there come June.

How was the food?

[NHMickeyLvr]

I would go for the wetsuit/swim vest first, then lockers, than chairs. We were able to get great seats at 9:30, but they didn't have umbrellas. There are plenty of umbrella chairs to go around though. Truth be told, we didn't sit in the chairs for one minute of the day. As far as your DH not being a good swimmer, my Dad was with us and he hasn't swam in 20 years. The swim vest keeps you afloat and it's actually hard to even get a foot under water, not to mention there isn't many places that you can't stand anyway.

I didn't notice any thinning of crowds, you will be having such a great time you won't even notice.

The food was great. There is a great choice of foods for lunch. I had a marinated chicken breast with potatos and vegetables. There is also salmon, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken tenders, salads, wraps, and great deserts, I had the key lime pie. For breakfast it was mostly bagels, danish, cereals, muffins, etc...

[wen8jr]

Awesome - Thanks again. :goodvibes

[MomofCKJ]

Thanks for your review! My DD and I are going in August for our first time and are really excited!

Allyson

[scrappinmom]

GREAT report!

Wasn't it just amazing? I knew it would be fun, but I really underestimated how much in awe I would be.

I haven't even uploaded my own pics yet! the ones I used were all from the DC picture disk. Between DC, Disney, and staying at AKL I have over 3000 pictures to sort thru on 3 cameras! & we have underwater pics & video too. Which camera did you use? oldest dd got an Olympus for Christmas & it worked just great underwater!

Glad you had fun...we did too!