What time did you arrive at DC?

[hunter.deal]

I realize this is a loaded question possibly since the running theme is "early" but I'm curious how early is early in most peoples cases.

So if you don't mind post what time you arrived at DC and how many openings (times) were available to you on the dolphin experience?

My family and I are headed down for a June 1st visit to DC and we will be staying at the Nick hotel (I have not mapped directions and estimated travel time yet).

[Brook1099]

We always arrive between 8 am and 8:30. @ checkin they will take pictures for your id cards that u wear around your neck all day ( during dolphin swim u are asked to tuck them in your suit), given your time for your swim w/ dolphins.On your id w/ swim time and location on it. We go in Nov. so I do ask for a later in the day swim do to temps. but June, early would be fine. You are then asked to walk down the beautiful path were you will get your complimentary pictures. Then you will be grouped if never been for someone to go over things with you. Then a complimentary breakfast. Then you make your way to wetsuits, googles, sunblock pickup and lockers.


Then Have A Blast all day!! It is so much fun, relaxing, gorgeous place.


Snacks and drinks all day and a lunch or dinner.

I am so bad w/ drive times but I can say it doesnot take long at all from Nick Hotel ( love it here).
I am guessing about 15 min.

We usually pick at snacks all day and right before we leave we change into dry clothes and have our meal.

[hunter.deal]

Thanks for your post. It feels good to read about someone else's experience to give me a better idea how mine will go and promote a sense of security knowing my thoughts align with all I've read in order to have the best time possible. I'm going to shoot for same arrival timeframe and as you mention an early swim with the dolphins since it will be nice and warm in June, and then have the rest of the day to enjoy the fish and birds and all the wonderful things. I hope to make my DD11 and DS8 (and wife) so excited that I fear they will all pop. :)

[rpbert1]

We went last July, we arrived at 7:45, and there was quite a queue on then, although it moved quickly

[Tillikumtrainer]

I arrvied at 7:20am and I got the first swim of the day 9am. I advise you to do a test run the day before, It took me 10 minutes to get to DC. Well probably because i know the seaworld area really well..lol

[PT4Life]

Last time we went to DC, we arrived at 7:45 and received the first dolphin swim time of 9:00, but we could have chosen any of the other swim times throughout the day (just easier to do the dolphin swim first and then spend the rest of the day leisurely enjoying the rest of the park.)

[hunter.deal]

That's exactly what i'm looking for too, the first swim or at least within the first 1.5 hours...

[Poohbeck]

We just went on the 22nd. We got there at about 8:15am and the line was already outside and down the sidewalk. It did move very quickly though. When we got our ID's they already had our Dolphin swim time printed on the ID, we got 10:05am which was fine with me. We were checked in, got my special prescription goggles, got a locker, dressed in the wet suits and eating breakfast by 9:15am. We did a quick swim and then headed over to our Dolphin hut to check in.

Fabulous day!

[hunter.deal]

Wow, I wonder how your time was pre-icked, sounds like a really good pick though.

[KittenLittle]

We are going on May 27,and we plan to get there at 7:45.I want to be able to have a leisurely breakfast,so I hope my daughter's dolphin time is not too early. I need a prescription mask to wear so I can see what I'm doing,and I hope they have plenty! I wonder if I need to call and reserve this mask??:confused3

[Poohbeck]

We are going on May 27,and we plan to get there at 7:45.I want to be able to have a leisurely breakfast,so I hope my daughter's dolphin time is not too early. I need a prescription mask to wear so I can see what I'm doing,and I hope they have plenty! I wonder if I need to call and reserve this mask??:confused3

We went last year, but, this is what I remember:

*They assign swim times based on when you arrive, so, the earlier you arrive, the earlier your swim.
*As for the goggles, you go to the counter with your prescription and they'll give you a pair. I seem to remember it's first come, first serve - I was the only one at the counter to get a pair. They were awesome!!!! :)

[cajunaggie]

Can you request a later swim? We will probably arrive between 8-8:30 but due to son having Autism, I would like to show him around the park a little before we have our dolphin encounter.

I am thinking like a 10:30-11:30 swim time-can I state that I would like this later time if we get an earlier assignment?

[SmallWorld71]

We arrived at 7:50 (August) and there was quite a line. They started checking people in at 8 and as PP said, it moved quickly. The swim time we were given was 9:25; we didn't try to get a different time. A nice thing about having a morning time in the summer is less chance of getting caught in one of the typical afternoon thunderstorms.

As far as the prescription mask, DH had no problems getting them. He was also the only one at the counter making that request. They worked well; he really can't see much without his glasses and did well with the mask. We did not reserve a mask.

I will admit that I was nervous before we went as I was unsure of how things would go. But, they are so organized there that I needn't have worried. It was such a relaxing, fabulous day for all of us!:goodvibes

[KittenLittle]

We went last year, but, this is what I remember:

*They assign swim times based on when you arrive, so, the earlier you arrive, the earlier your swim.
*As for the goggles, you go to the counter with your prescription and they'll give you a pair. I seem to remember it's first come, first serve - I was the only one at the counter to get a pair. They were awesome!!!! :)

Hi! What do you mean by-go to counter WITH YOUR PRESCRIPTION? Do you mean I can't get the special goggles without a note from my eye doc??I thought you could just try some on and pick the best for you.
Please elaborate-thanks!

[SmallWorld71]

Hi! What do you mean by-go to counter WITH YOUR PRESCRIPTION? Do you mean I can't get the special goggles without a note from my eye doc??I thought you could just try some on and pick the best for you.
Please elaborate-thanks!

DH didn't have his prescription with him; he didn't have any trouble getting a mask. :)

[KittenLittle]

Whew! Thanks!
I am just nervous about being without my glasses for any length of time! If I have to leave them in my locker while I wear my mask to snorkel,I just wonder about getting around. :confused3I would like to wear my glasses in the lazy river so I can see stuff! I'm confused about the logistics because this is my first time to DC.
Can anyone help??:flower3:

[SmallWorld71]

Whew! Thanks!
I am just nervous about being without my glasses for any length of time! If I have to leave them in my locker while I wear my mask to snorkel,I just wonder about getting around. :confused3I would like to wear my glasses in the lazy river so I can see stuff! I'm confused about the logistics because this is my first time to DC.
Can anyone help??:flower3:

JMO - But, we used the masks in the lazy river. It's not your typical lazy river where you would float around on a tube. There are no tubes - you are swimming. There are many parts of it where you can stand/ walk but also a lot of it is deep (over an adults head) so you are really swimming. While you certainly could swim above water, we found it more interesting to do some of it under water (essentially snorkeling although there are no fish). There is also at least one part where you go under a waterfall like area I wouldn't want to wear reg. glasses in it. If anyone in your party is unable to swim or fatigues there are life vests available for use in the river and the snorkeling area.

You may want your glasses for the aviary and/ or for eating lunch or just sitting with a snack. It is a little bit of a pain, but the place isn't too big so it really isn't much walking. You may want to visit the aviary before or after lunch in order to minimize trips to the locker. Honestly though, I made several trips to the locker throughout the day (waiting for a text; sister's baby was due) and it really isn't too far - closer than the ones at your typical water park such as Blizzard Beach.

DH did wear his regular glasses for our dolphin interaction as there is no actual swimming under water.

[KittenLittle]

Yea-thanks!!
I guess I thought it might be too far for me to walk BLIND:laughing:back and forth to the lockers!
I JUST CANNOT WAIT!!!:banana:

[SmallWorld71]

Yea-thanks!!
I guess I thought it might be too far for me to walk BLIND:laughing:back and forth to the lockers!
I JUST CANNOT WAIT!!!:banana:

I double checked with DH and he said that they asked him a few ?s about his eye sight and then handed him several masks to try. He said the 2nd pair was perfect, so he didn't try on any more. He said there were tons of masks so unless there was some fluke where everyone visiting that day needed them, there wouldn't be any chance of them running out.

[Dizneydaz]

Just so you know, on the lazy river while you do swim it (no tubes) there are some noodles around that you can use on the river.

Also, the prescription masks are great. Both my DM and DD used them. The woman at the counter asked them a few questions and then gave them one to try. I think my DD tried on a 2nd one for a clearer view. What's really nice about those masks is they seem to have a larger glass area than the standard women's ones. Better viewing.

Have a wonderful time!

[SandraLee]

How long does the swim take?

[PiratesGirl]

We just came back last night and had an amazing day at DC. We arrived around 8:00AM and our swim time was 10:30. It was a good time since we had to go get wetsuits, a locker, prescription masks and have breakfast. By the way breakfast ends at 10:30 so if your swim is at 9:30 or later you will need to get breakfast first. You need to be in your wetsuit with your sunscreen on at the time of your swim. You check in and then watch a short video and go down to the water. Total time in the water was about 30 minutes. GET THE WETSUIT for the swim! The water is kept at 73 degrees so it is cold. You can switch to a vest after if you aren't comfortable. Also, the stingray pool and coral reef where you snorkel is cold. The lockers we used were between the dolphin pool and the lazy river pool. If you want to use a life jacket or a tube for the lazy river grab one when you first get there. They ran out by mid-morning. Also, if you want a chair under an umbrella put something down on it to save your spot. There are two waterfalls in the lazy river (my daughter didn't like that part). You also can get out and walk through the aviary from the lazy river. In places the lazy river is deep so if you don't want to swim take a noodle with you. It takes about 15 minutes to do the river so don't do it close to your swim time. Make sure you seek out the photographers and wear your ID so they can tag your pictures. We had some taken that they put under misc. because I wasn't wearing my ID and they couldn't find them at the end of the day. Photographers are only out until about 3:30PM. You will love it!

[KittenLittle]

PG-it sounds like you had just the best time!! I hope we will,too!
I am still having a hard time envisioning the lazy river/aviary thing wearing just my prescription mask and not my glasses. I do want to be able to snorkel,but I think I will look very strange up in the aviary wearing that mask!:lmao:
I DO want to be able to see the birds,though!
Any more hints??

[KittenLittle]

PG-it sounds like you had just the best time!! I hope we will,too!
I am still having a hard time envisioning the lazy river/aviary thing wearing just my prescription mask and not my glasses. I do want to be able to snorkel,but I think I will look very strange up in the aviary wearing that mask!:lmao:
I DO want to be able to see the birds,though!
Any more hints??

[PiratesGirl]

You can also get to the aviary by walking so you can go in wearing your glasses. You will also want to wear them for the dolphin swim since you don't go underwater.