Doing dolphins with little kids

[Faith&Hope]

I've been searching the boards on Chankanaab vs. Dolphinaris. I've researched both websites. My children are 6 and 3. They can both swim. I can't seem to find anything with the dolphins that you can do that young. On Dolphinaris website, there's a picture in the photo gallery of 3 older ladies with a little child (maybe 18 months) and they are touching a dolphin. What am I missing? Can someone point me in the right direction? Can my girls do anything with Dolphins on cozumel? What about the other islands? We are willing to change our based on being able to do excursions with the little ones! Thanks!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I know your 6 year old could do the Dolphin Encounter at Chankanaab but would also have to have a parent do it with her. DCL puts a minimum 5 year age on their encounters, you will probably need to book directly with either place. They are both very easy to get to on your own when you dock in Cozumel.

Here are their websites:

http://www.dolphindiscovery.com/cozumel/cozumel-activities-dolphin-encounter.asp

http://www.dolphinaris.com/Cozumel/

 

[nzdisneymom]

We did the Dolphin Encounter at Chankanaab in December with some other DISers who had young children (the youngest was 3 or nearly 4). We booked it as a group directly because we had three who were under age 5 so they couldn't do it through DCL. There were a few other children who were 5 or 6. The younger than 5 ones were free and the parents had to hold them in the water, and even the ones who were around 5/6 had to be held a bit, too, because the water is about 3 ft deep but when the water moves in, it can come up pretty high. But it was great fun for the little ones, as well as the kids who were bigger (10+) and the adults.

By booking as a group, we were able to get a discount, and it was a bit less than what DCL would've charged. We had 18 in our group and were able to be on one platform with all of us which was fun. I'd highly recommend checking with your DIS Meet group to see if there are others who might want to make up a group.

 

[mc2]

Hello,
As long as there is an adult also booked for the experience, kids 3 and up can do the Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab National Park. You can book it directly on the Disney Cruise website when you book your cruise plans. We have it booked for my husband and our 3 year old for our cruise next month. We had no problem booking (and confirming) it online once we fell within the window where you can start reserving excursions online. Not sure where the info is coming from that you can't book this excursion directly through Disney for kids under 5 - you definitely can. They even give the price and specifics for kids under 5 by listing the category on the Disney Cruise wesbsite as ages 3-9.
Good luck!

Edit: Sorry! Figured out where my confusion is coming from - you CAN do the Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab as young as 3 - I don't know which excursion they are referring to when they list the Dolpin Encounter? Maybe we are talking about different excursions?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I stand corrected, the Dolphin Discovery at Chankanaab through DCL does offer the excursion for ages 3 and up. You should have no problem doing a dolphin encounter in Cozumel.

 

[Faith&Hope]

Thanks everyone for the info! On the Dolphinaris site, you can't even book the basic kids adventure unless they are 5 and I think 4 ft ( even with an adult). But they have a great picture in the photo gallery with a little child in the water with Grandma holding him/her. I was bummed about that ( as well as confused!)

For Chankanaab, I thought their direct website said 5 yrs old. I know in the past, ALL excursions through disney has been 5 year old so we couldn't do anything through them. I'll keep checking Chankanaab site for more info!

Anyone have more experience with a 3-4 year old at Chankanaab?

Thanks!

 

[BeccaGrace]

We are doing the dolphin discovery with a 3, 6 and 7 year old this week!!!!!! I will post a report as soon as we get back!

 

[loveysbydesign]

We are doing the dolphin discovery with a 3, 6 and 7 year old this week!!!!!! I will post a report as soon as we get back!

Great...can't wait to hear how it goes as we're hoping to do it in nov!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

Thanks everyone for the info! On the Dolphinaris site, you can't even book the basic kids adventure unless they are 5 and I think 4 ft ( even with an adult). But they have a great picture in the photo gallery with a little child in the water with Grandma holding him/her. I was bummed about that ( as well as confused!)

For Chankanaab, I thought their direct website said 5 yrs old. I know in the past, ALL excursions through disney has been 5 year old so we couldn't do anything through them. I'll keep checking Chankanaab site for more info!

Anyone have more experience with a 3-4 year old at Chankanaab?

Thanks!

Here's a quote from the Chankanaab Dolphin Discovery Encounter website:

Children from 1 to 2 years participate free of charge at the dolphin swim and from 3 to 7 years participate free just paying the admission fee to the park of $5.50 USD, always accompanied by a participant and paying adult. This promotion applies only upon client request by email or phone.

 

[Magic3forme]

We did the DE in Sept with our son who is 5, he was free. Other cruisers were in our group and their son was 3, he had a blast too.

This was the highlight of our cruise!! the free taxi ride was a bonus too.

 

[Faith&Hope]

We are doing the dolphin discovery with a 3, 6 and 7 year old this week!!!!!! I will post a report as soon as we get back!

Yeah! How fun! Can't wait to hear how it goes with the 3 year old! I guess with 2 little ones (3 & 6), the parents have to hold them at all times? Is that the way it is? I was hoping to take a few pictures when one of the kids are doing their kiss, handshake, etc but it looks like I'll be holding onto the other child! Maybe I'm wrong! Let us know what it's like! Everyone else, what is your experience like with little ones and the water height?

Thanks! Have a great trip BeccaGrace!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The girls will have life vests on. Your 6 year old will probably be able to stand if the water is calm. The trainer will help the kids with the handshake and kiss so you can get a picture. Of course there is only one dolphin, so only one girl can kiss or shake with the dolphin at a time so you should be able to get pictures.