How "busy" does Discovery Cove feel?

[mshanson3121]

We are driving 27 hours to get to Disney (2 nights, 3 days). We arrive June 24th, hopefully around supper time. The next day, Thursday, we had planned to just take the day off, get groceries for the week, lounge around by the pool and then we have tickets to see Hoop Dee Doo that evening. DH wanted a day to relax after all the driving.

However, our in-laws now have to leave a day earlier than us which means they'll miss our Epcot day, so we're looking at rearranging things so they can join us there. So, I'm wondering about doing Discovery Cove, that Thursday. Is it really "busy", is it a place that you will come back exhausted from? I was wondering about going at opening time, and leaving around 2, which would give us time to go back to the house, get cleaned up, rest, MiL and I could go buy groceries and then head in for our HDD show. But is that enough time there? I really don't want to cut ourselves short on time there. And, not knowing what the place is like, I'm wondering if we'll be exhausted?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Discovery Cove is busy and tiring, but not in a tromping-around-a-theme-park kind of way. The water and the swimming and the sun can really zap a person of their energy. While there's tons of relaxing fun to be had, we always find that we leave there totally drained.

Quite honestly, if you have evening plans and have to leave by 2, I would take a pass on Discovery Cove. We always arrive before the park opens, and are the last to leave the park after it closes.....and its STILL not enough time. We also always plan on a do-nothing evening so we can recuperate before our next day. By the time we return to our hotel or villa afterward, we're completely done. We generally order in pizza and that's about all we can muster.

Discovery Cove becomes a good value if you can maximize your time there (open to close) and use the included admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica. Its a pricey place for a partial day. And you'll probably regret having to leave with hours still left in the park day.....while it may not seem like a full day park based on the web description, your time there will FLY by.

I hate to discourage anyone from giving it a go (its my favourite park in Orlando, hands down!) but definitely take a pass until you can devote a whole, uninterrupted, dedicated day to the experience.

 

[chiamarie]

I agree with Gina.

It's a busy day; and time passes before you know it. We easily spent 7-5 there and still felt like it went too fast. It was also only about 45-50 degrees that day; so I don't think our day was "at capacity". But discovery cove has a limit;so that it never feels crowded.

If you're water/animal people you can EASILY spend a full day there. I could have snorkeled in the reef all day just watching the fish; or I could have sat and watched the otters play all day. And the same with the aviaries. And that doesn't even account for dolphin swims or seaventure if you do those, they eat up a good chunk of your time.

I would say if you need to leave by 2; you're going to miss out. And if you're going specifically to do the dolphin swim, and want to leave by 2; you may not be able to. Dolphin swims run until 5 pm. So you might get scheduled for a later swim; although I am sure they'll do their best to accommodate you.

But I wouldn't spend the money if I was only planning on spending a couple of hours there; but thats because I love it there and would want to spend as much time as I could there.

 

[canadiankim]

I totally agree, you need a full day at DC in order to feel you have captured the whole experience to say nothing about feeling like you have gotten good value for your money. I loved our day there and agree that I could have spent all day in the lagoon snorkeling and watching the fish. The otters weren't even there the last time I went so I have that to look forward to when I return in August.

The sun, swimming and general day there is very tiring even if it is in a more relaxed fashion. We were there from park opening to closing and I don't think we even bothered with food when we got home as there was so much to choose from whilst we were there.

If you can fit in a day at DC go for it, but give yourselves the proper time to enjoy it, don't rush it for sure.

 

[mshanson3121]

Thanks, we'll make sure that DC is a full day. I can hardly wait to do it. DH and I plan on doing SeaVenture.

 

[Fuhnuh]

I always feel relaxed and invigorated after a day at Discovery Cove. Generally not waiting in any lines to speak of. We have always went in August when the park was probably close to capacity. I think, depending on the time of year, it depends on how you do in the hot weather. I am just trying to decide what day to go on our next trip and am pretty excited about our day there. I know that people travel differently, but the last two times we got there at opening, left at 4, and then headed to Sea World. If I remember correctly, swim times are handed out in order you arrive in the morning, so if you want a morning swim, don't hit the snooze button.

 

[aprilgail]

I would not go on a day that I had to cut it short there- we have been there 4 times and get there before it opens and leave when they are just about escorting us out! We love it there!

 

[HopperFan]

I agree to full day. I can't imagine bothering for a short day. We want to enjoy every minute of it without any hurry. Last trip the family just sat by the bar with the in water seating and spent an hour over beers and laughs. We close the park, head back to clean up and then go for a later dinner somewhere or if in condo just eat something easy.