A few Discovery Cove questions...

[Twilight Terror]

Hello guys! We are trying to plan a trip to Discovery Cove this September, but have come across a few questions that we are hoping you guys can help with, as we don't seem to be able to find the specific information we want from the rest of the net! And the DIS is always full of the right answers!

1) Me and my sister have heavy prescription glasses. I know there are prescription masks available for use in the lazy river and ray pool and stuff, but can these still be worn during the dolphin interaction?

2) The consecutive 14-day pass that is offered free with the Discovery Cove packages, does it have a date by which you must use it? We already have 2-year SeaWorld passports, so were looking to take the Busch Gardens option. However, our itinerary is pretty full for this upcoming trip, but we are returning to Florida next May. Would there be any chance we could use the pass the following May, or would that be too late?

3) Our mum suffers from a few health problems, which when she is fine, they do not effect her in the slightest. However, when they do, it can mean she's back in the wheelchair for a short period of time. If we booked the full dolphin package now, would we be able to get a refund/downgrade her package on the door should her health decrease again by the time we get there and she doesn't feel up to the dolphin swim?

Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[floridianer]

I can only answer the 2nd one...

You have to use the 14 consecutive days somewhere around the discovery cove package... (so that your actual date is WITHIN the 14 days window...)

But you can choose that you either get there before or after DC...

 

[Twilight Terror]

I can only answer the 2nd one...

You have to use the 14 consecutive days somewhere around the discovery cove package... (so that your actual date is WITHIN the 14 days window...)

But you can choose that you either get there before or after DC...

I had a feeling that would probably be the case. What a shame, because it will be a wasted free gift!

 

[Northstar]

3) Our mum suffers from a few health problems, which when she is fine, they do not effect her in the slightest. However, when they do, it can mean she's back in the wheelchair for a short period of time. If we booked the full dolphin package now, would we be able to get a refund/downgrade her package on the door should her health decrease again by the time we get there and she doesn't feel up to the dolphin swim?

We went in December 2008, and had booked 3 dolphin swim packages. On the day my DH was feeling awful. He spent the day snoozing in a chair on the beach with endless cups of tea fetched from the snack bar. When it was time for our dolphin swim, he dragged himself to the lagoon to watch DD and me but emphatically declined to go in himself.

Well, we never asked them to refund anything, but the people running the dolphin swim gave us a voucher to take to the entrance kiosk. We handed it in to them while picking up and paying for our pictures. They "downgraded" him retroactively to a non-dolphin-swim package and refunded the difference.

So that sounds hopeful if you need a refund for your mom... let's hope instead that you get a great picture of her riding the dolphin in the water!

 

[JLR]

Hello guys! We are trying to plan a trip to Discovery Cove this September, but have come across a few questions that we are hoping you guys can help with, as we don't seem to be able to find the specific information we want from the rest of the net! And the DIS is always full of the right answers!

1) Me and my sister have heavy prescription glasses. I know there are prescription masks available for use in the lazy river and ray pool and stuff, but can these still be worn during the dolphin interaction?

I know that they do not encourage mask use during the regular dolphin interaction (dolphin toy), but I think they would allow you to use them because of the eyesight issue - since they allowed us to have them during the enhanced dolphin experience. Also - My daughter and I wore single use disposable contacts that day. (We even got them free as trial pairs from the eye doctor) They were very comfortable.

2) The consecutive 14-day pass that is offered free with the Discovery Cove packages, does it have a date by which you must use it? We already have 2-year SeaWorld passports, so were looking to take the Busch Gardens option. However, our itinerary is pretty full for this upcoming trip, but we are returning to Florida next May. Would there be any chance we could use the pass the following May, or would that be too late?

I think someone already answered this

3) Our mum suffers from a few health problems, which when she is fine, they do not effect her in the slightest. However, when they do, it can mean she's back in the wheelchair for a short period of time. If we booked the full dolphin package now, would we be able to get a refund/downgrade her package on the door should her health decrease again by the time we get there and she doesn't feel up to the dolphin swim?

There is a date you can cancel up to, then afterwards you wouldn't get a refund. I don't know if they have exceptions for health.

Thanks in advance everyone!

I hope you enjoy!

 

[Twilight Terror]

Thanks for the reply Julie. I guess I will have to ring and confirm about the masks. The long and short of it is, no masks - no swimming with dolphins! We would be a health and safety risk WITHOUT masks! Both of us have prescriptions stronger then -4, and can literally see our hands in front of our faces, and not much further than that! Neither of us would be able to see the trainer, the bottom of the pool, the edge of the pool; it would be pure insanity to let us loose in there without prescription masks!

 

[stacyp9]

FWIW you don't really "swim with the dolphins". You primarily stand in the water next to the dolphin, stroke his belly, watch him do a tricks etc. At the very end of the encounter you are given the option of whether you want the dolphin to take you for a tow once. You swim into deeper water, and hold on to its fin and it tows you back while you get your picture taken. That is the only "swimming" that occurs. Your mom could do most of the encounter and just skip that part if she wanted.

Limited numbers of prescription masks are available for snorkeling, but if I recall, no masks are allowed in the dolphin swim.

 

[Twilight Terror]

Limited numbers of prescription masks are available for snorkeling, but if I recall, no masks are allowed in the dolphin swim.

Well, that's pretty pointless then, and rather discriminative towards those of us with bad eyesight! If that's the case, we won't be going to Discovery Cove after all! I want to see a dolphin, not a grey blur!

 

[stacyp9]

Well, that's pretty pointless then, and rather discriminative towards those of us with bad eyesight! If that's the case, we won't be going to Discovery Cove after all! I want to see a dolphin, not a grey blur!

It's a rule made for the safety of the dolphins. I understand about grey blur though, before Lasik, I couldn't even see the big E on the chart!

FWIW, the dolphin swim was my least favorite part of discovery cove. In fact, we are going back this week and are saving some dollars by not doing the dolphin swim. The place is a fantastic, experience even without the 30 minutes with the dolphins.

 

[Twilight Terror]

I totally get it's for the dolphin's safety, but it should be made clearer. I've searched that site high and low, and the only mention is the prescription masks available. No where (that I've found!) does it say you can't. I am glad I have asked in advance since I know won't be doing it!

If I'm going in water, I want my glasses or my prescription goggles so I can see where I'm going - as strong a swimmer as I might be, I don't like, and won't go swimming/into water when I cannot see where I am, the bottom or the edge! Too dangerous - for everyone!

 

[floridianer]

My girlfriend is 26 and she has -22 and -24...

She is totally fine doing the swim with LENSES...

No toys are allowed for the dolphins (and masks or glasses ARE!).

 

[gottaluvPluto]

We just came back from Discovery Cove and we were able to swim with the dolphins with the masks on. The mask needs to stay on the face and can not be held in the hand. If you take the mask off your face someone will take it from you and put it on a chair.

 

[Inkmahm]

We went in December 2008, and had booked 3 dolphin swim packages. On the day my DH was feeling awful. He spent the day snoozing in a chair on the beach with endless cups of tea fetched from the snack bar. When it was time for our dolphin swim, he dragged himself to the lagoon to watch DD and me but emphatically declined to go in himself.

Well, we never asked them to refund anything, but the people running the dolphin swim gave us a voucher to take to the entrance kiosk. We handed it in to them while picking up and paying for our pictures. They "downgraded" him retroactively to a non-dolphin-swim package and refunded the difference.

So that sounds hopeful if you need a refund for your mom... let's hope instead that you get a great picture of her riding the dolphin in the water!

I had a similar experience in 2008 at DC. My husband suffers from Meniere's disease and was unfortunate enough to have an attack right before our dolphin swim. He was found in the mens room throwing up and taken to First Aid while the rest of us were doing the swim. DC was great both in taking care of him, finding me to tell me he was okay, and in downgrading his day to give us a refund for the dolphin swim he didn't have a chance to do.

 

[Twilight Terror]

Thanks for all the responses everyone!

Since there seemed to be mixed responses, I did manage to call DC and get some confirmation on things for us! The masks CAN be worn during the dolphin interaction. Jennifer (the woman I spoke with) even said we could wear our glasses during the interaction since you do not go underwater!

They are happy to downgrade/refund, if necessary, if mum can't go in for whatever reason, so that is definitely a relief.

As for the complimentary ticket, since we will be using our SeaWorld Annual pass to get a discount, we don't get the freebie ticket, which is perfect since we had no time to use it anyway!

Oh, and the ultimate package (dvd, cd, photos, keyrings) price is $219 +tax!
Yay, *is very happy now*