any discovery cove tips? leave in 6 days

[treehugnmama]

I have read through lots of threads but I couldn't find all that much info.

I can't find the price of the photos anywhere?

should we arrive for the 7:30 checkin? does everything else open at 8 or just the breakfast?

any tips or strategies for the day? We have never been so any help is appreciated.

We are so excited to go. The kids are thrilled! they are sad no disney parks this year but we are really looking forward to DC

 

[annabug]

Hi! I havent been yet, but....I have be told to get there for a 7:30 start for sure. Especially if you are doing a dolphin swim. Your park arrival time directly effects your dolphin swim time, so if you would prefer an early swim, that works.

you will probably also appreciate the closer parking spot you will snag by arriving early when you are leaving the park for the day.

Another tip I have read, is that the water is very cold, so better of wearing the half or full wetsuit to protect you and keep you warm!

You are allowed to wear a hat and/ or sunglasses during a dolphin swim. helpful protection!

Something to think about buying is a type of waterproof holder for money or ID or anything else you would like to carry with you, they do have lockers.

A waterproof camera may also be helpful! not sure how old your kids are, but i plan to have one so my kids can help in documenting the experience.

I also plan to bring some type of fish/sea life identification booklet to help them recognize and learn about what they see. My kids will be 9 and 5.

DC will provide most everything else you need, towels, sunscreen, drinks, food,
We decided to book a Cabana, we have never done this at any other park before, but it seems to fit the 'luxury" feel of this park. Not sure if it will be worth it in the end.

Again, this is not from my firsthand experience!! We will be going April 2014. But i figured I would share what i have learned thus far.

I wish you and your family a great vacation, looking forwrd to hearing about it when you return!!!

 

[treehugnmama]

Thanks annabug that is very helpfull my kids are 9 and 7. I never hougut about the identification book that's a great idea.

Any thoughts on what do do first or does it not really matter? They are really interested in the rays.

 

[RalphiesRedRyder]

I also plan to bring some type of fish/sea life identification booklet to help them recognize and learn about what they see.

I'm just doing my homework for our first visit, so I'm certainly no authority. The booklet is a great idea.
Just thought I'd mention that there will be waterproof tropical fish ID cards available, as well.

 

[annabug]

Im thinking it will make sense to do the following:

Enjoy breakfast
HEad over to the Aviary, feed the birds before their bellies get too full
hopefully we will have time to do both before our dolphin swim
head over to snorkel with the fish and rays!
enjoy the lazy river, let kids play in sand, swim

somewhere in there we will have lunch too!

I plan to ask for our dolphin swim to be scheduled for late morning so that we have a little time to get settled, acclimated to the park, feed the birdies, etc.

also, my son and DH arent doing the swim my son will only be 5, and can't participate.so I want to have a little time to get him involved in something fun with my DH (hopefully snorkeling), so he wont feel bad, be upset that he cannot participate. I PRAY that my plan works!

 

[annabug]

I'm just doing my homework for our first visit, so I'm certainly no authority. The booklet is a great idea.
Just thought I'd mention that there will be waterproof tropical fish ID cards available, as well.

cool! thanks!

 

[mandas08]

Spent yesterday at DC. Just thought I would let you know that they have identification sheets with pictures of fish you can use to identify fish while you swim. (It even has a bracelet attached to it so you wont lose it while in water.

We forgot our swim shoes but really would have liked to have them in lazy river because the bottom is pretty rocky and varies oh heights so it is easy to stub toes etc.. They sold kids and adults swim shoes there if you forget. I know the adults shoes were 17.95.

Definately feed birds first. We did and they were very active. Later in the daythey pretty much ignored us.

Under water camera would be fun for kids.

Remember they provide Eco safe sunscreen and not to wear jewelry.

Your complimentary picture is taken on your way in so you may want to look semi decent.

Any questions feel free to ask hopefully I helped a little . Oh I also recommend the carrot cake and cheesecakes hays.

 

[treehugnmama]

sounds like a good plan. Do you get to feed the rays too?

 

[treehugnmama]

look decent at 7:30 am hmmmm I will try lol Thanks for the tip on the shoes. My dd doesn't have any and with winter encroaching nither do the stores...i will get her some there. do the watershoes have to be the soft soled ones? I have a good pair that look similar to runners but are water shoes....used for water aerobics think that is ok?

 

[foxxxy83]

Water shoes have to have soft rubber soles.. Sports Direct near us still has some in stock so you may want to check there if you have one of their stores nearest to you. I got a pair for myself for £7 and a pair for my son for £3. They're a really comfortable fit and are great for all water sports (we use them for sailing and kayaking as well!) Also, Boots had an offer on waterproof cameras recently but again, you would need to check your local store to make sure the offer is still on. They're usually £8.99 but the offer was Buy 2 for £10 and get free photo developing when you take them back to be developed. They do sell underwater cameras at DC I believe but people on Tripadvisor have said they are an astronomic price. They didn't actually put in their review though so I'm not sure if it was just that they weren't used to the price of the cameras usually or not. Hope this helps!

 

[mandas08]

look decent at 7:30 am hmmmm I will try lol Thanks for the tip on the shoes. My dd doesn't have any and with winter encroaching nither do the stores...i will get her some there. do the watershoes have to be the soft soled ones? I have a good pair that look similar to runners but are water shoes....used for water aerobics think that is ok?

Ya, our picture is a lil scary but that's okay .

 

[zilp]

Subscribing to this thread. Very helpful info so far! Good to know about pictures on the way in, lol.

Silly question about the No Jewelry policy, how particular are they? Can DH and I wear wedding bands? How about waterproof watches or stud earrings? Just trying to plan ahead, thanks.

 

[foxxxy83]

Waterproof watches are fine for the general areas but you WILL be asked to remove it for Dolphin swim. Even cloth hairbands usually need to be removed when swimming with dolphins as they can come off in the water and the dolphin could easily swallow it and become ill. Stud earrings you should be fine with but ANY other jewellery (necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, hoop earrings etc) and you WILL be asked to remove them and store them in a locker. Hope this helps!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Waterproof watches are fine for the general areas but you WILL be asked to remove it for Dolphin swim. Even cloth hairbands usually need to be removed when swimming with dolphins as they can come off in the water and the dolphin could easily swallow it and become ill. Stud earrings you should be fine with but ANY other jewellery (necklaces, bracelets, rings, watches, hoop earrings etc) and you WILL be asked to remove them and store them in a locker. Hope this helps!

We did not have to remove our rings during our dolphin swim in January 2012.

 

[foxxxy83]

DC website says only rings they permit are wedding rings. Can only go off amount of times I've done interactions like these all over the world and it's usually pretty standard so can't see DC being lax about it. Maybe contact them direct?? Don't want to cause an argument but, at same time, wouldn't want you to be disappointed one way or the other. As you say, you're only trying to be as prepared as poss

 

[nolenbelledavis]

Annabug- I think your son will be fine with no dolphin swim. My dd was 5 and my DS was 6 when we went two years ago. We didn't do the swim since she couldn't. It was her favorite day in Florida! She talks about it all the time. Her favorite part was snorkeling with in a school of fish.

We didn't have shoes and I didn't notice any issues for us. Also, we fed the birds at the end of the day and they ate from us then. We'll have to try it out earlier this time to see if there is a difference, but if you don't go first thing, still try it out!

You're going to have a great time!

 

[runswithscissors]

We've been to Discovery Cove three times and we can't wait to go back! You're going to love it. It is such a special day and the quality family time you'll enjoy makes it totally worthwhile. My son swam with the dolphins 2/3 times and, although he enjoys the experience and will most certainly do it again, he wasn't disappointed the visit that we chose to forego the experience.
Arrive early, stake out a few lounge chairs and enjoy every moment!

 

[willeve]

We love DC! We leave wedding bands in the safe in the hotel, saves worrying about them. You are provided with DC ID on a lanyard so don't need anything in the park, but remember to take your id with you if over 21 and want to partake in any alcohol. Pool shoes are very useful too. I don't think you can request a swim time, it is first come, first served. The shower facilities are great, everything you might need is provided free of charge, including 'wet bags' for your swim clothes. Enjoy your day!

 

[annabug]

Annabug- I think your son will be fine with no dolphin swim. My dd was 5 and my DS was 6 when we went two years ago. We didn't do the swim since she couldn't. It was her favorite day in Florida! She talks about it all the time. Her favorite part was snorkeling with in a school of fish.

We didn't have shoes and I didn't notice any issues for us. Also, we fed the birds at the end of the day and they ate from us then. We'll have to try it out earlier this time to see if there is a difference, but if you don't go first thing, still try it out!

You're going to have a great time!

Thank You!! Do you think they will let my Dh and son come into the water to take a family picture with the dolphin?

 

[greenclan67]

They sure will. My niece was 5 and her parents did the swim while I watched het. At the end the brought the dolphin into shallow water for a picture.