Anyplace for KIDS to swim with dolphins???

[emelie]

I have 2 children who will be 4 (almost 5) and 6 when we go to Disney in October. Any places let children that old swim with dolphins?
Thanks in advance
Em

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

No. Discovery Cove requires children be 6 yrs old to swim with the Dolphins.

 

[emelie]

Yea I saw that on their website. So no other places, eh?
Em

 

[DCTooTall]

I'd honestly be surprised if you found someplace that let children any younger swim with dolphins, just because of the insurance and liability aspects.

Dolphins are still wild creatures and can be unpredictable at times, so putting something that much larger and stronger than a child next to the child (who can also be unpredictable) and you could have a potential recipe for disaster.

While obviously every child is different (some well behaved, some not. some big for their age, some smal), they have to draw the line someplace.

 

[wiigirl]

I think the youngest I have ever seen is 6.

 

[jaykorf001]

I'd honestly be surprised if you found someplace that let children any younger swim with dolphins, just because of the insurance and liability aspects.

Dolphins are still wild creatures and can be unpredictable at times, so putting something that much larger and stronger than a child next to the child (who can also be unpredictable) and you could have a potential recipe for disaster.

While obviously every child is different (some well behaved, some not. some big for their age, some smal), they have to draw the line someplace.

There's a place in Islamorada that allows 4 year olds to swim with dolphins. Our son didn't do it but a little girl we met at our resort did. This was two weeks ago. Obviously that's not convenient for Orlando but could indicate there might be a place in the Orlando area that does allow it. I don't know. It's called Theater by the Sea I believe.

 

[emelie]

Thanks for all the replies everyone

The trip is still a ways away so by the time October comes around I can see if he's grown a little and if so I'll just say he's 6 cause he's very mature for his age.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Thanks for all the replies everyone

The trip is still a ways away so by the time October comes around I can see if he's grown a little and if so I'll just say he's 6 cause he's very mature for his age.

One word of advice for doing that...to pull that off you are going to have to coach your child to lie about their age because they WILL ASK your child how old they are. And if your child tells the truth and says they are 4 or 5 you will not get a refund when you are not able to have that child do the Dolphin swim.

Just something to think about.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Thanks for all the replies everyone

The trip is still a ways away so by the time October comes around I can see if he's grown a little and if so I'll just say he's 6 cause he's very mature for his age.

Realize that if anything goes wrong you just opened yourself up to a potentially large liability

(why can't we all just accept the rules apply to us too? really foks it is not like we are that "special" that "they meant everyone but ME")

 

[emelie]

Oh, I do realize that. I guess I'm just spoiled and used to getting what I want lol. Anyways, October is a ways away so I'll have to see how he is when it gets closer if he still wants to do it or not.
Em

 

[luvallprincesses]

My DS6 just did the discovery cove swim with dolphins. He is confident in the water, confident around animals, but willingly admits that he was scared doing the dolphin "ride" across the water without an adult with him. The dolphin pulled him just as fast as the rest of us, maybe faster since he is just 39 pounds. They definitely asked him his age, for he looks more like a 5 year old. I'm sure some of it even has to do with the maturity to be still and move slowly, not distracting to the dolphins with sudden movements.

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

Oh, I do realize that. I guess I'm just spoiled and used to getting what I want lol. Anyways, October is a ways away so I'll have to see how he is when it gets closer if he still wants to do it or not.
Em

So you admit that the rules are not for you. Why even ask anyone when you are going to just lie to get what you want?

 

[V a n e s s a]

We did the dolphin swim at Discovery Cove when our daughters were 6 and 4: although the 4 year old couldn't participate in the dolphin swim, they did let us take her in the water at the end for a family photo with the dolphin, where she got to touch it.

 

[FLCyndi]

So you admit that the rules are not for you. Why even ask anyone when you are going to just lie to get what you want?

Wow! Just Wow!!

 

[ksu93]

On a more congenial note- I took my almost 6 year old daughter & niece (also 5) to Discovery Cove a few years ago and we all did the dolphin swim. Everyone did great. However- it is really important that the little ones are confident swimmers because they have to swim out by themselves about 50 yards and tread water while waiting for the dolphin to swim back out, and then they must hang on to a huge, fast swimming creature. As others have indicated, if you do a dolphin swim, the DC staff are very nice about letting the littler ones come in and pet the dolphin and get a picture taken- which for some kids is enough. Either way-you will have a great time at Discovery Cove.