Sorry it has taken me so long to get back, I have been so busy and the first week back at work is a killer, have been falling asleep straight after tea.
Anyway, in response to the Discovery Cove questions, it is absolutely brilliant. When you arrive you just need to check in at the desk, where all I had to do was hand in our DC tickets, and that was it, didn't ask for any other ID.Then she took our photos, for our 'resort ID' which were then ready to be picked up immediately at the next desk. It is just a card with your photo on which you wear around your neck for the whole day, and it also has the name of the Cabana, and the time, where you need to be to be briefed for your dolphin swim. Hubby and the kids were doing the swim - I wasn't. Then they take a nice family photo which is complimentary and which you must remember to pick up as you leave at the end of the day. Soembody then directs you where to go, and when you get there somebody else points out where your cabana is, where the restaurant, shop, toilets and changing rooms and everything else is. We went to find a nice spot right by the dolphin lagoon, with an umbrella. If you want loungers with an umbrella try to get there early. As our swim was 9.35am and it was about 8.30 we went to get our breakfast which was a buffet affair with muffins, danish pastries and so on. Very nice. Then we went to get the wet suits and so on sorted, they give each person a net bag with a snorkel, mask, and a sachet of their own sun screen (factor 50 I think) which is a special one for being in the water with the dolphins (and tropical fish if you do that too). You have to hand the mask back at the end of the day but you can keep the snorkel. There are also lifejackets available (which go over the wetsuit) if you are not confident in the water. By the time they got their sunscreen and wetsuits on it was time for them to go to the briefing. I could have gone too but I took some time to relax on the loungers. In no time they were being led down to the water ready for their dolphin experience. In all they were in the water about 35-40 mins I think. They learn all about the dolphins, some hand signals, get to stroke and kiss the dolphin and then they go out to the middle of the lagoon, (about 12 foot deep) and are towed back to shore by the dolphin. They had Lester, the oldest dolphin in DC. All the while there is a photographer taking photos, and someone filming the experience. I was on the shore taking our own photos and filming it too. The lagoon is kind of split into 2 and there are 3-4 groups of about 8 people in each half at any one time.
After the swim the take you into a shop where they give you the rundown on the various photo packages and prices etc. Your photos are already on computer for you to see and they invite you to use the computers to browse your photos and make your selections, but it wasn't like a hard sell thing. We chose a package which had 5 5x7 photos, plus some magnets, and also the DVD, sorry but I can't remember the prices exactly but I think it came to around the US$120.00 mark altogether.
The lunch is fabulous, I had pasta primavera with a side salad, and an enormous piece of carrot cake which I couldn't finish, the portions are huge. There was a good selection including fresh salmon, and the kids were well catered for too. While we ate there was a calypso band playing which was lovely.
After lunch hubby and kids went off to see the ray lagoon, and the tropical fish.
A word of warning - unless you are strong swimmers give the lazy river thing a miss, none of my family are good swimmers and they got into difficulties because the current was so strong and the lifeguard had to help them out. I think part of the problem was that they also had lifejackets on over their wetsuits and they were too bouyant, and couldn't properly control where they wanted to go!!! Glad I wasn't there to witness it, I would have had kittens.
Throughout the day all drinks, snacks and ice-creams are free, you just need to be wearing your ID when you go to get them (same for breakfast and lunch).
We then realised near the end of the day that we hadn't seen the aviary, so off we went, and we were sorry we had left it so late as the park closes at 5.30pm and we only had about 25 mins which wasn't enought time. The kids loved it as all the beautiful birds land on your head, your arms - anywhere. In each section there is a person who will give you food for the birds and the birds are so tame they just come right on up. Got some fabulous photos. Also they have these lovely little fawn type animals, like Bambi, so cute.
After that we just called in at the shop to collect our photos and DVD, and then on the way out through the lobby we were reminded to collect our complimentary photo, which was a good thing as we had forgot.
It was a very enjoyable day, very relaxing, and a welcome break in the middle of a brilliant but tiring holiday. I was impressed by how friendly and helpful all the staff were, how clean it was, how good the food was, everything really. I know it is expensive but I felt it was worth it for one of those special days that you will always remember.
welcome back, I'm so pleased that you had a fantastic holiday and I can't wait to hear all about it 
