DC....is this a full day ?

[scotlass]

we are trying to book DC for our oct hol and i was wondering if it is a full day activity?

we have been offered a day but we have the Disney Back yard BBQ at 6.30 that night and i dont want to feel rushed.

any help would be much appreciated .

 

[Greenday]

I'm looking at our booking confirmation here and it states that DC is open from 9am to 5.30pm EST.

I would say if you arrive early enough (and we were told to check in from 7.45am) that you would be able to leave a bit earlier anyway. Are you staying onsite in Disney or closeby?

 

[Onceler]

Some people spend a full day at Discovery Cove while others get there, swim with the Dolphins as soon as they can, and then leave. So you can make it a full day or a short day. Even with something else planned at 6:30, you should be able to spend most of the day there and not feel too rushed.

The big thing at DC is, of course, the Dolphins. The entire experience, from the information session to the purchasing of pictures, probably takes a little over an hour. The rest of the day is entirely at whatever pace you want to go.

There really aren't a lot of things to do there. Besides the Dolphin swim, there is snorkling around the coral reef, wading with stingrays, the lazy river, lounging on the beach, walking through the aviary and lunch. So you will have plenty of time to do everything without having to rush through any one thing.

Due to an unfortunate illness which led to a last minute rescheduling, our visit to DC was on the last day of our vacation. My friends had to be at the airport by 3 o'clock so we could not stay the entire day. Even with the shortened day, we ended up doing everything except for the aviary and we did not feel rushed at all.

So as long as you get there fairly early, you should be able to have a relaxing time and still make the Backyard BBQ.

 

[sbp59]

We were there today by 8:15 am in line and everyone felt they had done all they wanted to do by 3. It's a very relaxing and enjoyable day and we never felt like there were 996 others walking around the park. The park isn't that large -- still the day goes fast -- with plenty to do. It's like a cruise for the day...

 

[scotlass]

thanks for all the info......like you say the Dolphins is the big thing.

 

[yaytezIOA]

If you want to hear what DC is all about check out this podcast:
http://ioacentralradio.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=216260
We talk to a trainer, and get to hang out. Plus all kinds of pics.

 

[x.laura.x]

As long as you get there early you will have more than enough time to do everything without being rushed. the park opened at 8 when we were there so we checked in between 7.30-7.45. we got the first dolphin swim of the day (great as the dolphins arent tired or bored already). we did the dolphin swim, looked at some of the animals they bring out periodically through the park, went round the lazy river, aviary and reef twice, stroked the sting rays, looked in the shops, got our picture cd, had had breakfast and lunch and were just leaving by about 4. had a great relaxing day and really enjoyed the experiences.

xlaurax

 

[snowbunny]

I had to pull my kids out of the water at 4 pm for another event and it was hard - they weren't ready to leave.
We had arrived about 8:30 but check-in takes awhile (lots of people in line) unless you get there at the crack of dawn.
If we go again I will plan to stay until closing at 5:30.

 

[kevg1889]

We certainly found enough to do until closing at 5-30, as you can read in my trippie, but it is a very relaxing day, and you may well feel that you have had enough by around 4ish, if you get there early enough. It is a wonderful day in paradise & we just never wanted to leave, but once our time was up, we moved on to SW for the evening.

Enjoy it, it's unforgettable & my trippie has some really good pictures of the day.