DC withOUT the dolphin experience? What other parks?

[pantherlj]

I thought Discovery Cove was out of my budget but I see you can do it without the dolphin swim. Does that defeat the whole purpose of going? Will it be hard to see the other folks do it but we don't? Is it worth the price for the rest of the experience? We plan on going to SeaWorld so that would help offset the cost.

I am having a hard time figuring out what parks we will visit this fall. We are doing mostly water parks. We LOVE water attractions and the girls (10 and 7 when we go) have said they don't care if they don't go to any Disney parks (other than water).

Anyone want to provide some help/advice/tips on what we should do for our week there (late Sept/early Oct)

For sure:
Typhoon Lagoon
Wet N Wild

Probably:
Blizzard Beach
SeaWorld

Either:
Aquatica or Discovery Cove

Any help? Advice?

Thanks!

 

[eldres]

I just was at DC on tuesday the 12th.My kids did the dolphin swim I did not,however I definantly do not regret not doing it,it lasts about 30 minuites.My favorite thing was the tropical reef.You can snorkle there forever.I also really enjoyed how peacefull it is there with no crowds.And with everthing included,well worth every cent.

 

[DixieDolphin]

.....

 

[landcoff]

We just got back from DC last Thursday. While my wife, two daughters, and I loved the dolphin swim, I loved the coral reef much more and one of my daughters loved it as much as I did ...we snorkled for hours and hours (the other daughter and my wife were a little freaked out about fish and rays swimming by them and the 20 ft depth).

The manta rays are huge and incredible. I couldn't tell you how many different kinds of fish we saw...it was surreal to see schools of beautiful fish swimming towards you, manta rays burying themselves in the sand right in front of you...just amazing. To me, that was the best part. The dolphins are cute, but your time with them is very scripted and brief.

And if you hit the bird aviary first thing in the morning when the birds are hungry, they will constantly land on you while you feed them...my kids loved that as well.