DH doesn't want to swim

[knott02]

We have decided that we are going to go to DC in July. My kids are 13 and 9 and my husband is a little freaked out by the dolphins, so he doesn't want to swim with them. Can he see the kids when they are and will he be close enough to take our own pictures versus having to pay for the CD? Thanks for all of your help and encouragment to spend the extra money!

 

[dolphingirl47]

We have decided that we are going to go to DC in July. My kids are 13 and 9 and my husband is a little freaked out by the dolphins, so he doesn't want to swim with them. Can he see the kids when they are and will he be close enough to take our own pictures versus having to pay for the CD? Thanks for all of your help and encouragment to spend the extra money!

He can watch from the beach. However, to get photos, he would need a zoom lense.

dolphingirl47

 

[snowbunny]

They let you stand on the beach and watch (my kids do the dolphin swim but I never do). You can see fine and if you have a decent zoom on your camera, you'll get some photos. They'll show you the professional photos after and you can also just buy one if you want, which is like $12 (can't recall exactly, I would never get the whole package though) and usually there it at least one very good photo.

 

[cswtmom]

I have seen the photos that Discovery Cove have taken and photos that family members have taken, and in my opinion I would spend the extra $$ for professional photos. This is for us a once in a lifetime trip and I want great photos.
We are going to Discovery Cove on April 22,2009 , and when we come home I will post the photos taken there.
I hope you have a great time on your trip

The photo package prices and individual prices for Discovery Cove are:

Adventure Photo Package - $139.00 / $148.04 including tax

(5) 6 x 8 Prints

(2) Key chains with choice of print

(1) Digital Photo CD

Basic Photo Package - $59.00 / $62.86 including tax
(3) 6 x 8 Prints

(2) Key chains with choice of print

Additional Items With package / With Tax or A la carte /With Tax
4” x 6” and Wallets $10 $10.65 $20 $21.13

6” x 8” Print $10 $10.65 $20 $21.13

16” x 24” Poster $25 $26.63 $35 $37.28

24” x 36” Poster $35 $37.28 $45 $47.93

Interactive DVD $50 $53.25 $75 $79.88

Digital Photo CD $75 $79.88 $125 $133.13

Marble Tiles $39 $41.55 $59 $62.84

* All prices are in USD.

Thank you for your interest in Discovery Cove and we look forward to having you visit us in the near future. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any additional questions.
www.discoverycove.com

 

[NHMickeyLvr]

It should also be mentioned that the majority of the experience is spent standing in chest deep water, and there is an option to take the dorsal tow in shallow water. There were two small children in our group and they both had the shallow water tow.

 

[knott02]

Thanks! That gives me more ideas! My other thoughts were is there a way to connect with others that might be going on the same day and share a photo package like they do with photo passes at Disney?

Thanks again for all of the tips and reports that have made it easier to spend the money for this!

 

[snowbunny]

My other thoughts were is there a way to connect with others that might be going on the same day and share a photo package like they do with photo passes at Disney?

I suppose technically it's possible but I've never seen anyone actually do that. You really don't have to get a package, just pick out the prints you want. And like i said with a decent zoom, your DH can also get plenty of shots. Have fun, you'll enjoy it. We are going for the third time this year, my DS loves it and doesn't like Disney so often we don't even go into one of the WDW parks (although we stay at WDW).

Also I should mention - first time at DC, my teen daughter said beforehand she was freaked out by the dolphins and said she wouldn't do the dolphin swim. I was prepared to take her place. As soon as we got in there and she saw them, she said "OK, I'll do it."

 

[Violet Crayon]

Thanks! That gives me more ideas! My other thoughts were is there a way to connect with others that might be going on the same day and share a photo package like they do with photo passes at Disney?

You can only do this if your are in the same pod (group) of 8 people during your interaction and appear to know one another. With Photopass you can hand off your card and nobody can say anything, but at Discovery Cove the photos are all hand sorted by employees. After the dolphin swim your photos are placed into a file using a first and last name. Even if you do not come up to the cabana after the swim most photographers will look at the interaction list and choose a name from your family/group to make a file with.

 

[knott02]

Thanks again for all the great ideas. I am sure that we will buy at least some of their pictures if not the whole package. I was just was hoping to save a few more pennies!

I will hopefully get my schedule figured out this weekend and get it booked. We will be spending 2 weeks in FL and at this time...Disney is not on our list of things that we must do.