Dicovery Cove for young kids

[pickles01]

I would like to go to Discovery Cove, my daughter (will be 13) wants to swim with a dolphin and this seems like a reasonable price plus close to Disney, our main attraction. She will be the only one swimming with the dolphins. My question is, is DC a good value for the rest of us? My son and I will not snorkle (husband and daughter will). We can go on the lazy river and the pool area, but I hear the lazy river is deep in some parts and you only get a pool noodle or a life jacket. I'm not sure he will wear a life jacket/wet suit type thing. He has special needs and is very sensitive to clothing. I don't really want to pay $159 each to sit on the beach all day waiting for the dolphin swim (and pay more for her to do the dolphin swim). But she really wants to swim with a dolphin and is saving her money to do so. There doesn't seem much else to choose from.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

You don't have to wait all day for the dolphin sqim if you check in real early like around 7:45 am your Dolphin swim may be for as early as 9:15. Ours was for 9:30. I actually wanted a later swim like after lunch but decided not to ask for a change and just went with what they gave us. The park is great. We paid for 5 of us to do the dolphin swim and that is just 30 minutes out of your day. The snorkeling is amazing. But my favorite part (and you need to go early while the birds are hungry) is the aviary where you go in and they give you little cups of food to feed the birds and the birds will come and land on you and eat the food. I had one on my head.
The snacks and food are all you can eat all day long. They have breakfast first thing when you get there. Then they start serving lunch at 10:30 or 11 I think. We had 2 lunches. We went once right at 11 then went again at 2:30 right before they stop serving at 3.
After 11 the booze is free. We don't drink but if you do, it's free. Pretzels and ice creams are free too.
The lazy river does have some deep spots and if you can't swim you need a noodle or life jacket. I wore a life jacket just to make it easier and more relaxing. Also on the lazy river there are 2 places where YOU HAVE TO go under a waterfall. You can't get past it. So you get very wet all in your face two times. Not sure if that will bother your child or not.
I didn't do the snorkeling myself just because the water was so extremely cold. It is the coldest water I have ever felt in my life. I just couldn't do it. But my husband and kids did and they loved it. I think they stayed in and snorkeled all the way from one side to the other and snorkeled for a good hour or so. You are actually swimming with big manta rays you can touch them.
I am glad we did it and had the experience but if half the family were just going to be sitting around not doing anything I think it would be a big waste of money. But then again we paid $329 per person times 5 ppl.
Also they take pictures of you all day and during th dolphin swim and offer you to buy a package before you leave. They are expensive but worth it.

 

[Woodview]

Go for it. .. There is a lot more to do than " Swim with the Dolphins"

Anyway the rest of you can Watch & be Proud of your daughter doing the

Dolphin thing..... And taking your Own photos as well.

You will NOT be Bored

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I'm not sure he will wear a life jacket/wet suit type thing. He has special needs and is very sensitive to clothing.

This would be something you would definitely want to check out with DC before you book. Generally, any time you are in the water (whether its the dolphin swim, Freshwater Oasis, WindAway River or Grand Reef) you have to wear either a wet suit (long or short) or a vest. It identifies you as a guest to DC staffers. I dont personally find the vests intrusive or uncomfortable (as compared to the wet suits which can be tough to get on and off when they are wet), but a little fellow with special needs and a clothing sensitivity might feel differently.

 

[HopperFan]

Been several times and the vests or wetsuits have always been required if in the water. Safety issue. Yes lazy river has some deep spots and places it moves fast, life jackets are a great way to enjoy and not work too hard. My DS also has special needs, he wears the wetsuit and I keep a life jacket on him when in water. He's a good swimmer but this allows him to enjoy and not work hard ... or get tired and grab on to me.

If you are not going to get into the water, it's an expensive day. We love it there!

 

[pickles01]

Thank you for all the great advice, it's very helpful. I would love to watch my daughter doing the dolphin swim, and this is one of the few places you can do that. I don't know about the waterfalls in the lazy river, that may bother him. Hard to say, and who knows when we actually get there. I was planning on calling them and asking a few questions. I know the photos are expensive, but that is true for Sea World and Disney, just add to the price of the vacation. Thanks again!

 

[mjaclyn]

How would the lazy river be for a non swimmer? If wearing a life jacket would you just be able to float?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

How would the lazy river be for a non swimmer? If wearing a life jacket would you just be able to float?

Yes, with a life jacket a non-swimmer should do just fine. There are a plethora of lifeguards along the entire river, every few feet.

Its very relaxing, and such pretty surroundings. Takes about 20 minutes to do one full rotation.

 

[mjaclyn]

Discovery Cove looks amazing and I was really hoping to get my family there during our vacation next month. Unfortunately they have blocked out Annual Pass discounts the whole time we are going to be there and I just can't justify paying almost $1000 for 4 people to go for one day. I know it includes breakfast and lunch, but that's still WAY too expensive IMO, and that's just for the day pass.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Discovery Cove looks amazing and I was really hoping to get my family there during our vacation next month. Unfortunately they have blocked out Annual Pass discounts the whole time we are going to be there and I just can't justify paying almost $1000 for 4 people to go for one day. I know it includes breakfast and lunch, but that's still WAY too expensive IMO, and that's just for the day pass.

A few things that are worthy of noting for the benefit of other readers:

- Booking now for next month is costly. The cost of admission increases as available tickets decrease for any given day. We booked our August 2014 admission in October 2013. Price, per person, for day resort tickets PLUS the dolphin swim were $259. Today's price for the same tickets on the same day are $359, a full $100 more than what we paid. It pays to book early.

- Your admission to DC is not just "one day". Your DC admission also includes 14 day tickets to both SeaWorld and Aquatica. Many folks who are adding DC to a Disney trip choose not to use those extra included park admissions, but they are included in the price you pay for DC. So we, in fact, got two weeks of theme park access for $259......a great deal, IMHO.

Passholder discounts are offered during the slower times of the year. You will find that AP discounts are not available during the summer months (June, July and August) and during prime spring break.

DC *is*, most definitely, an amazing park!

 

[mjaclyn]

A few things that are worthy of noting for the benefit of other readers: - Booking now for next month is costly. The cost of admission increases as available tickets decrease for any given day. We booked our August 2014 admission in October 2013. Price, per person, for day resort tickets PLUS the dolphin swim were $259. Today's price for the same tickets on the same day are $359, a full $100 more than what we paid. It pays to book early. - Your admission to DC is not just "one day". Your DC admission also includes 14 day tickets to both SeaWorld and Aquatica. Many folks who are adding DC to a Disney trip choose not to use those extra included park admissions, but they are included in the price you pay for DC. So we, in fact, got two weeks of theme park access for $259......a great deal, IMHO. Passholder discounts are offered during the slower times of the year. You will find that AP discounts are not available during the summer months (June, July and August) and during prime spring break. DC *is*, most definitely, an amazing park!

We are currently Annual Passholders at another SeaWorld owned park, so if we could get the $99 rate that is blacked out for August I would definitely say it would be worth it. Right now the prices for August start at $219 per person and since we already have unlimited access to SeaWorld and Aquatica because of our other passes, it doesn't make sense for us. I think if we didn't already have passes to the other parks it would be worth it.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We are currently Annual Passholders at another SeaWorld owned park, so if we could get the $99 rate that is blacked out for August I would definitely say it would be worth it. Right now the prices for August start at $219 per person and since we already have unlimited access to SeaWorld and Aquatica because of our other passes, it doesn't make sense for us. I think if we didn't already have passes to the other parks it would be worth it.

We went in August 2012 with an AP rate of $69. Best. Deal. Ever.

But it was also the last year they offered an AP rate during the summer. I am glad we took advantage of it when we did!