Discover Cove, worth the $$$$$$$

[Disneydreamer5]

I would love to take the kids to Discovery Cove and have them (and me ) swim with the Dolphines. Has anyone ever done this and is it really worth that price tag.
Money is alway an issue in my house with 5 kids but if its really worth it then I want them to have that experience.

thanks

 

[wysbcc]

Hi
Only you can make that decision.
We based our decision on the fact that we probably won't be going back to Florida for quite some time, if ever, after this trip, and the fact that you get unlimited access to Seaworld, Busch Gdns and Aquatica so we thought we may as well go for it.

Apart from my youngest daughter, none of us are really interested in the so called "Disney Magic", so we were only planning on doing one day at Magic Kingdom for her.

So to have all of the parks that we wanted included in the Ultimate Dolphin package made sense to us.

But don't forget to include another $100-200 for pictures, cd's and dvd's at Discovery Cove


We're scheduled at DC for 31st Aug so will be able to give my verdict when we get back.

Scott

 

[pixiemel]

For us it was very well worth it! It was a perfect day-the park is beautiful and calm. Breakfast and lunch were delicious. We snorkeled with huge stingrays-it looked like "Finding Nemo" down there!! Our dolphin swim was a 1pm, and we got Capricorn! He is the biggest, oldest, and sweetest! He was also the dolphin who "saved the day" in the movie Jaws III! The swim was much longer and further than I had read about, probably at the least 60 or so feet out in the lagoon. We also were able to feed him and play with him and watch him do lots of tricks. They are truly amazing animals and it was an experience like no other. The DVD and CD are so worth the $$-the photographers were in the water with us, so the clarity and quality is fantastic!

Enjoy!

 

[Lorix2]

We went in 2005 and my opinion and of everyone's in our group of 8, it was worth every penny. My DH said it was the best experience of all.

We snorkeled together, I had so much fun I was giggling...he and the kids did the dolphin swim and got some amazing pictures, the food was great, the park is beautiful, it's been 3 years now and I still have fond memories of that day.

If you don't want to spend the money to include the dolphin swim for everyone, I wouldn't let it stop you from going. There is still plenty for everyone to do and you will still have a wonderful experience with your family.

Hope you get there!

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Worth every penny! I wish I could afford to go every two or three months. It was like paradise.

 

[JoyMouse]

I've done it twice now and would go back tomorrow if I could. It is expensive, but since the food and everything else (except pictures) is covered, it really isn't so bad. The whole experience was just awesome both trips.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I'd go back in a heartbeat! Just went on 8/26 and it was phenomenal! All drinks (including Budweiser products), snacks, breakfast, lunch are included. The park itself is kept in pristine condition -- spotlessly clean, extremely clean bathrooms, white sand beaches. Only Crabtree & Evelyn products (soap, shampoo, lotions, etc.) in the bathrooms. Actual towels to dry your hands (not paper towels). Even free sanitary products. There is literally NOTHING you will need money for, other than pictures and videos, which are well worth the money. I was fortunate enough to book using an American Express deal, so we each got $50 back in AmEx gift checks. We purchased the highest picture package and the DVD and it totalled $201. With the AmEx gift checks, it only came to $50 for us. Any questions, please PM me. I can't say enough good things about this experience. Of course, the dolphin swim was the highlight of the day. We had Dixie who was wonderful and playful!

 

[stacyp9]

I read more than 300 reviews on trip advisor. I can sum up what I learned. About 97% of the reviewers described it as the high point of their trip and well worth the money. The unhappy few tended to have one of two complaints. 1) Their kids were scared to swim with the critters and the day was ruined or 2) The dolphin "swim" was more like a dolphin interaction that culminated with the dolphin towing them to shore. The main complaint of otherwise satisfied guest was that the picture packages were ridiculously over-priced.

 

[Candid]

3 words.....

worth----------every----------cent !!!!!!

 

[Inkmahm]

I would love to take the kids to Discovery Cove and have them (and me ) swim with the Dolphines. Has anyone ever done this and is it really worth that price tag.
Money is alway an issue in my house with 5 kids but if its really worth it then I want them to have that experience.

thanks

It's a matter of perspective. I thought the DC prices were really high for just one day of admission but I paid them for our extended family (7 of us) in spring. We're going again (some different family members) in December and I'm paying for 5 of us.

Then I went to Alaska. Our bear watching excursion and float plane trip in Ketchikan for 5 hours was $539 per person. Ouch. That put DC in perspective for me. It now looks like a BARGAIN in comparison to Alaska prices!

And yes, it is worth the price as DC is beautiful and swimming with the dolphins is very cool.

 

[Chkultr]

Very much worth the money! I loved every minute of it!!!

 

[cesariofamily]

My daughter and I did this two weeks ago. She is 14 and saved her money for her ticket. We had a wonderful time! If you can afford it, it is worth every penny. The food was super. The birds are really cool. I can snorkle all day and the dolphins are beyond words.

 

[ulittletinker]

I'd go back in a heartbeat! Just went on 8/26 and it was phenomenal! All drinks (including Budweiser products), snacks, breakfast, lunch are included. The park itself is kept in pristine condition -- spotlessly clean, extremely clean bathrooms, white sand beaches. Only Crabtree & Evelyn products (soap, shampoo, lotions, etc.) in the bathrooms. Actual towels to dry your hands (not paper towels). Even free sanitary products. There is literally NOTHING you will need money for, other than pictures and videos, which are well worth the money. I was fortunate enough to book using an American Express deal, so we each got $50 back in AmEx gift checks. We purchased the highest picture package and the DVD and it totalled $201. With the AmEx gift checks, it only came to $50 for us. Any questions, please PM me. I can't say enough good things about this experience. Of course, the dolphin swim was the highlight of the day. We had Dixie who was wonderful and playful!

I plan to do this on our next trip. How did you get the AmEx gift check deal. Did you book directly through discovery cove. or TA
Virginia

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I plan to do this on our next trip. How did you get the AmEx gift check deal. Did you book directly through discovery cove. or TA
Virginia

Here's how I found out:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1824429

The discount was also showing on Discovery Cove's website at the time. I believe I remember someone saying this discount has been offered before, I'm just not sure how often.

 

[connorsgram]

We went last week and loved it! It is worth every penny! Of course the highlight of the day is swimming with the dolphin. ( We had Dixie too and loved her. She is so smart and sweet.) Everything in the park is incredible--the food, the stingray pool, the coral reef, the tropical river, and the aviary. We bought the pictures--you get a CD of all the pictures and you print off the ones you want, and a DVD of the dolphin experience. Yeah it's pricey, but I no worse than paying $6 for a hot dog kids meal at some places. The park is so clean and well kept. You don't feel rushed--just move around at your own pace. Loved it!!

 

[KEEP TRAVELING]

I live in Orlando and its the one park that I keep going back to. The atmosphere is wonderful there and it really give you a chance to relax and really enjoy the park.

KT

 

[kellymonaghan]

I'm another person who swam with Dixie!

And I also think it's worth every penny.

(Don't think because I write a guidebook, they give me any special deal. I pay full price every time I go.)