Discovery Cove... 1 with and 1 without dolphins!

[Wonders10]

Hi everyone,

Since it opened, I have wanted to do Discovery Cove but mainly due to price, we have never done it. The other issue is that no one I know has any desire to swim with a dolphin. I don't get it but that's fine. Well financially it is more possible these days, at least as part of our "big" vacation. So is it possible to do Discovery Cove with 1 person swimming with dolphins and the other not swimming? Would the non-dolphin person be able to at least watch from very nearby and take pictures? They would love the snorkeling and lazy river and swimming, etc...just not with a dolphin in the water with them!

TIA!

 

[Capt_BJ]

YES

ABSOLUTELY

We did DC with dad and kids doing the dolphin thing and MOM

NOT doing the dolphin thing but sitting on a rock nearby and video-ing the whole thing.

our situation was: we'd booked late and they only allow so many dol' interactions per day...some one could not go! But more can enjoy the other pools.

 

[Dizneydaz]

When we went we had 2 with dolphins and 2 without. DC only requires that you have one dolphin experience with each booking.

We too took pictures and video from the rocks. My DSis took the stills and my DM took the video (she said she won't do it again since she couldn't tell which person was me and ended up shooting a video with mostly another woman!)

Here's 2 pix my sister took

DD

me

 

[Jaime4004]

They require one person booking the dolphin swim packing, if you are reserving it online. If you call them, no one has to do it. DH and I went last month and neither of us did the dolphin swim. (Been there, done that, didn't think it was worth the extra money). But we had a blast, stayed from opening to close!

 

[unionville]

We were there on Friday and we arrived at 8 a.m. and left when they made us! An amazing day!!! My husband and son did the dolphin swim and I watched at shore. They did let me get in the water for a family shot at the end and the trainer let me "pet" the dolphin. My husband is glad he did it but would not do it again. He had the most fun snorkeling in the reef.

 

[jking6]

I surprised my DD for her 16th birthday by taking her to swim with the dolphins. there was 4 of us and only she swam with the dolphins. It was the most amazing day we have had on all our trips to Florida. I also ordered a special Birthday cake and at the end of her dolphin swim they picked her out of the group and the dolphin swam a buoy over to her that said Happy Birthday Shelby. We go to Disney once or twice a year and someday I will spend the money to go back to Discovery Cove.

 

[Wonders10]

Thanks for all the replies! So glad that it is possible for not everyone in your party to have to do the dolphin encounter. I definitely want to...mom does not. But she does love snorkeling and swimming. And as long as she could watch and not feel left out.

Just not sure if we can budget it in. We decided to do a week in Disney as a relatively inexpensive summer vacation because we are doing a cruise right before Christmas with the rest of our family. With Florida resident discounts and my Disney Visa dollars, plus saving, it won't be too bad, but not sure I can convince her to spend $200 on a "water park" when we could do the water parks and more option for $30!

 

[tevagirl]

Is it cheaper if you aren't doing the dolphin swim? My daughter and grandchildren will be doing it but not me. I didn't realize they had different prices other than the packages they offer.

 

[Wonders10]

Is it cheaper if you aren't doing the dolphin swim? My daughter and grandchildren will be doing it but not me. I didn't realize they had different prices other than the packages they offer.

I am pretty sure it is cheaper if you do not do the dolphin. There are 2 prices...one with the dolphin swim and one without. I'm guessing just based on what I've researched in the past and it seems the non-dolphin is about $50 cheaper, maybe a little more.

 

[ccgirl]

I surprised my DD for her 16th birthday by taking her to swim with the dolphins. there was 4 of us and only she swam with the dolphins. It was the most amazing day we have had on all our trips to Florida. I also ordered a special Birthday cake and at the end of her dolphin swim they picked her out of the group and the dolphin swam a buoy over to her that said Happy Birthday Shelby. We go to Disney once or twice a year and someday I will spend the money to go back to Discovery Cove.

Did you have to pay extra for this? I am going to surprise my DD with a trip here for her birthday and that will just add to the magic.

As for the price, I noticed on line that that the Dolphin Swim is $149 and the non swim is $49. Plus, you get a free admission to SeaWorld. This is with the American Express code.

 

[MCazer]

I paid for the Sept 1, for 2 Dolphin and 2 nondolphin with the AMEX code
(AMXDM10) and it was $149 for Dolphin and $79 for non per person.

Which is great because you get 14 days of SeaWorld or Aquatica (your choice), and Discovery Cove with food, and a picture! How can you beat that?

 

[Wonders10]

I paid for the Sept 1, for 2 Dolphin and 2 nondolphin with the AMEX code
(AMXDM10) and it was $149 for Dolphin and $79 for non per person.

Which is great because you get 14 days of SeaWorld or Aquatica (your choice), and Discovery Cove with food, and a picture! How can you beat that?

That is a good deal...I'm assuming you have to have an american express card though, which I don't. Know of any similar deals? AAA? FL Res? Do they typically have deals in the summer, particularly June?

 

[floridaminnie]

We had a fl res. discount and went in April. We booked less than a week out. We had three do dolphin and one didn't. The dolphin was 99, but I can't remember was the non-dolphin price was.