Discovery cove advice

[luvwdwfla2]

We are heading over to Discovery Cove on Easter. Any tips/ advice?
Do we need to stack out lounge chairs for the day? I know aquatica you can rent shaded chairs/ cabanas. Does DC cove do this? Are there any chairs in the shade or any area you would reccoment trying to get a chair in? Any other advice? I can't wait to swim with the dolphins. DS8 does not know we are going either. I think he will be so excited.
Thanks for any tips.

 

[tx2tn]

We are heading over to Discovery Cove on Easter. Any tips/ advice?
Do we need to stack out lounge chairs for the day? I know aquatica you can rent shaded chairs/ cabanas. Does DC cove do this? Are there any chairs in the shade or any area you would reccoment trying to get a chair in? Any other advice? I can't wait to swim with the dolphins. DS8 does not know we are going either. I think he will be so excited.
Thanks for any tips.

You will all LOVE Discovery Cove!! There are lounge chairs in many different areas. Some are in sun and some in shade. When we went, we were on the trainers for a day program so we did not have much time to lay in the sun, but we noticed that there were always quite a few empty chairs.

Make sure you take your waterproof camera with you or buy a disposable one or two!!!
Get there at rope drop! You don't want to miss a second

Here are a couple pics from our trip

 

[happymommy]

We were just there last week. They do have chairs with umbrellas, and some cabanas that people can rent. Honestly, I think the cabanas would only be useful if you really weren't going to do much at DC. We were so busy that the only time we sat down was to eat. I would have liked to find a chair under an umbrella, but we ate right when we got there rather than find a spot for our stuff, so our bad.

Still, most chairs were empty all day, as there is so much to see in the aviary (my DD and I spent well over an hour or so there), the lazy river (took 30 minutes to leisurely swim), snorkeling, etc...

I would recommend finding a chair with an umbrella right when you get there, then eat. If we had gotten a cabana, we wouldn't have used it more than 30 minutes total - and we were there from 8:30am till 6:00pm (they closed everything at 5:30 then we had to go to get our stuff from our lockers).

 

[mjohnson96]

They do have the cabanas to rent but not very many until the new area opens up. We did rent one for our June trip because we will have DD 20mo with us and my mom and her will want to stay in the shade with the fan more often then be in the water.

I also got the premium package that allows you to reserve a cabana now and you get lots of goodies including a personalized buoy delivered by one of the dolphins during your swim

 

[luvwdwfla2]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think we will just try to find a chair in the shade to stake out. Did you guys need watershoes????

 

[foohpah]

tx2tn - Did you get to see that macaw just as part of the trainer program? My son LOVES scarlet macaws and has never seen a real one much less been able to hold one.

 

[tx2tn]

tx2tn - Did you get to see that macaw just as part of the trainer program? My son LOVES scarlet macaws and has never seen a real one much less been able to hold one.

Yes. That was part of the Trainer for a Day program. We were taken behind of the buildings and some of the trainers brought out different types of birds and small animals for us to see.

 

[Bethenny]

We did not need water shoes. There are a few spots that are rocky, but if you're careful you can step over it. I didn't wear shoes all day. We even ate lunch barefoot.

And aside from meals, I think I sat down for about 20 minutes total, so I don't think the cabana is necessary. If you can't find shade when you get there, walk further down towards the dolphin coves. Those seats were empty.

Question for the poster who posted the pics. Where were the sharks? I couldn't find them and didn't really have time to ask. I did see the barracudas though.

 

[tx2tn]

Question for the poster who posted the pics. Where were the sharks? I couldn't find them and didn't really have time to ask. I did see the barracudas though.

I don't remember exactly where they were in the park but they were in a seperate pool.

 

[JLR]

The sharks currently are in a separate area glassed off from the rest of the main snorkeling area, but I believe they will be moved when the grand reef opens in June.