Discovery Cove Cabana?

[mydisneyanytime]

We are going to Discovery Cove in June. I have two kids (age 7 and 8) Both kids are really excited as we have been looking at youtube videos for weeks. We are swimming with the Dolphins!

Should we get a Cabana? My son may get tired quickly (we have some mobility issues though he goes as long as he can) and I have to think that it would be nice to have a "homebase".

I have never been there so don't know if it is really needed or not. It seems expensive but I might be willing to put out that much more money if it will enhance our trip.

Thanks!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

While I adore having a private cabana at DC, I don't consider it a necessity. Its a splurge that will be valuable for some and absolutely not necessary for others. Your son having mobility issues definitely presents a more unique situation, but there are free loungers throughout the park for all guests to enjoy as part of their DC experience.

If prioritizing additional costs, my #1 would be a photo package, and a cabana would come in #2.

A lot depends on the time of year you visit, too. We went without a cabana on the time we visited in January 2012, but secured on for our August 2012 visit (and have another cabana for our upcoming August 2014 trip). Getting out of the sun is more crucial in the summer months, IMO, when the rays are so scorching.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

When you book your date, be sure to add your info to our Roll Call thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3214125

And I will put you on our list on page 1 .

 

[cemeb4dk]

We are going in June also, and once we booked the top tier photo package it just made sense for the little bit of extra money ( in the grand scheme of the day) to add the cabana. I just booked us today, one question I got when reserving was if we wanted to go to cabana right away, and I was not sure so I said yes.

 

[foxxxy83]

Took my son to DC last Oct and, as our whole 2 wk Florida trip was a special occasion (my 30th), I decided to get the Elite VIP package which was a lot of money in comparison to just going without any 'extras' but I am SO glad we did. My son was 6 when we were there and I should explain that he is mildly autistic and I have some neurological issues but none that are highly noticeable. The cabana proved a MASSIVE help for us though as the cabanas are quiet and quite secluded so it meant we could have somewhere to use like you say as a base where we could go and chill out when we were tired of swimming, doing our dolphin swim etc. DC is a BIG park and I explained about our conditions to the lady I spoke to when we booked and she put a note on the computer (we got assigned a cabana with a little patch of beach where my son could play if be liked while I rested which overlooked the dolphin lagoon so lunch and snacks with a brilliant view and which was near to changing rooms, toilets and most of the attractions we wanted to visit) We had our own locker and fridge which the attendants kept restocking. The attendants were lovely and couldn't do enough for us even going to collect our photos, DVD etc and, where everyone else had to keep trying to find somewhere to sit to eat lunch, we had our own spot with attendants who did all the running back and forward to get our lunch/dinner/snacks for us. Seriously, if you can afford to stretch to this and this is likely to be the only time you visit, the Elite VIP package makes it SO SPECIAL and is well worth the money. Yes, I agree that it is money that could equally be well spent elsewhere but we definitely wouldn't have had as magic a time as we did if we hadn't have booked that package.

 

[Pinkgirl]

We are going in June also, and once we booked the top tier photo package it just made sense for the little bit of extra money ( in the grand scheme of the day) to add the cabana. I just booked us today, one question I got when reserving was if we wanted to go to cabana right away, and I was not sure so I said yes.

We were asked too, so I said yes. I gave no idea why they ask!

 

[foxxxy83]

They ask so that they can have a host/hostess ready for you. Each host/hostess will look after a few cabanas at a time so they have to make sure they have enough staff available.

 

[tinkerpea]

How much was the elite package? Where looking into going and it will he my 30th too so wanting something a little bit special

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

How much was the elite package? Where looking into going and it will he my 30th too so wanting something a little bit special

The elite package is $359 plus tax.

http://www.discoverycove.ca/Plan/PackageDetail.aspx?id=681

If you are planning on renting a cabana and buying the largest photo package, its actually cheaper to get the Elite package vs. buying those two items separately (purchased a la carte, a cabana = $175 and Discovery photo package = $219). Plus, you get the other extras (personalized bouy delivered by a dolphin, photo frame or plush toy and DC backpack) in addition to the photo package and cabana .

 

[Pinkgirl]

The elite package is $359 plus tax.

http://www.discoverycove.ca/Plan/PackageDetail.aspx?id=681

If you are planning on renting a cabana and buying the largest photo package, its actually cheaper to get the Elite package vs. buying those two items separately (purchased a la carte, a cabana = $175 and Discovery photo package = $219). Plus, you get the other extras (personalized bouy delivered by a dolphin, photo frame or plush toy and DC backpack) in addition to the photo package and cabana .

Gina, do you have a photo of the backpack? Is it in one of your trippies?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Gina, do you have a photo of the backpack? Is it in one of your trippies?

Assuming they haven't changed the style of the bag since our last visit (August 2012), it was more like a sling bag than a backpack. I loved it!!



These were the Elite Package inclusions two years ago. According to the most current website description, you no longer receive the waterproof camera, t-shirt, and extra free 6 x 8 photo (the little tag you see on the backpack was the voucher redeemable for that item).