Discovery cove - evening dining advice

[Princess Leia]

I am booking my disney dining reservations and am looking for advice on what to do the evening following a day at discovery cove. I know that food is included during the day at discovery cove.

What kind of dining do you recommend that evening? Are you ready for a nice table service sit down meal or a quick service option?

If booking table service what time would you recommend booking for if staying to the end at DC? We are staying onsite at Disney and have a car.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We found we were super tired after a day in the water and under the hot sun (nothing tires you out like swimming). We also ate a lot on both visits......DH and DS even grabbed ice cream bars to eat on our way OUT of the park .

On both of our visits, we opted for something very low-key for dinner.....no sit down dining. In fact, I believe both times we did take out/delivery so we could have dinner back at our room and just stretch out and relax while we ate.

 

[Princess Leia]

We found we were super tired after a day in the water and under the hot sun (nothing tires you out like swimming). We also ate a lot on both visits......DH and DS even grabbed ice cream bars to eat on our way OUT of the park .

On both of our visits, we opted for something very low-key for dinner.....no sit down dining. In fact, I believe both times we did take out/delivery so we could have dinner back at our room and just stretch out and relax while we ate.

Thanks for the advice. It is so helpul to get advice from people who have been. What sort of offerings do they have for lunch?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for the advice. It is so helpul to get advice from people who have been. What sort of offerings do they have for lunch?

Oh my, there was a TON. Here's what I can remember off the top of my head:

Hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, macaroni and cheese, breaded chicken tenders, pulled pork, jambalaya, Hawaiian chicken, grilled fish, wraps, different types of salads, fresh fruit cups, carrot cake, chocolate cake......and I know I am missing stuff.

I think my waistline just expanded with the memory of it all .

 

[Bearybear]

Thanks for the advice. It is so helpul to get advice from people who have been. What sort of offerings do they have for lunch?

I have to agree with Gina. We had sandwiches in the hotel room after our DC days because we were so tired! We also ate a lot during the day.

As for lunch, they have all sorts of food. Pastas, burgers, chicken entrees, salads, sandwiches, fruit, desserts, etc.

There is a wide variety of food available all day. My son is a vegetarian who has food allergies, and he always has several options for food at breakfast, lunch and snacks.

 

[Princess Leia]

Mmm... sounds great! I guess everyone wants to get their money's worth! Looks like not booking dinner leaves plenty of flexibility for eating later. What time did you leave Discovery Cove?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Mmm... sounds great! I guess everyone wants to get their money's worth! Looks like not booking dinner leaves plenty of flexibility for eating later. What time did you leave Discovery Cove?

We arrived prior to 8 am and left just after 5. Even then......we wished we had more time!

 

[Princess Leia]

We arrived prior to 8 am and left just after 5. Even then......we wished we had more time!

Yes it sounds like a short time. Hopefully July thunderstorms won't interrupt play too much!

 

[dizzyr]

What time do they stop lunch? Is it an all you can eat kind of thing? If so could you have an early lunch and then eat again right before you leave?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

What time do they stop lunch? Is it an all you can eat kind of thing? If so could you have an early lunch and then eat again right before you leave?

Lunch closes up around 2:30 or 3 pm (I think it starts at 10:30 or 11). You can eat as often as you want during that span of time.

Snacks are available right up until the time you leave the park, so you can grab a hot pretzel, ice cream bar and a drink (for example) just before closing.

 

[kandb]

We just went to DC today and it was awesome. The park was actually open until 5:30 today and lunch was served until 3:30. They close the doors to the Laguna grill (where lunch is served) at exactly 3:30. We had breakfast in the morning and then had snacks from the snack bar and then didn't actually get lunch until 3:00pm and it worked out great. We got out of the aviary at 5:30 and did not exit the park until 6:15 or so. They do not rush you out. You will love it, it's a great time. PS, Bring rubber water shoes for when you are in the freshwater oasis and the lazy riverr as the bottom is a bit rough and I got a large blister on my big toe.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

Here is something you can do. This is what we did.

We got there at 7:45 and got checked in then went and had breakfast at 8. Some people have reported not being allowed to eat until 9 but this was not the case for us. We ate at 8.

Then we had an early lunch at 11. Then we ate a late lunch again right before 3 when they stop serving. Yes we ate 3 meals. Then we were not very hungry for dinner because we just ate at 3. So we just had a snack later in the evening on our Discovery Cove day.

Also after we ate at 3 the kids had plenty of snacks before we left the park. Ice Cream bars, Cin Sugar soft Pretzels, granola bars, slushy drinks. They made sure we got every bit of food in our tummies we could. =)

That day cost us $1500 so I wanted to make sure we got 3 meals out of it.

 

[dizzyr]

Here is something you can do. This is what we did.

We got there at 7:45 and got checked in then went and had breakfast at 8. Some people have reported not being allowed to eat until 9 but this was not the case for us. We ate at 8.

Then we had an early lunch at 11. Then we ate a late lunch again right before 3 when they stop serving. Yes we ate 3 meals. Then we were not very hungry for dinner because we just ate at 3. So we just had a snack later in the evening on our Discovery Cove day.

Also after we ate at 3 the kids had plenty of snacks before we left the park. Ice Cream bars, Cin Sugar soft Pretzels, granola bars, slushy drinks. They made sure we got every bit of food in our tummies we could. =)

That day cost us $1500 so I wanted to make sure we got 3 meals out of it.

I think that's probably what we will do too

 

[Trish.Glenn]

You and your family are going to LOVE it! I can not say enough good things about it. Have fun

 

[Princess Leia]

That's great you all had a fantastic time. I'm finding it hard to justify cost - haven't fessed up to cost to DH yet. Maybe he won't notice it on cc bill. The advice given by all that have been there sounds like like a good plan to follow. Did you manage to fit in everything else as well as the food?
I have followed your advice and not made a dining reservation for that night.
What did you all do about photos of dolphin interaction?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

What did you all do about photos of dolphin interaction?

We purchased what I think was called the Adventure Package (one step down from the largest package...the Ultimate, I think?). That meant we didn't get the DVD, the poster, and the scrapbook, but the rest of the package components were the same (CD of all photos from your entire day, several prints, key chains, etc.). We were also given a beautiful 6 x 8 stone photo frame that was no advertised as part of the package. Cost was approximately $159 and IMHO, well worth every penny as the photos on the CD were excellent. And while it is an expensive souvenir, to me it the best one possible, as nothing helps bring back happy memories like pictures (I'm a photo nut at the best of time). A day like that you want to remember forever .

 

[mjplantz]

We love discovery cove and agree with the other posters that after a full day a sit down dinner would probably be too much. We grabbed some Chick Fil A and headed to our rental house and just enjoyed the rest of the evening relaxing there.

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

We also bought the Adventure photo package. I did not want the DVD or poster that came with the most expensive package. But they have cheaper packages aside from the Adventure package. But I wanted the prints and cd of photos.

My husband almost had a stroke when I told him I wanted the photos and how much they cost but there was no way I was leaving there without buying those photos. I had warned him long before we went that we were buying the expensive photos. I think he just hoped I wouldn't want them.

Also watch out for the park photographers in the aviary and warm water oasis. They will take additional photos of your family besides just the dolphin swim photos.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Also watch out for the park photographers in the aviary and warm water oasis. They will take additional photos of your family besides just the dolphin swim photos.

Photographers can also be found in the lazy river, both by the waterfall and around the sunken treasure chest .