Discovery Cove for the Blind

Belle102498

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Messages
295
Hi everyone!

My husband and I are planning a trip to Orlando in September of this year. I am dying to try Discovery Cove, but my husband is blind, and I am not sure he will get his money's worth out of it. Since we have never been there before, I was hoping some people could give me a few ideas to see if he might be able to enjoy it even though he can't see the animals. I guess I am asking if Discovery Cove is "blind friendly"

TIA:beach:
 
A few things that he might enjoy...

The stingray lagoon experience should be very blind-friendly. You wade into a shallow lagoon and form a large circle with the other people in the group. Then you stand still and they hand out some food for the rays, who, knowing what's coming, swim very close and let you feel their amazing velvety bodies! I think that would be awesome if he's not creeped out by the idea of rays slinking around... because you stand still and they come to you, and because it's a touch experience.

The aviary. If you join one of the staff members working in there, they will chat with you and introduce you to the friendliest birds, who will perch on your arm or your head while you feed them. (I wouldn't try grabbing the birds in there WITHOUT one of the staff members helping, but I'm pretty sure they would know which birds would like to be petted and would supervise)

The dolphin experience... I think it would be worthwhile because of the touching and riding. Also the staff member supervising gives an informative, entertaining talk about your dolphin.


I think you should call and ask them if they can make any suggestions or accommodations! Here's a paragraph from their General Park Information page at discoverycove.com. It's mostly about mobility issues but it suggests they are willing to work with disability issues:

Guests with Disabilities
Discovery Cove can accommodate guests with disabilities
who are able to maneuver themselves with limited
assistance (or with the aid of a personal assistant) during
their dolphin experience and in the various wading
locations. Discovery Cove also offers specially-designed
outdoor wheelchairs with oversized tires for easy
maneuvering on the beach. The wheelchairs are not
self-maneuverable and guests will need assistance operating them.
Wheelchairs can be reserved by calling 1-877-557-7404.​
 
Thank you so much for all of the information that you have given to me. This sounds like a wonderful experience for us and I think my husband will enjoy it as much as I will

:banana:
 
I went to "swim" with the dolphins at DC and I can't swim. The staff were great and swam me back and forth in the middle of the lagoon so I can have my swim with the dolphins. They also gave me the option of doing shallow interactions where I didn't need to go to the middle of the lagoon. Instead, the dolphin came to me and took me from one end of the shallow end of the lagoon to the other.

During our conversation with our trainer, she mentioned that DC sometimes closes the park to the public and only admits people with disabilities into the park. So the dolphins are used to swimming with people of all abilities.

Also, a lot of the interaction with the dolphin is touching them - their body, their fins, their tongue, so I'm sure your husband will enjoy that. Another thing that he may enjoy is the lazy river that they have. As I mentioned, I can't swim but I strapped on a life jacket and I had a blast! It took about 20-30 minutes to finish the river.
 

I am so happy to hear that there are parks that are so accomadating to people with disabilities! Like I said we are going to go to Disney, and they are fantastic as well! Thanks for all the great replies!

:flower3:
 














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