Discovery Cove - How early to book?

[vnuzz]

Hi all

We are hoping to head to Discovery Cove when we spend a few days in Orlando 15-20 September. I know they only sell a certain number of tickets for each day so I was wondering how early you need to book to ensure you get a spot in the park? I was planning on leaving it till we arrived in Orlando and see how the budget is looking and how we feel at that point (this will be 3 weeks into our 4 week trip!) but is that cutting it a bit fine?

TIA

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I would worry less about availability and more about the cost.

Prices for DC admission go up as availability decreases, so typically the closer to your trip that you wait to purchase tickets the more expensive they will be.

Me personally, if I wanted to go then I'd buy your admissions now and work it into your trip (you cannot cancel within the 30 days before your visit, but they do allow one complimentary date change per reservation). Its a wonderful park and I don't think you would regret it!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

The prices definitely do go up drastically the closer you get to the date. There is no way I would wait until even 60 days out. I booked our dates for last October then tried to call in 30 days prior to that date to change our day to another day and the prices had gone up so much that if I wanted to change our date it would have cost us $70 more to make the change. That is how much the tickets had gone up since I had booked originally.

I originally booked it for the 5 of us at $299 each with the Ultimate ticket (that gets you into Busch Gardens) but when I tried to change it she said it would be $369 each.

That is with the dolphin swim. Now if you are booking the day without the dolphin swim the prices might not go up that much for you.

But with Discovery Cove being as expensive as it is I would suggest you figuring out way in advance if your budget will allow you to go or not. That is really not something I would save as a last minute expense.

 

[Capt_BJ]

go to their web site and 'begin purchase' ... you can view calendar for 6 months showing availabiliy and price

there are already blockS of days 'full' in Nov and DEC

 

[vnuzz]

Thanks for all of your responses! I didn't realise prices would go up - good to know! Prices for the dolphin swim on the dates we are looking (Sept 15-20) are showing at $229 cheaper than the previous and following months, should probably grab them now

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for all of your responses! I didn't realise prices would go up - good to know! Prices for the dolphin swim on the dates we are looking (Sept 15-20) are showing at $229 cheaper than the previous and following months, should probably grab them now

Yep, I would grab them too! That's a pretty decent price.

 

[dizzyr]

Thanks for all of your responses! I didn't realise prices would go up - good to know! Prices for the dolphin swim on the dates we are looking (Sept 15-20) are showing at $229 cheaper than the previous and following months, should probably grab them now

When I first started looking at tickets they were $219 but I didn't know my exact day so I didn't buy them. Then they went up to $229 and I thought I would pick them up "soon" - I finally bought them in March at $259 and we're not going until November so I would definitely pick them up at the $229 price while you can.

 

[vnuzz]

Yes I think I will grab them while I can!

The day will cost $1000 for my family of four to attend with the dolphin swim...does everyone think that it is definitely worth the money?

 

[Lynne G]

Yes I think I will grab them while I can!

The day will cost $1000 for my family of four to attend with the dolphin swim...does everyone think that it is definitely worth the money?

Worth is so subjective. What is worth it to one is not for another.

For my family, we really enjoyed it. When I went 2 years ago, I only got SW bundled, and had to pay extra for the other 2 parks. Now, you get both SW and Aquadica included, and BGT for an extra $20. Unlimited entries for 14 days. SW and BGT are more than $50 per person for one day, and Aquadica is about $50 per person for one day, so you are getting up to 3 extra parks to enjoy as many times as you want for 2 weeks. You can enjoy before and after your DC visit. Also, if you are doing more than a few days at those other parks, call DC and buy a parking pass that will be good for the 2 weeks, and gives you free parking in the other parks, with the cost of the pass, I think about $25.

Unless you go outside the US, there is no other place to interact with dolphins that would be much, if any, cheaper than DC. At DC, you get your dolphin interaction, towels, breakfast and lunch, snacks, beer and wine, wet suits, suntan lotion, snorkel and fins, bird feeding, a beautiful park with a fun lazy river and reefs to snorkel, ability to touch all different sized rays, and enjoy seeing all the animals and birds in addition to the 2 weeks unlimited entry to 2 other parks right near DC.

Expensive day, yes, but one that my DD11 still talks about and was a really relaxing day for me. So, was it worth it for us, yes.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Worth is so subjective. What is worth it to one is not for another.

For my family, we really enjoyed it. When I went 2 years ago, I only got SW bundled, and had to pay extra for the other 2 parks. Now, you get both SW and Aquadica included, and BGT for an extra $20. Unlimited entries for 14 days. SW and BGT are more than $50 per person for one day, and Aquadica is about $50 per person for one day, so you are getting up to 3 extra parks to enjoy as many times as you want for 2 weeks. You can enjoy before and after your DC visit. Also, if you are doing more than a few days at those other parks, call DC and buy a parking pass that will be good for the 2 weeks, and gives you free parking in the other parks, with the cost of the pass, I think about $25.

Unless you go outside the US, there is no other place to interact with dolphins that would be much, if any, cheaper than DC. At DC, you get your dolphin interaction, towels, breakfast and lunch, snacks, beer and wine, wet suits, suntan lotion, snorkel and fins, bird feeding, a beautiful park with a fun lazy river and reefs to snorkel, ability to touch all different sized rays, and enjoy seeing all the animals and birds in addition to the 2 weeks unlimited entry to 2 other parks right near DC.

Expensive day, yes, but one that my DD11 still talks about and was a really relaxing day for me. So, was it worth it for us, yes.

Lynne has summed it up fabulously .

DC definitely seems to have "less value" if you don't fully utilize all the components of the admission (specifically, the complimentary access to SeaWorld and Aquatica for 14 days).

Let's say you spend $229 on your admission to DC. That gives you a "park day" with your dolphin swim feature, plus parking and all your food for the day (excluding dinner, unless you load up on late-day snacks just prior to closing).

A SW and Aquatica combo ticket, if purchased as a stand-alone, is $119.

So your ticket to DC actually ends up costing $110 for the day......a GREAT value IMHO. A one-day ticket to a Disney park is $94.79. You can bet your boots that you won't be able to park and eat all day at Disney for $15.21, the difference between the two prices.

We fell in love with DC on our first visit....enough that we went back for a second time in the same year. Its a beautiful park with a relaxing vibe....a great break from the business of a theme park vacation. I personally think the experience is very much worth it, but as always, YMMV.

 

[vnuzz]

Thank you I don't think my family will have tome to make use of the 14 day pass at the other parks but are still very interested in a day at DC. I think I'll go ahead and book

 

[marylandteachergirl]

Thank you to all of you who posted here and contributed great information. We are trying to decide for June, 2014, and would do this after a short cruise.

On the DC website, I only see tickets available about 6 months out. Is it possible to book farther ahead by phone, or is 6 months as far as they extend availability?

Thanks so much!

 

[ckelly14]

I purchased in August 2012 for June 2nd, so at some point greater than 6 month bookings are available. I booked the ultimate package for $279 in August, current it is $379!

 

[dizzyr]

Thank you to all of you who posted here and contributed great information. We are trying to decide for June, 2014, and would do this after a short cruise.

On the DC website, I only see tickets available about 6 months out. Is it possible to book farther ahead by phone, or is 6 months as far as they extend availability?

Thanks so much!

I started looking for tickets when I booked our cruise which was in July I think and we aren't going till this nov so at that point it was almost 18 months away and you could book. I would assume if you called they would be able to book it over the phone.