Discovery Cove-Is it Worth it?

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

After looking at the prices for Discovery Code I am trying to decide if it is worth it or not. Has anyone on here been to Discovery Cove? You see my husband and I are going on our honeymoon in May, and I want to surprise him with a Dolphin swimming experience. He's been wanting to do that since he was a kid but hasn't had the chance to yet. So I thought Discovery Cove sounded like a good idea. But it's $260 for one person for the day, and to rip you off they add in 7 days worth of admission to Sea World or Busch Gardens. We wouldn't be able to use those admission days at all since were only in the Orlando area for a week and were spending it all at Walt Disney World, so basically the only thing we will get out of this is the dolphin swim experience.

So has anyone been to Discovery Code and done the Dolphin Swim experience there? How long did you actually get to swim with dolphins? If its only half an hour or an hour I'm thinking that I'd rather look elsewhere for the experience for him. What else is there to actually do there? I know they say there is a Ray Lagoon and a few other things but their website does not elaborate on what exactly those are. Do you get to actually swim with Sting Rays? Overall for those of you who went there, was it worth the elaborate pricing? Or if given the chance to do it again would you have looked elsewhere?

Also, does anyone know of other Dolphin Swim Experiences in the area? I know Disney has one but you don't swim with them, you just stand in water waist deep so that one isn't too appealing to us. Any help is appreciated so much so thank you!

 

[magiroux]

For us, yes. We felt it was worth the money. We had one of the best days EVER on a vacation.

Your admission is for the day. One way to get your money's worth is to make sure you are on line to enter DC 1/2 hour before opening. Two reasons: to get the best pick of dolphin swim time (morning, but not first thing in the am, is ideal) and to use the park for the full time available to you.

There is a limited amount of people admitted. When we went it was sold out and it did not fell crowded AT ALL. It is an absolutly beautiful park and VERY relaxing, as opposed to the "go, go, go" feeling of WDW. I think it would be even more enjoyable after going through the craziness of planning a wedding and getting married. They serve a very good lunch and if you arrive, dolphin swim & eat lunch early you will always be a few steps ahead of the bottlenecks.

Yes, the dolphin swim is only a 1/2 hour. But it is very well done. I have been to several while cruising and trust me, you get what you pay for. Make sure to budget extra money for a few pitcures because they are awesome.

There is a snorkle lagoon, a sting ray lagoon (you swim with and feed them) a bird avitary, lazy river and nooks and crannys everywhere to hang out and relax. Honestly, we didn't even get to see it all.

My advice, it's your Honeymoon (congratulations!!), if you can swing the high admittance price, go for it!!! I think you will enjoy it.

Also, the 7 day Seaworld admittance; they have night shows, lunch/dinner with the whales and tons of shows. Even if you do WDW most of the time, with some advance time planning you could get some use out of the Seaworld passes if you wanted. JMHO.

I think that it depends on the individual situation if it is worth the money or not. Where you don't have any children (I assume) to worry about it would be the ideal time for you to do this "once in a lifetime" experience. Most people that have kids that are either too young or just not into it don't enjoy the day. And for that kinda of money it can be a real drag.

 

[Cindy B]

Yes, yes , yes! We went back in 2001 for our 10 year anniversary. It was fanstastic. The snorkeling, swimming, stingray cove, bird aviary, was fantastic. The free lunch was fabulous, and extremely filling.

Remember there was at the time a 7 day pass to Seaworld. We used most of those days after the fact. So for $400 we did about 6 days at Seaworld plus our Discovery Cove day.

 

[hannahouse]

Go back to the website and watch the videos - I think you'll get a better idea of what it's all about. There is also board about Discovery Cove on this site, and people have some pretty elaborate trip reports about DC. The majority of people say it was worth every penny! Good luck!

Discovery Cove/ Sea World thread:
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

 

[CarolA]

I really want to do this. I can't ever recall seeing a bad review.

(WAIT! There was Delswife's EVIL SIL who had a fit for some reason, but it just added to the entertainment)

 

[kmccusker]

We (mom, dad & 4 kids aged 9-17) did Discovery Cove for one day a couple of years ago. If I had it to do again I would do Discovery Cove, but not the dolphin "swim". All members of my family concur. We enoyed the park. It was clean, beautiful, relaxing, uncrowded & very enjoyable. The dolphin swim was disappointing. We had very little interaction with the dolphin. You spent most of your time listening to the trainer show you tricks the dolphin could do then you watched other members of your group (of about 6) swim with the dolphin. When your turn came, you held onto his fin & were pulled 10 feet out, then back to the group. One by one. Certainly a good experience, but not worth the money.

 

[gjw007]

Yes, I did the dolphin swim a couple years ago. I want to do it again and will probably sometime again in the future.

I disagree with the suggestion that providing you with an additional 7 days at SeaWorld is a ripoff. Sorry that you can't use it. SeaWorld, like Universal's 5 day for the price of two, tickets effectively cost you nothing but while they potentially lose admission fees, they make it up on you purchasing products and meals. So for them, it becomes a win-win scenario because it is probably highly unlikely that you would have came back for the second or third day without the offer. It cost them nothing, it cost you nothing (additional), and everybody gains. I took advantage of this offer. When I made the reservation, I asked about parking tickets. I pre-ordering packing tickets for SeaWorld at $15 for the entire week. Discovery Cove doesn't charge for parking but since I could come and go to SeaWorld over the next few days, it provided me with a savings.

As nice as the site is, I think that the price paid for not doing the dolphin swim is too high. While $260 is high, it provides an experience of a lifetime for most people. Consider what some other experience of a lifetime cost such as spending a day at DisneyWorld's Richard Petty race track or flying in a P51 warbird? What is really high is the cost of photos and videos. Ouch!

 

[DisneySurfGirl]

If you have the time or you're heading that way anyway then try the Dolphin Research Centre (www.dolphins.org) in Grassy Key in the Keys area. They do some really good work with dolphins and their dolphin swims are a lot longer than at Discovery Cove (as well as cheaper). You get the swim and learn a lot about dolphins and how they are cared for.

However it is a long trip and probably only worth your while if you're heading down their on your trip. Also Discovery Cove offers a lot more extras - the aviary, the lazy river, food, drink etc. Your money is well spent at Discovery Cove and is definately worth it!

Helz x x x

 

[Hensandchickens]

We have reservations in April and I asked the same question at several message boards. I can't wait! Some people say you do not get enough time with the dolphins, but all the positives I've heard have out weighed that. Even 15 minutes is something that I would never be able to do otherwise. It's better than not swimming with a dolphin. As for the added 7 days at Sea World being a rip off, well I don't think so. If you are looking at swimming with dolphins then you must love sea life and animals, so Sea World is something that you would love as well. It's a bonus. The only other place I've found to swim with dolphins is in the Keys. That would be a wonderful gift for your soon to be husband, maybe he'd like to go to Sea World. Good luck.

 

[magiroux]

I really want to do this. I can't ever recall seeing a bad review.

(WAIT! There was Delswife's EVIL SIL who had a fit for some reason, but it just added to the entertainment)

I recently finished "Del's Wife". SIL was sure a piece of work, wasn't she?

 

[NCRedding]

We loved our day at Discovery Cove. The dolphin swim is short, but so worth it. I would try to rearrange your plan to go to Sea World if at all possible to really take advantage of it. I felt it was worth what we paid.

If we go back, I probably will not do the dolphin swim again, but would love to do the snorkeling, the stingrays, and the aviary.

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Wow, first of all I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who took the time to reply! The information was really helpful and I'll take it all into consideration. I budgeted about $500 for the surprise for my husband so this is within our budget, it's just that I wanted to really research everything to make sure I used it for the thing he would most enjoy. You see he spent a lot of time with his grandfather in S. Florida and has gotten to swim with sting rays on multiple occassions and is a water nut, but he's been itching to do a "long" dolphin swim since he was little too. From what people have said Discovery Cove sounds amazing and hearing peoples descriptions really helped give me a better idea of what it would be like!

And DisneySurfGirl thank you so much for that link!!!! I wil definitely be checking that out. Driving 3-4 hours at a time is absolutely nothing to my husband and I, we consider that a short yet fun road trip and will have our car down in Disney (Were opting to drive down from Ohio rather than fly b/c we like driving so much) so that wouldn't be to out of our way I am thinking. And if that has a longer dolphin swim experience he might prefer that. See the other things at DC all sound great, but they sound like things he has already done frequently at water parks or in the ocean itself, so the Dolphins are what I'm really aiming for. Thank you so much once again!

Also thank you all for explaining htat they do not charge you extra for the Sea World Admission. I thought that they jacked the price up b/c they charged you for that to, and did not realize that it was an add on bonus. That does sound like a good deal but sadly one we will probably not get to take advantage of. I already brought up Sea World to him and since we live right by a Sea World in Ohio he wasn't that interested. As he put it, "Were at Sea World every weekend, lets do something different for our honeymoon." Not to mention that we have Annual Passes to Cedar Point and Six Flags every year as well so the thrill rides at Busch Gardens there are very tame to us now.

Thank you all so much again you guys have been great!

 

[Cindy B]

again!

Also That does sound like a good deal but sadly one we will probably not get to take advantage of. I already brought up Sea World to him and since we live right by a Sea World in Ohio he wasn't that interested. As he put it, "Were at Sea World every weekend, lets do something different for our honeymoon." Not to mention that we have Annual Passes to Cedar Point and Six Flags every year as well so the thrill rides at Busch Gardens there are very tame to us now.

Thank you all so much again you guys have been great!

I thought Sea World in Ohio became Six Flags about five years ago and closed up. I lived in Shaker, and would go to SW of Ohio and then it closed up. That Sea World "side" became the wild side of Six Flags, and now that Geauga Lake came back.. what happened to Sea World?

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

Sea World is closed now up here, has been for a couple of years, now that Six Flags has changed back to Geauga lake. I didn't want to get into specifics in my other post (it would have been long) but both my husband and I were at Sea World every weekend growing up along with during college so it doesnt really hold the appeal anymore. We can't go to Sea World every weekend now but we dont' really want to anymore if that makes sense.

 

[marriedmarylander]

Does anyone know if the tickets they give you to Sea World or Busch Gardens are dated / expire? I was wondering if I can save them for another trip or I have to use them that same week I'm in Orlando. Again for me it would be wasted because we are doing Disney as well, it would be nice if we can save them for another time.

 

[Onceler]

Does anyone know if the tickets they give you to Sea World or Busch Gardens are dated / expire?

The 7 day tickets can be used for 7 consecutive days beginning 7 days before you visit Discovery Cove to 7 days after your visit.

If you upgrade to the 14 day tickets, then they are good for 14 consecutive days from 14 days before to 14 days after.

So you won't be able to save them for a future trip.

 

[bsusanmb]

I was actually thrilled to death to feed the dolphins at Sea World. It was one of the highlights of my 55 years on earth. I never thought I would like Sea World, and for some reason, decided this year to buy a two year senior pass and pay for this monthly with DH. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed this park and the attractions. I fell in love with Shamu, and on my second trip stood in line to feed the dolphins. What an experience. So now I am hoping to go to Discovery Cove to have a one on one encounter with these marvelous creatures. I have always loved Disney, and go 4 times a year. But Sea World is just as exciting in its own way, and I just dream of Shamu and those wonderful dolphins.
Susan

 

[nataliesdaddy]

Discovery Cove is so worth it ...it isn't even a thought. Great way to end a vacation.

The most relaxing thing you will do while doing an Orlando trip to other parks. If you are doing Universal, or WDW ...end your trip at DC. Great way to come down off the theme park rush into a calm and serene place to unwind.

Easily worth more than they charge. Limited park access, so little if any crowd...even on a weekend. Aviary has more variety then any aviary I have ever been to. The whole park environment is so controlled and well thought out that there is no worry at all about much of anything because it is all done for you. Towels, sunscreen, place to clean up, wet suit, wet vest, snorkel, food ...only thing you need to bring is your bathing suit. Very no brainer kind of place... and super laid back.

I could swim in the tropical pool for hours just following the fish around. What am I saying," I could"?... I DID swim for hours just following the fish around... very serene, peaceful, meditative. And when you do what I do for a living, an experience that can put you in that much of a relaxed head space is pretty rare.

 

[mm6mm6]

Would you mind if I gave you a few suggestions to make your DC day the most wonderful you've ever experienced?

#1: Be absolutely sure you arrive early by 20 minutes. We arrived at 7:40am and they opened at 8:00am but they actually started taking people's digital photos for your individual ID tags early. You will get a great parking spot. You will be able to sign up for the first dolphin swim time at 9:00am or 9:30am. Remember that it storms often in Orlando. You want the dolphin swim over and done with before 1pm when storms might come in and delay or cancel your swim.

#2: Be sure everyone in your party knows how to snorkel. You don't want to learn there. I trained my DD7 a month before.

#3: Bring an underwater, disposable waterproof camera. There are dozens of awesome photo opportunities. In the fresh water lazy river, there are several just gorgeous rock waterfall and colorful flower backgrounds. Ask anyone swimming by to take your picture. Take the time to get in a good position. We have several pics from our DC day that are just precious!

#4: Go in the shops, see the aviary and everthing else there is to offer. The dolphin swim is not the only thing at DC. The huge saltwater aquarium is truly stunning. No where else will you be able to swim in such a safe underwater enviroment with so many fish and rays.

#5: Write a note on an index card that says something like, "I Love You Mom!" or whatever message you would like, put it in a ziploc sandwich bag and bring it with you. Then dive down and have someone take a picture of you with the fish and the rays while you hold your sign (be sure to write with big and thick letters). This will be a great picture to mail to your loved ones!

#6: Enjoy the lunch, it's very good! Take lots of pictures. Know that you can't take pics of the dolphin swim because they want to sell you their pics. You can buy just a few pics and maybe the video. It's expensive but we're sure glad we got them. The pic of our DD7 kissing Jenny the dolphin was scanned, then printed out, then brought to Walgreens to made into our 2004 holiday card and we got more compliments on it than any before!

 

[hannahouse]

mm6mm6, thanks for those great tips! We can't wait until our DC day - my boys have been snorkling in the bathtub!