Discovery Cove-Is it Worth it?

[airhead]

Yes Yes Yes!!!!!

 

[snookhams]

Yes, worth every penny, I even said to my DH as we were leaving if someone ran up to me now and said there had been a mistake and we needed to pay $100 more each, i would have handed over the money no questions asked. We have been to DC twice now and hope that funds might stretch to a third visit either this year or next, it is such a wonderful experience we could not begin to describe it in full. I concur with other posters arrive early to get an early dolphin swim, last August (post hurricane Charley) we did this and got a swim around 10 am, but in the afternoon we had the devil of all storms (infact youngest DS thought that another hurricane was coming) with a bolt of lightening landing so close the ground shook and got warm! (a child aparantly getting off a school bus in the area was hit and killed), the lifegaurds were great, we were collecting our pictures at the time as we had all been asked to leave the water due to lightening in the area, so thought we would do this now and not when it got busy later, wise decision, we were all asked to get under cover and remain under cover until the all clear was given - what amazed me were the numbers of people that thought this did not apply to them!!, they were walking around with young children and just ignoring the lifeguards instructions. The staff and the atmosphere are great the food fantastic infact I can't think of one thing that we did not like and will go again - hopefully

 

[kristieuk]

Just further to everything everyone else has said....


We did Discovery Cove last year. It was a once in a lifetime experience, and I would recommend you do it once.

However, there are a couple of thing on the down side. You are actually in the pool with the dolphins for maximum half an hour, and it is quite contrived ie you have to stand in line, and not move unless told to do so by the instructor. There are about 10 people in a group, so it's not exactly a one on one experience, apart from when you swim out and the dolphin pulls you back in. But that lasts about 20 seconds max.

Another problem is the weather - the day we were there, it poured down in the afternoon, and they put everything on hold. We had luckily already had our dolphin swim, but there were quite a few groups that hadn't. They closed off the pools, and basically there was just nothing to do, besides sit under a gazebo and drink coffee (for about 3 hours in all).

I'm not saying it was not a fantastic experience, but it is expensive and if you are not lucky with the weather, it can be extremely disappointing.
We have done it now, and I don't think we'll do it again for at least a couple of years.

 

[Hollybh]

Hi
My family or 4 are going to Discovery Cove and Sea World for one day each prior to embarking on a 7 night cruise out of Port Canaveral in DECEMBER. I was told that even if the weather is chilly that time of year, the water is kept and warm and the wet suits keep you warm. Has anyone gone during that time of year that can tell me for sure that my girls ( 10 and 6) will be warm enough? Also, we can only use one day of Sea world, will it still be worth it? Can we see Sea World in a day?

Thanks for the advice!
Holly

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Another problem is the weather - the day we were there, it poured down in the afternoon, and they put everything on hold. We had luckily already had our dolphin swim, but there were quite a few groups that hadn't. They closed off the pools, and basically there was just nothing to do, besides sit under a gazebo and drink coffee (for about 3 hours in all).

I'm not saying it was not a fantastic experience, but it is expensive and if you are not lucky with the weather, it can be extremely disappointing.
We have done it now, and I don't think we'll do it again for at least a couple of years.

I agree about the weather, we went in March last year and our slot was delayed for 2 hours because of a bad thunderstorm, Joshua fell asleep.

We found the water to be freezing cold, and when the weather is on the cool side (ie about 60 degrees) it did affect our enjoyment.

 

[Hollybh]

I hate to hear that. The woman on the phone told me that they keep the water around 75 and that the wet suits will keep us warm. Did you not have wet suits? Was the water not kept warmer? She also said they have huge heaters all around the place in case of unusually cool weather. Does anyone know the temps for December/Jan? She said anywhere between 60-75. Whats the norm? Thanks.

 

[aaronandterri]

we did discovery cove on our last visit and loved it, infact do much that were going back and taking my dad there as i know hell just love it.

I have pictures of my hubby kissing a dolphin, and my son swimming on this fins across the water,

The aivery is awesome, the birds r so tame, one followed us round the whole way, (this is the part i know daddy will love, hes nuts on birds)

We layed on the lazy river for hours, and got to feed the rays.

As you come in they take your picture and put it on a credit card sized id tag that goes round your neck, and you get to keep, great suvenior.

Food was great, everything was wonderful, cant wait to go back!