Discovery Cove - non swim question

[cjc]

Hi
If we book a non swim day at DC, will we have the opportunity to get up close to dolphins e.g. like at seaworld and feed them?
thanks
CJ

 

[MarkF0wle]

Hi CJ;

If you book a non-swim day at DC then you won't get anywhere near the Dolphins. They spend the entire day in interactions with the Dolphin swim guests or off in a relaxation pool.

That being said you still get access to everything else & it's a fantastic day. But if you have your heart set on Dolphins then you have to pay the extra for the swim.

 

[Disneymommy2006]

My understanding is that the Dolphin swim is only 30-45 mins. of your day at DC.

 

[MarkF0wle]

Yeah that's right, it's about 30 minutes. They do five groups at once, and there is about 6 people in each group. There is one Dolphin for each group. You get to interact with the Dolphins, then you can swim with them & then they do some 'behaviours' for you.

After which you're released into the park for the rest of your day & that is your only opportunity with the Dolphins. IF you miss your slot for ANY reason then you've missed it. You can see the Dolphins interacting with others either if you don't swim, but you cannot interact with them in any way.

I've been three times as it's just a peaceful day, swam with Dolphins once. Sometimes it's hard to justify the cost, but it's worth to do once for the experience.

 

[happymommy]

If I let my kids do the swim, but I decide to watch them, can I take a few photos? My DD will be 12 (and I know that I'm supposed to be with her) but she's taller than many of my friends, and looks 15 at least. She's an excellent swimmer, so I am just going to say she's 13 if we go. I absolutely don't want to swim with the dolphins, but my kids are really wanting to! I'd love to just watch them have fun.

Does anyone know about pricing for photos? Or getting a photo CD (so it's easier to get them printed back home)?

It looks like quite an expensive day, and since we're going in March, I'm waiting to see what the weather is looking like closer to the date. Last March we were so cold in Orlando!! I never would have gone - we wore sweatshirts every day!

 

[chiamarie]

Yes, you can still see the dolphins if you're not doing a swim with them. There's even a small underwater viewing window in one of the pools if you can manage to find the path to it. I know i've found it once, and got to it right as the trainers started a training session without guests involved. It was really neat to see.

But yes, you can be close enough to take photos of thoes who are swimming. I've video recorded a group of friends that did it once.

But no, you won't be able to do any behaviros, feed them, or touch them if you don't do a swim. But you certainly can still see them!

 

[MarkF0wle]

I'm trying to recall if they check ages at the park entrance. We did get checked last time we were there but that may only be because we were 21+ & wanted the alcoholic beverages option. They issue you with a pass with your photo on the front as you enter. I'm 50% sure they don't check birth-dates unless you request the alcoholic drinks.

If I recall, that if you aren't a swimmer they won't allow you into the Dolphin area at all. They show you a video & there is some preparation time beforehand, only swimmers are allowed there. You can take photos but I am not sure you will be that close, but a modern camera will be able to overcome that hurdle.

In terms of the CDs, I remember the prices being not too bad. They certainly weren't high enough that I remember being offended by them, you can have them put onto merchandise which bumps up the price. The CD may also be included in the price, but you'd need some confirmation for that, it's been 6/7 years since I did the dolphin swim. After the swim you sit at a computer & select the photos/video to put onto the CD, the video definitely costs & you can choose mouse mats, key chains, etc..

 

[JLR]

I know it is really really hard to get a hold of a real person with questions about DC but in your case, I think you should try - both phone and e-mail.

I don't know about a minor doing the swim alone, however, I do know that they allowed other members of your party to come and observe your dolphin experience from the beach (very close) - so you can still supervise every minute even if you are not in the water. You will not get to wade in the water and meet the interaction dolphin (may or may not be the same dolphin who tows you in) to participate in the touching, feeding, and education part, but I believe they allowed non-swim family members to come in for the family photo with the dolphin. Now in our case it was a child too young for the swim package. That is why I think you really need to talk to someone at the park!

I'm curious why you are not doing the dolphin experience? If it is to control costs - I salute your discipline. If it is because you don't like to swim or fear swimming - I would encourage you to reconsider. Most of the experience is in the shallows (about waist deep). For the actual dolphin tow (a small part of the experience) you can either swim out or walk out on a raised area just for that purpose. You also can wear one of their great life vests. They are comfortable and you would find it difficult to get your face in the water wearing one. We were required to wear them for our second dolphin experience because the two foot push was a bit more challenging.

The actual time in the water with the dolphin and trainer is about 30 minutes. There is an additional 15 minute education session before and it takes about 15 more minutes to deal with the adenture photo people afterwards. The adventure photo pictures are really, really nice:

You can take pictures, both from the beach and from the long rocky piers that jut out between lagoons, but you won't get the shots posed and centered like the AP people do. I think you can see in the background here and AP guy in the watre taking photos of the next group and a guy walking along one of the rocky piers in the background.

They market this very, very well. I had fully intended to remember the prices for others since it is something I wanted to know, and gosh darn it - I can't remember! There is a DVD of the dolphin encounter you can buy - beware, they don't have you miked so there is just music playing in the background.

There are packages that include printed pictures, the photo CD, the videos. I wish I had just bought the videos (we did an extra dolphin experience on our day - it was a low attendance day and for $59 each we did an enhanced dolphin experience in the afternoon) and the photo CD a-la-carte. It was a hassle to bring home all the stuff I bought in my post-dolphin euphoria.

You don't choose the photos that go on your CD, they put all the pictures take of you that day - the ones in the stingray lagoon, the aviary, or in the lazy river. You just need to seek out the photographers - which can be difficult toward the end of the day. However - you do have to double check to make sure everything is on your CD and that you have the right videos and photo products at the end of the day. This can take a while - there were some problems with mine and it took nearly an hour. They got it straightened out, but I would rather have been snorkeling! What they have you chose after the dolphin experience is what photos you want printed up. They do do a nice job on them and my daughter likes them and we have enjoyed sharing them, but it really was a big expense and like I said the CDs have everything and then you own the rights and can get them printed at the discount photo studio of your choice.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I'm curious why you are not doing the dolphin experience? If it is to control costs - I salute your discipline. If it is because you don't like to swim or fear swimming - I would encourage you to reconsider. Most of the experience is in the shallows (about waist deep). For the actual dolphin tow (a small part of the experience) you can either swim out or walk out on a raised area just for that purpose. You also can wear one of their great life vests. They are comfortable and you would find it difficult to get your face in the water wearing one. We were required to wear them for our second dolphin experience because the two foot push was a bit more challenging.

I just wanted to second this. Our family of 5 was with a family of 4 from Ireland for our dolphin swim. Both DH and the Dad from the other family were very nervous about being in the water with the dolphins and the swim. The trainer was great in helping them to relax and at the end when we did the swim, the kids and the 2 moms all did the deep water one but the dads opted for the shallow water one. If you choose the shallow water swim, you are never in water over your head; the water was about waist deep. (Although closer to the shoulders of my 7 year old.) Even though he was nervous, I am glad DH did this with us. My kids all declare their DC day as the best day of their life, and it would be very sad for all of us if dad hadn't been a part of it.

 

[SassyCat]

I'm curious why you are not doing the dolphin experience? If it is to control costs - I salute your discipline. If it is because you don't like to swim or fear swimming - I would encourage you to reconsider. Most of the experience is in the shallows (about waist deep). For the actual dolphin tow (a small part of the experience) you can either swim out or walk out on a raised area just for that purpose. You also can wear one of their great life vests. They are comfortable and you would find it difficult to get your face in the water wearing one. We were required to wear them for our second dolphin experience because the two foot push was a bit more challenging.

So, do you not have to be able to swim to do the dolphin experience?

I don't know how to swim, and I would really like to be able to do this experience. The hubby and I did the dolphins in depth tour at wdw, and you didn't need to swim in that (all you did was stand in the water). I wasn't sure about this experience since it has swim in the name...but I am hopeful I could still do it. The dolphins in depth tour was really amazing to do, but this sounds even neater.

 

[SmallWorld71]

So, do you not have to be able to swim to do the dolphin experience?

I don't know how to swim, and I would really like to be able to do this experience. The hubby and I did the dolphins in depth tour at wdw, and you didn't need to swim in that (all you did was stand in the water). I wasn't sure about this experience since it has swim in the name...but I am hopeful I could still do it. The dolphins in depth tour was really amazing to do, but this sounds even neater.

You do not have to be able to swim. For most of the experience, you just stand in the water. (about waist deep on an avg. adult) At the end, when they do the "swim" part of your experience, you have a choice. You can do deep water or shallow water. If you do the deep water, you do need to be able to swim above your head and tread water for a couple minutes. If you choose shallow water, you will do the "swim" in shallow water that again, is waist deep. Also, the "swim" is really a "pull" where you hold on to the fin of the dolphin and are pulled along in the water. With either choice, you end in the shallow water where you just stand up when it is over. The big difference being that with one, you swim out to the middle of the lagoon area and the dolphin pulls you in but with the shallow water choice, she pulls you across where you are in shallow water the whole time. HTH

 

[SassyCat]

You do not have to be able to swim. For most of the experience, you just stand in the water. (about waist deep on an avg. adult) At the end, when they do the "swim" part of your experience, you have a choice. You can do deep water or shallow water. If you do the deep water, you do need to be able to swim above your head and tread water for a couple minutes. If you choose shallow water, you will do the "swim" in shallow water that again, is waist deep. Also, the "swim" is really a "pull" where you hold on to the fin of the dolphin and are pulled along in the water. With either choice, you end in the shallow water where you just stand up when it is over. The big difference being that with one, you swim out to the middle of the lagoon area and the dolphin pulls you in but with the shallow water choice, she pulls you across where you are in shallow water the whole time. HTH

thank you so much for answering my question!!

this is very helpful - when we go to wdw this summer, we are def going to have to do a day at discovery cove. yay!! hehe

 

[SmallWorld71]

thank you so much for answering my question!!

this is very helpful - when we go to wdw this summer, we are def going to have to do a day at discovery cove. yay!! hehe

You're welcome. Just wanted to add that if you go in the snorkel lagoon or in the lazy river (can't remember what it's called), to make sure that you get a life vest. (They have them in tons of sizes, DH wore one snorkeling.) There are patches in the river that are 8 ft. deep and they kind of come upon you unexpectedly and you can't avoid them. Also, the snorkeling area has shallow water that you can stand in, but you will see more fish if you venture out a little more.

 

[SassyCat]

You're welcome. Just wanted to add that if you go in the snorkel lagoon or in the lazy river (can't remember what it's called), to make sure that you get a life vest. (They have them in tons of sizes, DH wore one snorkeling.) There are patches in the river that are 8 ft. deep and they kind of come upon you unexpectedly and you can't avoid them. Also, the snorkeling area has shallow water that you can stand in, but you will see more fish if you venture out a little more.

thank you so much for telling me about this! i figured i wouldn't have a chance to do any kind of snorkeling. but this sounds like i could at least do a little bit with a life vest on.

thanks again for your advice!

 

[JLR]

So, do you not have to be able to swim to do the dolphin experience?

I don't know how to swim, and I would really like to be able to do this experience. The hubby and I did the dolphins in depth tour at wdw, and you didn't need to swim in that (all you did was stand in the water). I wasn't sure about this experience since it has swim in the name...but I am hopeful I could still do it. The dolphins in depth tour was really amazing to do, but this sounds even neater.

Smallworld answered you competently but I just wanted to let you know I didn't ignore your question. You can totally do the dolphin experience without swimming .

I second the suggestion to get one of the life vests for the other experiences (coral reef and lazy river). They are awesome and you couldn't go underwater with one on if you tried!

I hope you have a great time!

 

[SassyCat]

Smallworld answered you competently but I just wanted to let you know I didn't ignore your question. You can totally do the dolphin experience without swimming .

I second the suggestion to get one of the life vests for the other experiences (coral reef and lazy river). They are awesome and you couldn't go underwater with one on if you tried!

I hope you have a great time!

hi, thank you for your answer! i never thought before this thread it would be possible for me to do the other experiences...i am so thrilled to hear that it will be possible with the life vests!

discovery cove sounds like an amazing experience - i hope to get to do it this summer.