Discovery Cove or Gaylord Ice

[1983DisneyFanatic]

My husband and I are taking a trip for my birthday from 11/30-12/6. It's a Christmas Extravagana trip! We plan to go to MVMCP, SeaWorld Christmas, Universal's Christmas, and Christmas Town in Busch Gardens Tampa. I had planned on staying at the Gaylord Palms one night during the trip and checking out their Charlie Brown Ice event (package through hotel). This is a little pricey and it seems awesome, but I have read some reviews stating Ice is a ripoff For about the same price, I could stay an extra night at Springhill Suites Seaworld, instead of Gaylord Palms, and spend a day at Discovery Cove without the dolphin interaction. My husband and I have already experienced dolphin interactions elsewhere. Which would you choose? I'm worried it will be too cold for Discovery Cove. I know the weather can be unpredictable that time of year. My husband and I could definitely use a relaxing vacation and the rest of the trip will be go, go, go. We have never been to Discovery Cove or Gaylord Ice.

 

[HopperFan]

Done both. I would do Discovery Cove over and over again, been to ICE twice. There really is no comparison in the two. ICE is cool if you are there, have extra couple hours and want to do something festive but certainly not the memory maker Discovery Cove is.

Discovery Cove is an incredible, all day, plop you in the middle of a Caribbean island without a care for the day. Breakfast and Lunch, snorkeling all day, lazy river, animals, birds, music ............ they provide you all you need, towels, lotion, gear and your choice of lounges etc. Snacks and drinks all day. I have been about 6 times and only once have I done the dolphin. It is that nice that is is so much more than just the dolphin. It's a take me away day. Love love love the place.

Last one was a Christmas trip. It was SO much better than our September trips because the water didn't even feel cold with the slightly cooler air. LOVED it and will absolutely do winter next time.

And your ticket includes Sea World so you won't have to pay for that ticket saving even more money.

PS: Invest in inexpensive water camera and take pictures all day in and out of the water. It never leaves my wrist (except with dolphins).

 

[1983DisneyFanatic]

Done both. I would do Discovery Cove over and over again, been to ICE twice. There really is no comparison in the two. ICE is cool if you are there, have extra couple hours and want to do something festive but certainly not the memory maker Discovery Cove is.

Discovery Cove is an incredible, all day, plop you in the middle of a Caribbean island without a care for the day. Breakfast and Lunch, snorkeling all day, lazy river, animals, birds, music ............ they provide you all you need, towels, lotion, gear and your choice of lounges etc. Snacks and drinks all day. I have been about 6 times and only once have I done the dolphin. It is that nice that is is so much more than just the dolphin. It's a take me away day. Love love love the place.

Last one was a Christmas trip. It was SO much better than our September trips because the water didn't even feel cold with the slightly cooler air. LOVED it and will absolutely do winter next time.

And your ticket includes Sea World so you won't have to pay for that ticket saving even more money.

PS: Invest in inexpensive water camera and take pictures all day in and out of the water. It never leaves my wrist (except with dolphins).

We have Sesame Place platinum passes which get us into all the SeaWorld Parks, so that's not an additional benefit for us. We also get a pass holder discount for Discovery Cove. I guess my main concerns were that it might be too cold and there wouldn't be much to do there. That fact that you have been there six times, including December, and feel that way about it, has sold me. I think we could use a relaxing Caribbean day more than our trip needs another Christmas activity, even if that's what the trip was supposed to be about. I will definitely take your advice about the camera. We really want to experience Ice, but Gaylord National is only 2 hours from where we live, so we can go there next year. Thanks for your response.

 

[HopperFan]

I always went in September when it's hot and it would take me forever each time to creep into the cold water to snorkel. The non-fish area and lazy river are warm water so you can alternate. I remember telling the folks there I can't imagine it in winter and they told me folks love it because the air to water temps are not as varied. They were right. December trip you could just walk right in and swim. The new reef is just beautiful and the fish come right up to you. Explore every nook, my first time to new reef I totally missed two deep areas full of fish. The one bar has all this seating in the water and we loved sitting there with our drinks. Food is good, all you can eat. Get there very early for a pick of your dolphin swim time then get breakfast. Even if you want to take a break, find a lounge with some drinks and just relax.

 

[Ametista]

We have been to Discovery Cove on quite a few "cold" days (for Florida) and there are always warm places to swim. The Freshwater Oasis and Windaway river are kept quite warm, plus there is always the aviary. Just make sure it's open the day you go, it isn't open every day in the winter. I would never skip a chance at DC, if money weren't an issue.

 

[1983DisneyFanatic]

We have been to Discovery Cove on quite a few "cold" days (for Florida) and there are always warm places to swim. The Freshwater Oasis and Windaway river are kept quite warm, plus there is always the aviary. Just make sure it's open the day you go, it isn't open every day in the winter. I would never skip a chance at DC, if money weren't an issue.

Thanks for that info. I never would have known the aviary might not be open on certain days. Hopefully, it is open when we go ", Saturday 12/2. That is really the only day that will work during our trip.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We have been to both ICE and Discovery Cove (the latter 3 times, with two more visits booked for our trip next month).

ICE! is an attraction, while Discovery Cove is an experience. If your price is the same, for me the question is a no-brainer: go to Discovery Cove.