discovery cove orlando

[lovebeingmummy]

We bought the Dolphin Experience bundle in Discovery Cove. Seems expensive at first until you get there and recognize everything you get! Breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Wet suits and snorkel equipment is supplied. The Dolphin experience was alot of fun and unique, but spending the rest of the day snorkeling in the gorgeous reef lagoon with the tropical fish and rays, going around the lazy stream, feeding birds in the aviary - this is the most fun and resting day our family has ever had at a "theme park". But the icing on the cake was that our admission to Discovery Cove furthermore included admission to Sea World and Aquatica Water Park. Would recommend this to anyone.

Photo

http://goo.gl/vRvMoZ

 

[sympatico]

Agree, we thought the same.

 

[Ametista]

Its a great place to spend a day. And if you have an annual pass for Seaworld you get discounts for visits to DC. My daughter and I went in October for $99 each, no dolphin swim (we did it last year). Even for $99 its a bargain when you consider 2 or 3 meals plus snacks and drinks, no crowds, and an utterly relaxing day sipping beverages and snorkeling.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I will also agree . We are going to DC for the third time in August 2014. For $259 per person (which includes the dolphin swim), we are getting our day at DC (which includes breakfast, lunch, unlimited snacks, drinks, parking, and our 6 x 8 family photo), 14 days of admission to SeaWorld, and 14 days of admission to Aquatica. This is perfect for our first two-week trip!

I never think of it as "$259 per person for one day", as we always use the SeaWorld and Aquatica entitlements to the fullest. If you are adding on DC to an otherwise Disney-only trip and don't use the included extras, yep, it seems expensive. But if you plan your trip to allow for the SW & AQ days to be enjoyed as well, then it turns out to be a really, really good value.

 

[penlanspice]

Its a great place to spend a day. And if you have an annual pass for Seaworld you get discounts for visits to DC. My daughter and I went in October for $99 each, no dolphin swim (we did it last year). Even for $99 its a bargain when you consider 2 or 3 meals plus snacks and drinks, no crowds, and an utterly relaxing day sipping beverages and snorkeling.

We will do this the next time we visit, we loved the snorkling and the whole day was great but I don't think we would do the dolphin experience again as we found it just ok not amazing or anything (we've done a dolphin experience in a few places now) I definitly think $99 is worth it for the day and next time we wont take the car.. lol

 

[Ametista]

We will do this the next time we visit, we loved the snorkling and the whole day was great but I don't think we would do the dolphin experience again as we found it just ok not amazing or anything (we've done a dolphin experience in a few places now) I definitly think $99 is worth it for the day and next time we wont take the car.. lol

LOL I like to bring DH along so he can be designated driver

 

[penlanspice]

LOL I like to bring DH along so he can be designated driver

I could do some damage there in an afternoon....

 

[greenclan67]

We do take advantage of the afternoon drinks . Last year I had a group of 27 people booked under the american express promo. It was my A/E so it was all paid on mine. We shared a cab (cargo van) and took full advantage of the bud light lime and sweet tea vodka. Looking forward to our 4th visit on Xmas day in 9 day.

 

[Ametista]

We do take advantage of the afternoon drinks . Last year I had a group of 27 people booked under the american express promo. It was my A/E so it was all paid on mine. We shared a cab (cargo van) and took full advantage of the bud light lime and sweet tea vodka. Looking forward to our 4th visit on Xmas day in 9 day.

Have fun and I hope its a warm day for you! We have spent more than one winter day repeating the windaway river over and over because we were warmer in the water. Nice that there are those submerged seats right by the drink hut.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Have fun and I hope its a warm day for you! We have spent more than one winter day repeating the windaway river over and over because we were warmer in the water. Nice that there are those submerged seats right by the drink hut.

greenclan67 is from the great Canadian north....so anything above 50 degrees will feel like "swimming weather" for her family!!!

She's having a heat wave in Manitoulan Island this morning.....its 17 degrees F !

 

[greenclan67]

greenclan67 is from the great Canadian north....so anything above 50 degrees will feel like "swimming weather" for her family!!!

She's having a heat wave in Manitoulan Island this morning.....its 17 degrees F !

LOL Gina, no kidding!! After the minus 32 with the windchill these last few days, 17 feels like balmy weather. We swam last March when we were in Florida in the beautifully heated pools and hot tubs, at 38 degrees. The security guards said to us, "You must be Canadian" Umm yea.

 

[jeff968]

i had heard that the dolphin swim experience has been "modified" recently due to all the focus seaworld has been getting. Any truth to that?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

i had heard that the dolphin swim experience has been "modified" recently due to all the focus seaworld has been getting. Any truth to that?

What have you heard has changed?

Just wondering.....we are not booked to go again until August, but I am insanely curious about what they may do differently now.

 

[greenclan67]

Gina I will be there in 8 days. I will see what I can find out.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Gina I will be there in 8 days. I will see what I can find out.

Awesome....thanks so much!!! (safe travels, BTW......I know you have a long way to drive to your flights from Flint, and this recent weather has been a real killer. Keeping my fingers crossed for sunny skies and dry roads for your journey ).

 

[greenclan67]

Awesome....thanks so much!!! (safe travels, BTW......I know you have a long way to drive to your flights from Flint, and this recent weather has been a real killer. Keeping my fingers crossed for sunny skies and dry roads for your journey ).

Thanks Gina, We are heading to my sister's in the Sault Sat morning, doing Xmas with them that night, then driving to Flint Sunday morning for our 7 am flight Monday morning. Thanks for your happy thoughts, soon will be in vacation mode.

 

[jeff968]

What have you heard has changed?

I've heard that the dolphin swim experience is different than what it used to be. Less interaction. You would need to find someone who has been there multiple times to confirm.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I've heard that the dolphin swim experience is different than what it used to be. Less interaction. You would need to find someone who has been there multiple times to confirm.

So far, there's been no mention of changes by any posters over on the SeaWorld board (and there's generally quite a bit of DC chatter that occurs over there). I honestly can't see them making the dolphin interaction any less of an interaction. Its already not a huge part of the day, only about 30 minutes in total. And nothing about it is remotely detrimental to the animals IMHO...in fact, those dolphins look like they are having a blast "playing" with the guests. I will be interested to hear greenclan67's report when she returns .

 

[greenclan67]

So far, there's been no mention of changes by any posters over on the SeaWorld board (and there's generally quite a bit of DC chatter that occurs over there). I honestly can't see them making the dolphin interaction any less of an interaction. Its already not a huge part of the day, only about 30 minutes in total. And nothing about it is remotely detrimental to the animals IMHO...in fact, those dolphins look like they are having a blast "playing" with the guests. I will be interested to hear greenclan67's report when she returns .

I am on it Christmas Day Gina!

 

[MinnieLovesMickey12]

We went to DC on our family trip last October and everyone in my family loved it.

We had Sea World season passes but didn't use them for the discount because if you get the AP discounted tickets it does not include entry into any other parks.

We actually upgraded to the "Ultimate" ticket for $20 more and got entry into Busch Gardens as well as SW and Aq.

Another thing we did to get even more value for the entry fee was we ate 3 meals while there. We ate breakfast at 8, lunch at 11 and a late second lunch at 2:30 right before they stopped serving at 3. The kids snacked them out of house and home with the Cinnamon and Sugar soft pretzels and slushies. They have fantastic sweet tea also.

We don't drink alcohol so we didn't partake of any free booze but if you do they start serving booze at 11 am and it is all free. So if you have a designated driver you can get your tipsy on.

Also try to go and feed the birds early in the day because after lunch they are no longer hungry and won't come to you.

We had a 9:30 Dolphin swim so after breakfast we went right into the aviary and fed the birds for a little bit.

We actually showed up to the cabana for our Dolphin swim about 9:25 and that was kind of late. They have you fill out consent forms for every person in your party, watch a video and get a lecture from a trainer before doing your swim. So if you have a 9:30 swim you should find which cabana you need to go to and be there about 15 minutes early.

Something else. If you plan on buying one of the photo packages seek out the photographers in the warm water oasis and the lazy river as well as the snorkeling reef. They have photographers in the water. We got some cute underwater shots of everybody. The lady was in the water with her camera and came up and asked us if we wanted some pictures.