Discovery Cove Tips?

[HLAuburn]

Excited to have just booked a day at DC next week! Taking my 2 girls (7 and 12) for the first time. DH and I went many years ago (pre-kids), but I don't remember too much about it. Just looking for some tips to know before we go...

Obviously, we need to wear bathing suits, but I've read they give you wetsuits too. Do you wear these all day or just for certain areas where the water is super cold?

What time should we plan to arrive? Says they open at 9am, but is it true you can get there much earlier even though swimming areas aren't open yet? Any idea what time they start serving breakfast?

Any other tips/suggestions would be GREAT! I am a planner, so I like to have all the info before I go

Thanks!!

 

[eyehartdisney]

While in the water you are required to wear the wet suit, but if you get out and take it off to say, eat, that's fine. Don't try to struggle back into a damp wet suit, you can get a new one instead. They allow people in at 7 AM, and the sooner you get there, the sooner you can have your dolphin interaction- and the earlier for those the better, the dolphins are more into it. Also try to head to the aviary as soon as you can, and go farther back than the first aviary, the farther away ones get less visitors, and are more eager for food.

 

[mjhtvchick]

- Check-in begins around 7-ish and the waterways open at 9. We usually aim to arrive by around 8:00-8:30. Sometimes there is a bit of a line in the check-in area. You want to allow for this as well as give yourselves plenty of time to grab a quick breakfast, pick up your snorkels & wet-suits, stow your stuff in a locker and slather up with some sunscreen before jumping in the water!
- We usually switch back and forth between the full wetsuit (in the colder areas) and the vest (for the lazy river). It is very easy to switch them out throughout the day.
- I always wear water shoes but my daughter can't stand them. There are definitely rough spots in the lazy river where you can scrape your toes. Having the water shoes also allows you to get out in the aviary mid-river. I don't know about you but I am not a fan of walking through bird poop in my bare feet! Depending on where you are from and where you are staying, you can pick some up at Wal-Mart for a good price.
- Lunch is also included in your day along with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, snacks and ice cream. There is even an area with coffee and "to-go" cups that you can grab at the end of the day.
- Don't forget to check out the other wildlife in the park - the marmosets and the otters are very cute and there is usually a spot where you can see/learn about a sloth.
- Towels, shampoo, conditioner and body wash are all provided in the change rooms free of charge along with plastic bags for all your wet items.

If you have any other specific questions, don't hesitate to ask! I absolutely love Discovery Cove - you will have a great day!

 

[shh]

Thanks so much HL Auburn for starting this thread - and to others for replying. Was just thinking about booking this too! I hope you don't mind if I piggyback on your thread and add a couple more questions?

We're about a 3 hour drive away...but always do WDW when we come up during holidays. I'm itching for a Sept/Oct getaway and want to avoid the halloween crowds and prices at WDW and Uni. Thinking a long weekend just to try this, SW and Aquatica might be fun. It's just the two of us...no kids. We've been to SW, but never the other two. Discovery Cove sounds awesome.

1. Anything better about choosing mid Sept vs mid Oct or vice versa? I'm a Floridian, so already know about the hurricane season and rainy weather risks.

2. Is there a lot of redundancy between DC and Aquatica - also a water-type park? (We will likely skip the dolphin encounters and do the non-dolphin passes at DC.)

3. Are there any nearby hotels in particular you recommend as a great value? (We normally stay in WDW values for the onsite perks, but offsite when we've gone to Uni in past (before they had their own hotels.) Would consider stepping up to the equiv of a WDW moderate level room rate if there were any perks that are worth it.)

Thanks to anyone who can add insight/expertise.

 

[Joanna71985]

Thank you everyone for the info! Discovery Cove is a major to-do on my bucket list (and this info really helps)

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

While in the water you are required to wear the wet suit

Just a small correction: when in the water, you are required to wear a wet suit or a vest.

OP, the vests are MUCH easier to get on and off than the wet suits, so if you think you might be inclined to take them on and off (and its not cold enough when you visit to warrant the warmth that the wet suit provides) then the vest might be your best bet.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

2. Is there a lot of redundancy between DC and Aquatica - also a water-type park? (We will likely skip the dolphin encounters and do the non-dolphin passes at DC.)

3. Are there any nearby hotels in particular you recommend as a great value? (We normally stay in WDW values for the onsite perks, but offsite when we've gone to Uni in past (before they had their own hotels.) Would consider stepping up to the equiv of a WDW moderate level room rate if there were any perks that are worth it.)

Thanks to anyone who can add insight/expertise.

To answer #2: no redundancy at all. Two totally and completely different experiences. Aquatica is your typical water park with colourful slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, etc. Very similar to the style of Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, if you have been to either of Disney's water parks. Lots of families, lots of shrieking and squealing, lots of people running amok.

Discovery Cove, on the other hand, is an all-inclusive day resort. It's like being on a Caribbean island only better. No slides, no "thrills", but cool experiences instead, many of which involve animals (swimming with rays, snorkeling with exotic fish, feeding birds in free-flying aviary). It's very luxurious and relaxing, especially when you can eat when you want (and however much you want), drink when you want, snooze when you want, swim when you want. Unlike standard water parks, there's no crowds since admission numbers are capped so low. There's always plenty of seating, plenty of food, plenty of towels, plenty of everything.

For question #3, we like the Residence Inn SeaWorld. You can get anywhere from a studio to a two bedroom/two bath suite. Each has a kitchenette (studio) or kitchen (suites) in the room. They have a fabulous complimentary hot breakfast buffet each morning, free internet, free one-time-per-ride Quick Queue for SeaWorld (per person, each day, including your day of check-out), a zero entry pool, large hot tub, a courtyard with a sport court, outdoor grills, and free transportation to the parks. We have stayed twice at this property and been more than pleased with both stays. Staff are awesome too!

 

[shh]

To answer #2: no redundancy at all. Two totally and completely different experiences. Aquatica is your typical water park with colourful slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, etc. Very similar to the style of Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, if you have been to either of Disney's water parks. Lots of families, lots of shrieking and squealing, lots of people running amok.

Discovery Cove, on the other hand, is an all-inclusive day resort. It's like being on a Caribbean island only better. No slides, no "thrills", but cool experiences instead, many of which involve animals (swimming with rays, snorkeling with exotic fish, feeding birds in free-flying aviary). It's very luxurious and relaxing, especially when you can eat when you want (and however much you want), drink when you want, snooze when you want, swim when you want. Unlike standard water parks, there's no crowds since admission numbers are capped so low. There's always plenty of seating, plenty of food, plenty of towels, plenty of everything.

For question #3, we like the Residence Inn SeaWorld. You can get anywhere from a studio to a two bedroom/two bath suite. Each has a kitchenette (studio) or kitchen (suites) in the room. They have a fabulous complimentary hot breakfast buffet each morning, free internet, free one-time-per-ride Quick Queue for SeaWorld (per person, each day, including your day of check-out), a zero entry pool, large hot tub, a courtyard with a sport court, outdoor grills, and free transportation to the parks. We have stayed twice at this property and been more than pleased with both stays. Staff are awesome too!

Wow...a wealth of great info...thank you. Will check out Residence Inn rates.

 

[Inhislove]

I would add that Springhill Suites and Fairfield Inn and Suites Sea World (on the same property near discovery cove) are great choices too! My kids, ages 3-9, love that pool area with the orca tail spraying water and the view of sea world coasters from the water.

(We've stayed at and enjoyed Residence Inn Sea World too.)

For any of the Marriotts, if you are a sea world passholder, use code S50. If you are a Florida resident, use code FR6. I check both of those and AAA before booking! You may have to be a Marriott rewards memebr to use the codes, but it doesn't cost anything to join.

 

[shh]

Thanks Inhislove: appreciate the tips.

 

[Inhislove]

Can you bring a personal float for the lazy river? I want to just float around!

 

[eyehartdisney]

Can you bring a personal float for the lazy river? I want to just float around!

They provide floats