Discovery cove - What to bring

[scampiekat]

What do I need to bring with us to Discovery Cove? What will I be leaving at our chairs and what should I be putting in our locker?

 

[Sehsun]

What do I need to bring with us to Discovery Cove? What will I be leaving at our chairs and what should I be putting in our locker?

The things I usually bring with me are my swimsuit and camera. You can also bring your own snorkel and mask, if you have them and prefer your own. They provide masks, snorkels, and eco-friendly sunscreen. They also provide towels, shampoo, body wash, and lotion in the restrooms.

I don't remember staking out a chair for the whole day, but sometimes I stuck my flip flops near an empty lounge chair. I also put my snorkel and mask on a chair if I didn't need them but needed a place to temporarily put them while I was nearby in the water.

The things that I left in my locker were my phone and personal clothes, mostly. And perhaps my snorkel and mask when I was at lunch and not in the water.

You will have a wonderful time! Discovery Cove is a fantastic place.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

OP, I am not sure when you are visiting, but if its during the summer months, I would strongly suggest you bring water shoes or beach footwear (flip flops). The sand and walkways can get BLAZING hot during June, July, and August. You can comfortably go barefoot other times, but not in the summer.

Other than that, Sehsun has nailed it .

 

[Sehsun]

Aww, thank you, Gina. I agree with you about the shoes during the hot summer months!

Also, another thing - I would recommend bringing along an underwater camera, phone with waterproof casing, or a GoPro if you have one. You are allowed to bring them into the water areas (just not during the dolphin swim), and there are great photo opportunities.

 

[scampiekat]

We are going in February!!

So, I should put our clothes in the lockers and not drag them around from area to area? I wasn't sure if I would just leave them near our chairs and towels

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We are going in February!!

So, I should put our clothes in the lockers and not drag them around from area to area? I wasn't sure if I would just leave them near our chairs and towels

I would definitely lock up your clothes. You won't need 'em. Once you get in that wetsuit, you'll be off and running for the balance of the day.

One other thing I did think of that you will want to bring along....sunglasses. Even in February, you have the chance of it being a sparklingly bright day.

 

[Hopeful8]

Following this thread...quick question - do the lockers actually have locks? How does that work? Thank you!

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Following this thread...quick question - do the lockers actually have locks? How does that work? Thank you!

The lockers actually have locks . You get a key that is on a string which you can loop around your wrist or arm, so you can swim with it on.

 

[Hopeful8]

The lockers actually have locks . You get a key that is on a string which you can loop around your wrist or arm, so you can swim with it on.

Thank you!!

 

[justmeinflorida]

Although I've never been to DC (plan on going when LO is a little older) but I do live in Florida, so I know the weather here.

I ditto the sunglasses and add in a hat. My DH got sunburned on the top of his head in Dec.

I also want to mention clothing...it could be a bright 78, then the clouds roll in and it might get a little windy and now it's 68 and your chilly. Went to BG in Dec. for Christmas Town, it was beautiful upper 70's by 6:30pm it was windy and in the upper 50's guess who was shelling out $32 for a BG sweatshirt ? Won't happen again...lol!

 

[petals]

What do I need to bring with us to Discovery Cove? What will I be leaving at our chairs and what should I be putting in our locker?

The only thing you really need is your swimwear and yourself. We had camera and money with us for the gift shop but there's photographers in the park taking pictures around the different areas and everything else you might need is provided for you there.

 

[afergvip]

So I have a question about the swim suits. We bring our own - but do they make you wear theirs? What is the deal with that? Also, If you do not do the dolphin swim - can you still see the dolphins or interact with them at all or do you have to pay for the swim to have any interaction with them?

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

So I have a question about the swim suits. We bring our own - but do they make you wear theirs? What is the deal with that? Also, If you do not do the dolphin swim - can you still see the dolphins or interact with them at all or do you have to pay for the swim to have any interaction with them?

While in the water, guests must wear either a wet suit or a vest. Its your choice as to what you prefer. We tend to wear the wet suits when we visit during the winter (as they keep you warmer) and the vests in the summer, but our DS loves the feel of the suits so much that he never opts for the vest. Its really all about preference.

If you do not opt to book a reservation that includes a dolphin swim, you can still watch the dolphins from the shore (they will be running dolphin interactions in small groups all day long) but you won't have the chance to touch, feed or interact with them.

 

[chiamarie]

So I have a question about the swim suits. We bring our own - but do they make you wear theirs? What is the deal with that? Also, If you do not do the dolphin swim - can you still see the dolphins or interact with them at all or do you have to pay for the swim to have any interaction with them?

You bring your swimsuit to wear. They provide (as Gina mentioned) either a vest made out of wetsuit material, or a wetsuit. You wear your swim suit under the wetsuit. You are required to have either the vest or wetsuit on anytime you are in the water for safety reasons.

You can walkover to the dolphin area and view them; and the interactions happening. There is a hidden pathway by the dolphin pool closest to the lazy river that has a small underwater viewing glass. I stood here to take photos of my family while they did their interaction. I'm sure you could also go down to view the dolphins from there. But other than participating in the swims, there's no other hands on interaction available.

 

[HopperFan]

Everyone in the family wears water shoes - even the ones who don't wear them at the water parks. It's not just for the walkways but in the water you never know when your foot will side-swipe or come down on some coral. During an Orlando Park vacation the last thing we want is a cut foot.

Water Camera - you can get a good multi-purpose waterproof camera/video for around $150 and it's worth every penny to shoot pictures under the water. It's always good for beach trips, ski trips, rainy park days etc. We love our underwater shots from Discovery Cove, even on the lazy river. You can take it everywhere except with the dolphins.

 

[Pinkgirl]

I wore these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Slip-...thing_CA&var=650261991579&hash=item58b04eb867

 

[thatgirl23]

I wore these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Slip-...thing_CA&var=650261991579&hash=item58b04eb867

Pinkgirl, did those shoes work well for you? I need something on my feet but the last time we used water shoes in the water we slipped more than we did without.

 

[Pinkgirl]

They were brill shoes. I didnt slip at all. DD and DH both had the more sturdy velcro type and kept catching them and they would come off.