Discovery Cove.... Would it be too much?

[3smithboys]

Since planning is always fluid, DH asked me what I thought about going to Discovery Cove during our anniversary trip! He knows that I've always wanted to go, and since it's just the two of us, it's much easier to make it a possibility.

So here's how it could fit... but would it make the week too much?

Sun - arrive in afternoon - DS - dinner at Raglan Road

Monday - AM - HS (afternoon swim and rest) Sci Fi
PM - HS Cape May Cafe

Tuesday - AM - MK BOG lunch (afternoon swim and rest)
- PM -MK Ohana dinner


Wednesday - This is when we might go to Discovery Cove - then have a quiet evening


Thursday - AM - AK - lunch Yak and Yeti (have a Landry card) (afternoon rest)
- PM - thought we might go to Sea World for a few hrs -
would have a Free ticket from Discovery Cove
**All of this is assuming that ROL is not open yet... ***


Friday - AM - EP - qs somewhere is WS (afternoon swim and rest)
PM - EP Dinner - Via Napoli

Saturday - We pick up our son from the airport... Then we are going to a water park for a few hrs
- late dinner at Captain's Grille


Sunday July 3rd - MK - crazy I know!!

So, if you stayed with me this far... what do you think?

 

[mshanson3121]

Looks good to me! I would not pass up a chance to go to Discovery Cove! I'm sooo hoping to add it to our trip next summer.

 

[DisneyMom111]

Do it! It's so worth it. You will be so glad you did. Splurge for the cabana if you can, it makes it even better. So relaxing.

 

[3smithboys]

Looks good to me! I would not pass up a chance to go to Discovery Cove! I'm sooo hoping to add it to our trip next summer.

Do it! It's so worth it. You will be so glad you did. Splurge for the cabana if you can, it makes it even better. So relaxing.

Thanks! I am going to talk to DH again about it tonight.... and mention the cabana....

 

[whiporee]

if the weather is right -- high 80s, low 90s -- I think Discovery Cove is the best single day you can do in Orlando, and one of the best you can do period. We've done it twice, and the hot day was MUCH better than the cooler one.

It's not perfect, though. The food's taken a bit of a dive and the drinks are weaker than they used to be, and there's a lot of upsetting which sort of sucks. But you get to see sloths and birds land on you, and it's a great lazy river in addition to the reef. And the reef is amazing, and a lot of fun for anyone willing to go into the water.

I've always done cabanas, and they are a give and take, too. The first time we had a great one, the second not as good. But still a highlight of both trips.

 

[PetePanMan]

Sounds like a great plan. I have always wanted to do Discovery Cove but the cost for family of 5 in addition to wdw is a bit much. One day though....

 

[3smithboys]

Sounds like a great plan. I have always wanted to do Discovery Cove but the cost for family of 5 in addition to wdw is a bit much. One day though....

That's what's held us back in the past too... we've always been with the 3 boys... in addition to either WDW, a cruise, or Universal... it's always been too much.

 

[3smithboys]

if the weather is right -- high 80s, low 90s -- I think Discovery Cove is the best single day you can do in Orlando, and one of the best you can do period. We've done it twice, and the hot day was MUCH better than the cooler one.

It's not perfect, though. The food's taken a bit of a dive and the drinks are weaker than they used to be, and there's a lot of upsetting which sort of sucks. But you get to see sloths and birds land on you, and it's a great lazy river in addition to the reef. And the reef is amazing, and a lot of fun for anyone willing to go into the water.

I've always done cabanas, and they are a give and take, too. The first time we had a great one, the second not as good. But still a highlight of both trips.

Thanks for the info.... We are going at the end of June, so it will be hot! What was upsetting, if you don't mind my asking??

 

[RAPstar]

I would go. I'm finally going cause my friend has a Sea World AP and they have a great rate right now. As long as it doesn't sell out before I get paid this Friday, lol (no seriously I'm almost having a panic attack, but I have 3 possible days I can fit it in and they can't *all* sell out before Friday. Right? RIGHT?!!)

 

[whiporee]

Auto correct got me. Upselling is what I meant to say -- lots of pictures to purchase, dolphin shows, stuff like that. Sorry for not checking

 

[3smithboys]

Auto correct got me. Upselling is what I meant to say -- lots of pictures to purchase, dolphin shows, stuff like that. Sorry for not checking

Oh, no worries! That makes sense... Up selling seems to be the way it goes these days!!!

 

[3smithboys]

This might be a silly question, and I know it's up to each person... But how tiring is a day at Discovery Cove?? I'm thinking about dinner after??

Should I plan for a late (not super late) just late enough to give us time to get back and get showered/changed.... We would need an ADR somewhere? Or should we just plan on a qs somewhere for that night???

Since we are changing park plans, I'm going to have to cancel and move around some ADR's.

Thanks for any insight....

 

[Lynne G]

Well for us, we stay the whole day at Discovery Cove. You get an all you can eat breakfast and lunch, and all the snacks and drinks you want up until the closing. We were stuffed. If you feel like dinner, a later one or light one is most likely what you will be in the mood for. I'd play it by ear, and see how you feel when ready to leave. The time we went in the summer, we ate at a fast food place later in the evening. In winter, we had a nice sit down meal, several hours after we left. We drank and ate more when it was hotter.

 

[3smithboys]

Well for us, we stay the whole day at Discovery Cove. You get an all you can eat breakfast and lunch, and all the snacks and drinks you want up until the closing. We were stuffed. If you feel like dinner, a later one or light one is most likely what you will be in the mood for. I'd play it by ear, and see how you feel when ready to leave. The time we went in the summer, we ate at a fast food place later in the evening. In winter, we had a nice sit down meal, several hours after we left. We drank and ate more when it was hotter.

Thanks so much!! This is exactly what I was wondering.... I was thinking we would stay most or the entire day, so I think I won't book an ADR, and we can just decide what we feel like doing that evening. I don't want to get charged a cancellation fee, if we decide we don't want to go. We can always eat a qs at the resort or go to DS for dinner.

 

[NorthshoreTigerFan]

If you are the kind of person that can go park'ing everyday, then I suggest doing it without hesitation. I completely get your point of it being a little too spendy of a splurge when you are already paying for DW tickets. But do it, you'll love it.

I've seen a lot of people talk about being really tired at the end of the day. When we went, we got there around 7:15am, didn't leave until about 6:00pm (we had a cabana and dragged our feet leaving) and we were fine. Full from eating and drinking all day (don't think we did much of anything for dinner that day), but now particularly tired.

As to the comment about the drinks being a little weaker...it's tough to make beer weaker

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Auto correct got me. Upselling is what I meant to say -- lots of pictures to purchase, dolphin shows, stuff like that. Sorry for not checking

Oh, no worries! That makes sense... Up selling seems to be the way it goes these days!!!

We have been to Discovery Cove three times so far, with two more visits booked this year.

I have never heard of an 'upsell' for a dolphin show at Discovery Cove. Your DC admission may nor may not include the dolphin swim (depending on what type of reservation you chose in the first place), but that would be determined at the time of booking and not an 'upsell' at the park.

In fact, other than photos and souvenirs (which are completely optional), literally everything else is included at Discovery Cove. You do get one complimentary 6 x 8 family photo per reservation, so even if you purchase no other pictures, you still get one to take home without any additional payment. Parking is free. Lockers are free. Towels, shampoo, conditioner and body wash are all provided (and plentiful). Snorkels and masks are provided (and you get to keep your snorkel). Wetsuits and vests are offered in every size known to man. Breakfast, lunch, and all snacks and beverages (including alcohol) are unlimited and included in your admission price. They even provide food for you to feed the birds in the aviary.

If budget is a concern, skip the cabana rental. Its an awesome luxury but absolutely not necessary for a fun day.

We have always found the food to be really good (far, far better than...say....Pinnochio Village Haus at MK ....it beats Disney counter service by a country mile). There's a really nice selection, you can have as much as you want (when you want), there's something for every taste (and multiple kid-friendly items), and the food has been very fresh. Breakfast is less impressive than lunch, but still very acceptable.

If you can squeeze in a day at Discovery Cove, absolutely do so. You won't regret it. I can almost assure you it will end up being the highlight of your trip, especially when you are travelling at a hot and crowded time of year.

 

[keishashadow]

Thanks so much!! This is exactly what I was wondering.... I was thinking we would stay most or the entire day, so I think I won't book an ADR, and we can just decide what we feel like doing that evening. I don't want to get charged a cancellation fee, if we decide we don't want to go. We can always eat a qs at the resort or go to DS for dinner.

do you usually do two TS meals per day? We don't seem to get as hungry when doing the parks, would be too much food for us.

otherwise, sounds like a busy, but fun trip!

Gina - i'm very surprised to read you've haven't been to DC more times, you sure have picked up the drill quickly! I always tell people going for the first time, be careful, it's addicting.

 

[3smithboys]

do you usually do two TS meals per day? We don't seem to get as hungry when doing the parks, would be too much food for us.

otherwise, sounds like a busy, but fun trip!

Gina - i'm very surprised to read you've haven't been to DC more times, you sure have picked up the drill quickly! I always tell people going for the first time, be careful, it's addicting.

We don't usually do two TS a day.... it's only at HS that we have 2 because there is no QS place that we like there and our plan is to share a burger... When we go to Yak and Yeti, we were going to to apps and get the wonton dessert (because I wanted to try that)... We even share things at qs places too... I agree that we are not as hungry in the heat....

 

[3smithboys]

We have been to Discovery Cove three times so far, with two more visits booked this year.

I have never heard of an 'upsell' for a dolphin show at Discovery Cove. Your DC admission may nor may not include the dolphin swim (depending on what type of reservation you chose in the first place), but that would be determined at the time of booking and not an 'upsell' at the park.

In fact, other than photos and souvenirs (which are completely optional), literally everything else is included at Discovery Cove. You do get one complimentary 6 x 8 family photo per reservation, so even if you purchase no other pictures, you still get one to take home without any additional payment. Parking is free. Lockers are free. Towels, shampoo, conditioner and body wash are all provided (and plentiful). Snorkels and masks are provided (and you get to keep your snorkel). Wetsuits and vests are offered in every size known to man. Breakfast, lunch, and all snacks and beverages (including alcohol) are unlimited and included in your admission price. They even provide food for you to feed the birds in the aviary.

If budget is a concern, skip the cabana rental. Its an awesome luxury but absolutely not necessary for a fun day.

We have always found the food to be really good (far, far better than...say....Pinnochio Village Haus at MK ....it beats Disney counter service by a country mile). There's a really nice selection, you can have as much as you want (when you want), there's something for every taste (and multiple kid-friendly items), and the food has been very fresh. Breakfast is less impressive than lunch, but still very acceptable.

If you can squeeze in a day at Discovery Cove, absolutely do so. You won't regret it. I can almost assure you it will end up being the highlight of your trip, especially when you are travelling at a hot and crowded time of year.

I just watched the video! It made me even more excited!! Thanks! It looks so amazing...

 

[keishashadow]

We don't usually do two TS a day.... it's only at HS that we have 2 because there is no QS place that we like there and our plan is to share a burger... When we go to Yak and Yeti, we were going to to apps and get the wonton dessert (because I wanted to try that)... We even share things at qs places too... I agree that we are not as hungry in the heat....

gotcha! same here, MGM is a CS wasteland for us. Never tried yak & yeti, is it a favorite for you?