Disney or Discovery Cove with your ticket budget

[Balt ravens fan]

We have one week in Disney in April, and we have a budget (and time constraint) of 1200 dollars for park tickets. 1200 dollars (or so) can either get our family of four - one week in Disney OR 1 day Discovery Cove plus Sea World for the week (and we could add on Busch Gardens and Aquatica for another 200.)

We go to Disney almost every year. Last year we did 7 days in the parks. Do you think this April we should switch it and do Discovery Cove / Sea World (and maybe BG and Aquatica - which would be an extra 200). I don't think I can justify the cost and time for both DC / Seaworld AND Disney (more so the cost than time). I guess I could add on one day at Disney but then we would never be able to decide which park to do in that one day because we all have different favorite parks - ugh!

For the dates we want to go (Spring Break) it is actually the most expensive at Discovery Cove - 289 per person (with Dolphin Swim - this is not optional for our family). For four we are talking - $1231.16 total without BG and Aquatica. Adding those would take it to $1444.16 (but you get unlimited visits for the week). 6 Day Disney ticket from UC tourist for four is $1037.81. I don't think we can budget $2268 on tickets! I could do a 4 day disney ticket but is not that much cheaper - $968.01 - so it would still be $2200 for four days disney / DC and Seaworld. One Day at Disney would be 340 for four of us - ouch that it is a lot for one day - and again which park do we go to?

So I guess the question is - Could I actually go to Orlando and NOT do Disney? Is "DC / Seaworld" worth as much as Disney (it costs more)? Would it be good to try something new? Would we be kicking ourselves for not doing Disney?

This is a big tough decision for us. I know it is just a vacation but we really look forward to this.

All oppinions are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mrsklamc]

Since you are able to do Disney every year otherwise, I would say yes, go for it.

We go about once every four years so I wouldn't want to do a non disney trip for us, but we did one DC day on our 2007 trip and my niece and nephew rated it their favorite, over and above Disney. I would also say research other activities in Orlando, maybe take day trips to the space center, the gulf coat, or a spring!

 

[Jaime4004]

Also agree that since you go to Disney frequently (and just last year), i'd do DC and the other parks. They're a lot of fun also! We usually go twice a year, one a disney trip, one with DC, SW, BG and universal. The kids have just as much fun either way.

 

[scootch]

We absolutely LOVED Discovery Cove and being able to go to the other parks on your Discovery Cove admission would be a great vacation. It probably was the funnest day of vacation ever for us and we travel to Disney and other places like NYC at least 2-3 times a year. The pictures they take are priceless. I got posters for the girls rooms, and every one just ooo's and ahh's over them. so be sure to save a little extra to buy them. We really haven't watched the video much, but the pictures are just wonderful!! If you want me to post a few, let me know.

 

[DisneyMissy318]

I would vote DC/SW! The former "Busch" parks are awesome! I am a Disney Girl - but sometimes a break is warranted and necessary. Orlando has some other great attractions and it's a shame to miss them.

We did Discovery Cove 7 years ago - and I still remember everything about the day - it was an AWESOME experience! You won't be disappointed!

When we plan a "non-Disney" trip - we manage to plan some activities that will get us on property so we don't miss "Disney"... some of these are:

Shopping at Downtown Disney
Book an ADR at Chef Mickey's or O'hana
Watch fireworks from the Poly Beach
Walk around the Boardwalk
Ice Cream at Beaches & Cream
Mini Golf
Resort Lobby Tour (especially during holidays)
MNSSHP or MVMCP are also great

I hope you guys have an excellent time - whatever you decide!

 

[MinnieForMe]

Absolutely --- go! That's exactly what we are doing this year! I can't wait to swim with a dolphin!

 

[nchulka]

We did both on our trip. DC is amazing! Make sure you go to SeaWorld FIRST! We did DC and were swimming with the dolphins and feeding them one day and then did SW the next day. Seeing and petting dolphins after swimming with them the day before is a bit of a let down. Do SW first and built the excitement!

You can save money on both of the tickets and could possibly do both. If you get an American Express card you can get a code for 50.00 off each DC ticket. I signed up for a card just to order my DC tix at a discount and then paid and cancelled the AmExp card. That would save you 200 on the DC tix. For Disney tix you can get them very cheap through the Disney YES program. The most basic you can get is 3 day non-hoppers for 135 each. Their most expensive is 208.00 for 8 day hoppers with waterparks. They have many different combos in between. Check out disneyyouth.com and the YES program thread on the budget board.

 

[jenny105]

Go for it, especially if you go to Disney ever year. Experience something different! Discovery Cove is amazing and you would never know you're smack in the middle of Orlando. It feels like you're on an island somewhere. Plus, all the food & drinks are included in your admission. You can't swim with dolphins and stingrays at Disney World!

 

[java]

Discovery Cove is amazing. We had the best park day of all at this place. It was magical. The dolphin swim was great but not the only highlight (*and good thing because it's only like 15 minutes and you are only holding on to the dolphin for about 30 seconds). It's a beautiful not crowded park. You get to actually enjoy your day. But I agree that I would try to do both.

 

[Priorityonecb]

We did this one year (we go at least once a year). I vote for DC/SW. We did add one one day at Disney (Epcot), but it wasn't necessary. We home based at POP, and went to Downtown Disney often for dinners and just soaking up the Disney atmosphere. We had a blast on that trip!

 

[Singinglizzie]

It sounds like you really want to go to Discovery Cove. Have you also considered tickets to Universal Studios with the flex ticket? For $262 pp (adult) and $242 (child) you can get Enjoy unlimited admission for 14 consecutive days to:

•Aquatica
•Universal Studios
•Islands of Adventure®
•SeaWorld® Orlando
•Wet 'n Wild® Orlando
•plus Universal CityWalk®
Prices are good through Undercover tourist. I'm sure Discover Cove would be great, but if you really want to stay under $1200 then the flex ticket might be a good alternative?