Has anyone been to Discovery Cove ??

[clarasunnyside]

I am just curious. We are planning a trip next year and wanted some feed back on Discovery Cove. A friend just went and she said it was a great experience, but I just wanted some input from anyone that may have been there.

Thank You

 

[CraftyMouse]

You should post this question over on the Sea World/Discovery Cove board. Here's the link... http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

 

[WDWLVR]

I've moved this over to the Sea World/Discovery Cove board where I'm sure you'll get lots of helpful answers.

 

[herbiesmomma]

Discovery cove was fantastic, and the highlight of our trip. Get there early, as lines do form quickly for check in. The dolphin experience was fun, but to me not worth it to do it next year. We will be going back next year, but no dolphins. It is beautiful and clean. You get a continental breakfast which is ok. Lunch was very good, there are quite a few options as far as that goes. Snacks and drinks all day. The aviary is cool, the birds will come and sit right on you. The best part for me was the coral reef, it was so much fun.

 

[the_princess]

DC is great... It's worth the money!!! Have a look in my siggy for pics...

 

[clarasunnyside]

thank you for the feed back. We are going to do it.

 

[Julma]

Remember included in your fee, will be free admission to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens.

 

[DTop]

Also remember that you have to specify SW or BG when you book or you can pay extra to get both.

 

[frdeb1999]

Looks wonderful. Are you able to take pictures if part of your group is doing the dolphin encounter? My daughters want to do that part, but husband and I don't. Will we be able to be there to watch and take pictures of them?

 

[JoyMouse]

You will absolutely be able to take pictures, and the CMs at DC will also take pics. We bought the CD and have really enjoyed the pics that they took of our family. It was a great day for us all.

 

[ChevyNat]

We had a wonderful time there... we took the dolphin swim, it was my daughter's birthday gift (7 years old), she had a blast... I have to agree that you have to get there early, enjoy breakfast and enjoy the clean park... We had our pictures taken with the dolphins and the rays and at different areas of the park and got them put on cd... we also had some water cameras but nothing to compare to the quality of their camearas.
Lunch was really good and the fun part is that you eat at your time, so no rush to be somewhere at a certain time, it's great, it's relaxing, it's paradise... enjoy your wonderful day.

 

[dpuck1998]

We went the first year it was open and loved it! A nice relaxing day without crowds. We just swam around the lagoons and sat on the beach. The dolphin swim of course was a highlight.

 

[kc7gr]

I will freely admit to being more than a little biased, mainly because I've been fortunate enough to experience some of the dolphin swim experiences outside the USA (southeastern Mexico). Now, with that said...

It really does depend on what you're after. Discovery Cove has one of the best free-flight aviaries I've seen at ANY park in 25+ years of traveling. If you like birds (and small deer), definitely go for the aviary. You'd also (probably) like it if you like coral reefs and their various inhabitants. Swimming through a pool while you're literally surrounded by various types of tropical fish and rays is pretty neat.

Their dolphin "swim," well, that's a bit different. While I will grant that it may have improved (Essence, I hope so!) since the poor experience that myself, my wife, and some friends had in 2002, I have no way to know for certain.

I will say that, during our visit, the so-called "swim" seemed to be much more about contrived photo-ops, selling overpriced baubles (post-swim "debriefing"), and hyping how great the Almighty Sea World is than it was about giving people any actual 'swim' time or an honest experience with the animals. If you do go, I would make it a point to observe -- very carefully! -- one or more of the actual dolphin sessions before signing on the dotted line.

My take on it, assuming nothing has changed: Go for the aviary, river swimming, and beaches. Don't bother spending the extra $$ for the dolphin stuff. If you still want to swim with dolphins, you'd do far better going further south into the Keys (more specifically, to the Dolphin Research Center, Theater of the Sea, or Dolphins Plus).

Happy travels.

 

[Goofyisme]

kc7gr,
My experience would seem to indicate to me at least that it has changed some since your visit. I agree the aviary and tropical pool are awesome and worth the price of basic admission, not to mention the at no additional charge food and beverages and the relaxed atmosphere created by the limited number of admissions. Pictures of my wife and I in the aviary are amoung our favorites.
As to the swim itself I found only one occasion of a "poised" picture (that one happens to be my screen background) others were pretty much ad hoc but of course they know what sells and are trying to get those as you go through the activity but no other poising on our parts. Also I did not detect any large scale "selling" of Seaworld, after all you already have purchased admission to Seaworld with your admission to DC. The only real discussion was between myself and the trainer as to how they made the decision on which animals they decided to use for Seaworld and which for discovery cove.
The picture packages selling has changed also. Last year I did feel a little pushed to make a purchase amoung those that were offerred. This year however, it seemed more of a take it or leave it attitude by the staff.
Will probably return whenever we are in Orlando and have the opportunity, but probalby won't do the swim just enjoy the day and sit on the beach and watch these wonderful creatures interact with people and each other.

 

[Gizmo1951]

I did the dolphin swim a few years ago when it was at Sea World.

My 2 grand daughters and I did it at DC 2 years ago and there is no comparison.

We loved the interaction with the dolphins at DC and the whole park.

We would love to do it each year but will have to settle for every few years

 

[howleyfamily]

Discovery Cove is worth every penny..you are treated great and are free to do what you want when you want..the whole place is outstanding and never feels crowded..the food was good and all the workers there very helpful...we were there on October 26th it was a overcast day..but water was nice and we had a super great time.

 

[dpuck1998]

kc7gr,
Will probably return whenever we are in Orlando and have the opportunity, but probalby won't do the swim just enjoy the day and sit on the beach and watch these wonderful creatures interact with people and each other.

When I was there at least 1 person in your party had to do the dolphin swim, is that not the case any longer??

 

[Goofyisme]

No I don't believe so, but having done the swim both times a can't really say for sure. It does seem to me that when I was making plans for our first visit the site said something about that, but I don't recall anything about that this last time around, but then again wasn't really looking.
In talking with some of the staff there they said DC was trying to better tune its experience to what people expected. Maybe this is part of it.

 

[dpuck1998]

The website forces you to book at least one all-inclusive package.

 

[kc7gr]

kc7gr,
My experience would seem to indicate to me at least that it has changed some since your visit...

(snippety)

I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves, and I certainly hope you're right about the place. I'm not going to make it a big priority to go check again, but I will probably be a little more inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.

If IMATA has another conference in Orlando in the next couple of years, I'll probably go. Outside of that ... not enough else in the area to attract my (admittedly somewhat exotic) interests.

Keep the peace(es).