Just went to Discovery Cove yesterday

[happymommy]

Some thoughts:

Got there at 8:30am, and the place was fully open. We should have gotten a chair with an umbrella and stowed our stuff in lockers first, as the lockers were full until a kind of further back area by the time we did. Also got a chair but in the sun. Not a huge deal, but with the heat and all it would have been smarter to get that done first before breakfast.

We were hungry, and delighted that it's now a full breakfast: eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, plus fruits and yogurt and croissants. My 14 year old ate so much!

Dolphin swim for the kids was woderful -they were in the water with the dolphin for what seemed to be a very long time.

Lunch was great, but I can't eat a huge lunch after eggs. They had salmon, rice, some chicken curry thing, mac and cheese, I forget what else. I had a small amount of salmon and a salad.

We stayed till they closed the swimming areas and snacks/bar area a bit after 5:30, then got our stuff so left by 6:00. I got the CD of the photos of the dolphin swim for $115 with the platinum pass discount. We didn't get as many other photos as I would have liked, but that was due to splitting up too much. I would have liked to get more in the aviary with the kids! The birds there are incredible.

I was glad for the sunblock - the sun was strong!

If I did it again ever, I'd get situated with chairs and locker first thing. And I'd eat lighter for breakfast so I could enjoy more lunch (my kids ate well both meals though!). I also wouldn't bother bringing dry clothes, thinking I'd shower there. We just went back to our condo and showered. Much easier for us.

All in all, it's a very nice day.

 

[lilheathen]

Great info...thanks for sharing it!

 

[mjohnson96]

We will be there in June and I splurged for a Cabana with a celebration package I figured that I am already spending allot on tickets for 6ppl that it will just be easier to have an area already set aside for us to relax in

We will also have the 20mo old there for part of the day so this will help keep her in an area that is shaded too. Now all I can hope for is that they are doing a soft opening on the new reef

But I am glad to here about the breakfast, DD loves to eat breakfast. The lunch sounded yummy too! Can't wait to go!

So regarding the pictures - is it like a photopass thing where they take pictures and you can combine them when you buy the picture package?

 

[Dizneydaz]

Thanks for the info! Very timely too. We went in 2007 and then again last year. I noticed a change in the breakfast items offered. To be honest, last year the choices were pretty bad. Even the danish wasn't good. Glad to hear of the change.

My DSsis and her DH are going for the first time in May. I will pass along the info about the full breakfast (I actually just did!)

I made the mistake last year of getting there a little late. Do you know what is the earliest they let you in and when breakfast starts? TIA

 

[happymommy]

When we got there at 8:30 they were completely open. I think for a baby a cabana may be nice but for us, we would have not used it any to make it worth it. We were so busy all day!

Every time they photo you, they photo your ID tag so you can add all your photos to the CD. Too bad, we didn't have too many at all but I wanted my kids' photos for holiday cards so it was worth it to get the CD (I don't want to bring the actual photos on the plane). So your group can add all your photos together for one CD - nice to have.

I would call and ask when they open. I would have gone earlier if I'd know I could. I had thought they open at 9, but they were open at 8:30.

It's a long day! My kids stayed in all day today!!!

 

[Dizneydaz]

When we got there at 8:30 they were completely open. I think for a baby a cabana may be nice but for us, we would have not used it any to make it worth it. We were so busy all day!

Every time they photo you, they photo your ID tag so you can add all your photos to the CD. Too bad, we didn't have too many at all but I wanted my kids' photos for holiday cards so it was worth it to get the CD (I don't want to bring the actual photos on the plane). So your group can add all your photos together for one CD - nice to have.

I would call and ask when they open. I would have gone earlier if I'd know I could. I had thought they open at 9, but they were open at 8:30.

It's a long day! My kids stayed in all day today!!!

I thought they opened at 9 as well. We got there just about 9 last year to find out they had already been open for awhile. I either saw a sign there or read it somewhere else after we got back what times the beaches opened and breakfast started. I just sent DC an email (they aren't open right now). I didn't care if we got an early Dolphin swim last year so that's why we got there at 9.

We stayed as long as we could. We were one of the last guest to leave. Almost 6 p.m. and the park was basically empty (due to the earlier rain)

 

[stevenpensacola]

...they serve seafood for lunch at Sea World?...hmmmmm

 

[Dizneydaz]

...they serve seafood for lunch at Sea World?...hmmmmm

it's okay though-it's salmon-they don't have salmon at Discovery Cove!

BTW, I heard back from DC right away and yes, they open at 8:30 and start serving breakfast at 8:30 as well. Gives you time to get setttled (lockers, equipment, etc.) and have a quick breakfast before they full open the beaches, etc.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I wonder if the opening time varies by season? In the summer, they started check-in at 8:00 and there were a ton of people already there when we got there about 7:50am. You couldn't use any of the water areas right away, but you could get your vest, lockers and have breakfast.

 

[happymommy]

When we got there, it was ALL open at 8:30, even though I had thought it would open at 9:00. So if I ever went again (doubt we would, since we've done it once) I'd plan on getting there at least a half hour before they say they open.