Last Minute Discovery Cove Deals? Please??

[KigerKat]

My husband and I never argue, but dolphin swims have been a hot button of ours since our honeymoon. It has always been a dream of mine to swim with dolphins, ever since I was a little girl, but unfortunately, my husband does not have any interest in this.

On our honeymoon 5 years ago, we booked a cruise. Dolphin swims are a popular excursion, but DH wouldn't do it. He isn't as passionate about it as I am, so he can't justify spending that kind of money on it. We had the same argument on another cruise we took a year and a half ago.

Jump to earlier this year, when we were planning out our Disney vacations. We will be staying for 9 nights beginning next Saturday with our annual passes. My thought was, "Hey, why not go to Discovery Cove while we are down there?!?!" DH's reply: "We need to get our money's worth out of our annual passes. I'd hate to be down there and spend a whole day somewhere else, let alone two" (because of the free park ticket that comes with DC). Yes, I cried, because at the time I looked, it was $179 per person and I thought that was a great deal. But I eventually gave in because even at a great price, it is still kind of expensive.

Fast forward to 2 weeks ago on my birthday, when I go out to my car in the morning and see a stuffed dolphin and birthday card on my steering wheel with a "coupon" good for one dolphin swim on the vacation of my choosing. I was ecstatic!! I cried right there in my car!! The only problem, DH didn't actually book the swim yet.

This brings us to today, when I checked pricing and availability for our dates only to discover that it's now about $350 a person because we are booking at the last minute. Even though it is my dream, and we can afford it, now I can't justify spending that much money on it. DH kept saying this morning that we'll still do it, but $700 just seems a bit too ridiculous when it would have been less than half that if we had booked it earlier this year.

So....my here's my question: Do they ever run last minute deals or are there any valid discount codes available out there??? We do have two more WDW trips this year, but they are for runs and I really don't think we'll be able to do it on one of those trips. And we have another cruise booked in May, but there's a chance that I could be pregnant on that cruise, and I know dolphin swims are forbidden if you are pregnant. This upcoming trip is my only chance to do this, unless we do a trip after we have a baby in which case I'm not sure what we would do with the baby while we are doing the dolphin swim.

Help!!

 

[2 Goofy]

I found out on these boards that they offer a discount if AP to any Seaworld park, which we are AP holders at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. I suggest you weight the cost of buying an AP with what it costs without. Also, if your DH doesn't really have to swim with the dolphins the I think he can get in for about $199, but you need to check the website on that. We have ours scheduled for a Tuesday which I look as kind of a rest day between other parks, besides, it gives our vacation a porpoise!

 

[Claire-Bear]

To be honest, if he's not overly fussed, you could just pay for a dolphin swim for yourself. That way, he can take photos from the shore (you are unable to take your own photos in the water with the dolphins). There are non-swim tickets so he can have one of those (far cheaper)

 

[jayster263]

If you want to try something different, I hate going outside the whole Disboards Forum, but My wife wanted desperately to do the Dolphin thing too, and I did not.

We booked a week in Cancun at the Dreams All Inclusive Resort. They have the Dolphins onsite, and you can book a room with a Dolphin / Ocean view and watch the action 24/7 from your room. They also give you vouchers for a free swim or a deeply discounted swim with the Dolphins if you choose. There were six resturants and loads of activities to do wherther your single , married, or with a family.

You husband can stand right next to the pool if you go for the swim, and they will photo / video it for you and if I remember well, it was only 30 dollars for the video/ photo package.

Again, I dont mean to diss the Disboards, but when I read your post, I thought immediately of our vacation in Cancun (it was rather inexpensive..) with the Dolphins at the Hotel.

 

[KigerKat]

My sweet, sweet DH did do a lot of research and found out about the Sea World AP discount, and he was ready to do it, but I changed my mind. I decided that I was too blessed in other ways, and I might have been asking a bit too much to expect him to pay for something like this. Yes, it is something I would really love to do someday, but I've waited this long already. I can wait a little bit longer.

I appreciate the replies and the pms!!