ehagerty
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2001
- Messages
- 2,099
Who: DH47, DS16, ME49
What: Discovery Cove
When: Thursday, July 19, 2004
I had originally planned to just relax on our last full day before leaving for home. That changed when my friend, who works at Sea World, generously offered us the opportunity to go to Discovery Cove. I didnt know much about it, a little from The Unofficial Guide and a little more from Delwifes trip reports, but I dont need much encouragement to try something new. The schedule adjustment was rather late-breaking, so we werent able to take advantage of the 7-day Sea World pass that was a part of this opportunity.
Check-in was surprisingly smooth, shortly after opening at 9:00 am. You move from check-in station, then on to get your picture taken for your ID. At the next station, they actually print your ID and attach a lanyard. After that (about 10, total) you meet your first tour guide (who really does walk backwards) who explains where to get your gear, how to get a locker, eating lunch, lounge chairs, etc. Sounded like a lot of administrative overhead, but it was all very efficient and pleasant and we were parked on lounge chairs with an umbrella within about 15 .
There were 5 main activities:
1. Aviary we started at the aviary, with the idea that we would take all our pictures, then lock the camera in a locker. There were many unusual birds. The staff provided creepy-crawley critters (live) for us to hold out in our hand. The birds would then come and eat them out of your hand, providing great photo ops. There were professional photographers everywhere, but they werent aggressive, especially if they saw you had a camera in hand.
*** A bird (or three) in the hand.... ***
*** Beautiful Feathers!! ***
2. Fresh water river - From the aviary, we went into the fresh-water lagoon - kind of a snorkling lazy river the water was clear, warm although there wasnt much to look at if you are into visual stimulation. It was very relaxing to float around in the bouyant vests. Part of the waterway goes through the aviary.
Snorkling Lazy River
3. Ray Pool on exiting the freshwater river, we went into the ray pool. This is a shallow pool, full of rays, which you can observance and/or touch. You are supposed to keep your feet on the sandy bottom here, so this is not intended to be a swim with the rays experience.
4. Coral Reef this was a large, salt water (and cooler) pool, full of tropical fish. It is what I would expect if I snorkeled in the Caribbean, except DH47 says you see a lot more fish here (theyve no place to go). This was by far the most interesting activity (if you arent participating in the dolphin encounter) and very well done. Rays, large and small, are everywhere, swimming by, brushing your skin. DS16 was startled to swam up to a school of barracuda. Theyve cleverly included a tank-within-a-tank, so the swimmers are separated from them by a window, but it is so clear, you dont realize it is there until you look closely. They had another tank like this around the corner for sharks and a huge ray with a spiny back. DS47, who took the Living Seas Aqua Tour, said that the Living Seas was bigger than this reef. I believe him, but this reef is plenty big and loaded with stuff to look at. I know we were in there a long time, because we had to come out to warm up on this 90 degree day.
5. Dolphins we were not participating in the dolphin encounter. As an observer, you can still go to the edge of the water and watch what is going on, which was interesting and entertaining. We could see the dolphins splashing, kissing, jumping and providing rides, even if we didnt do it ourselves.
Lunch is generally included in the price of admission. In our case, we paid for the lunch. It was a buffet, open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, served under similar conditions to a picnic buffet you might get on a shore excursion from cruise ship (Im remembering the Big Red Boat ..). There was decent variety and presentation; the flavor, so-so.
We did the full circuit (fresh water river, ray pool, coral reef) at a very leisurely pace, ate lunch, took a nap, and did it all again, slower, with a newly purchased, disposable underwater camera. We stayed until the very end, and passed people coming in for the newly-instituted twilight experience on our way out.
Customer Feedback section when we finally decided to leave, there were NO towels left to use after showering - and the line for the shower was 4 deep in the ladies locker room. I gave up and left without showering, but if you care and/or have plans, you might want to make sure you have extra towels in advance and plan to leave a little ahead of or behind the crowd.
The Staff very friendly and helpful. In particular, the gentleman (Lou Mondelli), monitoring the dolphin activities, went out of his way to talk to guests while he was working.
Summary: I had no expectations for DC, because I wasnt expecting to come here. I was pleasantly surprised how much we enjoyed it. As with Sea World, this is a beautifully landscaped park. The ambience is most like Typhoon Lagoons lazy river (tropical). If you take the shark reef at TL and multiply it about 100 times or more, you can imagine the DC Coral reef. There is a lot to be said for not having to deal with crowds (since they limit admission to 1,000 per day).
Questions?
What: Discovery Cove
When: Thursday, July 19, 2004
I had originally planned to just relax on our last full day before leaving for home. That changed when my friend, who works at Sea World, generously offered us the opportunity to go to Discovery Cove. I didnt know much about it, a little from The Unofficial Guide and a little more from Delwifes trip reports, but I dont need much encouragement to try something new. The schedule adjustment was rather late-breaking, so we werent able to take advantage of the 7-day Sea World pass that was a part of this opportunity.
Check-in was surprisingly smooth, shortly after opening at 9:00 am. You move from check-in station, then on to get your picture taken for your ID. At the next station, they actually print your ID and attach a lanyard. After that (about 10, total) you meet your first tour guide (who really does walk backwards) who explains where to get your gear, how to get a locker, eating lunch, lounge chairs, etc. Sounded like a lot of administrative overhead, but it was all very efficient and pleasant and we were parked on lounge chairs with an umbrella within about 15 .
There were 5 main activities:
1. Aviary we started at the aviary, with the idea that we would take all our pictures, then lock the camera in a locker. There were many unusual birds. The staff provided creepy-crawley critters (live) for us to hold out in our hand. The birds would then come and eat them out of your hand, providing great photo ops. There were professional photographers everywhere, but they werent aggressive, especially if they saw you had a camera in hand.
*** A bird (or three) in the hand.... ***
*** Beautiful Feathers!! ***
2. Fresh water river - From the aviary, we went into the fresh-water lagoon - kind of a snorkling lazy river the water was clear, warm although there wasnt much to look at if you are into visual stimulation. It was very relaxing to float around in the bouyant vests. Part of the waterway goes through the aviary.
Snorkling Lazy River
3. Ray Pool on exiting the freshwater river, we went into the ray pool. This is a shallow pool, full of rays, which you can observance and/or touch. You are supposed to keep your feet on the sandy bottom here, so this is not intended to be a swim with the rays experience.
4. Coral Reef this was a large, salt water (and cooler) pool, full of tropical fish. It is what I would expect if I snorkeled in the Caribbean, except DH47 says you see a lot more fish here (theyve no place to go). This was by far the most interesting activity (if you arent participating in the dolphin encounter) and very well done. Rays, large and small, are everywhere, swimming by, brushing your skin. DS16 was startled to swam up to a school of barracuda. Theyve cleverly included a tank-within-a-tank, so the swimmers are separated from them by a window, but it is so clear, you dont realize it is there until you look closely. They had another tank like this around the corner for sharks and a huge ray with a spiny back. DS47, who took the Living Seas Aqua Tour, said that the Living Seas was bigger than this reef. I believe him, but this reef is plenty big and loaded with stuff to look at. I know we were in there a long time, because we had to come out to warm up on this 90 degree day.
5. Dolphins we were not participating in the dolphin encounter. As an observer, you can still go to the edge of the water and watch what is going on, which was interesting and entertaining. We could see the dolphins splashing, kissing, jumping and providing rides, even if we didnt do it ourselves.
Lunch is generally included in the price of admission. In our case, we paid for the lunch. It was a buffet, open from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, served under similar conditions to a picnic buffet you might get on a shore excursion from cruise ship (Im remembering the Big Red Boat ..). There was decent variety and presentation; the flavor, so-so.
We did the full circuit (fresh water river, ray pool, coral reef) at a very leisurely pace, ate lunch, took a nap, and did it all again, slower, with a newly purchased, disposable underwater camera. We stayed until the very end, and passed people coming in for the newly-instituted twilight experience on our way out.
Customer Feedback section when we finally decided to leave, there were NO towels left to use after showering - and the line for the shower was 4 deep in the ladies locker room. I gave up and left without showering, but if you care and/or have plans, you might want to make sure you have extra towels in advance and plan to leave a little ahead of or behind the crowd.
The Staff very friendly and helpful. In particular, the gentleman (Lou Mondelli), monitoring the dolphin activities, went out of his way to talk to guests while he was working.
Summary: I had no expectations for DC, because I wasnt expecting to come here. I was pleasantly surprised how much we enjoyed it. As with Sea World, this is a beautifully landscaped park. The ambience is most like Typhoon Lagoons lazy river (tropical). If you take the shark reef at TL and multiply it about 100 times or more, you can imagine the DC Coral reef. There is a lot to be said for not having to deal with crowds (since they limit admission to 1,000 per day).
Questions?
