Next Question - Discovery Cove

[Mr-D]

Back again lol

This may sound a bit of a dim question but can you do Discovery Cove as a non-swimmer ? My daughter would love to swim with the dolphins but embarrasingly I'm the non-swimmer

I was wondering with the life jacket on do you actually need to be able to swim ?

Mr -D

 

[marias]

Hi there,

I did it as a non-swimmer last year. It was fine so long as you feel comfortable that the life jacket/float will stop you going under. Also it is fairly quick (the deeper water bit) mainly you are in water which would come up to hip height but you need to duck down for a lot of it.

Whilst i did not enjoy being pulled along by the dolphin at the end you can choose not to do this bit. Just to see the sheer delight on my daughters face meant i was happy.

Hope this helps.
By the way i emailed Discovery Cove direct with my concerns and they were extremely helpful with their advice.

 

[disneyholic family]

We did this the first year it opened, so it may have changed since then, but if memory serves, the pool where the stingrays are is wading depth, so that would be ok as well...
the lazy river however, is deeper, so i don't know if you'd be able to do that..

but both of those are just added extras to the dolphin part...

by the way, why not go learn to swim? not for DC but just for you....
at the club we go to, i often see adults taking private swimming classes....that is, adults who can't swim and are learning for the first time...

swimming is wonderfully relaxing....

 

[Lisa1976]

I did this a couple of years ago with my husband, he isn't a strong swimmer at all and doesn't like going where he can't touch the floor.

What we did was explain this to the people there and they arranged for him to stand right on the edge of a lip of the pool where it then go offs into the deep bit, this was fine for him and the dolphin pulled him along this lip and not out into the deep water so that he could put his feet on the floor at all times.

If you explain that you are a non swimmer then im sure they will be able to accomodate you.

HTH
Lisa

 

[disneyholic family]

by the way, i forgot to say that in our group at DC there was a woman who was a non-swimmer.....
she was able to participate....i didn't really pay attention to her, but i know they let her....everyone wears a vest...

 

[tartangirl]

We are in a similar position that while both myself and DH can swim we are uncomfortable being out our depth.

DS and DD are both good swimmers and DD loves dolphins so we are considering Discovery Cove for next year.

What are people's views? Is Discovery Cove worth the money or is it alot of money for a couple of minutes with a dolphin? How long do you actually get with the dolphins?

 

[Mr-D]

Thanks for the replies. Just have to add up the pennies now and see what we can do.

Beth I tried adult swimming lessons a couple of times in the past, would love to be able to swim but I seem to have problems preventing me sinking !!

D

 

[disneyholic family]

Thanks for the replies. Just have to add up the pennies now and see what we can do.

Beth I tried adult swimming lessons a couple of times in the past, would love to be able to swim but I seem to have problems preventing me sinking !!

D

not just you....men in general sink more than women do (there has to be some purpose to that extra layer of fat we have)....
too bad I don't live in the UK, i'd be happy to volunteer.....i used to teach swimming back in my college years.....I never lost a victim....

there are really lots of great tricks even for the most brick-like sinker..

if i ever move to the UK, i'll let you know....

 

[jockey]

DC is great - done it last year for the 1st time!!! There were a few non swimmers in our group and they just wore a vest!!! I got tired at the end of the day and although I can swim I wore a vest to float around the lazy river!!! If you do decide to do DC I would recommend swim shoes!!!

 

[~Piglet~]

We are in a similar position that while both myself and DH can swim we are uncomfortable being out our depth.

What are people's views? Is Discovery Cove worth the money or is it alot of money for a couple of minutes with a dolphin? How long do you actually get with the dolphins?

Hi Tartangirl, I visited DC in May and bought a pass which included 14 days use at Seaworld and Busch Gardens for £155. I thought of it as approximately £51.60 each park, which didn't seem so bad! even if you don't do the dolphin swim it is a nice place to relax for a day.

I would say you spend 25-30 mins with a dolphin, mostly in waist height water. For your 'swim' you go out to deeper water, 12 ft I think, tread water for a few minutes and get towed back to the shallow water by the dolphin. I only had 2 month's worth of swimming lessons and I don't like being out of my depth, but the combination of the salt water and wearing a swim vest (you can also opt for a wet suit) keeps you afloat.

 

[Ware Bears]

What are people's views? Is Discovery Cove worth the money or is it alot of money for a couple of minutes with a dolphin?

I think it is worth every penny. Apart from the dolphin swim which is an awesome experience, you get to spend a fantastic day in a beautiful place, you can spend all day snorkelling with rays or just relaxing on a sunbed!!! Lunch was delicious and we also bought the 14 day pass which enabled us to go to Busch Gardens once and Sea World three times!!! I would definitely recommend it and hope to return there one day.

 

[angel659]

Its worth every penny in my views. My husband and I swam with dolphins in Mexico not in Orlando. We did it twice only coz I absoloutly love Dolphins!!! Its a wonderful experience and you will be so pleased once you did it.

P.S You normally get a video which is wonderful, just dont let take it round someones house and let someone watch it and they end up recoding CORONATION ST - this happened to me and I am osbviously still upset.

 

[rosiejo]

Its worth every penny in my views. My husband and I swam with dolphins in Mexico not in Orlando. We did it twice only coz I absoloutly love Dolphins!!! Its a wonderful experience and you will be so pleased once you did it.

P.S You normally get a video which is wonderful, just dont let take it round someones house and let someone watch it and they end up recoding CORONATION ST - this happened to me and I am osbviously still upset.

No! Someone really did that?? How awful! I hope they apologised and made it up to you somehow - although I'm sure the only way would be another trip...
How can people be so careless??

 

[angel659]

It did happen to my horror. I took it round my aunt and uncles house. All I got was an apology. If it was myself I would phoned Discovery place in Mexico and I would of least tried to look as though I was making an effort to get the video replaced and sent from Mexico. I was not a happt bunny. As soon as my little children are old enough I said to dh we will do it again and get another video and just dont take it round anyones house.

I cant wait to see Discovery Cove!