swim with dolphins

[Laneyg]

We are going to Disney World in May and I thought while we were in FL, my kids would love to swim with dolphins. When I looked it up, Discovery Cove is the first thing that popped up and after looking more, it might be the only place that allows 6 year olds. All others were like 8 and up I think...

Anyway, the kids will JUST be 6. My kids are also on the small side. Do you think they'll do ok?

Also, is Discovery Cove more than just swimming with Dolphins? Is it a part of SeaWorld or separate? Are there animals to look at.... or what? And is it a whole day experience?

Thanks for any info!

ETA - I just looked up the dates we'd be there and saw the pricing. $229 per person? Seriously?? What am I missing here? That seems like quite a lot!

 

[KBF]

We are going to Disney World in May and I thought while we were in FL, my kids would love to swim with dolphins. When I looked it up, Discovery Cove is the first thing that popped up and after looking more, it might be the only place that allows 6 year olds. All others were like 8 and up I think...

Anyway, the kids will JUST be 6. My kids are also on the small side. Do you think they'll do ok?

Also, is Discovery Cove more than just swimming with Dolphins? Is it a part of SeaWorld or separate? Are there animals to look at.... or what? And is it a whole day experience?

Thanks for any info!

ETA - I just looked up the dates we'd be there and saw the pricing. $229 per person? Seriously?? What am I missing here? That seems like quite a lot!

Discovery Cove is a separate park from Seaworld, but its still part of the Seaworld family of parks. Discovery Cove is pretty much like a resort experience and that's why the price is so high. Because its like a resort, that means there are only a certain amount of reservations per day. Usually no more than 1000 people in park. With there only being 1000 people in the park, your guest experience is that much better because there is no overcrowding. With your visit to discovery cove, you get alot more than just a dolphin interaction. Here is some info on the discovery cove site as to whats included in your reservation....

http://www.discoverycove.com/Explore/Discover.aspx

 

[edamethyst]

We are going to Disney World in May and I thought while we were in FL, my kids would love to swim with dolphins. When I looked it up, Discovery Cove is the first thing that popped up and after looking more, it might be the only place that allows 6 year olds. All others were like 8 and up I think...

Anyway, the kids will JUST be 6. My kids are also on the small side. Do you think they'll do ok?

Also, is Discovery Cove more than just swimming with Dolphins? Is it a part of SeaWorld or separate? Are there animals to look at.... or what? And is it a whole day experience?

Thanks for any info!

ETA - I just looked up the dates we'd be there and saw the pricing. $229 per person? Seriously?? What am I missing here? That seems like quite a lot!

Its alot more than just swimming with the dolphins. You snorkel, feed the stingrays, have a lazy river, theres sharks you can swim to a glass wall and see them underwater, there's the new grand reef, you get your food, snacks and drinks all day, theres an aviary to feed the birds. Nothing in the park is extra money. Everything is included. It is a fabulous day and your kids will love it. The only extra you will need money for is if you want to buy the pictures they take and trust me you'll want them! If you buy a regular pass you also get a free day at SeaWorld for each ticket you buy. If you have an annual pass for Sea World for one person in your party, you can buy up to 6 Discovery Cove tickets at a discount ($199 in May) but then you do not get the Sea World one day passes.

 

[SmallWorld71]

My daughter was 7 1/2 and loved it. I will say, though, that she is extremely comfortable with both water and animals. The water that we were in during the experience was chest deep on her. (She was 50 inches at the time - we had measured her for rides at Universal). She was the smallest person in our group. I know they do have life vests available if your kids are not strong swimmers. Anyway, I think she would have been fine at 6, but she is not the nervous type. I can see where it might be too much for some kids, though.

 

[stacyp9]

We are going to Disney World in May and I thought while we were in FL, my kids would love to swim with dolphins. When I looked it up, Discovery Cove is the first thing that popped up and after looking more, it might be the only place that allows 6 year olds. All others were like 8 and up I think...

Anyway, the kids will JUST be 6. My kids are also on the small side. Do you think they'll do ok?

Also, is Discovery Cove more than just swimming with Dolphins? Is it a part of SeaWorld or separate? Are there animals to look at.... or what? And is it a whole day experience?

Thanks for any info!

ETA - I just looked up the dates we'd be there and saw the pricing. $229 per person? Seriously?? What am I missing here? That seems like quite a lot!

You don't swim with the dolphins. You stand with a dolphin in very cold water, pet it and watch it do tricks. At the very end, the dolphin will take you for a drag for thirty or forty feet. I would frankly wait for them to be older for them to enjoy this aspect and remember it. You can reduce your cost by opting out of the dolphin encounter. The other things to do are the aviary, lazy river and snorkeling. It is a luxury, relaxing place with all food, snacks and beverages included but if the only thing your kids are going to be into will be the lazy river and the birds, the price might be high for just that and you might want to wait until they are a little older.

 

[chiamarie]

We are going to Disney World in May and I thought while we were in FL, my kids would love to swim with dolphins. When I looked it up, Discovery Cove is the first thing that popped up and after looking more, it might be the only place that allows 6 year olds. All others were like 8 and up I think...

Anyway, the kids will JUST be 6. My kids are also on the small side. Do you think they'll do ok?

Also, is Discovery Cove more than just swimming with Dolphins? Is it a part of SeaWorld or separate? Are there animals to look at.... or what? And is it a whole day experience?

Thanks for any info!

ETA - I just looked up the dates we'd be there and saw the pricing. $229 per person? Seriously?? What am I missing here? That seems like quite a lot!

229 really isn't too bad, IMO. Just to give you an idea; compare if you decided to go to SeaWorld and do the Beluga Interaction Program.

You'd pay 79 (I think?) for admission per person
99 for your Beluga Interaction
probably 25-30 dollars for food, depending on how long you're in the park; and that would only include either two meals and no snacks, or snacks plus one meal.

Right there, thats just about the same price as Discovery Cove; only at Discovery cove you get so much more!

You get a full breakfast.
Feed Birds in the aviary
Free Lockers, sun screen, snorkel rental, wetsuits.
All you can eat snacks/drinks.
Full Lunch.
Feed Stingrays.
Relax on the Beach.
Dolphin Swim.
A relaxing swim around the Lazy River.
Snorkel with stingrays and fish.
And more snacks.

I think, when you really figure it all out. You're paying, what 99 for the Dolphin Swim. And 150 for you're admission and all you care to eat and drink.

Which is what you'd probably spend per person at your average theme park; and still not get as much food, and as good food!

Just my opinion though.