Talk me thru the discovery cove dolphin swim plse

[sugarcup]

We are off in 4 weeks time for the first time and have booked a day at Discovery Cove. What actually happens at the dolphin swim plse? We have bought a 'cheap' camcorder which is supposedly waterproof! Are we allowed to take cameras into waterparks in general? Obviously a bit of a 'no-no' these days in UK. Also when we have our dolphin swim (2 adults & 2 children) are we all in the water at the same time? How does it actually work?
Thanks

 

[Natasha&Matt]

You can't take a camera or camcorder with in you the dolphin swim but you are allowed everywhere else as far as i am aware

I'm going for my first Dolphin Swim in May really looking forward to it

 

[Latel]

you all go into the pool together, with another few people. You stand in water up to your waist. The dolphin swims up to you and you get to stroke it, they take photos of you hugging and kissing it. Then one at a time you will be taken out to deeper water or if you prefer, stay in the shallower water to get pulled along with the dolphin.
They are quite strict about what you can take into the pool and cameras are not allowed.

 

[wayneg]

1st time we went we all did the swim, wasn't impressed with their photography so ended up with no pics. 2nd time only DW & DS went in with Dolphins I stood at the side, was a great view took photos and video of them.

 

[fuse04]

You can buy a DVD and pictures of the swim expirience but they are very expensive. Some family's book thier party into two different times which allows the other parent to take pictures from the beach of the other groups. The earlier you check in the earlier the swim slot you get, some poeple like to get the swim done sooner rather than later so that they are not clock watching during the day.

 

[Tinks1984]

You can actually take your camera into the waterpark in general over there, so there's no problem there. But, not in with the dolphins. We did take ours into the reef and we managed to get a couple of good shots, but the fish move quickly!

Your swim will be around 40 minutes long, including a introduction and safety briefing. You'll get to ask the trainers questions whilst your stroke and interact with your dolphin. You'll then do actions which the dolphin will respond too, before you are then asked if you'd like to do a deep water activity with just you and the dolphin. I was nervous about doing this, but I did and don't regret it at all, our dolphin, Jenny, was simply amazing!

 

[Natasha&Matt]

Sorry to barge in on your thread, Does anyone know roughly how many pictures they take of you with the dolphins and the rest of the day?

 

[Tinks1984]

I think we got around 40-50 pictures, I'll check tomorrow when I can find our DVD

 

[sugarcup]

Thanks everyone, I had heard mixed reports about the photos/dvd that you get from discovery cove. I quite like the idea of doing it in 2 seperate parties, as we have now booked and paid do you think we could still ask for that when we get there? It just says 'first avaliable swim' or words to that effect on the confirmation booking

 

[wayneg]

You will have no problem splitting you party, just ask. Dolphin swims are 1st come 1st served so its easy to arrange on arrival.

Photos at DC are like the rest in the parks taken by photopass photograhers, hit and miss, they will take about 30-40 shots to get 1 or 2 really good ones and a few average. Unfortunately in 2 visits to DC we didn't like any worth paying for.

 

[sugarcup]

Thats really helpful, thank you so much, this site is wonderful!

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

What a great idea to split your party! My husband and I did DC with the dolphin swim in 07 and we loved it! Although we, like many pp's were not to thrilled with our overpriced pictures. I am wondering if anyone on here has done the evening adventure at DC?

 

[scoobydooby]

You will have no problem splitting you party, just ask. Dolphin swims are 1st come 1st served so its easy to arrange on arrival.

Photos at DC are like the rest in the parks taken by photopass photograhers, hit and miss, they will take about 30-40 shots to get 1 or 2 really good ones and a few average. Unfortunately in 2 visits to DC we didn't like any worth paying for.

Can you tell me what time we would need to arrive to be first - ish? I have booked this as a surpirse for my children on Christmas day this year. They are going to be so excited. I always tell them we can't afford it so they won't see it coming at all!! I should like to get an early dolphin swin though if possible.

 

[fuse04]

Check in starts at 8am and I think the dolphin swims start at 9am

 

[A Small World]

We did it several years ago as 2 swims as DD wasnt old enough to do it so we had to split into 2 - i did it alone while DH and DS did it together. It meant we were able to take photos - the only down side is that if you want to get the official dvd you will have to buy 2 as they do it for each group swim. We just bought a couple of official photos from each swim rather than the full dvd