Tell me about Discovery Cove--have you gone???

[sbp59]

We saw quite a few guests being dropped off by taxi, one by limo and the parking lot was not full. Remember, they do serve a continental breakfast - mostly pastries - so get there early. I would imagine some hotels might offer a shuttle service but couldn't see Disney doing that!

Flexibility is key in this park. You can change as many times as you want and swap out vests and wetsuits all day long - so if you don't want to snorkel then you can change back into clothes. There isn't a lot to walk around -- except for the aviary - and past main pool, snorkel area and stingrays. My husband just liked sitting at the snack bars and getting the "free" beer. They also had new slushie type juice packets that I hadn't seen before and plenty of snacks and soft pretzels. He compared it to a cruise as the food was good and plentiful and since you don't have to have $ on you, the lines, but there weren't any, move fast.

It's a day you won't regret. My dd wants to create poster-sized pictures from several of the photos with the dolphins as they are extremely good quality and not to be missed. We are taking the one picture of my son and putting it in his dedication page for his senior yearbook. Too bad -- our day is over!

 

[Kath2003]

You can get the 50 Lynx bus from the TTC for $1.50 - takes about 15 minutes, drops you off at Sea World. From there, Discovery Cove offer a free shuttle which takes 2 minutes Much cheaper than a cab.

 

[DisGal520]

You can get the 51 Lynx bus from the TTC for $1.50 - takes about 15 minutes, drops you off at Sea World. From there, Discovery Cove offer a free shuttle which takes 2 minutes Much cheaper than a cab.

wow - this is wonderful news. I'll have to pay closer attention to the Lynx bus stops at the TCC. Do you know if there are bus schedules posted there?

DisGal

 

[Kath2003]

wow - this is wonderful news. I'll have to pay closer attention to the Lynx bus stops at the TCC. Do you know if there are bus schedules posted there?

A CM gave us a copy. They're every half an hour. You can check them out at www.golynx.com - timetable for that bus is here (you're going to Sea Harbor Drive)

Also I lied, it's the 50 bus (the 51 doesn't go to the TTC!).

Kids are 75cents btw

 

[DisGal520]

thanks again! Everyone on these boards is so helpful.

DisGal.

 

[rluey29]

We are visiting DC next summer and are taking our DS8 and DS1. My oldest son and I will be doing the dolphin swim while wife watches the baby. Afterwards, is the baby allowed to float with us in the lazy river? Do they have lifejackets that are small enough? Is he allowed in the aviary?

This is our first time there so any tips would be appreciated!

Also, do you get to pick the time of your dolphin swim?

 

[dpwright]

you do not get to pick your time with the dolphins, but the first ones in the gates in the morning get the first times, so show up early.
we were there just about a year ago. it was not cheap, but it was one of those things you need to do once in your life. It was a fantastic day. About $250 per person when we went. But the buffet lunch came with it, unlimited snacks and drinks all day, the dolphin swim, manta pool, regular pool (so warm it was like a bathtub), the lazy river, the aviary, all your snorkeling equipment, etc. It's a must do for everyone at least once.
The dolphin swim water was much colder but bearable.
you can also get an option that comes with free entry to sea world that week. We spent most of the day at discovery cove then by late afternoon, 5:00 ish, headed over to sea world for the rest of the day after we changed our clothes. Fantastic.

 

[DisGal520]

Reading this made me think to ask a question. If there is heavy rain on the appointed day, do they have an indoor dolphin area where they can still go on with the interaction and swim?

Sometimes vacations are so tightly planned that it may not be possible to go on a different day if there is a stormy day on our appointed day. Does anyone know?


DisGal

 

[Gailie]

Just got back from Discovery Cove - my 9 year old thought she was in heaven. It is absolutely beautiful, our time with the dolphins was absolutely wonderful. The whole day was great, dolphins, swimming with the stingrays, snorkleing in the coral reef, the aviary with all the birds, the pool, etc. etc. I would go again tomorrow if I could !

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Reading this made me think to ask a question. If there is heavy rain on the appointed day, do they have an indoor dolphin area where they can still go on with the interaction and swim?

Sometimes vacations are so tightly planned that it may not be possible to go on a different day if there is a stormy day on our appointed day. Does anyone know?


DisGal

We last went in March 2005 and our swim was delayed by a thunderstorm, we all were just asked to sit inside and we had a video and breifing on dolphins/conservation etc

If there is heavy rain or a storm, the swims are stopped and they start again once the weather has cleared.

 

[muffinman71xx]

I went in October 2005. It was okay. the best parts were not the dolphin swim.

DC says the swim is 90 minutes, but the actual time in the water is about 30. you sit in with a group of about 15 and watch a video about how wonderful DC is and the dolphin swim will be. then you break into groups of 5 with your trainer and head to the lagoon. you walk out into the water so you are on a underwater rocky ledge waist deep, and the dolphin is in the deeper part. I had "lemon lips" for a dolphin. the dolphin lay in the water, so we could learn about dolphins. the trainer did various hand motions and then each one of us did the motion individually and the dolphin did the trick. the final part we walked out a bit further and then swam about 10 feet into the deep part of the lagoon. the dolphin then came under me and I grabbed his side fin to be tugged the 20 feet back to the group.

it was neat, but I had a sense of 'is that it?' afterwards. Everything in the commercial, does not happen with the guests. it is merely to make you think you will.

of course, there are photographers and videographers covering your every move. we went to the photo building. the videos were completely out of my financial reach, so I opted for the pics. most of them were great. I ended up with a CD of ten pics for about $100. a jail rape would have been more less painful. at least they put on the cd some pics of the park, dolphins, and birds.

lunch was halfway decent and good portions. there was a steel drum band playing while I ate.

the 'lazy river' snorkeling part was a complete waste. there is HUGE lagoon that is about 2 feet deep. wasted space since you could not swim or even float in it. I walked through it all to get to the deeper part of the 'river'. there was nothing exciting, you just floated pushed by the gentle current looking at the concrete bottom. at the places where the it was shallow, you had a walk or face a nasty scraping on your chest and stomach.

the bird sanctuary was my favorite. lots of beautiful birds. an attendant gave out small cups of foods. the birds landed right on my shoulder, arm, and hand to eat. it was incredible.

the stingray lagoon was okay. you could walk amongst them. you cannot leave your feet or be spoken to by the attendants about the 'no swimming or floating' rule.

the coral reef was incredible. lots of color and tons of fish. there were sting rays the size of my rental car. the only complaint was that the face mask was hard to get a good seal on my face. it kept fogging and then leaking water. every so often I had to tread water, empty mask, unfog it, and then put it back on.

of course, the other cool part of the DC was the 7 days admission to SW. I went for 2 days after DC.

so, overall. it was pretty good.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

We did DC on Dec 1, 2007.
There was DH, myself, DD9 and our 10 month old baby.
DD9 was the only one to do the dolphin swim as it is expensive.
We were able to be quite close to her and watch and listen to her experience. After he swim we asked the photographer to take a couple of pictures of our whole family with a dolphin....that way the baby could be included!
We did not buy the CD of pictures but we did buy a basic package and spent about $60 total.
Breakfast was okay...lots of carbs such a pastries etc. Lunch was good. Snacks are provided throughout the day as was beer which made DH happy.
The ray lagoon, the coral reef, and the aviary are all very cool and we loved them all. The "beach" was nice too and the water was warm.
I am not sure if we would do it again because it was expensive but it was a great day. I would tell others to go if they can afford it.
We did go to Seaworld the next day as admission was free with our DC passes. We were there for 4 hours and saw the Shamu Believe show. It was okay but I expected a lot more from the show and the park in general. I am glad we did not buy passes to go to Seaworld as I would have felt ripped off.

 

[momtotwoteens]

KiKi Mouse- Was the resort pool warm enough to get in without wetsuits? We have reservations at DC on Dec. 17th, but I'm waiting until the last minute and checking the weather because I am going to change our reservation to the warmest day that we are in Orlando. How were the crowds? I'm hoping they're not bad since it's colder now.

 

[KiKi Mouse]

Yes the resort pool was warm enough. I am a person who can't handle the cold and I found the pool nice. The pools with the fish/rays/dolphins are cooler for the animals.
The resort pool was warm enough for our 10 month old baby.

If anybody is going with a baby I highly suggest you ask for one of their beach strollers. It has big wheels and you can push it through the sand easily.

 

[LegoJediMom]

Anyone know how imperative it is to arrive early? Our son sleeps until 7:30 usually and I don't want to wake him early if I don't have too since we'll be going to bed late. A later swim time isn't a huge deal for us. DC is all we have planned for the day. So if that's the only consequence of showing up at 9 ish, I'll take it.

Thanks!

 

[Gailie]

The earlier you arrive, the earlier your Dolphin swim, that's all. We arrived at 8:00, our swim was at 9:30. I kinda wish we had asked for a later morning swim at it was chilly in the water at 9:30. Don't worry about stuff to do while waiting for your dolphin swim, the Aviary is a hoot and the ray pool was absolutely fabulous. Do it all !!

 

[hahmood]

We are going to be at WDW in March. We have been to the Cayman Islands with our DS9 a couple times where he snorkels and he has been to stingray city (he loves it!) a couple times to swim with the rays (we are going again in June - Godparents have a condo there), so would it be worth it for us $$$ to take a day to go to DC with a dolphin encounter?

 

[airhead]

We were there July 4,2004,and are returning July 4,2008! This place IMO,is the best place to spend any day but especially the 4th. With limited admittance(1000 people/day)I'm not worried about it being so crowded you can't move. The staff is so nice and they really make you feel welcomed. Its just an awesome experience! We can't wait to get there!!!

 

[GrumpyMom]

We just went in January and although we started the day at around 47 degs and the high was in the high 50's low 60's it was still the most memoral and relaxing day of our trip definately worth every penny. I'm sure it will be perfect no matter the temperature. Just remember to take off the top part of your wetsuit and dry off and you will stay warmer.
They did tell us this but I didn't see alot of people doing it. It really does work. And by listening to the podcast and Julie's recommendation to visit the aviary first I can only tell you that we literally covered in birds within minutes of entering whereas later in the day we went back and they just weren't as interested in us.

 

[holcomb-mania]

I'm planning a June09 trip (stop laughing!), and I called today with a few questions.

It's not shown on the web-site, but "all-inclusive" includes free Anheuser-Busch products.

I was leery of the cost, but after reading this thread and calling Valerie, I think I would be stupid to not do this next year.

Also, I asked about the cabanas (they are under refurb now). She said they were $150-$175 for the day. Has anyone gotten a cabana? Was it worth it or even necessary?