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

[DiscoverUSF]

Discover Cove offers one photo as a group which is included in the cost, or at least they did last year. They take individual photos of your party kissing a dolphin. In the bird area, their are photographers taking photos of you if the birds land on you. Yeah, they get a bit pricey. But we still bought 5 of them, and got the free one because it was they were great photos and it was a great day to remember.

You can bring your own camera (get a disposable water-proof one) but you can not bring it into the dolphin lagoon. You can take pictures from the shore. If you bring your own camera, get a locker to put it away at times so it won't get wet. A good zoom can get you some good photos.

Remember, they take the photos anyway. So you can see them before you buy. If you like one enough, it may be worth your purchase.

Despite the cost, the park is only so crowded, food, drinks and snacks are included. For our family of three we thought it was definately worth it.

 

[HopperFan]

We are planning on going in June and I am wondering about the photos they take. Do they take serveral shots of you to choose from or to they take one picture per person? Anyone know the current price of photos? Also, if you take your own photos (I am not swimming with the dolphins - just my dd's), are you close enough to get some good pictures?

Thanks for any info - I am still having a really hard time justifying the cost of this and am trying to figure out if I'm gonna pay another arm and leg for pictures.

We did not swim with dolphins. I had about 4 water cameras that I kept with me in reef area and lazy river. A couple disposables to take beach etc pictures. Got some great shots and it was a very cloudy (rain at times) day. I bought one photo they took of us on the lazy river....the one they took for free when we entered was terrible.

 

[SharonLowe]

When my DD and I went last October, I was really disappointed with the photos and DVD. We still bought some but they were pretty horrible! I'll see if I can find how much we paid for them. There will be a number to choose from for each person but not a ton. We had way better ones done last year in Mexico.

If someone has a good zoom, they should be able to get decent shots. You will have to figure the best place to shoot from though.

 

[Hollybh]

We went to DC this past December before going on a cruise. This was the absolute best day we have ever had as a family. I cannot recoomend it any higher. DEfinately worth every penny. My husband was worried that it was too expensive. He later said it was very worth it. Definately buy the video and pictures, very pricey, over 100 dollars for the video package. But it is sooo worth it to have that memory to watch when you get home and years to come.

 

[mhcueball2]

A lot of great info here.

How long were you in with the dolphins (the full 30 minutes)? And did everyone just get a kiss and a 'dorsal/fin pull'?

We are also going to Jamaica, but want to avoid the 4 hour round-trip to get to the dolphin cove.

 

[Hollybh]

The Dolphin swim is at least 30 minutes and you are in contact with the dolphin all of that time. We spent a lot of time petting Lester before our actual swim. We kissed and fed him. VERY VERY worth every penny. I havent heard anyone say otherwise. I just love this place.

 

[MouseGirl]

I completely agree with hollybh's endorsement of DC. We visited on March 10 and our family is still talking about it. It honestly was the best experience we have had out of our many holidays together. The dolphin swim is amazing, but the rest of the day was too...from start to finish. We couldn't believe how quickly the time went! Our dolphin swim was mid-morning, so we had time to get oriented, have a bite to eat and check out the park a bit first. Everything is so well organized, high-quality, and the staff are so friendly and helpful. We were very impressed with it. The dolphin swim was outstanding, as was the interaction over the whole half-hour with our dolphin, Diego. We had a delicious lunch afterwards, then snorkelled and swam together for hours, visited the bird aviary and just relaxed. It was time to head home before we knew it...

Can't recommend it highly enough!

 

[budbeerlady]

Food, food, food... Is there a list anywhere of what is offered? DD is kinda picky (loves her chicken strips, can tolerate a burger if she has to ) and I am a vegetarian so I was curious as to what food is available?

Thanks!

 

[HopperFan]

Food, food, food... Is there a list anywhere of what is offered? DD is kinda picky (loves her chicken strips, can tolerate a burger if she has to ) and I am a vegetarian so I was curious as to what food is available?

Thanks!

Here you go
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1372504

 

[SharonLowe]

Food, food, food... Is there a list anywhere of what is offered? DD is kinda picky (loves her chicken strips, can tolerate a burger if she has to ) and I am a vegetarian so I was curious as to what food is available?

Thanks!

they have vegetarian options available but if you have special needs/allergies, make sure you let them know in advance. I'm vegetarian and allergic to all dairy products and they were able to accomodate me.

 

[budbeerlady]

Wow, thanks for the fast help on the food info!

 

[WDW Princess]

I am taking my DH for his B-day to DC in September 07 and have purchased a standard birthday package. When a dolphin pushes out the happy birthday sign, does anybody videotape this? I am quite sure we are going to buy the video but want to make sure that we are in it at least at the most important moments.

Also, a b-day cake is included in the package – how does this all work? Do they bring it out to the birthday boy/girl or do they just slap a piece of it on your plate?

I know it’s been talked about many times, but if I am not a good swimmer, is swim vest enough to allow me to float? I mean to not having to kick and just hang vertically in the water?.. I know it’s a ridiculous question, especially from a person who lives by the beach !!

 

[Hollybh]

I do not know the answer to the birthday questions but I'm sure if you call, they can tell you. I know that they do video tape your entire dolphin experience even without a birthday so Im SURE they will for something that special. What a great idea! Have a great trip!!

 

[Kath2003]

I know it’s been talked about many times, but if I am not a good swimmer, is swim vest enough to allow me to float? I mean to not having to kick and just hang vertically in the water?.. I know it’s a ridiculous question, especially from a person who lives by the beach !!

For the most part, when you're with the dolphins, you're in the shallows. You go out "deep" once - but you don't have to, they'll give you a "shallow ride" if you prefer. The water is very salty so floating is easy and the vest helps. There is a trainer in the water with you when you're with the dolphins who will help you if you need it.

In the other areas, I'm afraid you will have to keep yourself afloat.

 

[DisGal520]

Discovery Cove was worth every penny that it cost and then some!!
Here is a slide show of our trip.
http://www.flash-slide-show.com/share/flash_album_1/2006-09-09/{83299179-E356-4F76-B455-62C7D2D96A0F}.swf

hi there fellow Marylander,

would love to see the slide show but when I post it to web browser, get a 'page cannot be displayed'.

Can you post some pix?


thanks
DisGal

 

[Arielbabe104]

hey this place is the best went when i was 8 i will never forget it! the name of our dolphin was rascal! the most memorable part when i got to kiss the dolphin! i really do recomend it!

 

[sbp59]

These boards helped a tremendous lot...thanks for all the great info...it is just a perfect day and the staff goes out of their way to be so accommodating that sometimes I did a double take. We arrived by 8:15, stood in line about 15 minutes and then off to the entry speech, lockers, wetsuits, vests and hung around until our kids dolphin swim at 9:45. So many on here suggest the wetsuits but it was so hot that most people got the vests for the day. I got a wetsuit and it helped me get in the water to snorkel really fast -- but the rest of the time it was hot. I could have switched to the vest but just kept it on and my family didn't complain about the vests at all. They had the smallest dolphin Nate but we got a family picture with Capricorn. We got the photo CD with pictures for $143 with tax and glad we did that because now the pictures are all uploaded at home.

The food was fabulous and plentiful - new things to try - the snorkeling was fantastic and loved the lazy river. The aviary was ok - the guides seem to be catering to the little kids when we were there (don't forget that teens still like attention too!) but we just got back in the water. Taking pictures along the river and the mini cave was great. We were done by 3 but waited to get some pictures from the stingray lagoon swim so by 4:30 we were back in the parking lot and on our way back home.

It took 3 years to convince my husband to make this trip/day and now we are all glad we did. It is worth every penny (and yes, they take a lot of them!) - but it is a special day for the entire family. The grounds are lush and very easy to get around. And yes, someday we will return!

 

[DisGal520]

These boards helped a tremendous lot...thanks for all the great info...it is just a perfect day and the staff goes out of their way to be so accommodating that sometimes I did a double take. We arrived by 8:15, stood in line about 15 minutes and then off to the entry speech, lockers, wetsuits, vests and hung around until our kids dolphin swim at 9:45.. We got the photo CD with pictures for $143 with tax and glad we did that because now the pictures are all uploaded at home.

The food was fabulous and plentiful - new things to try - the snorkeling was fantastic and loved the lazy river. The aviary was ok - We were done by 3 but waited to get some pictures from the stingray lagoon swim so by 4:30 we were back in the parking lot and on our way back home.QUOTE]

When I phoned them this week I asked if they picked people up at local hotels to bring to DC for the swim package. (We won't have a car). DC said no they do not do that. I read somewhere - maybe on this board - that DC did come pick them up. Anyone know about this from a recent trip?

Second question for you all - if you do the early swim with dolphins and then do not do snorkeling, can you shower and change back into street clothes to finish walking around the place??? We don't want to spend rest of day in wetsuits.

thanks
DisGal

 

[louey]

I am not sure about Discovery picking you up, but your hotel would probably take you? Or you can always take a taxi, I don't believe it it too expensive, I have read on here that some people will take a cab throughout the parks maybe to get to a dinner etc...

After your done swimming with the dolphins and snorkeling you can shower and change anytime you want. We stayed in snorkeling and swimming a pretty long time after our swim with the dolphin it is so much fun.

Enjoy! it is a wonderful place, I am so glad we went there.

 

[DisGal520]

louey - thanks for the fast reply.

We will be on Disney property, and Disney said no they don't take you to anything SeaWorld. Makes sense of course. Disney sugested taxi.

Two years ago we stayed at Universal's Royal Pacific Hotel and they had a once -per-day free motorcoach to SeaWorld. I recall that was a very long bus ride - about an hour. Unfortunately we did not think to book the DC during that stay.


thanks
DisGal