Tips for Discovery Cove/SeaWorld/Aquatica

[kerryc6]

Counting down to our family vacation to Orlando! We have been before, but have never made it this big of a trip - been years since I've been to SeaWorld and never been to DC or AQ.

Travelling with DH, DSs (13 and 11), and my Mom (retired age). Any hints, tips, or otherwise to assist me in making this the best for everyone would be great!

Thanks in advance!

 

[sdwrdt]

We are the type of people who believe that if you pay for a day, you use the entire day (except for getting up in the morning, we NEVER do Rope Drop).

So when we did Discovery Cover, we didn't get there until they stopped serving breakfast. But we did take advantage of the fact that we got 7 days admission to Sea World. So after we closed Discovery Cove (were there Black Friday), we headed to Sea World to close it and then were at Sea World the Saturday after Thanksgiving and were able to get the rest of the things done that we didn't do on Friday night.

Buy your parking for Sea World online ahead of time with your Discovery Cove admission. Saved money because I think you only pay for one day, but get multi-days or something like that. You have to get it done through Discovery Cove before you leave.

Remember that Discovery Cove is a relaxing day. The only schedules are your dolphin encounter and there are certain times for breakfast and lunch. Even the music is a different tempo. Schedule it for a day when you know you'll want to relax!

 

[Lynne G]

Discovery Cove is a very relaxing day. Nothing to plan, just go. Included with the food is beer and alcoholic slushies. If you want to feed the birds, do that early. Once they are full, like later in the day, they are not as friendly. Since you can basically snack all day, don't plan on a big dinner that night. If you feel like visiting a park, SW is across the street, if you want to go there after DC.

Aquadica is a fun waterpark. You may take all day, or leave in the afternoon. The food is better in the restaurant that is not a buffet. The meal plan there is not that good. If your boys like slides, there are several. My teen DS and DD11 both like the racing ones.

SW is a fun park too, it's all about rides and shows. To see all the shows at a lazy pace, take 2 days there. If the park is open late, you may want to buy the dining plan. There one restaurant even serves breakfast. Lines are good for snacks and drinks too. Water bottles are part of the plan, you can get them at any restaurant by going through the line. If you ride the Atlantiis ride, and sit near the front or sit in the splash zones of the orca show, you will get wet, most likely soaked. You may want to keep a change of clothes or wear clothes and shoes you don't mind being wet in.

If you are driving to SW and Aquadica, call DC and add a parking pass. The pass is around $25, and can be added to your DC package. If you want to visit the other parks before your DC day, just go to DC and pick up the pass before going to the other parks. Pass is good for 14 days from date of issue. Otherwise, parking at each of the parks is about $15/day.

Have a great time! We love Orlando in the August heat. If you are hot, find a shaded spot in Aquadica or rent a cabana. In DC, there are many shaded areas, and you can always sit in the restaurant area, there are umbrella tables and chairs there. In SW, find a store and other buildings that have AC. It will be hot.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

You've already received some great tips from the posters above, but I will also toss out a few others that haven't been mentioned yet.

- I don't know if you have picked your accommodations yet, but consider booking a room at one of the 7 official onsite SeaWorld hotels. You will receive several good perks for your SeaWorld vacation including early entry on select dates, and probably most notably, free Quick Queue passes for your SeaWorld days.

- If you are doing the dolphin swim at DC, budget for the photo package (not necessarily the one with the video, but they have a less expensive option that includes the CD of all photos taken throughout the day plus multiple prints and key chains). The photos are excellent quality and they capture some really cool moments. Be sure to get the photographers in the other areas of the park to take your pictures too (in the aviary, in the Freshwater Oasis, in the lazy river, etc.)....they will all be included on your CD.

- You can also get a CD of photos from SW and Aquatica. Its not something they advertise, but is available on request at the Adventure Photo location near the SW park entrance. Keep all of your photo wristbands (from Aquatica) and cards (from SW), and turn them all in at once. I believe they can include all pics taken with a 7 day period. Once you burn the CD, though, they can't add any more, so be sure to accumulate all the ones you want before having the CD made. Our price was $40 at Christmas for about 30 pictures (I think $40 is their base price, then if you have larger amounts, the price will be slightly higher). There were a few locations that couldn't be added for the base price (such as the pictures taken by the Sky Tower), but they offered for us to return to that kiosk with the CD and apparently they would have added them for an additional $10 cost. Along with the CD, we were able to purchase some really nice themed SW photo frames for $5 each......so for $50, we had some awesome souvenirs.

 

[kerryc6]

Awesome! Thank you guys... Maybe we will do one day at SW with Mom then another day to go back for rides. Thanks again!