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Discovery Cove
Rating Details »
Categories: Amusement Parks, Aquariums, Swimming Pools, Zoos, Beaches [Edit]
6000 Discovery Cove WayOrlando, FL 32821
(407) 370-1428
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Discovery Cove
This is how every amusement park should be! A memorable, amazing experience.
You pay for everything up front and spend the rest of the day strolling around enjoying the park. They limit the number of entrants so there are no lines. Breakfast and lunch are included as well as beverages and snacks - the food is better than most places where food is included.
You get to snorkel with many different under water species, feed birds in an aviary, float down a lazy river on a noodle, lounge on your own chair at any point in the day, pet sting rays and swim with dolphins if you pay for it.
Included in the ticket is a free day at Sea World or Aquatica - both pale in comparison to Discovery Cove. I would chose Discovery Cove over them in a heartbeat.
If you ever dreamed of making Shamu your bitch, this is kind of close. "DO TRICKS OR I'LL MAKE YOU TUNA!" I screamed. A+
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This place is nice, but very expensive. Okay, the meals are included and are just okay. Not to blame it on Discovery Cove for this, but a company booked the trip for us and didn't sign us up for swimming with the dolphins!!!!!!! We paid top dollar and upon arrival found out that we weren't signed up for a dolphin swim. When we went to reception to try and fix the problem and schedule a swim with the dolphins, we were out of luck unless we wanted to wait 6 hours. I'll never go back. In this economy, they should have made sure that we left happy as we were paying so much and getting so little.
We took a long weekend after a conference and went to Discovery Cover on the recommendation of some friends who'd been there. We did have a good time and were grateful that it was off season and only at about 2/3 capacity. Had they been at full capacity (about 1200 people) it would have sucked - a lot. Imagine all those folks crowded in the water with you and the fishies! Blah!
That said, it was relaxing to swim with the fishes and really great to have everything included. Yes including beer and sunscreen. ;-) We planned on spending the whole day there but were totally knackered by 2pm (beer, food, swimming, repeat). No dolphin experience for us - it looked kind of pathetic actually.
The food is not all that great (breakfast was a carb fest) but I recall the lobster salad was pretty tasty and if you found something you really liked, you could go back for more.
I'm not itching to go back any time soon but it was a nice Sunday afternoon in late September.
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If you've ever dreamed of swimming with rays, dolphins, and other creatures, this is a great place to do that! I've been twice and would go again in a heartbeat. It's one of those awesome parks where everything is my favorite. I love everything.
It's also a fantastic opportunity for those of us who are sensitive to chlorinated pools to swim in alternative water. If you already know how to snorkel, even better, and swimming too. They do provide life vests too. I adore the sting rays pool. They are so friendly and come right up to you! I never thought I'd be loving on sting rays -- they are soft and very cute! I also love the huge ones in the larger swimming area. How many people get to say that they swam with a baby hammerhead shark?! (Don't worry: the potentially dangerous sharks are behind a glass wall.) The endless river is beautiful and fun. Don't forget to check out the aviary -- missed that first time we were there and it is precious. If you love birds and love them eating out of your hand, hang out there for a while. Don't forget the camera!
The dolphin swim is very short -- you don't get to actually swim with a dolphin for a half hour, which is how they make it sound. You swim with the dolphin for a few seconds. The whole thing is a half hour, half of which is watching a video, and the rest is mostly standing in the water while you see the trainer have the dolphins do cool tricks. Still, we found it worthwhile to do once. The picture of me kissing my dolphin is one of my most cherished possessions and best memories. It didn't take any time to fall in love both with my dolphin friend, Yoko, and also her trainer-person (don't remember his name but what a doll!) Yoko with rosy cheeks and huge smile. Tried to visit with her on our most recent trip, but she was on break -- oh well!
If you're a sucker for doing things alongside and with animals instead of just looking at them through walls and cages, make sure to include a day here when you're in the area. Take advantage of the limited number of people they allow each day by making your reservation early so you won't be disappointed.
I really appreciated the souvenir photo they took the first time we went, although didn't buy it the second time. The quality of the pictures is quite high. I highly recommend bringing a waterproof camera. We got some fantastic snorkeling shots of the wildlife, and the stingrays surrounding our feet in the little pool!
The last time we were there, we noticed losers putting out their cigarettes in the flower beds. (If that's you, you're scum!) I made a complaint to the management, who took it seriously, apologized, and resolved to be get the staff on board to be more vigilant to that kind of behavior for the sake of all the guests, not to mention the animals.
If you don't care too much for sea life, swimming, or birds, this park will probably seem like a waste of money, but if you like those things, the price tag is worth it. There just isn't anything like it.
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Discovery Cove is like the tropics inland. Be prepared to pay for the opportunity, but they do try to make it as all inclusive as they can. The snorkel cove with rays and tons of beautiful fish is very novel. I can't imagine it being full, anything over 200 or 300 people would feel crowded but if you have the money it's worth the trip.
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Wow. This place is just... wow.
If you are ever in Orlando for a day, and you have the money, DO THIS. You will not regret it. From the moment you step in until the moment you leave, you are treated as a VIP. They only let 1000 people in a day (May is a good time to go because the water is warm enough, and the park is definitely not filled to capacity), there are NO lines (except for your dolphin swim, everything is at your leisure), and nearly everything is included... food, snacks, wetsuit, snorkeling gear, lockers, towels, parking, even sunblock. The only things that cost extra are mixed drinks, souvenirs, and of course, photos. You get a photo badge to wear throughout the park that doubles as your credit card, so you can lock up your wallet and not worry. Plus, you get a nifty souvenir for later on :) They even let you keep your snorkel.
Tropical River (5 stars): This man-made river starts off at a real sand beach and a man-made cave complete with waterfalls and takes you all throughout the park (including through the aviary). You can snorkel if you want, but if you prefer to relax and float, they have "noodles" for you to rest on, as well. The river goes from shallow to pretty deep, but there are life jackets for those who aren't so strong of swimmers. I'd never snorkeled before, but I found it to be quite easy once you get used to it. There are sorts of things for you to see... sunken pottery, cannon, and fossils (all man-made, of course).
Sting rays (5 stars): This is SOOO cool. These animals are quite incredible. I was expecting to be freaked out, but it was a lot of fun. Make sure you come during feeding time for the best interaction. These guys will rub up against you and practically beg for food! They're smooth and kind of rubbery, and won't hurt you at all.
Coral Reef (5 stars): This, to me, was the most amazing part of the park. A deep man-made reef with a sunken ship in the middle, it is chocked full of fish and the biggest rays I've ever seen. The best part is that the rays WILL swim under you, and even come up by you!!! These rays are nearly as big as I am, and got so close that I was able to touch the large ones several times (which is a memory that I will cherish forever). Within the sunken ship, behind glass, there are several VERY large barracuda... however, I did not see any shark, behind the glass or free swimming with us, which is a shame; I love shark! The water is a bit colder here than in the rest of the park, but well worth it... we spent most of our time here.
Aviary (5 stars): Very cool. I'm normally a bit skittish when it comes to birds, but after a few moments I felt right at home. You can access the aviary directly from the river, which gives it more of that tropical destination feel. They give you cups of diced fruit and veggies to feed the birds, and some of them will land on your arm, shoulder, and even head! In one section of the aviary, one man was just sitting there minding his business and a bird decided his hair looked tasty, so it flew down and landed on his head and wouldn't budge. :) Another section had smaller birds that were more trained to land on your arm, and that part was tons of fun.
Dolphin swim (4 stars): This is one of those things you have to do once, but after that I don't think it's really worth it. It adds $100 to your price tag and it's really short. They give you a 10 minute presentation and then take you out into really cold water. You get a picture with the dolphin as a group (just your family, that is), and then you get to touch the dolphin as he or she swims by a few times. You get to kiss the dolphin (I'll admit, it makes one hell of a photo!), and then they take you out into deeper water, and you get to ride about 20 feet by holding on to the dolphin's fins, and the ride lasts about 5 seconds. But that's it. Total interaction is about 20-30 minutes and it's mostly just standing in the water. The photos are incredible, but incredibly expensive. To get your pictures on a CD (which equals about 10-15 photos for 2 people) is $120, but that's not per person - it's per family. For a once-in-a-lifetime thing, it's worth it to me to have the photos, but it is kind of a rip off. The good thing is that if you get the photo CD, any other pictures of you taken in the park are added on, so not only did we get photos of us with the dolphins, but we got professional photos of us feeding the birds and sting rays, too. You do kind of have to seek out the photographers, though.
Bottom line: I would come back in a heartbeat, even though I live 16 hours away (although I probably would save myself the $100 and skip the dolphin interaction now that I've already done it). Amazing animal interactions, unforgettable memories, VIP treatment... the ultimate in relaxation and adventure.
But leave the wee ones at home... it's not very fun for the rest of us to watch your sugared-up kids chasing and scaring the animals away.
The most fabulous park I have ever been to, hands down. This is not your average aquarium/attraction. The park restricts the amount of visitors per day, so you must make reservations. However, this means its never crowded. Admission is expensive but it includes a lot: a week pass to Sea World, towels, snorkel gear, wet suit, sunblock, and lunch. (And the lunch was quite good and far above average for usual park food.)
They offer a swim with the dolphins expierience which is why I went, but you don't have to do that if you don't want to. However, it was a chance of a lifetime. The staff was professional, and the experience was fantastic. They also have a coral reef complete with sharks (safely kept in another tank) and a feed the rays pool which you stand in. They also have an aviary which you can feed the birds. In addition there's a lazy river in which you can float right under/through the aviary.
This all added up to an incredible unforgettable experience that I would recommend to anyone, anywhere.
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I'm not into the theme park thing. In fact, I'd avoid them altogether. But Discovery Cove is a noteworthy destination overall if you HAD to use time in a theme park kind of way in Orlando.
The biggest plus to me is the restriction to 1,000 guests per day. While that doesn't exactly create an intimate atmosphere, it does significantly decrease likelihood of tourist mayhem and overload.
The 'theme' is aquatic... and somewhat active, which is unusual in an otherwise passive (you can watch, but not touch) world of theme park experiences. You can swim all day, be one with the fishes (in the live and good sense!), marvel at a wonderful aviary (I think the unsung hero feature of the park).
Hefty admission fee does get you *everything* you need to enjoy the pools all day, unlimited supply of snacks (crappy/sugary grocery packaged selections, and maybe some token fruit), and a full lunch (merely edible).
Like sister park Sea world, DC is owned by Anheuser-Busch, so don't expect craft brew on draft here.
You do get free admission to Sea World with your DC ticket, so I have to admit it's a pretty good deal, esp. if you book the non-dolphin swim package.
The dolphin swim option costs an extra $100pp and it's something I would never even think to purchase (I'd rather wait and take my .001% chance of an encounter in the wild, thank you). For that, you really only get about 15 minutes in the water close to the dolphin, and you get only six actual interactions with a dolphin. Some may measure that as worthwhile, all right. But I'm more peeved by the thought of spending more time in marketing-injected briefings before and after the swim. All told, my mom, sister and niece all truly enjoyed their experience with it.
Tip: if you must bring your own sunblock, look up their website and be sure to choose one they approve for use in their pools, carefully selected for the health of the marine life)
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This is a fun place if a) you don't mind the expense and b) you don't get an unseasonably cold day. Unfortunately I don't think $250 per person plus the cost of any souvenir photos, which they push on you immediately after your dolphin swim even if you have to use the restroom really really bad, is worth it. You don't get that much interaction with the dolphin, and you don't get to choose your swim time. So if you arrive early, you will have an early swim, and if you arrive later, well obviously your swim will be scheduled for later. I wish I had known that when we were assigned the first dolphin swim when it was 65 degrees out. The wetsuits only help so much!
That being said, it is nice that they limit visitors to 1000 per day and the lazy river is nice. I especially enjoyed the bird aviary, probably because by that time I had changed into dry clothes! You get to feed the birds and they are super cute. I'd categorize this place as somewhere you have to visit just once, but I wouldn't go back. SeaWorld, on the other hand, well I'd be there every day if I lived nearby.
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My day at Discovery Cove was most enjoyable. We had our dolphin experience first thing in the morning. I wasn't as impressed with this as I was the intimate Beluga whale experience I had at Sea World a couple years ago but any time up close with these magnificent animals is worth it to me. I enjoyed learning about them.
The real key to enjoyment of this park is can you snorkel? If you can't or find it awkward, you will not enjoy this at all. The different beaches and swimming areas (fresh lagoon, fresh tropical river, and the coral reef full of fish and rays) is all for snorkeling. Very small children might splash in the water and play in the sand but at these prices? The swimming areas all get very deep, some 20 ft deep so you must be able to swim or wear a lifevest. I have never experienced snorkeling and was quite impressed with the thousands of fish I swam with. Remember Dory from Finding Nemo? Yes, she was there. Swimming with the stingrays was quite cool as well.
The other thing I enjoyed was no hassle. Once you have entered, all food and drink and yes that includes cold beer is simply there to ask for. We enjoyed breakfast, then a grilled lunch and lots of snacks and drinks. We also got our choice of a 7 day pass to Busch Gardens or Seaworld. We too the BG which turned out to be a $125 value for the two of us. So think about that when planning your vacation and watching dollars.
The facilities were nice. They provide showers, hair dryers, shampoo, soaps, even mouthwash.
Since I have "been there", not sure I would go again but I would recommend it.
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10 star review!
Yeah, I wrote it- 10 stars. Beat that, Gatorland!
I had been looking forward to Discovery Cove since I booked my spot months ago. Yes, admission is on the pricey side ($179 w/o the dolphin experience, $279 with) but it is WORTH IT. It also includes a 7 day pass to either Sea World or Busch Gardens in Tampa. It's you, 999 other people, and thousands of fish, rays, birds, dolphins and other marine wildlife. For some reason, the day I went it seemed that everyone at the park was from the UK. I didn't hear a non-British accent except from the staff. Skip the river (no fish in it) and head straight for the ray pool or the coral reef. I didn't do the dolphin experience (swim with the dolphin) because it was booked that day and I heard you only get 15 minutes with the dolphin after they go through all the rules and regulations. You can't swim in the ray pool because it's only about 3-4 feet deep, but it's an interesting experience to be surrounded by rays.
The coral reef is where I spent a good 5 hours swimming around. Initially, I was freaked out because there were so many fish and the rays were HUGE-- about 3-4 feet in diameter. But with all of the fish and rays and people in the reef, I must have touched 4 fish accidentally and the ones I tried to touch swam away. Running into people, on the other hand, seemed to be a common occurence. People get so enthralled at what they are seeing that they won't see you and will swim right into you!
There is also a small cabana where you can send email to your friends and check out some land animals. There were some owls, macaws, and a tree sloth! Oh, that tree sloth was so cute!
If I can swim around in one small area for 5 hours, not get bored, and want to come back asap, this place MUST be good!
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