Have you ever been on vacation and felt you needed a vacation from your vacation. The crowds, long wait times in lines, walking miles in the heat just to ride your favorite ride. It can be exhausting seeing and doing it all, especially if you have little ones. Image a place you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and spend a day in paradise swimming with dolphins, snorkeling with tropical fish and soaking up the sun on white sand beaches. Located in one of the busiest, most visited cities in America, Discovery Cove is a must during your Orlando visit.
If a day of adventure mixed with relaxation sounds appealing to you, Discovery Cove might be the perfect escape. Go snorkeling with the fish and rays, swim with the dolphins, or hand-feed the tropical birds. You can even sunbathe on the white sand beaches bordering tropical lagoons while indulging in unlimited food and drinks as part of your ticket. Discovery Cove really does offer an unforgettable experience for visitors.
Let me start by saying, we had THE BEST time at Discovery Cove. There are not many places we can travel to as a family of six and all say, it was the best day ever! If you bottle up the essence of the Caribbean and plop it in the middle of a big city, that is Discovery Cove. We purchased the Signature Dolphin Swim Package plus 3 Parks and added the premium drink package and photo package. This worked great for our week stay in Orlando.
What’s Included
You will need to book your reservations early. The park limits capacity each day and some add on experiences you wish to participate in may book up. Discovery Cove is an all inclusive resort. The following is including in your admission ticket.
- Free Parking
- Admission to the Park
- Breakfast, Lunch, Snacks
- Unlimited beverages, including beer and wine
- Sunscreen
- Snorkel gear (prescription goggles available)
- Life Vest
- Wet Suit
- Lockers
- Towels
- Beach Chairs
- Grand Reef, snorkel with tropical fish and sting rays
- Freshwater Oasis
- Explorers Aviary
- Serenity Bay
- Wind-Away River
What to Bring
- Photo Id
- Money for Gift Shops
- Swim Suit
- Sun Glasses, optional
- Camera, optional
Dolphin Swim
The Dolphin Swim was the highlight of our day. Participants must be at least 6 years old and you do not need to be a good swimmer, just comfortable standing in shallow water. Not only are you in the water with them, but you get to swim with them, feel their smooth skin, learn how to cue them to do tricks and even pucker up for a kiss. It’s an experience of a lifetime and one you’re sure to never forget. You must add this to your reservations, it is not included with park admission.
During your dolphin swim, a professional photographer will capture all your special moments. We purchased our photo package in advance to avoid having to pay in the park to save time.
Helpful Tips
You will want to arrive early, check-in and get your snorkel gear and wet suit first thing. Enjoy your all inclusive breakfast and then dive into some fun. Early morning you can catch a glimpse of the flamingos as they journey from The Grand Reef in front of Dolphin Lagoon. When you venture to The Grand Reef to snorkel, be sure to go to the back to see the sharks. Take a break and float down the Wind-Away River. I recommend grabbing a life vest as it has many drop offs and its a great time to just relax and look-up to see all the different birds along the way.
Additional Add-On Experiences
There are many experiences you can add onto your day at Discovery Cove. We did not participate in any of these since it was the kids first time visiting the park and we were unsure what they would enjoy. Our next visit we plan to add, trainer for a day, swim with sharks and/or seaventure.
