Discovery Cove
By: Richele Bohm
Do you love to snorkel? Have you always dreamed of swimming with dolphins? Want to escape to the Caribbean but your bank account says no way?
What if I were to tell you that you could snorkel with tropical fish, swim with the dolphins and soak up the sun without large crowds or spending a ton of money right here in the USA? Well, you can! Let me introduce you to one of the best-kept secrets in Orlando, Discovery Cove.
Discovery Cove is not your typical water park. In fact, you will not find a single water slide or wave pool here. This unique park features snorkeling with thousands of tropical fish in a coral reef and further out gives you the opportunity to safely swim next to sharks without being in the water right next to them. The freshwater Oasis features wading adventures and face-to-face encounters with playful otters and curious marmosets. You can also experience an up-close encounter with birds in the aviary. Perhaps you would prefer a relaxing swim in the heated serenity bay or float through a rain forest with waterfalls in their wind-away river. One thing everyone agrees on is the opportunity to swim with dolphins.
The dolphin swim is a timed encounter that must be scheduled in advance. During this interactive opportunity, you will learn more about these playful and curious creatures from a trainer. Then you will get one on one time to interact with the dolphins and finally end it with a unique swim opportunity. Please note that you must be at least 6 years old to swim with the dolphins.
The dolphins and other unique sea life attractions are not the only thing that sets Discovery Cove apart from the other water parks, they are also an all inclusive park. That means that in addition to all the cool water attractions, you pay one price for park admission and everything you need to enjoy the park is included in your stay. This includes parking, your locker, towels, sunscreen, masks and snorkel gear, wet suits and vests, showers and changing facilities, unlimited food and beverages throughout the day. Your food and beverages include a buffet breakfast, full lunch, an assortment of snacks and beverages that include soda, coffee, tea, bottled water, beer and wine.
You also have the use of lounge chairs and hammocks throughout the park. The best perk about this park is they limit capacity to 1300 people per day to ensure it is not crowded and offers a fun and relaxing environment. There is something for everyone at Discovery Cove!
Are you ready to visit? Keep in mind you must purchase these tickets ahead of time and they are date specific. You have 2 options for park admission, one general admission and the other is general admission including a dolphin swim.
Since Discovery cove includes what you need you only need to bring yourself, a swimsuit and change of clothes, ID for adults, credit card for in park purchases (souvenirs) and your signed waiver. Please keep in mind to leave the jewelry at home as it is harmful to the fish. They also do not allow outside food or beverages since that is already provided for you. If you have food allergies just let them know and they are more than happy to accommodate the menu for you. They also ask that you keep the flotation devices at home. They provide special vests that are not harmful to the fish.
And if all of this is not enough, they have add on features to enhance your stay for an additional charge. This includes unique experiences like feeding sting rays, seaventure or shark swim. They also have cabanas and daybeds for rent, a premium drink package upgrade, photo packages and more.
To spend a day at Discovery Cove, prices start at $149 for kids and $199 for adults and vary slightly based on add on features and time of year. Summertime will have slightly higher rates.
For more information or to reserve your tickets to Discovery Cove, be sure to contact your As You Wish Vacations agent.
