My guy and I spent the day at Discovery Cove and it was honestly such a beautiful day. I'm a total beach and water girl, and he hasn't really done much like this before, so I was really excited to share the experience with him. From the moment we arrived to when we left, everything was really well done. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which set the tone right away. They have a buffet for breakfast and lunch with a good variety of options, so I feel like most people could find something they like. There are also smaller stands with snacks, pizza, and ICEE stations. Now let's talk about the drinks. There is just something about a frozen daiquiri when you're by the water. Highly recommend getting the drink package and trying a few... or all of them if you can handle it. I loved how many different areas there were to explore. Seeing dolphins swimming so close to the beach was actually kind of magical. They also have a monkey island which I was really excited about. It was closed when we got there, but I could still see them from a distance and I loved that. The aviary was really cool too. Tons of birds, but also tons of people. They recommend going first thing when the birds are most active, which we did, but so did everyone else. We got there about 45 minutes after opening and the birds already seemed a little over it. Honestly, I don't blame them. The Grand Reef was such a cool experience. I didn't really know what to expect, and even though it's man made, it still feels really immersive. Some of those rays are huge and have zero fear. They will swim right into you. My guy had never experienced anything like that and he loved it. I also liked that there were shallow areas and deeper sections if you wanted more of a snorkeling feel. The only downside for us was the Wind Away River. There are spots that get deep really fast, and that day they were apparently out of floaties because people were hoarding them and claiming areas. Staff even acknowledged it, which was frustrating because nothing was being done about it. It made parts of the river harder to enjoy than they should have been. Other than that, everything else was great and it made for such a fun day. Also the bar swings were a highlight. Loved those. read more

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Date of review : 03/19/2026 All I can say is Amazing !!! We signed up for for the sting ray feeding . Check in is at 7am , we arrived and were promptly attended to. We had our own private ambassadors show us around the park and were escorted to the sting ray feeding area . We got our wet suits and lockers . Bathroom is very clean and has plenty of towels . The sting ray feeding was so much fun . The ambassadors are very informative . Trainers will feed the larger manta rays since they are larger and take vitamins but we fed the smaller sting rays which was a lot of fun. Also we got to feed small fish which was a fun treat for us . Monkey island pool - warmest water in the park Tropical river - slightly chilly but overall fun Great reef- chillest but once submerged not bad . Colder due to sea-life . Great reef was amazing , it looks like nothing but once you put googles on it's another world. Highly recommend. All inclusive drinks package - worth the money it can get pricy . Food - buffet style , it was okay . Not great , not good but satisfied appetite . Lots of towels , food all inclusive and a great way to spend time in Orlando ! read more

Going to Discovery Cove has been a bucket list item for my theme park loving family for YEARS and we finally got a chance to got in March. Even though I had expectations set as high as anyone possibly could considering I've been dreaming about going to the park for so long, I'm definitely happy to report that Discovery Cove overdelivered in every possible aspect. The food was better than it had any right being, the park was spotless (including the bathrooms across the park throughout the whole day, no small task with so many large families visiting) and each experience (swim with dolphins/shark interaction/etc) was just incredible. We started our day off early, getting to Discovery Cove at about 7:15 (the waterways - lazy river/grand reef open to everyone around 9) and recommend starting your day early because times to all various activities are assigned as you check-in. The later you check-in, the later all your experiences will take place. The actual check-in process in the reception hall was incredibly efficient, and the entire process went by fast compared to the interminable waits you often encounter on a theme park vacation (like checking into hotels and entering parks.) Once in the park the large breakfast buffet was open so they entire family had a good meal. Expected a minimal Continental Breakfast, but while Discovery Cove had that, there was also a large variety of cooked foods including eggs, French Toast sticks, chicken & waffles and much more. Lunch options later in the day were even better. Our first experience that we booked was a shark interaction for two members of our party. We went to the back end of the park and the rest of us got to watch from nearby as the pair first snorkeled around a whole bunch of sharks and then had an interaction where they got to touch a zebra shark. Both members were really looking forward to this interaction and they LOVED it. We then enjoyed some of the "included for everyone" options at the park including the amazing Wind Away River (hands down the best lazy river I've ever been in) and The Grand Reef (which is filled with wonderful sea life including sting rays.) The entire family took part of the Swimming with Dolphins package and this was a fantastic experience. Not only did we get to learn a lot about dolphins and get an unbelievable amount of great photos, but we also got to literally "swim" with the dolphin as Kalani (the dolphin we were with) let us hold on to her. The amount of smiles every member of our family had during this entire experience was infinite. Later some of the younger members of our group enjoying the Flamingo Mingle, where you get to interact and feed the flamingos. In a very cute touch, the flamingos will even "hug" a youngster. It's so adorable. We also did the Animal Trek experience where you are introduced to four groups of land based animals. We met several birds (including a military macaw), an adorable armadillo, and the star of the show, a slot. Our kiddos loved all of this and the trainers at each stop of the Trek were fantastic. There are two ticket options at Discovery Cove, a day pass and a day pass with the Swim with Dolphins. I would consider the latter a must if your family is anything like ours and has members who love animals. It's a one-of-a-kind experience and for the people who love photos, the photographer in the water with you gets some brilliant shots. Discovery Cove isn't a 10/10 experience, it's an 11/10 and quite possibly the best park you can go to in Florida with the whole family. read more

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Let me just start with saying this place is amazing. Definitely worth the price. Parking is free. They have complementary sunscreen. They also provide wetsuits snorkeling gear breakfast along to buffet are you can eat while it's available and snacks, wine, and beer, which are available all day. All of the staff is very helpful. I'm very nice. I have a giant pool with a giant fish giant stingrays, giant manner rays and other small fish as well boy I could've stayed in snorkel all day and night. Also swim with the Dolphins very fun would recommend it. At least once the dolphin trainers were very knowledgeable and friendly. this place is a lot more laid-back when compared against aquatica. Lots of family fun what does a dog fun. I had a wonderful time and will definitely be back again. This is one of my favorite water parks although I wouldn't even call it a waterpark I would call it an aquatic experience. read more

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Came to discover cove to celebrate my best friends 40 th birthday. We had such an amazing time. Our pass included food and drinks along with access to the coral reef snorkeling area which was my favorite part. We arrived early at 730 to take advantage of the breakfast buffet. I was surprised to see how menu options were available. After we headed to our scheduled dolphin swim. The trainers were really knowledgeable and great with helping everyone take great photos with the dolphins. Afterwards we had lunch which again was amazing so many options were available such as wraps burgers pizza hotdogs fries Jamaican streak ceviche rice beans chicken fingers salmon and a few more I can't remember. It was hot the day we visited do I was glad they had frozen drinks available with our pass. After relaxing in the lazy river we went to do snorkeling at the reef. We saw so many fish and sting rays. We were able to touch the sting rays. This experience was amazing and made celebrating my friend a true core memory for us. I did stay the entire time. They also have shower areas and towels. They also provide sunscreen and lockets. I plan to come back in October with my family. read more

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June 28, 2026, during my family's 12:40 p.m. dolphin encounter (Group 6C - Starfish), the assistant to the trainer looked at my fair-skinned daughter and my darker-skinned Caribbean mother and joked that they were "original and extra crispy." I was shocked and deeply hurt when hearing this. Regardless of intent, this was an inappropriate, DISCRIMINATORY comment for a place that "is committed to creating a welcoming environment for all". No family should have to endure the humiliation and disrespect that my mother experienced. I do not want anyone else to spend their hard-earned money at a resort where they may be treated as less than because of the color of their skin or subjected to degrading comments by your staff. ITS NEVER OK . read more

We had a great day at discovery cove! I really enjoyed the grand reef and lazy river. I like all the birds and sea animals there. It's also nice because it includes food and snacks which were pretty good! Would definitely recommend. Very chill and relaxing!! read more

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Discovery Cove was so much fun! I've been trying to get here for years, and I finally made it. I found a great deal that was 30% off and drink package included, so I jumped on it right away! It was well worth it! It was early October, so still in the rainy season. It did rain early in the day, but then the weather cleared up and became perfect! We started with breakfast, which was fine. A little bland, but we brought some scotch bonnet hot sauce to set things off right. The other food options through the day were much better. Then again, I'm not a big breakfast person. But the food is included, so go wild and see what you like. I don't tend to buy many extras, but I made an exception for the SeaVenture experience. I bought two tickets, but the friend I brought with me doesn't swim. I was easily able to get a refund at the registration desk for the unused ticket. The best way to describe it is that it's like being inside an aquarium. Walking around took some getting used to. The guides communicated to us using cue cards, so you have to pay attention, or you'll miss some cool facts about the things you'll see down there. Snorkeling might have been my favorite activity. SeaVenture was great, but I like the freedom of swimming around among the fish in the lagoon. It's a nice large area with lots to see. Just don't dip your head down too far unless you like the taste of saltwater, lol. I didn't get to try the lazy river, but I suppose it's like any other. And although I didn't pay for the dolphin experience, you can get close enough to watch others enjoy it. All in all I had a wonderful time here. Not sure that I need to do it again, but I highly recommend it to anyone. read more

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Discovery cove has been around for 25 years and I finally made it here.! My girlfriend got us all half price tickets. She works at SeaWorld. Unfortunately we got a late start so we missed breakfast. But made it for lunch and it was delicious lots of to choose from. Chicken fingers hamburgers sliced steak and pork vegetables salads dessert coffee all kinds of Cokes and ices cookies pretzels chips You won't go hungry! You get your choice of wine and beer. The beer is Bud Bud light and yuengling and Michelob ultra. I really enjoyed the snorkeling and the bird area. The lazy river is more like walking It doesn't really push you along. The only thing I didn't like is the bottom it has fake rocks and you bust your toe from time to time so be careful. Overall great relaxing day for the price we paid can't be beat $65. I'm not sure I'd pay the $150 to come here there's not a whole lot to do I am more of a thrill seeker and enjoy the water slides. Great place to bring the kids to learn about animals and swim with the dolphins. read more

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TERRIBLE!!! Drove 2 1/2 hours from Longboat key to swim with dolphins, and the dolphins were refusing to meet guests so we couldn't swim. That is understandable and reasonable, what is not reasonable is that people with other timestamps were still allowed to swim with dolphins. And believe it or not, as we were walking to leave this dump, guess what other guests were doing? SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS!!! They refused to give us a refund for the day, the fountain drinks barely have any syrup in them, and the water everywhere else is below 75 degrees Fahrenheit. 10/10 would NOT recommend if you want a pleasant experience that is cheap. read more

I was going on a 2H 30M to ride a dolphin and we watched a video and did everything for the Dolphins and we were about to go ride the Dolphins until they said we cannot ride them because they didn't decide to participate and then once we walked out, we saw other people riding dolphins cause that was the next group and we got really frustrated read more

A Mixed Bag: Incredible Staff (Jeff & Dakota) Saved an Otherwise Disappointing Day Review: Our visit to Discovery Cove was a rollercoaster of emotions. We booked a cabana, the photo package, the Flamingo Mingle, and the Dolphin Swim. First, the disappointments: The Flamingo Mingle was not at all what is advertised on the website. We didn't get to pet, feed, or truly interact with them; we were just told to toss some pellets into the water. To make matters worse, our Dolphin Swim was canceled because the dolphins didn't want to interact. While I understand animal behavior can't be forced, my nine-year-old twin daughters were absolutely devastated and in tears. The supervisor who handled the cancellation was incredibly rude, showed zero empathy for two crying children, and was entirely unhelpful regarding our options. Because both the flamingos and dolphins fell through, our photo package was completely useless, and while we were promised a refund, we have yet to receive any email confirmation or funds. However, the day was completely saved by two outstanding members of the staff. Our cabana host, Jeff, was amazing. Seeing how heartbroken my daughters were, he went completely out of his way to talk to the team at the Grand Reef. He connected us with Dakota, who arranged a private feeding with the spotted eagle rays for us. Dakota was phenomenal! He did such a fantastic job that the spotted eagle rays became my absolute favorite animal. It was a deeply unique, special experience that salvaged our family vacation. Discovery Cove/SeaWorld management should seriously consider making a "Spotted Eagle Ray Feeding" a permanent, bookable option. Summary: 5 stars for Jeff and Dakota, but 1 star for management, the flamingo experience, and customer service. If you go, book a cabana and hope you get Jeff! read more

Discovery Cove has really thought of everything! From sunscreen to towels to bags for your wet clothes you literally only need to bring g yourselves and a bathing suit. I have two young kids and there were stuff for both of them to do. My daughter loved swimming with the dolphins and swimming in the lazy river. I wished we would have paid for the alcohol package. The included wine and beer is great, but couldn't drink those all day. I would have loved some liquor but the price per drink was so expensive. The package is definitely worth it. The food isn't the greatest. I didn't have high expectations. It was typical buffet standards. Not complaining because I figured it was to this quality. The pictures online look much nicer. My daughters loved the swings at the bar. Overall it was a great experience. read more

Great experience. The kids loved this place and we loved this place! It's so nice that it's all inclusive and you can just keep your wallet locked away for the day. Is the food phenomenal, no, but I wouldn't expect it to be when it's set up like this... the time with the dolphins is so memorable and I love that they offer pictures of this experience too. read more

The staff made a huge mistake that caused our stuff to get stolen and the staff tried hard to cover up. Thanks to Andy a female supervisor who tried very hard and was diligent on trying to find our stolen things and make it right A manger at the main entrance who i explained the whole situation to rudely said to me so what are you looking for. I was ready to just say fu?$ it at that point knock hos a$$ out but thanks to Andy the young lady de-escalate everything and took us awY from that idiot. Took my wife to the gift shop to try to replace the items but my wife just picked $20 sun screen to r lace $150 items Because of their negligence my medication was stolen and my sugar level was all over the place i even had to let my wife drive when we got a few blocks away. The way everything was handled by the other employee was extremely like shit. I have put a pic of me so the higher up can look and id me and the manager in the front in the green shirt that i was talking to and id him and taking action for his despicable way of treating guest a guest Take my advice it is a very beautiful park and they do have some good employees some The way our stuff got stollen was the employees issues us and another person the same day bed and we went to the pool and the low lives put their stuff at the daybed we were issued And stole our things The employees that made this mistake tried to cover it up and couldn't care less of our stuff . I put to piccs of the id we were given and how they changed the number of daybed on my wife id entree Take my word for it they dont care The amount of money we paid to get in is insane to be treated like shit!! They got our money and their mistake caused us to get our stuff stollen But that one manager in the main entrance at the desk had a fat mouth his attitude as a coward exceeds him. Very brave when he spoke to me! The position went to his head Not worth it !! Friend not worth it !!! LMAO !!! ? Do not take any personal item worth money or car keys and leave them on a chair or day bed covered. There are low lives that will rob your stuff put everything in the locker I just realized something i looked at the bad reviews not one apology whats so ever from a manager So that tells they dont care i will not ever recommend. A business like this to no-one wow how arrogant not one apology Very poor business practice no apologies to not one bad review That show how much they care read more

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This was our first experience at Discovery Cove. Check in was swift and pleasant. The food overall was plentiful, and there was a massive variety. That being said, the food was mediocre at best and the kitchen staff should be paid more to smile. The animal care team was great. Every animal ambassador out of the water was incredibly knowledgeable and pleasant - our favourite was Maggie at the Marmoset island. The massive annoyance that we had was the sheer arrogance of the water-based "personnel" at the snorkeling area of the grand reef. In addition to the arrogance, please educate your lifeguards about the wildlife!!!! I was "corrected" by a teenage "lifeguard" while talking to my kids about a shark in the grand reef - and it made my head explode how stupid he was. The "lifeguards" / water safety techs should have training about the wildlife in the park so they don't come across as idiots. Last point was that we didn't bring our own sunscreen as we thought it would hurt the wildlife. We get there and the only available sunscreen is 30SPF. I HIGHLY recommend the park to offer higher options like 50 for the fair folk - if they don't, then we will bring our own sunscreen so avoid the sunburn in the future. read more

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This place is incredible and kind of hard to know what to truly expect until you experience it. The lazy river takes over a half hour. There are to many coves to discover. The snorkeling was awesome. I got to pet massive stingrays that gently swam by. Just be aware it's cold, even in July. The food was actually decent with healthy options. Worth the high price. read more

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This was the 3rd or 4th time we have been to Discovery Cove. We have always had a fantastic time and would highly recommend it to anyone. It is an absolutely relaxing day especially since once you are there you don't have to open your wallet for anything. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, Icee's, sodas, beer and wine are all included with your day pass. For an additional charge of only $45pp if purchased in advance you can get the top shelf liqueur package which we opted for and it was well worth it. Discovery Cove has greatly upgraded their food offerings in the past couple years and we found breakfast and lunch much more enjoyable this visit than on previous visits. At lunch I enjoyed a Shrimp Cesar salad that contained huge fresh shrimp and a Jerk chicken breast that had great flavor but was unfortunately very dry. My boyfriend really enjoyed the pepper steak. They also now have a pizza stand that we did not indulge in but it looked good and it was very popular. Another thing we greatly appreciate about Discovery Cove is that it is by reservation only and they highly limit the amount of guests they allow in the park each day making it an uncrowded and relaxing experience for all. read more

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Overall experience was great, day that we chose was cold and windy but good. Everything is clean and well kept. Animals seem relaxed and not too stressed but it's still sad to see them in small spaces. However i can say that ask interactions i saw were pleasant. Maybe give them little mouse space if possible to roam around, lots of kids are chasing those little rays and it seems a bit chaotic. read more

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Discovery Cove is hands-down one of my all-time favorite places to visit! It's pure relaxation from the moment you arrive. We always book a cabana on the reef and spend the whole day soaking in the views --it's 100% all-inclusive. Your admission covers everything: food, drinks, towels, sunscreen--you name it, it's there. The cabanas even come with snacks, a safe for your belongings, lounge chairs, sometimes a fan, and occasionally a hammock. Honestly, it's the perfect spot to just unwind and enjoy the scenery. The lazy river is hands-down the best I've ever been on--it's amazing. And for a little extra adventure, you can swim with the dolphins , which is unforgettable. They take tons of photos so your memories are captured forever. We also loved seeing the otters and even got the chance to pet a sloth ! The food was tasty, the gift shop was cute, and the staff were super friendly. We've been many times and make it a point to go at least once a year. Discovery Cove is the perfect mix of fun and relaxation--a day there is always worth it! read more

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My family went here while on vacation. It is a fun place to go to. This was my second time ever going here. The employees are friendly and professional. The food and non-alcoholic beverages are unlimited. A few of the activities they have are a lazy river, an area where you can swim up to a small island with small monkeys on it and a reef. In the reef you can swim with some different fish including stingrays. There is also an area for a dolphin encounter which costs extra. Once again these are only a few things that they have. There is also small birds and other wildlife that roam about. It is on the pricey side and you have to buy tickets in advance because they only allow a certain amount of people in each day. You also need to go regardless of rain or not because they do not offer refunds unless it is a hurricane. With that being said, my family enjoys going here and we will go again. They draw crowds of visitors from around the world so it is a popular place. If you plan on going make sure you plan a head. read more

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This park is truly one of the most beautiful. Everywhere you look is breathtaking. It's definitely not as organized as you would think. Everyone was told to walk across the park and get lockers from that area. We walk all the way over to employees rudley announcing that they won't open the lockers until afternoon and to find another area. Everyone spent a good twenty minutes walking back and forth because the employees weren't communicating with one another. Breakfast was a good variety but it was basic. The drinks are all overly sweet. I recommend the drink package. If you don't have the drink package you can't order half the drinks. Watch your food closely or a bird will swoop down and take your whole plate! After breakfast we wandered over to the aviary line. The employees weren't communicating once again and not once did any of them smile. I don't know why the park lets everyone in so early if they don't open anything! People just stand around awkwardly for an hour wondering what's the hold up. Communication is key. Someone should say " we don't open the aviary until blank time.... Grab a snack... or check out the park, you can also wait here if you would like" Everything is a money grab! If you want to take your go pro into the sharks or underwater thing they won't let you. You have to spend an additional nearly 300.00 for them to take lousy photos!!!! For almost 1,000.00 on packages you shouldn't have to spend that much on photos!!! You also don't get to schedule your times. They booked our dolphin swim, shark tank, and helmet thing basically back to back to the point we didn't get lunch. We had to make do with the terrible pizza and devour bags of chips. The only employee that was awesome was the bartender. I believe his name was Raul. The dolphin swim was worth it as well as the underwater helmet. The shark swim was boring and I wouldn't recommend it. Everything is about 20 minutes except the sharks. I think that was maybe 10 minutes. They only had half the lazy river open. I also think that more umbrellas would be nice. It's Florida and rains non stop. Everyone was pushing kids out of the way to get under the umbrellas. It definitely needs more covering. I heard people mention the cabana's weren't worth the giant price tag because your so busy running to your excursion's you don't have the time to enjoy it. The flamingo experience was also not worth it. The best part was the reef snorkel and that's included in admission. I would go back, skip the excursions, rent a cabana , and spend the entire day in the reef. I would possibly do the underwater helmet again but your basically just going in a small circle. read more

Discovery Cove - Just walk up to them. The experience isn't worth it. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Still one of the best parks in Orlando. Who wouldn't want to spend a day in an incredibly long swimmable lazy river with 8ft drops (floats optional). Swimming took 18 minutes to get around. Absolutely amazing. Snorkeling with Rays and gorgeous tropical fish. Adorable animals and Dolphin swims. There is always a rush in theme parks. Here there is no rush. Get here before 8:30 and enjoy a leisurely breakfast till 9:30. We then like to get our wetsuits and snorkel gear and just store them in our locker for when we need them. We then like to do laps in the lazy river and have drinks in the lazy river lounge. One thing I have always advocated is the Premium drink package. I have got to say guys, this has gone down a lot this year. I actually watched the pour of alcohol (as a splash, think tablespoon) I ended up switching to beer because I was done with sugar water. Is the extra expense worth it? Do you like sugar water, then yes, if you want something stronger... you will not get it here. Guys with the 5/ 6 beer options and wine that's included.... Cuts costs where you can and stick to the freebies. Btw... the food was even better this year than last year!!! read more

Discovery Cove - Entrance to Discovery Cove stand in this spot, Lines 1/2 - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I've had my Platinum Pass at Sea world for almost five years, and I hadn't been to Discovery Cove. They were doing a deal for pass members to get in for half off, so I booked in February. It had gotten cold right before this date so I almost rescheduled. But I read online the water was supposed to be warmer than the air outside of it. So I went. I booked a dolphin swim also. From the moment I set foot in the park, I was swept away by the serene beauty of it. It looked totally natural. Like man was hardly in there. When you first enter, it's lush greenery. They definitely but a lot of work into their plant husbandry here. There are hidden speakers broadcasting animal voices of the animals that are actually there as you explore more of the park. You definitely have to see it to believe it. I changed into my swim suit once I got there since it was cold. Everything is included, so I had a locker to store my belongings. I was able to eat breakfast since you have to be there at 7:30-8:30. They had Gluten Free options available for me. I walked around the park and swam in the different areas they had. You could snorkel. There were waterfalls. Finally it was time for me to go swim with the dolphins. It was a lot of fun, even as a solo traveler. They do special poses for solo people also. When you swim with the dolphin, you hold it's dorsal fin and side fin and they swim with you to the other side. You get photos taken also. I ended up buying swim shoes since I cut my foot a week prior and didn't wanna risk anything further damaging it. I didn't know I could use my discounts in the park because the website is confusing and makes it seem like you don't get discounts. I later found out that I do when I was purchasing clothes for souvenirs. I snorkled with sting rays and manta rays also. They're so docile and cute. There were employees in the water talking to people about them also. They have alcohol for additional charges, so you can also buy that. But for whatever reason, there are thousands of bees by the bars and that's definitely something to be mindful of, especially for people allergic to bees. My only issue was that there weren't more photos taken of me with the dolphin to choose from. The photographer wasn't always paying attention so they missed my shots with me swimming with the dolphin. So I chose a photo from the poses. I know the photographers are third party, and it's not a Sea World employee. It still bothers me though. I was a former photographer with Wet n Wild and I always made sure to take as many photos as possible. All in all, it was a good day, and I definitely would return in the future. read more

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Absolutely fantastic! I felt like I was interacting with nature but also had all the amenities of a resort. Started the day with breakfast, then got lockers and wetsuits and put on complimentary sunscreen. The lazy river is incredible! It's about a mile long and you can either use a floatie or swim the whole thing. I did it probably 6 times! It goes through the bird habitat and is a hop away from some otters and marmosets. Lunch was pretty good, I'm gluten free and pescatarian and was able to find options. Then we did the dolphin encounter which was magical! The trainers and the dolphins all seemed happy and that made it so wonderful. The beer and wine included is pretty basic, and the wine was fine. We loved the soft serve around the park! Definitely recommend the otter feeding. We had a blast here and already want to come back! read more

Discovery Cove - Lazy river - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I was skeptical on going here because I am cautious on water park. This place was worth every penny spent. We had free parking included with our ticket. They advise it is complementary. You have food and drinks available the entire time you are there. The oasis was definitely relaxing and my favorite things to do. They have deep ends where you can be a mermaid ‍. I enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies . Fresh and soft cookies that were kept warm. I will be back of course. read more

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OMG! Wonderful time in tropical waters in the middle of Orlando. There are many low cost, high quality hotels in the area, But the Discovery Cove experience was amazing. I mean the swimming pool with tropical fish, the lazy river with all its serenity and the dining all day, any way, so good! I was in a great room but the noise was above average, immediately quiet after addressing the staff. We did have an under staff check in experience but I will stay again; the bartender was very accommodating! read more

As an Orlando locals Discovery Cove is the perfect lazy day splurge! On this visit I skipped the dolphin encounter and did the Animal Trek instead. This is a small group, behind the scenes experience where we got to meet 5 different animal ambassadors and talk to their keepers. The animals vary but on our trek we got to meet 3 kinds of birds, an anteater, and a sloth. It was well organized and took about an hour start to finish. The rest of the day was spent floating in the lazy river, reading on the "beach", and relaxing. Food was plentiful and fresh - for breakfast I had crispy seasoned potatoes, eggs, and a bagel. There was also fresh fruit, yogurt, cereal, and bacon and sausage. Lunch had plenty of options - I had a nice salad with oranges and goat cheese, a mixed veggie wrap, and chocolate cake. Other options included burgers, fries, chicken tacos, steak tips in sauce, rice, etc....lots of nice variety! There were also snacks available at all the bars throughout the day - warm cookies and pretzels, chips, and fruit. In the afternoon we got a few slices of pizza, which were quite greasy and probably the worst thing we had all day. I was actually quite impressed with the food overall! The included beer and wine was very basic (Bud, cheap and awful tasting Chardonnay...even Yuengling was considered premium!), but you could upgrade your drinks for an additional $45, or purchase premium drinks a la carte at standard menu prices. I appreciate that the bartenders were actually making drinks to order instead of using a cheap pre-made mix like at many of the theme parks. Discovery Cove includes everything you need for your day such as sunscreen, towels, locker rental, and showers. The showers were quite busy at the end of the day, but generally clean. There are wet bags for you to bring your wet swimsuit home in. A couple tips: definitely wear water shoes for the lazy river and reef or risk cutting up your toes on the rough bottom! And if you're interested in birds, go to the aviary first thing! After the first visitors come through the birds get full and don't want to sit on you to eat anymore. We checked in at 7:30, had breakfast, and went right to the aviary at 9:00 and had birds all over us! read more

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So we have been planning this trip for over a year for my daughter's ninth birthday. We decided to go BIG and do everything...so this is a review of our day! We booked the Ultimate VIP experience (prices change day to day) it cost us $1,800 plus dolphin swim ($850 for family of four). This was great but NOT necessary to enjoy Discovery Cove and we would never do it again! Nice perk upon arrival was Ethan (our guide) met us at the door and parked our car and we walked in-pass the long line and checked right in. This was nice as long as very long and SLOW moving! Next he showed us around the park. The place is amazing and so beautiful!!! We arrived at our cabana-something that was nice but would probably never book again. We didnt stop moving all day and the cabanas are tucked away from stuff. So it was a hike almost every time we went back. The sodas and beverages offered in the cabana are the same ones offered for free at the bars and restaurants. There was loungers and chairs but we literally sat in the cabana for a total of 20 minutes throughout the day. Unless u have little ones or older people that need to rest, it was a waste in my opinion. It was lovely and I wish we had utilized it more-it was right next to dolphin lagoon-but we just were never there. Flamingo mingle: this was definitely my biggest disappointment. Online it shows pictures of feeding the flamingos and walking around them...it is so inaccurate!! Lol they bring u into a very small enclosure and make you stand in a straight line and tell u not to move or pet the flamingos (I understand they do not want to scare them). And they had three flamingos in the small enclosure with us-two never came near us. One came up and chewed on my daughters shirt and then went up to chew on my other daughters birthday sash. We could not move at all. And no other flamingo came near us. After ten minutes we were done. It was SO disappointing and not at all like the photos they promoted online-I would never do it again. Dolphin swim: They should really call it a "swim" lol because when we left my girls kept asking when we were going to "swim with the dolphins". I think we spent longer with the trainer before hand talking to us about dolphins then with the actual animals. It was a very special experience that we will never forget and the animals we so beautiful but I do not think I would ever pay almost $900 to do it again. You go in waist deep and stand in a straight line and the dolphin (we had Kaylie and Ipa) swims passed you several times and you get to pet her. Then they have u hold on to the fin and the dolphin pulls you ten feet or so. And then you get to pose for a couple pictures. They the trainer shows you some of the their tricks. They really are amazing animals but I guess after a year of waiting...it wasnt as exciting as I hoped. But I am still glad we did it once!! The reef: this was our favorite part of the whole day!!! We spent hours here! It was crowded when we first went in, but if you went to the back area, it was much quieter. This was so a cool and wonderful experience. My kids and husband loved it so much. The fish and sting rays were so cool. I could have stayed here all day! Lazy river: Another favorite of mine! Very long and quiet. The water falls were a favorite of my Girls. Every once in a while there was no current and you would need to swim a little to move forward. And I loved that it was deep at times!! Another place I could have spent all day! Aviary: so many amazing birds!!! But they were not that hungry the times we went!! Lol We went first thing in the morning (before the crowds-part of the VIP package) and very few came to us for food. And when we went later, it was the same. So my girls lost interest due to this. But there was some amazing birds there!! Monkeys: just saying they should not advertise for this!! Lol we swam around the monkey island several times and never saw anything. A trainer told us there were only 2-3 monkeys on the island and they are small and not very active some times. Food: It was fine! We were never hungry and they have two separate bars with drinks and snacks. One of the slushy machines was broken at one stand when we went. But my kids loved the pizza that was available all day. My hubby and I enjoyed a few of their alcoholic beverages as well. Photos: this was included in our vip package and I am glad! They got some amazing pictures of our dolphin experience. The pics from the animal experience are all really dark and didnt come out good in my experience. Be prepared to pony up the money!!! But honestly, you do not need all the extras to have fun!! I would go back just for the reef and lazy river again. I am happy we did the other stuff because it was amazing but I would not spend the money for the "add ons" again. Our guide Ethan was super friendly and was fun to hang out with for the day!! Overall I found all the staff to be very friendly and knowledgeable throughout the day!! read more

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Tropical oasis right in Orlando Florida. We enjoyed our last minute visit to Discovery Cove. Our flight had been delayed almost 10 hours so we were looking for something fun to do with the kids. This place has always been on my mind but didn't think we would have the money or time to do it. We ended up booking with a military discount. Included in our package was all you can eat snacks, meals and drinks! Included beer and seltzers. The kids loved the endless icees and hot ready to go pretzels. We were not able to book the package that included swimming with the dolphins (so I guess we need another trip back). But we were able to enjoy our day not worrying about what we were gonna get for lunch or dinner... and the kids had a wonderful time playing on their sandy beaches, floating in the lazy river, playing with birds and struggling with fish! It was an unforgettable experience and well worth the price! Our experience was from 2020 during covid (hence the mask pictures) but seriously unforgettable. read more

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Visiting Discovery Cove was truly one of the most unforgettable and relaxing experiences I've ever had in Orlando! Just minutes from SeaWorld, this tropical oasis feels like you've been transported to a private island resort. What really sets Discovery Cove apart is its all-inclusive experience. From the moment we arrived, everything was taken care of -- parking, breakfast and lunch, unlimited snacks/ water/ soft drinks, and even beer and wine for guests 21+ or add a beverage package for cocktails. It's rare to find a place where you don't have to pull out your wallet all day! The amenities are so thoughtfully provided -- lockers, animal-safe sunscreen, towels, wetsuits, snorkel gear, and full shower facilities stocked with soap, shampoo, and conditioner. You genuinely don't have to worry about a thing, but I do recommend bringing a waterproof case for your camera to capture the lazy river/snorkeling experience and water shoes. The real magic, though, is in the experiences. Swimming alongside stingrays in The Grand Reef, floating down the lazy river, and getting up close with dolphins and other incredible animals -- it was all absolutely breathtaking. The scenery is lush and serene, and the park does a fantastic job of maintaining a peaceful, uncrowded atmosphere thanks to the reservation-only/ daily admittance cap. The staff were friendly, helpful, and committed to making our day special. Animal care and guest experience are top priorities here. Whether you're looking to relax, explore, or connect with nature, Discovery Cove is the perfect blend of adventure and luxury. My only critique is the photography when scheduling, we chose to add the dolphin encounter and were told at scheduling we HAD to order a photo package in that moment and prepay. This was not true, you don't need to prepay at all, everyone gets a photo and chance to review your pictures like any other theme park. We had a hard time finding pictures we wanted, but had already financially committed and worse, the photos they print are too large for the photo book! That's embarrassing- for them. Other than the scheduling/ prepay scam-- I can't recommend this park enough! read more

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We went during the week and it was great! We also got a cabana and 10/10 would recommend, if you can splurge for that. Shout out to Colin for helping us out! My husband did the SeaVenture and my son and I met one of the dolphins. It was an overall great experience for both of them! We didn't have enough time to explore the park but we loved it. The food was good. Most of the staff is super sweet and helpful. Overall, all four of us enjoyed our time here. There were plenty of things for us to do and our kids (9 month old and 7 year old) read more

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Extremely crowded, very rude employees, long waits, mediocre food. Did not feel like a luxury experience in any way. Out of forks and spoons, out of noodles for the lazy river, questionable cleanliness. Some parts were beautiful but so crowded that the experience did not feel special. For the money, I expected this park to feel a lot more polished. read more

super fun day! I do have a problem though, the animal safe sunscreen that is provided at Discovery cove is not good for people with sensitive skin. As someone with sensitive skin myself, I immediately felt a burn after applying it on my face, I foolishly ignored this assuming i just had a sunburn since the UV was 10 that day. When i got home i came to realize this sunscreen had caused a horrible eczema flare up on my face. I've had eczema many times before so I know that the products I used wouldn't have caused this as it has never been an issue before, the only new thing was the sunscreen which is why im almost certain it was the cause. If you come here with sensitive skin I would recommend avoiding the sunscreen and just bring your own that is animal safe, My face burns horribly and im hoping this doesn't stay for long. read more

Despite the advertising of " peaceful, all-inclusive resort experience without crowds or long wait times, this place was hugely OVERCROWDED. Even the expensive private swim with the dolphins was insane with four groups of people 8-10 each in the same pool area. The lazy river had no current so there was no peace found there either. VERY DISAPPOINTED would NOT Recommend. read more

The grand reef was the best experience! Swimming with the sting rays, snorkeling with tropical fish and seeing a shark was amazing! There's also a fun lazy river that you can float down using pool noodles. Highly recommend west g hats snd brining your own waterproof phone case. It's $50 at their shops and much cheaper online. Free animal friendly sunscreen stations so you can lather up at multiple locations. It's only 35 spf, but best to use if you're getting into water with the dolphins or the reef. Dolphin experience was fun it too short. It was my first time and I held into her fin. They are REALLY strong and I was scared for about 10 seconds being pulled by a dolphin. There's a very short photo op and everything was over within 15 minutes. The food isn't really good, but it's also buffet style so there's a ton of salt and no other flavor. It's AYCE with free non alcoholic beverages. If you want alcohol, you can buy an extra pass for unlimited cocktails, or pay as you go. read more

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I have lived in Florida my whole life (and in Orlando for 10 years!) and I finally made my way over to Discovery Cove recently. It's an all-inclusive resort like atmosphere near Sea World. With the all-inclusive price, you get access to the lazy river, some pool like areas, and any food and non-alcoholic beverages. We added on the drink package and dolphin experience (which was a blast!). There is also a bird exhibit walkthrough that's included and you can feed the birds and they come right up to you, which is so fun. Overall it was a beautifully relaxing day and I can't believe I waited so long to go! read more

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We had a great experience at Discovery Cove! Food, drinks, and beer/wine are included. Food is not great but it's okay. They also have snacks throughout the park, including ice cream, ices, and chips. Swimming with the dolphins was a great experience! Staff is very knowledgeable and it will definitely be a core memory. There is also plenty of space to lounge by the dolphin lagoon and just watch them swim and play. The grand reef is an amazing experience but expect very cold water especially for a Floridian! Rays are everywhere and very cool. Towels do run out during the day, so that was a bummer when wet and cold. Wade in the warm waters and swim up to see the otters and monkeys. Check out the flamingo parade where the flamingos march through the park. Overall I would highly recommend this place, however not for very young children. If your child is old enough to enjoy snorkeling, then definitely. read more

Discovery Cove was a fun and enjoyable time. They offer eating options and all the food was excellent! The animal encounters were amazing. We are a larger family and everyone was able to have fun. read more

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Great place. Staff are helpful. They try hard to keep it clean. We did the Dolphin Experience. It was better than expected. Getting there early is hard but you need all day to do this park. The food is not very good but it is part of the package so find things you like.... You don't need much here. Almost everything is provided. The masks and snorkels were good enough for what you do here. They are free. You can bring your own though... Check in took a while. We got there at 7:30am and there was a decent line already. The Lazy River was ok. It did not flow very well. The Bird thing is a little small but not bad. We did not have time to do much else. Plan your day well. It is not easy to do it all....the water is cold in places but not too bad. They have shorted and full suits if you want on... The Snorkel Reef is good. It could also be better but if you are a beginner, it's good start. There are some nice surprises swimming around... We got a good deal by being Sea World members. It added value to the membership.... read more