What I can absolutely say about our visit is that the trainers were extremely knowledgeable, very professional, and great with the kids, too. The dolphin swim, aviary, and the reef were absolutely our favorites and were well worth the 7 hour trip! So there's definitely pros and cons: Trainer for a Day: So, we followed instructions provided to us for an arrival at 7:00am, and checked in when the doors opened and we were given our passes right away, but had to wait until 7:20am to meet our assigned cabana host, Carlos, who stayed with us until our trainer arrived at 7:40am. Once our trainer arrived we thought that we were ready to head out, but she informed that we had more people that we were waiting for before we could start. The 4 others were from 2 separate groups and were very late arriving, so it was close to 8:30am before our trainer started our program, which put a big damper on getting our day started on time. With that being said, our trainer, Hailey, was wonderful, kind, accommodating, and extremely knowledgeable throughout the day, which was a major plus... she happily answered all of our questions and all of our kids' questions. Cabana/Cabana Host: Our cabana host, Carlos, checked on us a couple of times such as bringing us to our cabana or next thing that we wanted to do (when he was around), but he was so sweaty and sloppy in appearance that we honestly didn't want to be around him too much. He did meet us at the end of our Trainer for a Day program, and was supposed to have a table reserved for us for lunch. When Carlos walked us to lunch just to find that the table had been taken by other people who paid absolutely no mind to the Reserved sign that he had placed, he found us another table while we went to get in line for food. When we returned with our food to the new table he had reserved, we learned that he didn't actually reserve another table but left us instead so other people took that table too. A large part of getting a cabana with a host was having reserved seating to be able to get in and out of the dining area quickly and not have to wait for seats, but instead we had to fend for ourselves which felt like a waste after paying extra for a host. After getting back to our cabana we took off our wetsuits and put down our we towels from our morning doing Trainer for a Day, and Carlos said that he would take care of those items and get us fresh towels. We went to the lazy river, aviary, and the reef to snorkel and when we came back to the cabana a couple hours later, there were no fresh/dry towels and our wet towels and wetsuits were still exactly where we left them. Just lazy, and absolutely was not worth the money at all. Carlos returned a little while later stating that he had been looking for us, and walked us to the shower and photo pickup area since we had purchased the photo package. He boldly stood there and asked us to leave him a review for his amazing service, to request him next time we're here, that he would be heading off to get the cabana all cleaned up for the day so that he could go home, and awkwardly stood there as if waiting for a tip.. which his "service" was not worthy of at all. Maybe other cabana hosts are fantastic, but we go one that was super lazy, not very informative about the park, and did not ensure that we weee well taken care of (lunch, dry towels, keeping cabana stocked and clean). My main advice for people doing Trainer for a Day would be to not even bother getting a cabana... the program goes until lunchtime so you still pay for a whole day of something that you'll only use for a couple of hours. Not worth the money. Food/Drinks: While the food was good in the dining area, there was no structure or order to getting your food. It was a free for all of people just cutting in and out of line, running into you, spilling things everywhere. Since many things are served by the staff, and only a couple things were grab and go, a structure to the line process needs to happen so that people are able to get in and out in an orderly fashion. The drink machines were almost always out of drinks and just spitting out watery drinks or plain soda water, this needs to be checked and changed out throughout the day, this shouldn't have been an issue since the drink station is open all day. As far as hygiene, leaving your trays on the tables for someone to pick up (at some point) is pretty disgusting since it attracts many birds to flock all over the people and tables. Ooh a big plus was the pineapple soft serve... it was absolutely delicious, it was just disappointing that only one machine was up and running and ran out after a while. Our kids were excited to get slushees since there were some really good sounding flavors, but those machines were watery the whole day we were there. read more

Discovery Cove - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I try to come here every year for my birthday but couldn't last year because of everything going on! They have new food menu from when I was there last which I found the food to be way better than the previous years I had the steak it was so tender and cooked to perfection! I still have to get used to swimming with the sting rays and fish but hopefully next year I'll face my fear ! The staff was amazing as usual all so nice and you can tell they love what they do ! read more

Discovery Cove - Flamingos - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Yea it's pricey but worth it. Seriously worth it. The food is cruise ship level which is basically good enough. It was better than the noodles with boba balls I ate in Animal kingdom that's for sure! So as far as theme park food goes, it was good. They have pina colada slushees that were my personal favorite as were the warm cookies. Here are my tips: Go early - I know people say this and for me I wasn't going to listen. We aren't early risers. However we got up anyway and we were so glad we did. There is so much to see and do! We stayed until close and were still sad to go. Don't worry about getting a lawn chair. There are tons. You'll see a a parade of flamingos walking by the dolphin swim area in the morning around 9. Def be there to see it. It's super cute. If you can afford a cabana or split one with someone, do it. They aren't your run of the mil cabanas. They are a private oasis with stocked fridge and hammock level cabanas. You have no idea. They are worth it. I recommend one by the grand reef. Snorkeling is beyond anything. I mean next level epic. If you stand in the water by farthest point of the beach, the sting rays will swim back and forth all around you. That's the area the keepers feed them so they tend to hang out there ;) Try the oasis pool in the morning. It's warm! Plus the monkeys tend to go to sleep early to try and see them while they are active. The aviary you will need a mask and they won't provide one. So make sure you don't leave yours like I did all the way back by my lawn chair. You HAVE TO wear the wet suit or at least the vest to get into the water. This is non negotiable so be prepared. Don't bother buying a new swimsuit cuz nobody will see it. The bathrooms are remarkably clean. Bring clothes and a hair brush to take a shower there. Everything else will be provided included your towels. read more

Discovery Cove - Snorkeling is best ever! You don't feel like you're in an aquarium but rather Tahiti. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Highly recommended this was the best experience we've have experience as a family. Fun for kids and adults. So much to do and see. Very clean environment and beautiful scenery read more

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I've lived in FL since 2000. Yesterday was the first time I've ever visited Discovery cove (with my husband;his first time too). It was FREAKING AWESOME. The only addition we had made to our reservation was the dolphin swim and it was soooo worth it. I even got a dolphin kiss!! We were able to have a 9:20am reservation for it so the rest of our day was free to roam around and have fun. We got there at opening (which I suggest to arrive sooner than later) and stayed til park close. We would have stayed longer if we could. The aviary was great, but my favorite was swimming/snorkeling with the stingrays. There are some stingrays that will come right up to you but most just kind of do their thing. Food and drinks there are plentiful and you won't go hungry/thirsty. Food taste over all was pretty okay. But they try to make sure they have something for everyone. We WILL be back and do highly recommend. read more

This used to be our #1 recommendations for Orlando due to the Amazing reef ! However Seaworld changed their policies and now you cannot dive and it requires a life jacket. Great job seaworld, what made discovery cove great is gone. Save your money folks, it just a $200 pet person beach with a lazy river. Don't go!!! read more

Just to give some background information, I LOVE animals. I will schedule trips just to meet some unique and fun animals, so how could I pass up meeting and learning about some adorable dolphins? Discovery Cove has a really unique and cool concept--it's an interactive aquarium, which means that you can actually swim in the pools and snorkel alongside their fish and other wildlife. We bought tickets including the dolphin swim ahead of time and were informed that we should get there early so that we could reserve a time slot for the dolphin encounter. We got there right when it opened, and there was already a huge line out the door. However, the process of getting registered and signed up was streamlined; it only took about 10 minutes. The tickets included access to all the pools (both fish-filled and fish-free), renting wetsuits/snorkel masks/lockers, and all you can eat meals and drinks. The experience was really fun and relaxing. We ate breakfast as we waited for the rest of the park to open. Then we explored some of the pools and saw some animals including otters, monkeys, and various birds. Then, we went snorkeling in the cold saltwater pool, which was a memorable experience. You get the chance to get really close to their fish and rays, and the staff were all very informative and friendly. Finally, we got to our dolphin swim. We got to meet two amazing dolphins, take photos with them, and swim with them. It was so cool to learn about them and to interact with them. The trainers were great as well. The major downside is the price of everything. The tickets including the dolphin swim were about $200 per person, and ordering photos of the dolphin encounter was a whopping $200 for digital copies of the photos. I understand that the profits go into helping the animals but the charge for the photos was really ridiculous. However, people like me still fall for it... Overall, an unforgettable experience! Very clean facility, knowledgeable and friendly staff, beautiful wildlife exhibits, and good food. read more

Ambiance: beautiful lush green vegetation transports you to the beautiful wild. As you enter, you are in the great registration hall. Get here early. While the park limits the amount of people per day, you want to get the most of your day. If you didn't know Discovery Cove is an all inclusive experience. If you are 18 and older, bring your ID. They provide the snorkeling masks, sun screen, wet suits, lockers, and food/drinks. Food: In the morning the main cafe will serve breakfast such as eggs, toast, bacon, juice, coffee, yogurt, chicken and waffles. It is all you can eat. It's not a five star restaurant but it does the job. In between breakfast and lunch there are stations that serve up pizza, pretzels, slushies, beer, and wine. For a 40 dollar upgrade you can get a full service bar and all you can drink. It is well worth it. Bring a grand parent to watch those kids and enjoy a spot at the bar :). The rum punch was a favorite but I preferred the mucho margarita. When lunch comes around there is a wide range of food from rice, stew steam, salmon, mixed vegetables, salad, chicken, burgers, fries, cakes and other things. Again you will find something. Again not a five star restaurant but it hits the spot. Everyone here has a smile and is very nice. Its easy to spark up a conversation. Attractions: The Great reef is beautiful. The salt water lagoon holds sting rays, fishes, sharks, and other sea creatures you can swim with. Around different times, they will have demonstrations or learning sessions for animals. The flamingos come out to stretch their legs. There are different swim areas and the depth of water ranges. I'm not a great swimmer so I had my life jacket on. I suggest you swim around the deep ends to take a nice view of the school of fish and the huge sting rays that swim around. It's an epic feeling seeing these huge creatures swim right next to you. I believe there is a 15-20 foot ray or two that will just swim right by you. The first reaction is to scream under water and create those fright bubbles. Afterwards you get use to it. The view is simply amazing as your snorkel through the environment. It is some serene and enjoyable. After a long swim, you can sit on the beach chairs or just head over Fresh Water Oasis that has a lazy river that goes through a cave, stops by monkey Island, and Explorer's Aviary where you can walk amongst exotic birds. The lazy river does get deep so floaties or life vests are encouraged for the aquatically challenged individuals like myself lol. After the long trek, there is another bar. Remember that 40 day drink pass, go use it lol. If you want some extra attractions you can dk Sea ventures where you put on a helmet to walk under the floor of the Great Reef. . This was somewhat scary as you have this huge helmet and walking is weird. None the less, it was a safe and amazing experience. You will see a huge group of nurse sharks ( i believe that was the type). You can also swim with dolphins but I did not do this. Overall a fantastic trip. My kids loved this place. They were thrilled to swim with the fishes and touch them. They ate well and slept in the car ride back to the hotel. The next morning, all they were talking about was all the great fishes and things they did. Priceless as a parent. While Discovery Cove is not cheap and you are here for a week or more, get the three park passes to hit up Busch Garden, SeaWorld, and Aquatica. The additional charge is not much more and gives you access with parking to these for the next 10 or 14 days. This a 5/5 in my book! Check it out! read more

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Absolutely incredible experience. The hubs surprised me with this for my birthday today and it was the best birthday ever. Upon walking in, you no longer feel like you are in Orlando, but instead Hawaii- or some tropical oasis away from everything. The plants are incredible. Plenty of lounge chairs for seating, and then also cabanas if you wanna reach a little deeper in your pockets. Since the weather was a little colder - I didn't feel a cabana was necessary Bc I wanted all the sun I could get. There's the grand reef which you can snorkel in- huge manta rays and beautiful tropical fish. You can also see the large selection of sharks while snorkeling (glass separates you unless you pay extra to swim with them). But it's so close you feel like u can touch them. Your ticket comes with wet suits, and snorkel gear. You also get unlimited food and drinks- we didn't have to spend any money while at the park which was really nice. The dolphin experience was incredible. I loved our dolphin- Dot. She was a cutie! We got to ride with her and held onto her fin. She also gave us kisses!! The lazy River ride was sooooo nice- the water was heated which made it so worth it !! You can also check out monkeys and sea otters which were adorable. We also upgraded for the sea-venture which was similar to scuba- but no certification required. The amount of fish swimming next to you was absolutely incredible. I scuba dive myself , and I have never been surrounded by that many fish. They said they had over 500 species ! Overall, a wonderful experience and worth the money . It is expensive, but so worth it because everything is included once you arrive !! Wish they offered season passes ! read more

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Fun family day for families that want a go at your own speed day. After having the included breakfast buffet, we went around the whole venue and saw the different areas and animals available with general admission. This was all completed within first hour of arrival. The rest of the day was spent at the grand reef where my son and I snorkeled with sting rays, assorted tropical fish, and more, while my husband and daughter lounged on the beach edge. We ended our day with the included lunch buffet. Drink package upgrade is a must for adults. Would have been a 4 if more to do during the day and a 5 with that and better food options. read more

Had a great time at discovery cove. The dolphin experience is a must do. Loved swimming in the grand reef. My only negative comment is the snorkel gear wasn't all that great. My goggles kept filling up with water making it difficult to view all the fish. If you have your own goggles that fit your face properly, I would highly recommend bringing. Food was pretty standard but they have food and snacks all day. I hope to return again someday in the future. read more

I have been here twice now and it's hands down the best water park ever. You must make a reservation because they only allow a certain number of people in the park. All food and drinks (including alcohol) is included. You can buy a ticket with or without the dolphin swim, but I suggest just getting the dolphins. You'll be sad if you don't. The lazy river is my favorite. They have animal exhibits to look at throughout & neat picture spots. That river gets up to 6ft deep! They have lockers throughout the park, for free. Did I mention everything is included in the price!? read more

Discovery Cove - Dolphin kisses - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I'm leaving one star for the basic ticket price. The "all inclusive" price is not worth what you get for it. I am not looking to stuff my face just to feel like I got my money's worth. It was essentially a glorified lazy river and dirty, over crowded aquarium. I was even more disappointed with how the customer service team addressed my concerns and feedback. The highlight of discovery cove is in all of the add-ons. The dolphin experience (pay extra) was phenomenal, the SeaVenture scuba experience (pay extra) was amazing and the animal trek (pay extra) was really cool, too. Don't be misled by the "all inclusive" tactics. read more

They lied about swimming with the dolphins. There's got to be at least 20 dolphins, but when we had to wait until 12:25 (when we got there before 8am) to swim with the dolphins they decided last minute that the dolphins didn't want to participate. It's a scam. I highly DO NOT recommend. read more

This is a must do! Everything is great - the grounds are pristine, the staff goes above and beyond, the animal interactions are thrilling! I will also mention that the bathrooms are SO CLEAN! You would think they would be a sloppy wet mess since folks are in the water all day, not even close. They were so on point with everything at Discovery Cove. It's an all inclusive day, including beer and wine for adults. I saw so many folks in line but not many people tipping the staff. I made sure to tip bartenders and even the bathroom attendants. read more

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What an amazing experience we have located right here in Central Florida. We had won some tickets here in a charity auction, and after going, I'm ready to pay and go back. From start to finish, the day was an absolute blast. Point number one, get here early. They serve breakfast, and since all the food is included, you want to take advantage of all that you can. The park is sprawling, with different areas to sit, so don't get hung up on getting the perfect seat. Honestly, we spent very little time at the seat we chose. They have two different lazy rivers here. One moves along more than the other, and is a good bit larger. Both are just beautiful, nature all around the area. We could spend all day just floating around here. It is awesome that they provide you wetsuits, as the most amazing experience we had was in the giant water area with all the sea life. The water was chilly, the wetsuits really helped here. They had gigantic stingrays, all sorts of fish, just so much I have never seen when doing snorkeling (which is also provided for you). We spent what must have been two hours floating around and getting up close and personal with all the sea life. We also did the dolphin experience. If you have never done one, you should do this. If you have done one elsewhere, I feel this is skippable. On a final note, the 4 stars is based on the food. It felt they are cutting corners here, with food that is average to below average being served. It is nice it is included, but there has to be better options they could be serving. To make up for it though, beer and wine is included in your price as well, and if you want to upgrade, you can pay up and get better options on that end. Kind of makes me wish they offered a pay up option for the food. Either way, this place is amazing, and if you have never been, you need to plan to get here. read more

I LOVE Discovery cove, almost my home away from home. My husband and I go as often as we can and every time walk away feeling so refreshed and pampered. The unlimited food and especially the unlimited drinks are such a bonus. Be sure to go at 7:30 or 8am so you don't miss their breakfast to start your day off! After you'll pick a vest or suit as its required for the lagoons personally I always choose the vest unless it's a cooler day out than expected. The suit is also especially warm for the coral reef. The coral reef and their "lazy river" have to be my #1 thing to do while in the park. The animals in the reef are so fun to swim with and petting the rays as they go by is seriously a bucket list dream. Make sure to take the time and visit the animal of the day, you never know it might be a sloth or an animal you'll never get to pet or see outside of this experience. I love that they only allow a limited amount of guests in making it feel so easy to breath and walk around. If it's your 1st time you a dolphin swim is a must do! Arrive early to the park so you can have an early swim time (better for pictures). It was about 30 min and having the dolphin swim you to shore was a dream. I can go on and on about this place as there is nothing I don't love about this Park. Really feels like an escape from Orlando when inside. read more

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VIP cabana (our day 3/2/23) is worth it at least once & for the first experience. My husband & I were here a couple years ago but got rained out before we got to the snorkeling so we knew we'd be trying a cabana if we ever came back so we had space to wait out the rain- Ok, so I mostly want to review the VIP cabana experience and all that comes with it. 7:00 am we showed up & Emma checked us in & she was friendly, happy & fun & told us she had "planned" our day out & was excited for us..I have been overly excited (like a kid at Christmas) about this experience and she met my energy- loved it. Next, had us wait for our host while we met Todd within 10 minutes and he is very friendly & educational & the KEY to not missing a single thing at the parks (that I'm aware of). & when the actual park opened a couple minutes later he then walked us to the cafe/restaurant & we had a fun/friendly conversation about everything and what was planned. We got to our "reserved" seat and then had breakfast.... There are many options and it's all pretty good.... this time though we didn't get much "hot" food... more luke warm I didn't notice or care that much but heard from the others about it. SO many fun options, dole whips, banana icee, pizza (mine was hot), pretzels, cookies and more..I love the food and how you can get what you want when you want-- so fun for our kid and for us to eat like a kid :) Todd hung out with us for breakfast & chatted & explained the day a bit. I didn't realize he was with us for the whole day and honestly that made me anxious as I like doing my own thing, though I am glad I got over it as the experience was wonderful as was our host Todd. After breakfast we headed to the cabana and it is beautiful & I will post pictures as others have- hammock, fridge, safe & a dolphin view. My complaint there is that i wish there had been a couple bar stools with a small table to see over the hedges to see the dolphins. We didn't use the cabana terribly much but when we did it was to rest... to see the dolphins you had to be standing & watching the dolphins was fun but a private reviewing while relaxing/seated would be better.. but still AWESOME. Next, he listened to what we wanted & got us to the aviary right when it opened & it was amazing & as the reviews say it is true that they are more active in the morning... they ate so much from us and while I was never a fan of birds, I am now! This, even after I got "lucky" (or pooped on the face) Then we had about 90 minutes on our own. Headed to lazy River- not opened yet so we played in a warm pool- about 85 degrees while we waited for the lazy River. After, we were headed back and came across a parade of flamingos.. i remembered this as memorable the last time & just as much now. Grabbed a hot pretzel, & a icee and headed to the cabana. Todd met us at the cabana he had tidied up and we went to our animal encounter... this was an awesome experience and very cool animal that blends into the trees and when his mouth opens it looks like a flower so the bugs come to him as he blends into the tree.. Next, we headed to our dolphin swim- that comes with the buoy for special guest with the VIP cabana. It was Amazing! Everything about it especially the buoy because it singled out our 10 year old in the best of ways! After the dolphin swim we spent a lot of time in the grand reef snorkeling. It was amazing! Swim to see the sharks! We also went to the lazy River a couple of times and it's really beautiful and fun and ended in the aviary Overall the VIP experience was worth it as I believe we did everything we could and/or wanted to. The host makes sure you don't miss a thing, and just helped at every Avenue. Got utensils for meals, tidied the cabana every time we left, most importantly, he made sure we didn't miss a thing, and when we collected pictures he took care of us so no line (major time saver)...he got our snorkels and pretty much anything we needed- it was awesome! To actually be able to spend most of our 8-10 hour day actually enjoying the space, animals, food, and if you drink then.. there is all kinds of alcohol and at one bar they had swings as seats- so fun! Also, the employees are all awesome. I can be too talkative & engaged a lot.. one employee told me that they often don't talk to people for hours at a time.. Others may love that quiet but all the employees we talked to seemed happy to be engaged! Just do it :).. Ray- you are fun!! Todd- we loved our experience- thanks! and thank you for some fun and interesting conversations... keep trVel'n man! read more

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Okay, so I must admit, I was prepared to give this place one star prior to visiting due to the unprofessional customer service I received calling days prior. This review is strictly based on the Discovery Cove experience the day we visited. I'm technically still here while writing this review, but the day is winding down and the sun is setting. They day overall deserves 5 stars. While this place is quite the pretty penny, it is worth every coin. This place keeps you fed, hydrated, and well entertained. The have activities and areas for all ages, the swimmers and non-swimmers, animal lovers and the like. You can swim with dolphins, pet sting rays, feed flamingos, and the list goes on. We visited on a seasonably cooler day with a high of 68, but it felt like it was much warmer especially in the water, with water temps in the 70s and 80s year round. They also have many heated lamps in the bar and lounge areas. There was barely any crowd and I couldn't imagine coming here during the popular summer months or weekends. In terms of food they had many options meeting most dietary needs-just not sure if vegan options were offered. The lunch was decent with many offerings for kids and adults. Discovery Cove is all inclusive. So you can try a little of everything during lunch and breakfast. They offer pizza, pretzels, and ice cream, and other snacks all day, nonstop. You'll never go hungry. Also included with admission is unlimited soft drinks. Just a tip for adults, definitely opt in for the premium all you can drink package-well worth the added cost. The on-site staff very knowledgeable and aim to please. On-site customer service was very professional. I would definitely make Discovery Cove a stop on every trip to Orlando. This was my idea of rest and relaxation, away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby theme parks. Cheers to a great time! read more

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This place is magical. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and drinks are all included in the General Admission package. It was a treat to be able to go into the spaces where sea creatures such as fish, stingrays, sharks, and other creatures inhabit. It's a park where you get what you pay for and parking is free (which I found to be completely shocking). I'd suggest skipping Disney for a day and coming here--it well worth it! read more

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This makes our 3rd visit over five years to this park and we will definitely be back. This is waterpark with animal interaction -- kind of an animal sanctuary in certain parts of the park. There are excursions suck as the dolphin swim, stingray feeding, seatrek (snuba), swim with sharks. Be aware that there are age restrictions for many of the animal encounters. But if you just visit the park and not do any encounters/excursions, there is still plenty to do for the entire family. My daughter spends hours snorkeling the grand reef where stingrays and other fish swim free. Lifeguards are on hand throughout the park as well. The park is all-inclusive--your paid admission gets you into the park, includes unlimited drinks (water, soda, slushes, frozen pina coladas, beer, wine), breakfast (full service buffet where you order items of choice), lunch, and snacks. Food and drinks are unlimited. Lockers, snorkel equipment, towels, lounge chairs are all provided as well. They also don't allow outside SPF and have areas at the lockers where you can lather yourself up with sun protection. Be warned, however the SPF they provide is very thick and hard to run in -- but it's safe for the animals which is why they only allow theirs to be used. Showers are also provided if you wanted to clean up before leaving the park. My only complaint about the park is the cleanliness of the restrooms and food areas once human traffic has been through with being wet and sandy. There are puddles of muddy water around and toilet seats are wet. The floors are very slippery and you have to be careful when walking. This visit we paid extra for a Day Bed and a premium alcohol package--I don't recommend spending the extra money. With the alcohol options already included with your park admission you'll be completely fine without the premium option -- all this gets you is different options for alcohol drinks but they are very small portions. There are plenty of lounge chairs and hammocks and some under umbrellas so no need to pay extra for a daybed. Unless you want a cushion for comfort. read more

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This is by far one of the best places to visit for your Orlando vacation. I've done the full experience with the dolphin swim before, but if you're looking for a "tropical getaway" type vibe this is definitely the place to go. It's all inclusive, we're talking breakfast, lunch and snacks all day as well as drinks (yes, alcoholic too!!). There are plenty of spaces to sit down and relax. You get complimentary lockers, wetsuits, sunscreen, fins and snorkels, everything! The best part is the snorkeling and the aviary where you can feed the birds. read more

Absolutely worth the money - a full day at an all inclusive resort minus the typical Disney crowds! Get there early - your extra activities are automatically scheduled for you when checking in first come first serve (IE. we got there at 7:15 & our Dolphin Swim was scheduled for 9:45 am). All other comments say get there early to get breakfast but note that if you don't do breakfast (like my family) your cabana might not be ready yet & no swimming allowed until after 8:30. Plus your day ends at 5! Cabana - worth the money if you have a group that likes a little privacy. It had its own locker, fridge was kept stocked with soda/beer/wine/water/snacks & fresh towels kept coming. It was beautiful! Wet suits - if this doesn't sound fun don't worry they have wet suit vests that zipper in front that are very comfortable. It keeps your core warmer when in the salt water pools. While there grab your snorkel! Dolphin swim - amazing!!! My husband opted out but we bought all dolphin swim tickets because I thought we had to for him to watch us. You don't! If part of your group doesn't want to swim with dolphins buy regular ticket they are still welcome to watch you from the beach. Extra $40 drink package - we got it (the foofoo drinks were yummy) but wish we would have saved the $80. Honestly the beer (which included Michelob Light) & wine (includes many options) would have been plenty. Yes there are people that come here to drink allll day & you will see them stumbling around but if you are here for the activities the extra drink package isn't necessary. Food - don't listen to the yelp haters the food is fine. It's actually pretty great for resort food! Tons of options including healthy ones plus desserts!! If you come here for the food you are doing it wrong! Activities - I suggest do them all before it's busy then do them again & again repeating the ones you really love. For example, the Aviary wasn't all that cool for us so we checked it off the list but didn't return, spent most of our time at the Reef & the Lazy River. read more

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Discovery Cove is hands down the best way to get up close and personal with some of the coolest sea life you will ever encounter! Where to begin. First and foremost check out the map and plan accordingly. It doesn't hurt to book a cabana for your visit. Gives you some space that is exclusively yours. From the snorkeling of the reef (not going to give spoilers here) to the swim with dolphins (dolphin encounter) to chilling in the lazy river. If you love the water you will love this place. Check out the upgrades that they offer as it is kind of a once in a lifetime experience. Staff, all are so friendly and the grounds are kept immaculate. Prices are on the steep side, but so are most amusement parks. If you like the water ..... if you like sea animals .... this place is a must! read more

The most amazing experience at a park. We couldn't get our kids out of the water. The memories made will last for ages. The best part was that it was accessible for my father so he too could enjoy his grandchildren. They lived snorkeling the most. read more

So we have been coming to Discovery Cove every summer for the past 5 years, today we came and I have to tell you it was not a good experience so much so my daughter's said they don't want to return. We arrived early at 7a.m. the long was already extremely long to check in, we finally got checked in , went to breakfast it was good as usual. Then this year we were not allowed to even go find a chair till almost 9 , The water normally opens at 9 and it didn't till almost 930 people where lined up everywhere just like every theme park which is not how discovery normally is. They have recently built a fence around the snorkeling area which made there one way in and one way out there was a ton of people and it felt like they where hearding cattle, you couldn't even move let alone swim, there was so many people. I was always able to sit on the side and watch my children, I was yelled at by a lifeguard half my age to put on a life vest or get out ! We then tried to do the lazy river, it was occupied by many life guards training in the middle of us trying to relax, it made for a very awkward experience. Paying almost a thousand dollars for your family to have this secluded experience has turned into just another theme park unfortunately. I'd save your money and go to your resort pool instead truthfully. read more

Don't bother; super expensive, over-priced, poor service day. Sadly disappointed...all hype. I spent more money on this day than the other 4 days in the area! What a waste. The advertising/1st bullet point in the attached description, suggests you get a free ticket when you buy a package deal. Surprise...RIP OFF! I had to pay the $300+ to buy our 4th ticket at the door. No service or support when I had questions; they care less about you and ALL about the money. Save your money and go somewhere else. Not worth it!! read more

Discovery Cove - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Not the best breakfast.... The girls up at the front seemed clueless. But once inside, we had a blast! My little one loved snorkeling around and seeing the sting rays & fish. The dolphin experience was a lot of fun for her as well. Clean bathrooms! Definitely would go here again. read more

Everyone should visit Discovery Cove at least once in their lifetime. An all exclusive Paradise located in the middle of Orlando. All you need to bring is change of clothes and your flip flops. read more

Wow, this place really is gorgeous! From top to bottom the facilities were very well maintained. Considering the large amount of visitors, it was impeccable. Checking in was relatively easy ( they couldn't price match the online deals so I had to stand in lobby to complete my booking online). I was given a quick once over regarding the activities I signed up for and sent on my way. I quickly located where to get wet suites( they're required to get in any of their water, even if just the wet suite top- which I don't quite understand) and where to change. The attendant was very helpful in assisting me (solo traveler) and giving me direction on how to navigate to my first activity (sea venture). This was a neat experience and a nice taste for someone interested in trying scuba diving, the air helmet feels weightless underwater and it got us up close to a lot of sea friends. The guides were writing interesting facts as we we went. Only complaint there is wished it would have lasted longer (20ish minutes) for the price.. I had a gap between sea venture and the dolphin swim so I tried to grab lunch and cold drink, the restaurant was way too crowded, so I was suck grabbing a quick bite from the snack bar which consists of pretzels and bags of chips with self serve fountain drinks. The dolphin experience was thrilling in that you are up close with a dolphin. Most of the time is spent on each group getting their picture, and less on actual interactions and education. Felt most of my time was spent waiting here. After everyone gets their pics, everyone gets a 10ft or so glide with the dolphin. Lasted maybe 10 seconds. But was cool. Saw maybe 3 trucks Not sure I'd pay for the same experience again. There are several places to swim and a large lazy river- they provide only noodles for this and not tubes. read more

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This was a "bucket list" item for me; and, my wife was more than happy to come along for the ride. We started our day with the SeaVenture; and, had a great time. We borrowed the GoPro, so we could add the underwater photos to our Swim with the Dolphin package, which was our next adventure. Beforehand, we had an excellent breakfast; and, strolled throughout the property, drinking our coffee. After our dolphin swim, which was a blast, we got a couple of frozen drinks at the fountain; and, walked up to the lazy river; and, the aviary. We tried a couple of animal interactions; and, really enjoyed seeing the otters. We had a great lunch; and, dined outside with a view of the water; my wife had the Carribean-spiced Salmon; and, I had the Jerk Chicken. After lunch, we relocated by the lazy river; and, spent a good amount of time traversing the park on floats. My wife only had one glass of Chardonnay; and, stuck with soft drinks the rest of the day. During the afternoon, I took advantage of the beers they had available, including Bud, Bud Light, Coors Light, and Lite. It was hot; and, I had to stay hydrated... my wife drove home. read more

Discovery Cove - Locals - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I Think Discovery Cove Is Beautiful And The Dolphins Were Well Taken Care Of And The Food Service And Staff Was Great. They Were Very Kind And Respectful. read more

Discovery Cove is a day resort with multiple experiences you can participate in. The most popular is Swimming with the Dolphins. We went on a Thursday in October when the park is about 50 percent capacity. Included with admission are wetsuits & snorkel gear, sunscreen, lockers & towels, a lazy river, snorkeling with fish & rays, sandy beaches & tropical lagoons, and all food and beverages. This includes unlimited breakfast, lunch, and all day snacks and beverages. The drinks include beer, wine, soda, slushees, coffee and tea. Snacks include fruit, fresh baked cookies & pretzels, bags of chips and nuts. I would rate the meals at 3 stars. There are several snack bars where you help yourself. You can purchase pina coladas and margaritas. There are four main areas of the park. The Dolphin lagoon, Grand reef, Serenity bay, and Wind away river. The Dolphin experience is about 30 minutes. Each group of 8-10 persons interact with one dolphin in about 4 feet of water. The highlight is being pulled by the dolphin about 150 feet. Plenty of photos are taken for purchase. You can purchase different packages of prints or a memory device with all the images and right to print them. I think the place makes their profit on the photography, very expensive. Snorkeling in the grand reef is amazing. Thousands of beautiful fish and rays. The lazy river is a nice relaxing 30 minute float thru a winding river that ranges in depth from 3 to 8 feet. There are rubber noodles available to use as flotation The hours are 7-5:30. They do not rush you out. There is a large parking lot. read more

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First time Orlando native I went this week to try it out. We arrived early, checked in and expected the park to open at 7am as stated on the website and reservation. We had our first animal encounter scheduled at 830 & the next at 1045. We had planned to arrive, at 7 eat breakfast, change, find where to get our wetsuits and find the encounter. Wrong... They did not allow us to enter the park until 730, half an hour late, no explanation. No time to wait in line for breakfast, eat and be ready for first animal encounter at 830, so our planned easy morning was thrown off which sucked. No explanation was given. Dolphin encounter was great, shark encounter was just ok, rushed and not worth the extra money. The reef was beautiful and fun as was the tropical river. Extremely disappointed in the 299.99 photo package, I would have expected more photos, would not buy again. Park was crowded as any other theme park not sure I believe the "less people" part. Food was good, locker rooms were immaculate and had toiletries with warm showers. Would be better with less people, opening on time, one more restaurant and a few more things to do. Not sure if we will go back again. read more

My boyfriend and I just finished our 7th and 8th visit July 15th and 16th, 2021 (we did Thursday with family and Friday with friends) and we are already planning another trip this year. This is our favorite vacation and we have gone twice a year since our first visit. We love that once you pay for your ticket, you don't have to worry about anything else. Parking, breakfast, snacks, 1st & 2nd lunch :), sunscreen, towels, wetsuits, showers, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lockers, mask and snorkel, lounge chairs with umbrellas, life vests & pool noodles, aviary visits including unlimited bird food, animal encounters including getting up close with flamingos, learning everything you would want to know about the animals (sloths, exotic birds & fish, rays, sharks, armadillo, and marmosets just to name a few), and even alcohol are all included in your visit. Of course if you want extras there are options. We have only done the drink package and cabana. We really like having the cabana to get our own little fridge full of our preferred drinks brought by our own assistant, some extra shade, a fan, toys for the kids to play in the sand, and a little privacy. Some even have their own hammock! If you can book ahead and are flexible with your dates, you can always find the cheapest day to get a great deal. I also look for times when they offer free drink package upgrades. This last visit we had an amazing bartender Danielle who made us fun cocktails that weren't on the menu. She was great at guessing exactly what we would like. For the very few on here with complaints, all I have to say is to make sure you do your research before going on any major trip. It's not in the fine print that you have be to 6 years and older to participate with the dolphin encounter or that you can't get a refund if you cancel less than 30 days before your booked date. This isn't a typical water park where you are climbing stairs, waiting for hours to ride a water slide. Here you can relax with a tropical drink in your hand at the Freshwater Oasis and walk in the water with your drink visiting the marmosets and otters. With Covid they don't list times for animal encounters to prevent large gatherings of people. They also don't force the animals to stay out and entertain you if the animals choose not to. For those complaining about the sunscreen, I had melanoma 4 years ago so preventing sunburns is critical for me and I only use their animal friendly sunscreen when I'm there. While it does leave you looking ghostly white, I have never had a sunburn and we spend the whole day from open to close there. They always limit how many can come (not just during Covid) and you will notice as a date nears the price goes up which should deter too many reservations and encourage last minute people to choose a later, less expensive date. It was actually sold out the last 2 times we went and we didn't even notice a difference although we are early birds and get there right as they open. Those with complaints about the food, I think of it as comparable to a buffet on a cruise. It's not a sit down, order off a menu, type of restaurant but it still tastes great to me with a lot of options for all kinds of diets. For complaints about the cost, again, if you book ahead and can be flexible it really is a excellent deal. If you think of the cost of going to another mouse-owned theme park, I'm looking at the cost to book 1 month from now and just the ticket with tax $115 + parking $25 is $140 (not including 2 meals, snacks, drinks, and other experiences that may cost extra) and I can book at Discovery Cove not using my Florida Resident discount for the same date for $158, I honestly think you are getting way more than your money's worth. Of course if you don't plan ahead and can't choose certain lower cost days then yes, the price can be much higher. Overall, I highly recommend to those who are looking to get away for a day to relax and not worry about anything while they are experiencing paradise read more

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Went here recently with my husband to celebrate his birthday and although I have been here once (over 10 years ago!!) it was a completely new adventure for me since I don't remember much from my first visit. Our visit was thanks to a friend who got us a great deal since she was an employee and man.. was it worth every penny! This was our first adventure out for a day without either of our children (we have two young boys) and so it was a big step for us... but something we both needed very much. We decided to not to a dolphin encounter since it's not really in our budget right now and we have done plenty of dolphin experiences before. We just wanted to focus on a day of relaxation. And I think we did a great job at this. What I love about DC is that it feels very exclusive. They have a limited amount of people who can enter the park and there's enough going on that you don't feel on top of each other. Even without the dolphin experience I felt there was plenty to keep me occupied and allowed me to not feel like I needed to have an itinerary... just enjoy my day. Don't worry about packing too much with you... pretty much everything you need will be offered for you which includes wet suits, towels, food, drinks, etc. The unlimited snacks and beverages are one of my favorite parts... especially the frozen banana fanta which I had WAY too much of ;) I love that you can bring your drinks into one of the pools while you wade around and check out otters and marmosets. SO CUTE. But by far my favorite place to go is the AVIARY. We must have spent at least 50% of our time in the aviary. Not only was the aviary filled with some of the most interactive and beautiful birds I have ever seen but the people who work there were by far the kindest people I have come across in awhile. I want to send a special thank you to Bree who noticed my passion for birds and brought down TAZ the Tawny Frogmouth so that I could meet him up close and touch his soft, feathery back. Eek!!!IN LOVE!!! You made my day extra special, Bree. As for the food they serve at the park... not really my favorite but considering it's unlimited I will let it slide. I was really looking forward to the salads but they sit there awhile and get soggy so I would recommend the steak because it was shocking how tender it was! French toast sticks are pretty good too at breakfast. Enjoy your day! read more

Discovery Cove - Tawny Frogmouth! His name is Taz and he's my new crush - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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This is such a spectacular, fun, serene beach getaway in the middle of the state. And then, there's the phenomenal option to swim with the dolphins (among other add ons). I brought too much stuff! You literally need to bring nothing but a bathing suit, shoes or water shoes and a change of clothes. They supply you with sun screen, towels, wet suits or vests, snorkel gear, showers, food, drink, snacks, parking is even included...there is nothing else you need. Don't wear jewelry. They are as accommodating as anyone can be, you get to do some pretty special things....If you choose not to do the dolphin swim, there is still plenty to do and see. Swim in the reef pool with the fishes and stingrays. Swim up to the glass that separates you and the sharks. Bring your snorkel gear (they provide you with) in there so you can check out the stingrays and reefs (manmade but still pretty) and fish and other things. Do the lazy river, just know it's not that lazy.... hang around the otter area and watch them play. There's an aviary also - make sure to stop and visit and feed the birds. Note - if you bring floaties there and leave them outside the door, they may not be there when you return. Just sayin'. Overall, this is a fabulous experience! read more

Discovery Cove - My dolphin experience with Thelma and Luna. - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

We planned to go to Discover Core on Sep 2022. But due to Hurricane Ian, we have to cancel our trip. We called Discover Cove customer to cancel the trip, they told us that we COULD NOT cancel it, only can reschedule. So I agreed with them to hold my fund. And then I checked their website (https://discoverycove.com/orlando/faq/) for hurricane policy. I need "Peace of Mind". What is your Hurricane Policy? In the event a named tropical storm or hurricane approaches Orlando, Tampa, or a guest's hometown, the parks will reschedule or refund any vacation package and/or individual park tickets booked through SeaWorld Vacations, Busch Gardens Vacations, DiscoveryCove.com, SeaWorld.com, Aquatica.com, BuschGardens.com, or the call center. The parks will not apply any cancellation or change fees for this service. For additional Discovery Cove information call 407-513-4600. It's clearly mentioned that the park can refund the vacation package due to Hurricane. This company's customer service is NOT doing what they are supposed to do and cheating the customer with the incorrect policy on their website. read more

My visit at Discovery was great from start to finish. Immediately after checking in we were introduced to Adam our cabana host. Let me start off by saying he was nothing short of amazing. He made us feel welcomed and like real VIP guest from the start. He took us to our Cabana and immediately took our drink request and gave us directions to the park. We went to eat breakfast and came back 30 mins later to a stocked fridge and he constantly dropped by to check in on us and get whatever we needed. At the bar we met Danielle who made some pretty good drinks, her margarita was a hit. She remembered my name all day which is amazing being that it was busy and she must meet hundreds of people daily. I definitely recommend Discovery cove if you are in the Orlando area and request Adam if you can he was great. read more

This place is a rip off and not worth the money. We purchased the dolphin "swim" package. It is no where near a swim, it is an interaction with the dolphins, that is all. You literally get dragged about 10ft by the dolphins. They hardly let you interact. It's more of a show and tell of the dolphins. And to top it off, you will be paying at least $200, to get the pictures of the experience, since of course they do not allow you to take pictures or bring your phone. Extremely disappointed in the experience and would not do it again. read more