We did the VIP experience and had a great host, Jason! We can't say enough good things about him and our experience. The only time I have ever been up close and personal with animals like this was in the actual ocean in Hawaii. I would recommend this to everyone. Also, ask for Jason if you can pick! He really made our day so relaxing and was so down to earth. read more

Discovery Cove - From private Cabana - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I love this park, lots of fun, great experiences for kids. That being said, BEWARE, they advertise Florida Resident rates, then at checkout add on a 30.99 "resort fee" per person and a 9.99 service fee which is not prominently displayed, so basically, they fish to get you to book at the resident price, then add on fees, so false advertising. When you are in the park and purchase an alcoholic beverage, they get you with a fee of .70 cents additional per drink that also is not prominently disclosed. Yeah, .70 cents isn't really much, but it is when you are selling thousands of drinks a day. I filed a complaint with the state, and suggest anyone else this happened to do the same so they can be honest up front at booking. read more

A great spot for families; way better than Disney especially when it's hot. Way more enjoyable. The resort provides basically everything you need and unlimited food, snacks and drinks. They are very good and it was a great experience! read more

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Hubby and I had the most amazing time today. This has been on my bucket list for years and decided to splurge for my 40th bday. The only upgrades we had was a daybed and Sea Venture. We spent so little time at the daybed, but it was nice to have a spot to rest and have our stuff without having to go to a locker. There is plenty of chairs and umbrellas so you don't really need to splurge. Sea Venture was top notch! We had a blast! I did feel like without the railing, I might have fallen over, but I am far from graceful. The aviary was great! A bird even landed on my head and did not want to leave! The lazy river was my favorite part. It was so relaxing. The waterfalls are a little harsh, but I get that they are partly to keep the birds in the aviary. We probably floated around the river 10x. The food was typical buffer food that caters to kids/families. Don't expect gourmet, but it hit the spot. The only disappointment was that we were never able to see marmosets or otters. read more

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We came here a couple years ago and had a blast snorkeling with the rays and sea life, cruising through the lazy river, and checking out the aviary. The scenery here is beautiful and the rays come in various sizes, but the smaller ones can be quite friendly and actually come to brush up against you. I don't think we got any extras, but we had plenty of fun with everything that was included, and you can still peek at the dolphins and sharks from outside their lagoon/tank areas. I think there was a monkey or lemur exhibit that we didn't have time to check out, but we were able to see the cute otters and the aviary is extensive and diverse. I think the lazy river actually goes through the aviary so you can see the birds around you as you float. I think this would be a wonderful place for a family vacation with kids, but we don't and it was still a unique fun experience. The food here was very mediocre (though we only had breakfast), and you have to watch out for birds that will aggressively snatch your food. It was very crowded around lunchtime so we opted to skip lunch as we would have wasted a ton of time in line. We were starving by the time we left. I think it might be a good idea to get the premium drink package next time, but just make sure you eat enough to balance out the drinks. read more

They have everything that they advertise on the website, it's just not as grand as pictured. The swim with a dolphin experience has a lot of groups at one time. The food was not good at all in my opinion, we ended up eating pizza. Everything is smaller and way more crowded than I expected. I would say the "limiting number of people let in to give all a VIP experience " is not true, everything was so crowded read more

Discovery Cove - Line for lunch - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

5 stars is not enough for this place. Discovery Cove is such an amazing and fun place and I highly recommend to anyone. If you're sitting at home, looking at the price thinking this sounds nice but is it worth it? YES, YES IT IS! I debated hard and long about going to DC. I finally decided to give it a shot and went on Easter 2025 and I am so glad I did! In fact, I had so much fun on Easter, I booked another day before I left back home. The park is clean and you literally have access to anything you may need, they even provide sunscreen. You can get into the park at 7 am for checkin, the water stuff doesnt open until 9. I would suggest getting in at 7, checking in and finding your spot for the day, having breakfast.. Plenty of chairs, plenty of shade. If you want to pay extra for a cabana or day bed its there but certainly not needed. Breakfast and lunch are provided (breakfast opens at 730 am). It is cafeteria style food. Breakfast options include egg, bacon, sausage, chicken and waffles, fruit, cereal and pretty much anything else you could think of. Plenty of choices for juice, tea, soda or coffee. Lunch options include burgers, chicken tenders, salmon, pepper steak, salads and wraps. The list goes on. Outside of breakfast and lunch, snacks are included and around the resort and include, hot pretzels, warm cookies, chips, fruit, slushies ( try the banana it is to DIE for) They also have a pizza window. Beer and wine are included but you can get the upgraded drink package which includes their fruit yummy drinks for $45 extra a person. The bartenders had heavy pours so worth it! There is so much you can do at the park. They offer packages that include a dolphin swim, flamingo mingle, animal encounters and more but honestly just entry into the park was enough for me. The Grand Reef ( salt water and colder) is amazing! It included over 60 sting rays and 6000 tropical fish. I literally hung out in the reef for 80% of the time, it is so cool. The stingrays swim all around you all day long. You can swim along side them and touch them. I could imagine it could be scary for small children, some of the rays are HUMONGOUS but they are just so fun. The have a lazy river that is not so lazy at times so if you have small children you may want to be aware of a couple waterfalls they go through that can be quite rough. In saying that they have places you can get out and walk around those falls if you choose not to go through them. They also have a billion lifeguards ALL water areas all the time. There isn't an area in the water that isn't covered by one and they are extremely vigilant. All in all this was one of the best experiences of my life while on vacation and totally worth every penny spent on the ticket. I would come back again to this area just to visit DC again without any hesitation. If was so amazing, the staff was so amazing read more

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Discovery Cove is a magical getaway that takes you through lazy rivers, waterfalls, bird aviaries, monkey and otter exhibits, and so SO much more! It is a magical land tucked away in the heart of Orlando but you would never know it! It's pure peace. All you see are flowers, tall tropical plants and beautiful clear water as far as the eye can see. Sounds of nature entrap your senses while fun tropical music plays in the background. The food is very good for all inclusive, and they mean all inclusive! Stop by anytime, as many times as you want! (During the current hours of course) The wine and beer flows freely and keeps you hungry for more. You will have no wants or worries while you spend the day in paradise. They literally have thought of everything. Don't let the price hold you back! Once you go, you'll see the true value of this adventure and it's beyond worth the cost. I've already been several times and can't wait to go again! read more

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Of all the years living in Florida- I finally checked out Discovery Cove. Once you get checked in- you get breakfast and then your locker and snorkel gear and wetsuit it wet vest. I recommend to get snorkel gear first thing in morning and just put ok your lounge chair until ready to snorkel. It was nice that food was included. They have a breakfast buffet until 1030 am and then lunch buffet opens at 11. Buffets close at 330 pm. There are also snacks at the different bar areas to include warm pretzels, cookies, pizza, ice dream and chips. Alcohol drinks were great- Glenn was the best bartender! As far as activities- you have : feeding the birds - warning they do land on you! Some pretty birds I'd never seen before. Lazy river - 8 ft deep in some parts so grab the floaty to help you stay relaxed. Another river but it doesn't have jets pushing you and you can stand pretty much all of it. It has otters and monkeys to see. Snorkeling with fish and sting rays- this was pretty cool experience, water is colder here. Some quite large sting rays! Then don't forget to check out the glass caged shark and huge grouper. The dolphins are an extra fee. Overall a cool experience- would I do it more then once? Due to cost- I probably wouldn't. overall pretty pricey for the amount of activities. Could almost do a 4 day cruise and experience the real thing of snorkeling with the fishes. read more

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100% the best experience iv ever had! we did do the VIP package which I highly recommend. everyone was so helpful and thoughtful. morgan (one of the trainers) was absolutely amazing At showing us around the park read more

I took my wife here for a birthday present while visiting Orlando. We loved it! It was pretty pricy (hence not 5 stars) but that's expected. We got to swim with sharks and dolphins. Both amazing experiences! Food was just okay. And beers were free (as long as they were cheap beers). I was sad that I couldn't get an IPA without buying the package. So relaxing. Made us feel like we were on vacation. The staff was amazing. I feel like half of our day we were waiting for storms to pass- had a code red called three times- however staff was really accommodating and even though we didn't get much time doing the dolphin swim, it was still pretty amazing for the ten mins we did get to spend with them. Photos were also very expensive - as if we didn't spend enough buying tickets, expect picture packages to cost more than $200. Crazy! read more

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Our family had a great time at Discovery Cove and it is a wonderful experience nestled in Orlando. Well kept and clean park make for a pleasant time for family in the heart of wild life and sea animals. The lazy river is very fun and long and has some deep spots so be wary of that if you can not swim or take a floaties with you to help keep you afloat. The experience at Discovery Cove includes breakfast and lunch and the food quality is very good and delicious. I would rate the food alone 4.5 out of 5 stars for the variety, nutritional value, and quality. The swim with the dolphin experience upgrade is a wonderful opportunity for you or your young ones to swim with and meet a dolphin up close and personally. If we didn't do that experience we may have missed the Grand Reef which is where you can snorkel with beautiful fish and sting rays of which there are many and some were very big! The only negative and this is why I deducted one star was that my wife had a delayed experience at check in due to a technical error on Discovery Cove's part which they claimed we had not paid for the upgrade to swim with the dolphins. The supervisor was rude and this whole ordeal could have been avoided if their system was simply updated. She kept insisting that despite us having the actual tickets showing the upgrade paid for, was showing up in their system as not paid for even though we confirmed payment online several weeks prior. Eventually, after a pretty decent delay (over 20 minutes) and frustration the supervisor discovered they were in the wrong and that we actually had paid. It was a bad start that left us feeling upset to an otherwise fascinating day at Discovery Cove. Overall a 5 star park with wonderful things to keep you and your family engaged for the whole day. read more

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I decided on Discovery Cove because it was something different and it looked beautiful. And, who doesn't like an all inclusive day. I got us tickets that included Seaworld for 14 days and a dolphin swim package. The morning of our trip I checked to see if any cabanas were available and they had a VIP cabana open so I booked it. The VIP cabana was well worth it and I would definitely do it again if I had group over 3 and especially worth it if you have kids. Our cabana came with a lot of nice upgrades and perks but it also included our own cabana host and park guide which was incredible. We got lucky with our guide, Todd, who definitely went above and beyond with helping us with drinks, masks/snorkels, getting us to our activities on time, refilling our cabana with fresh towels, snacks, & drinks. He helped us with our photo package and gave us all the tips for the park that made it very enjoyable. Todd was also super knowledgeable about the park and animals so it was really neat to learn new things. Besides from being super friendly, accommodating, he was super funny which made the day even better. We're a fun group and we like to joke around so it was nice not to have an awkward tour guide who can't take a joke or make one. Besides from Discovery Cove being amazing - Todd was outstanding and if we do a cabana again I will definitely ask for him. As for Discovery Cove goes the food was really good, all snacks/beer/wine is included, free parking, all your gear is included, bring water shoes and a waterproof phone bag for pictures, get the photo package, signature cocktails were super sweet and not very strong. The bathrooms were super clean as well. One thing that needed some TLC were the wetsuits they were ripped up pretty bad. I went with a vest and I'm glad I did. I hate wetsuits, they don't breathe and trying to go to the bathroom, forget about it. Next time we visit we're doing the day beds and another animal encounter. read more

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First time visiting Discovery Cove. It was an amazing, awesome experience. Would definitely like to go back if I ever visit Florida again. read more

Even years later, this place is still awesome. They do not have the SeaWorld ticket included anymore. You have to purchase it separately for an additional fee. However, the Coral Reef pool is much warmer than it was and hence has a lot more people in it. They still offer the dolphin and underwater scuba experiences for a little more extra cash (Well a lot more extra). Those prices have went up. I would say that the entire staff there is very courteous and friendly. Here are a few tips. Get there early so that you get checked in, eat breakfast, get a locker, wetsuit and sunscreen. But most importantly, to set up camp in the park. The best place I think to set up is by waterfall. Either the side where the bathrooms are or the side by the snack bar. They are both prime real estate and you have to get them early. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, beer, and wine are all include with admission as well as parking, the snorkel gear, sunblock, life jackets and wetsuits. Yes, I will be the first to admit that this place is a bit on the pricey side, but you should spoil yourself every once in a while. You can spend the whole entire day here. One more thing. If you plan on going to SeaWorld, I would purchase the add-on ticket from Discovery Cove. This is definitely a must visit if you are in the Orlando area. I am glad that I have come here a couple times. The family always has a good time and it is something that the little will never forget. read more

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The sand is heavy muck, similar to Jones Beach, with leaves and other junk here and there. Breakfast and lunch were manufactured cafeteria food, but low quality even by that standard. Because guests in the dining area (it's outdoors) feed the birds -- and Discovery Cove's staff turns a blind eye -- you'll eat surrounded by birds (and their droppings), and they'll jump on your tabletop and peck at your food the moment you're not looking! Because the lazy river lacks a current, you'll power yourself along the route (it's not relaxing or lazy). I like the aviary, and the concept of the river going through the aviary is great, but there are ropes acting as bird perches directly above the lazy river. That means bird poop drops in the river from above while you're swimming. The restrooms are too small for the volume of guests, as is the snorkeling area. Snorkeling brought to mind old Coney Island photos with swimmers shoulder-to-shoulder because it's so crowded. The footpaths around the park were covered with the sand muck too. All facilities appear to have been little changed -- and never upgraded -- since Discovery Cove opened around twenty-five years ago. A couple positives: the bar staff was friendly, and they never ran out of beer or snacks (they're included in the entry fee). Check-in was efficient, despite the long morning queue to enter the park. Skip Discovery Cove because you likely didn't fly to Orlando for a Jones Beach-ish experience. read more

Do not plan a vacation around this!!!! I planed my entire vacation around swimming with the dauphins. We flew from Oregon so come here and when we checked in they told us there were no more dolphins available. Mind you I made my reservations to swim with the dolphins over a month ago. The worst part was that the staff were not even kind and understanding about it. The were rude and told me I should not have planned my entire vacation around a temperamental animal. read more

Wow, Discovery Cove is a hidden paradise right here in Orlando, and I had no idea that they had so much to offer until my husband & I decided to celebrate our anniversary there. We had been seeing their current Florida Resident promotion, and it's really such a great deal! We thought it it would be fun to treat ourselves to a little day trip getaway and it ended up being the best decision! If you didn't already know, Discovery Cove is all-inclusive, which means all your meals, snacks, beverages, lockers, towels, wetsuit/vest, snorkel gear, sunscreen and most experiences are included. They are open 7am-5pm each day and serve breakfast & lunch with an extensive menu of items to choose from. Your admission includes the basic beer and wine offerings as well, but you can upgrade your drink package to have access to a full open bar for the day for only $40. Yes, you read that right! I highly recommend upgrading unless you're a Chardonnay or Bud Light drinker. Especially since that price is pretty much unheard of when it comes to the theme park/tourist attraction area. When you first arrive, you park in their FREE parking lot and enter through a hotel-like tiki building to check in (advance reservations are required). A guest services representative will give you an overview of the park, along with a map and lanyards to wear for the day. They directed us towards the lockers to put our stuff away and then to the Laguna Grill to grab our breakfast. After we ate, we suited up (you have the choice of a full wetsuit or vest) and went for a float around the scenic lazy river where you'll encounter waterfalls, the bird aviary, caves and more. It was so relaxing and the beautiful scenery can't be beat. Next up, we grabbed a drink at one of the three bars and sat in the bar-side pool to sip and chill. This area has actual seats in the water where you can enjoy your drinks -- so cool! One of our favorite experiences of the day was snorkeling in the Grand Reef with thousands of tropical fish and stingrays. You can even touch the silky rays as they swim by you! I was a bit braver than my husband when it came to actually touching them, but he still enjoyed the experience. You will also encounter other fun wildlife throughout the park like Asian-clawed otters, flamingos, exotic birds, marmosets, and more. If you wish, you can upgrade your package and add on other paid experiences like the one-on-one dolphin encounter, swimming with sharks, the underwater Seaventure, and reserving private cabanas. We didn't do any of these, but maybe next time! We're excited to go back whenever we need a little getaway but don't want to travel too far. read more

Discovery Cove - Waterfalls and swimming area - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

So much fun! We swam with the dolphins, snorkeled in the reef, and did the underwater seaventure. I felt like all of the employees were very well educated about the marine life & were excited to share their knowledge with us. The photographers took great pictures and the food was delish. I definitely recommend getting water shoes for the seaventure - you're walking along the bottom of a large tank. Special shout out to June who was our guide through the whole experience and took great care of us. My dad said he has been wanting to go here for over 25 years and it did not disappoint! read more

Most of our group had never been here before. One of us has been here a few times. It's not at all what it used to be. It's supposed to be a premier day resort where they limit the amount of people but it no longer seems like that. The snorkeling area is so crowded, it's not even any fun because there is someone constantly running into you; you can barely move. It doesn't seem like they limit the amount of people; they have tons of people and try to sell all the upgrades. It's also no longer premier... the waterways had soooo much debris, it was gross! The rivers were also quite crowded. When trying to attend info sessions about otters or the marmosets, there's so many people packed into these tiny areas & half of them don't care so you can't really even hear the person talking. Also I think I saw maybe 2 employees that actually seemed happy to be there; everyone else seemed to hate their life. The food area is now super unorganized & takes forever for lunch. I'm not sure how I can continue to spend money for this premier experience when there's no longer anything premier about it. read more

Fue una experiencia muy bonita poder compartir con los animales. Las instalaciones muy limpias. Los baños muy limpios. Las aguas cristalinas. Las comida deliciosa. Bastante personal de salvavidas.. Buena la atención al cliente. read more

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I seriously cannot wait to come back here. This is a little slice of paradise in the middle of Orlando. I love the natural feel of the lazy river... it feels like you're in another country. I loved swimming with the fish and the stingrays. I was happy that we went while they were limiting the number of people in the park because it allowed for better fish swimming/viewing. There are not many places that you can go locally that have unlimited food & drink for less than the price of a Disney ticket. I love the full relaxation that it provides. You don't have to stress about where you're going to eat, it's all right there and there are several options. I will be going back next month and I can't wait! read more

Discovery Cove - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Muy buen lugar y excelente servicio gracias . read more

I would give it five stars except for the fact that they couldn't find our pictures at the end for us to buy. I was highly disappointed and waited for 1.5 hours to look at them. I've called and was told they were going to send them, and they haven't. I called again today but it has been 9 days now of fussing with this. Also, I felt that the staff with the shark adventure and seaventure should have been more knowledgable about these events and they weren't and just stood there staring at us. I had a special needs son and needed to prep him for these two extra events and it would have been less stressful for me. The reason I kept it at 4 stars was the grand reef was awesome, and so were these two extra adventures. The food was very good. I wish the staff were more responsive. I still want my pictures. read more

What can I say about Discovery Cove other than how amazing it is and how easily you can spend the entire day there relaxing, soaking in the Sun and swimming with some amazing fish and eating some amazing food. All of which are included with the price of admission! Discovery Cove is in all day all inclusive theme park activity, located adjacent to SeaWorld and owned by them as well. During the time of covid-19 capping the capacity and it is making it seem like an empty place which is a very good thing! They take your temperature before you're allowed inside the park and check-in is a breeze, getting you in and situated in less than 10 minutes. If you are over the age of 21 certain beer is included in the price. The breakfast and lunch are honestly some of the best food that I have had at a theme park and I am a season pass holder to Disney World sell that is definitely saying a lot given how many restaurants Disney has. Breakfast is a buffet as well as lunch and for breakfast they have many different items such as sausage, eggs, yogurt and the fruit. You also can get orange juice and coffee and go back over and over again during the hour-and-a-half they have for breakfast hours. For lunch I opted for the salmon and let me say that it was some of the best fish I have ever had. I would go out of my way and spend the money to go into the theme park just for the lunch alone. They also have the little scuba diving area that has some beautiful fish, the water is ice cold so be ready for a thermal shock when you first wade into it! LOL! They also have an Aviary where you can feed some gorgeous looking birds. They also have sea otters that you can come face-to-face with and they are absolutely adorable! They also have additional excursions such as a dolphin swim, however because of covid-19 able to swim with them but that gives you an extended amount of time to talk with the trainers and touch these Majestic animals. Overall an amazing place however if it rains and there is lightning in the area they will close everything there, making it very difficult to justify the price of admission if you are stuck under cover for half of the day. read more

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Best day of our trip! We had a beautiful cabana space. Our attendant, Jason, was so friendly and helped to make our day a success. I highly recommend a cabana for families. It was convenient to have a home base. The dolphin swim was more interactive than I expected and the trainers were awesome. Food was good. We got there at about 6:40 so we were one of the first to be checked in. That was nice but that put us with a really early dolphin swim that pushed back breakfast and us getting our cabana. I knew this would not work with little kids and we have a child with an injury that needed to lay down in the cabana. The lady at check in was understanding and kind. She pushed our dolphin swim back by an hour. It made all the difference. My only recommendation to Discovery Cove would be to let anyone with cabanas do that check in first thing so stuff can be dropped before breakfast. Plus if anyone in the party is older or disabled, they get their rest space right away. Beautiful day with wonderful memories for our family. read more

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Do not recommend this place!! they over charge the people. I got charge almost $800 for 3 general admission tickets. then, I called them since l saw the same 3 tickets for $560. They said that l can buy the tickets again since they don't have me on the system yet. I went ahead and buy the ticket again. Now, my bank is claiming that they took the money twice. I called them to resolve the issue and they refused to refund my money back. So, I paid more than $1300 dollars for 3 general admission tickets. Never will go back and l will advised not to ever go there or to Seaworld which is associated with this company. read more

Best time ever with our family group. Breakfast and lunch are buffet style. No lines and very clean park. We did love the cabana and amenities. The attendant, Josh, lit the heater and kept us supplied with snacks, drinks, towels and information. The dolphin experience was wonderful. LaToya was a gentle well trained and cooperative. Photos came out great. read more

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I could not be more happier with my trip to Discovery Cove. It was absolutely amazing & I am glad I found it and booked it for my trip to Orlando. Discovery Cove is the perfect getaway for a day. When you enter into Discovery Cove, they have beautiful gardens surrounding the area. They have a large venue at the top/front of the resort where you check in. It is a tall building with an open concept and it really fits the garden/forest vibes. There was lots of staff there helping everyone check in and get a rundown of how the day will work. Once I was all checked in, I took an incredible walk into the park. They have greenery on both sides, water, and even forest noises (like exotic birds) through the speakers along the walkway. I thought it was real in the beginning--I had no idea that the noises were coming through speakers. Discovery Cove has done a great job with elements that make the guest feel welcomed into their space. I then arrived at their cafeteria area, where I was greeted with an assortment of options for breakfast. The breakfast food was pretty bland so I was glad they had some condiments and spices to make it more flavorful. One of the things that sold me on buying a ticket to Discovery Cove is the fact that their resort is all inclusive, so you just take whatever you'd like and you're set. From there, I took another little walk to the locker area and to get a wetsuit. There was one specific lady that stuck out like a sore thumb as people were waiting to get their wetsuits. Everyone else was decent and respectful, but this one lady was being sarcastic and rude to every single person that looked at her. She was pretty rude to me but I was just glad to be done with her and move on with my fun day. From there, I went over to the grand reef and dipped my toes in. I thought someone was joking when they said they touched a stingray. Nope, there is hundreds of fish in this area. They have several stingrays, small fish, and also guitar fish that everyone thinks are sharks. They also do have sharks but they're in their own separate area. I believe they also have some kind of deep dive area, but that part was closed off from the rest of the water. I have never really been a fan of stingrays after what they did to Steve, but I really warmed up to them on this trip. They are so cute and fun when they start swimming around everywhere. I also spent a while just snorkeling around this area and exploring all the fishies. They had an otter exhibit, which I was so excited about. Otters have always been a favorite of mine & I love how energetic they are. The first time I visited the otters, they were playing and having so much fun. Of course, this was also when I didn't have my camera haha. The encounter was anticlimactic--it was crowded with people and you just got to see them eat so it wasn't really that exciting in my opinion. They had other animal encounters throughout the day as well. You could pay extra to swim with the dolphins in a group of people but it was free to watch them, which I thought was just as good. They brought out something that was not an owl, but kind of looked like one. I believe he was a frogmouth. They also showed us a cute little sloth. Sloths don't usually move a whole lot but this guy was on the move. The trainers were amazing at explaining everything with the animals & answering all of our questions. On top of the water with all the fish in it, they had a heated lazy river and a heated lounge area. They also had an area that was like a beachy rainforest, but didn't have all the animals in it. Unfortunately, at one point, all of us had to get out of the water because of the storm. It was coming down pretty hard but I, for one, didn't mind. Lunch was served later in the day in the same cafe area. I was a big fan of the lunch. They had so many options and there was a lot more flavor to the lunch. I loved the island rice and the pulled pork. The grilled chicken was okay. They also had a burger bar, fries, and chicken tenders. They still also served whatever drinks you'd like. There was plenty of seating near the cafe and there was workers helping make sure the area was clean. Another awesome perk to Discovery Cove are the bar/snack areas around the resort. These bars can serve you cocktails if you paid the extra $40 or beer/wine. Next to the bars, they also have your typical sodas, and even different flavors of icees. Throughout the day, they also served pizza, pretzels, and warm cookies. I ended the day with a warm shower, which came with complimentary shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. There was also an area for me to do my makeup, which was nice because I had somewhere special to be afterwards. They also provided towels. I am so glad I was able to visit Discovery Cove; I had so much fun and the experience was unlike anything else I've seen before. I was able to learn about animals and even warm up to animals I didn't think I liked, like the stingrays. I'd love to go back! read more

Discovery Cove - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

If you're looking for something to do in Orlando that's more than a theme park, this is it! Get there early as it does take awhile to check in however none of the pools open till 9am so it gives you plenty of time to eat breakfast and find a place to sit. Would recommend finding a spot with shade as it feels hard to find a spot to relax in the shade that's not the dinning area. read more

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We had an awesome time at Discovery Cove. The kids loved snorkeling with all the fish and sting rays. We also loved the huge lazy river and birds. It was our first time here so we had a lot to learn. I felt like some more information up front would of helped us be more efficient, but all in all we had a great time. We some how managed to never see the sloth, or any flamingos so I'm not sure what we were missing as we walked everywhere before the pools even opened at 9. The food was really good for what it was and who can complain about an open bar with snacks like mini pizza's, pretzels and cookies for the kids? We didn't do any of the add-ons, but next time we will likely spoil the kids with the dolphin encounter. The first trip was more of a learning curve for us, but we highly recommend Discovery Cove if anyone is considering it! We also did the 2 park pass with it which is unlimited re-entry 14 days prior or after. This allowed us to spoil the kids at Sea World for three days. Although, there was no indication that Antarctica was closed and that was one of our favorite places to see when at Sea World. read more

They open at 7:00 am, we got there at 7:15 am and there was a line already. After checked in and got a name tags. We headed straight to Laguna Grill for breakfast and this is where you would come back after 11:00 am for lunch. It is all included in the package. Beer and cocktails were included in the package as well, so drink as much as you like. First dolphin activity start at 8:30 am. No cellphone, hat, glasses allowed in the dolphin pool. They had a pro photographer who takes a picture for you. We purchased 4 6x8 pictures for $120. We had to, no choice. I highly suggest if you have snorkeling set you should bring it and use your own. We brought our own snorkeling set. The day we went it was anywhere from 85-90 degrees so it was warm. We liked lazy river and swimming area the most. I highly recommend this place if you come to Orlando, Florida with your kids. read more

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I wanted to come to Discovery Cover to be with all the animals. It was a disappointment for the most part. I feel what was advertised was not what was received. We were told the shark swim was about 20 minutes long..in actuality the swim itself was only about 5 minutes long - the other time was taken up with paperwork and putting on all the gear. 5 minutes for $100! We also purchased 3 tickets for the Flamingo Mingle...we were under the assumption we could pet the Flamingos but that was not the case. We were in with them for a little over 15 minutes with another group so we didn't even have their full attention. That was over $250! Overall, it felt like a glorified small water park. For the cost of everything, I would not go back. Also, my 8 year old granddaughter has a peanut and tree nut allergy - the food service has very little to give for people like this. I know it can be difficult but not impossible to offer a few choices. The food is mediocre. When we decided to get some ice cream, most was gone by mid-afternoon. On a positive note, all the staff were very friendly and helpful and the environment was clean and beautiful. I hate to give a poor review...I centered my vacation around coming to Discovery Cover (flew in from Boston) so I was so sad with the experience. p.s. Customer service is poor. I have called and emailed about a credit I was suppose to receive and have heard nothing. Once they get your money they are done with you. read more

Great experience for all ages! Pricing can vary, they run sales throughout the year. I opted for just the resort tickets. I personally didn't want to swim with the dolphins, which is extra. Parking was plentiful and included with the tickets. We arrived around 8:45 am and there was no wait to get checked in. Upon entering, I felt like I was walking into a resort in Hawaii. The reception building is beautiful and smells so good. The employees are all so nice. Breakfast was basic, but good. There's hot food such as eggs and bacon, and lots of cold options such as yogurt, fruit and cereal. I really enjoyed lunch. The coconut crusted salmon was flavorful! I liked the chicken as well. Domestic beer and wine is included in the price! You can upgrade to the premium package that includes liquor and it's a pretty good deal for the price. I love that the park attendance is capped. I felt like I was at a resort. There were plenty of beach chairs available. They have plenty of different wet suits: long sleeve, short sleeve or vests. The restrooms were clean with plenty of towels and even showers. I'd suggest getting a locker as soon as you can. There were only a few left by the main restrooms by the time we got there. I enjoyed floating around the lazy river. I loved feeding the birds in the aviary. They land right on your arms and shoulders! The snorkeling was excellent! The huge rays are so friendly! Be sure to swim to the back of the reef to see the giant grouper and sharks (separated by glass). I had a really great day. I didn't feel like I missed out by not swimming with the dolphins. I still got to see them. I would definitely purchase tickets in the future to do this again. read more

My family & I took a trip & visited Discovery cove for my little boys Birthday. I was a bit nervous as it's $$$$ I didn't know if we were going to find it worth the high price tag. Let me just say it was 100% worth it & honestly the highlight of our trip! We ended up doing another day. The reason for only 4 stars is because I feel there's just a few things they could tweak to make it better. The food is all inclusive as well as some alcoholic beverages which we don't drink so wish they offered an option for savings if you don't partake in the liquor. The snack options could have been a little more variety & the pretzels are delicious but need cheese please! The pizza was actually really delicious and is available at the snack bar. They do close pretty early 5 pm wish it was till 7 and part of the lazy river was closed off due to staffing shortages as well as the animal encounters we only saw the same owl bird not what was advertised. We did the swim with the dolphins experience and it was so fun getting to see my childrens faces light up as they are big marine animal fans. But the true highlight was the snorkeling in the reef with all the fish, guitar fish, giant spotted eagle rays, puffer fish, eels, sharks etc. We are big Sea wold fans and this is def next level. The attn to detail such as limited capacity, down to sunscreen, showers, life vest est was all excellent. The gift shoppe affordable. The only really bad thing was the photographer for the dolphins didn't capture any really great photos and that is extremely overpriced packages start at $300 or a single photo is $45 which I personally find to be a little offensive. When you are spending this type of money and pay for an upgraded experience you should at least get a single photo for free. But that's my biggest gripe. The aviary was also really cool. If you have any doubts about coming don't. Im extremely picky and we will absolutely have to make a trip back to Orlando specifically for this again. read more

I made online reservations. They did not have records of it. So I assumed that something went wrong with the online res and paid again at the time of the visit. Got back home, turns out that they did charge for the online reservations, and again at the time of the visit. I went ahead and disputed the charge. Discovery Cove submitted paperwork disputing back and now I'm being charged! I'm waiting for copies of the paperwork Discovery Cove submitted. Completely dishonest! Do not book online! read more

This was definitely worth the money ! When we entered the building was gorgeous ! I felt Iike I was in Hawaii! We swam in a probrably 2mile pool /lazy river ! Also in a coral reef which btw was so beautiful and fun ! Also animals that look like sharks are not sharks they are stingrays ! Last, my fave , I got to swim with dolphins ! It was a small group of people and we got a to RIDE on a dolphin ! BE CAREFUL!!!! : a lot of the ground is soaking wet wear water shoes!!!!! read more

It was a magical stay with countless fish, 57 sting rays and swimming next to sharks was unique. The employees really make the experience glamorous and educational. I'm grateful every food item is included and it makes it feel like a resort and comfortable. We really enjoyed meeting Rose and wish the photo package was more affordable. read more

Discovery Cove - Amusement Parks Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Although it can be pricey, the cost is well worth it. Swimming with fish and stingrays is an exhilarating experience that offers a unique glimpse into the underwater world. The vibrant colors and graceful movements of the fish create a mesmerizing spectacle, while the gentle gliding of stingrays adds an element of wonder. Overall, swimming with these creatures can be a memorable and awe-inspiring adventure for those who appreciate the beauty of the ocean while seeing it in the safe, controlled environment. Plus, free food and drinks all day! read more

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We had the best time! For my nephew's 15th birthday, we took a group to enjoy "trainer for a day!" I recommend getting there as early as possible cause the check in line is lengthy. We met up at 7:45 am with our trainer Emily who was phenomenal. Think of a group of 8 with one 8 year old & six 15 year olds plus me. She had her hands full and loads of questions. She made today AMAZING! The food was yummy, snack bars stocked & everything was super safe & tidy with one tiny suggestion (the sidewalk by food bar was slippery when wet & with lots of wet swimmers piling in, it seemed risky.) Can't wait to go again someday! read more

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