Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive day resort where your family can experience animal encounters in an amazing tropical paradise. Swim with bottlenose dolphins, feed tropical birds, snorkel through a saltwater reef and watch family of otters play. Along with these experiences, you get unlimited access to an extensive amount of food, drinks and snacks all day. Although this is an expensive way to spend a day out of the regular theme parks, it is worth it to experience it just once.
The Grand Reef
Here there is a white-sand beach, palm-lined island and underwater grotto's filled with moray eels, reef sharks and scores of tropical fish.
SeaVenture
This is an innovative underwater experience is where you can take a walking tour wearing a dive helmet. This experience is at an extra cost starting at $49 per person. You get to come eye-to-eye with sharks through panoramic windows as well as schools of fish and velvet rays. This unique experience lasts for roughly an hour including orientation with the walking tour lasting roughly 20 minutes and includes up to nine people per group.
Dolphin Lagoon
Experience a one-on-one 30 minute dolphin encounter and learn about their behavior and communication. Here along with a trainer and a small group of guests you can wade into shallow (and very cold) water. Get nose to nose with a bottlenose and take a hold of its dorsal fin and hold on.
Wind-away River
This is a heated tropical lazy river that runs through the aviary and circles the park allowing guests to float past different aspects of the park such as beaches, waterfalls and a rain forest.
Freshwater Oasis
In this rainforest canopy and sparkling springs you get to come face-to-face with playful otters and marmosets.
Explorers's Aviary
The free-flight aviary contains over 250 tropical birds including parrots, toucans, and over 30 other species of exotic birds.
Tip #1: Get there early!
Check-in at Discovery Cove opens an hour before the park opens so you can get checked in, eat breakfast, take photos, grab your swim gear and find seats before the majority of people arrive. It also means getting an extra hour in the water, the stingray feedings are also early in the morning and it's better to visit the aviary early as well as the birds get fuller as the day goes on.
Tip #2: Don't over-pack!
One of the best things about Discovery Cove that you can't do at Disney is take advantage of the free towels. You can get unlimited towels, free wet suit hire and not to mention the complimentary food all day long! So unlike the Disney water parks you don't have to bring in food because of the park prices and you don't need to fork out for towels. I would also recommend not wearing any jewelry, you need to take it all off before you go in the water anyway so just don't bother wearing any before you leave for the park.
Tip #3: Arrive hungry!
All food is included! Breakfast, lunch, snacks, drinks and alcoholic beverages are all included in your package!
Tip #4: Find the perfect seats!
Scope out the perfect seats which isn't too difficult at Discovery Cove. Since there is a limited attendance of 1,000 people it never gets overcrowded and there are also private cabanas that are available to rent for up to 6 people.
Tip #5: Swim with Rays!
As well as dolphins, you can swim with rays and tropical fish which I found just as amazing as the dolphin experience. The ray area can be rather daunting and a lot of people are rather scared to do it but it is totally worth it!
Tip #6: Remember your complementary photo!
So the actual photo package at Discovery Cove can cost anything up to $230, but as you arrive at the park you get a complimentary photo taken so don't forget to pick it up! I would recommend picking it up half way through the day so you don't hit rush hour at the photo studio.
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