Discovery Cove

This place was absolutely beautiful! I can not express the appropriate words to describe how incredible this was. Touching a dolphin has always been a dream of mine, and snorkeling with coastal reef fish and rays was too! The place was absolutely clean, and the staff was so well-informed, professional, and attentive. If this sounds appealing to you, then I highly recommend coming here! It's definitely family oriented. I can't wait to go back!

We visited on a Friday for the Ultimate VIP Experience. We arrived at 7am and the line was forming quickly. Our host June was fantastic! I can’t say enough good things about her. June made sure we had everything we needed! The meet and greet with the two toed sloth was informative and fun. We swam with the dolphins. The trainers were fun and you can tell they love their job! The shark swim was interesting, the black tip shark swam right next to me. We had a personal, first in line feeding in the aviary! Snorkeled in the Great Reef and floated around the lazy river. Food was good but not gourmet. Drinks were potent. I definitely want to go back! There was a lot of walking, so I do recommend water shoes!

Amazing experience! My husband and I took our 11yo son to Discovery Cove over the weekend for his birthday, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations! The food was great, with a pretty big selection, and available pretty much all day. Tons of snacks and little bites around for the taking as well. We had a cabana, and it was in an excellent, private location, right on the beautiful water near the otters. Felt like a really central location, and the whole park isn’t too big where you feel like you have to walk a mile to get to the other sections. Jeff was very attentive at the cabana, checking on us throughout the day, and made us feel really special when he was waiting for us with towels on the beach after our dolphin swim! Everyone who we encountered who worked there was really pleasant and friendly. We felt like we were at an all inclusive island resort. The place was beautiful, clean, and quiet, and just what we needed after an exhausting day at a theme park the day before. And even though it was a Saturday, it did not feel overcrowded whatsoever, and I loved that we could do everything at our own pace. Well worth the price. 10/10 would recommend!

LOVED it here! Got there just before 8am, was quite busy to get in with people trying to push in but once in we had the best day. Lots of sunbeds to choose from, food was nice and drinks and snacks were lots of choice, I couldn't believe all our drinks were included in the price! Dolphin swim was great, small groups and lovely, caring staff. We loved swimming with the stingrays and fish, that was my favourite part. Also feeding the birds too. Would love to come back one day.

I have no words for this place. Me and my fiance and a couple of friends were staying in Orlando for a week of Universal and Volcano Bay. We decided to do Discovery Cove as a good ending to our trip and boy was it a good ending. It was the highlight of our whole trip. It was absolutely beautiful. Feels like you’re in a tropical paradise. You get so much food and snacks for free. I highly recommend even if you don’t bring kids. You won’t regret this.

Had a great day here. Family vacation so we did it all, dolphin swim, sea venture, cabana. $$$ it will cost a lot for the day but all food is included along with drinks and adult beverages. The underwater sea venture is very cool but too short. Cabanas are a nice touch if you want to be out of the sun and have a quiet place. You get an attendant that will bring drinks, fresh towels and overall take care of you for the day.

Discovery Cove is a little slice of paradise that had me smiling ear to ear all day. The all-inclusive aspect meant I was able to leave all my worries at the door. Food, drink, lockers, towels, gear, showers, shade, seats, etc are all provided. The staff are friendly, the park is clean and beautifully maintained, and the animal interactions are wholesome and abundant. I don’t remember ever having such an enjoyable experience at another park. If there is one thing I could criticize, it is their dolphin digital picture package. The photos cost more than the actual dolphin experience, which is silly in my opinion. That is my one nitpick. Skip that extra day of waiting in lines and fighting crowds at Disney or Universal, go to Discovery Cove instead. Less stress, no lines, and and opportunity to relax and enjoy something different.

This was the most amazing experience of my life. I fulfilled a 20-year dream to swim with dolphins and it didn't let me down. All of the animals are so well cared for, from the dolphins to the armadillos. The park itself is beautiful. Its an expensive ticket, but totally worth it. All drinks (beer, wine and soft drinks), as well as the food, are included in the ticket. The food variety is amazing. Plenty of choice.

My wife surprised me with this for my birthday. It was such a blast. I've been living in Florida my entire adult life and never really thought about coming here, but I definitely would like to make it a regular occurrence. Unlimited food. We got the drink package and it was so worth it. Swimming deep in their reef area was a blast and just seeing all the fish. The facility in general is well kept and just a great place to relax.

We were taking a family trip to Orlando and I thought it would be great to take our youngest grandchildren to Discovery Cove. Well this is a must see if you are visiting Orlando. Being at Discovery Cove is like spending the day on a Tropical Island. They limit attendance to make it more enjoyable and that system definitely works. We went the extra mile and got a Cabana. More than worth it. It was like having a thatched hut in the middle of a jungle. It came with a refrigerator, drinks included beer and wine and snacks. It also came with a "Consierge who came around every 20-30 minutes to make sure we had everything we needed. This is also an all inclusive park. Food all day. I read some reviews that complained about the food. Not sure what they were talking about but as far as I was concerned the food was excellent. Plenty of selections all day. Now for the main reason we came. All of the attractions were 5 star. The kids swam with the dolphins and they loved it. Probably total time about 30 minutes but that was more than enough time. The Grand Reef was a standout. They provide masks and snorkels and wet suits. You get to swim with sting rays and all types of fish. The fish will nibble on you and the sting rays have fun rubbing up against you. I could go on and on but you must go here if you go to Orlando. I guarantee you will be more than happy with the experience you get. Just a note. Get there early and be on notice that they close at 5 PM. Believe me it's plenty of time

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

What a great day we had. Staff is so friendly and helpful. Dolphins swim was the highlight but the lazy river and eeed snorkeling were awesome too. Food and drink included in package was so nice. Showed and changing facilities and lockers. All ample and well staffed. We will definitely be back with the kids and grandkids.

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!

There are no EV chargers on-lot... however what a fabu place to be. We went for the dolphin experience as well as the premium drink. You will want this!!!Dont skimp on the drinks. We sat there and watched person after group change their mind and get the premium drinks. This is a very chill and slightly disorganized park. First,, when you get there stand In The middle. They have small signs, Group 1/2. Then they direct you to the booths around the room. Second, as you get your neck landyard, if you booked a dolphin exp., our check in clerk said meet at the beach. That was so inaccurate. They have pavilions along the main path with whatever name they put on ur tag. Go there first. Now onto breakfast, don't line up on the left (everyone does). The breakfast is the same at 6-8 stations. If you move to the right, breakfast is much faster. Lunch is much different layout. What about the bar? Don't sit in the chairs/swing , unless u have a drink. No one will call on you until they know you and have punched your lanyard. There are only a couple bars but they learn who you are fast. The premium package is so worth it. You will want the full Dolphin experience (I wasn't sure I did) but Im glad I didn't miss it. If you are a swimmer, the lazy river has 8 feet sections, and you can swim the lazy river without floats. If you are not a swimmer, no problem they have Floats and lifejackets. In fact, there's even a bar at one end of the lazy river, where you can take your drink and sit in the river and relax. All in all totally worth it, something you will come back year after year. No questions asked.

This place was amazing. We got there early enough for breakfast which was soooo good and we had lunch as well. We explored the reef area which was great. The only two things that can be improved is explaining where things are like the towels, wet suits and lockers are. Also, do a better job at making sure the towels being put out are actually clean. I came across a lot of towels with huge yellow marks which was gross. Other than that we had a phenomenal experience and will go again.

I visited Discovery Cove for the first time and it was amazing. It truly feels like you're in a secluded paradise. The musical, landscape, and service is so relaxing. Andries checked us in and explained the map to us. He gave me a birthday lanyard and scheduled our dolphin swim. Everything being all inclusive was nice. Breakfast and lunch were both good with lots of options and quality food. The park wasn't too crowded and we got good seats and service. We loved the lazy river, secluded pools, and animal experiences. The dolphin swim was absolutely magical. Touching them and watching them play was incredible. We also loved feeding birds in the aviary. The showers were also very nice to have before heading home. Overall, this is a great luxury experience and I highly recommend it!

I attended Discovery Cove in the off-season, the pro - not crowded, the con - it's cold! I signed up for Trainer for the day which has a maximum of 9 people, and since I was the only one that signed up that day, it was me and 2 staff members on this tour. We started out with breakfast. The kitchen staff can easily accommodate dietary restrictions and are very knowledgeable. Overall the food was good. I enjoyed the aviary where you get to feed the birds and they land on you. I got to see the staff feed the sea otters. I had one on one encounter with the sloth and the sea life in the tide pool. One of my favorite parts was feeding the fish and rays in the reef. My tour included the dolphin swim which is done in a group. You meet the dolphins, the staff share fun dolphin facts, and you swim wit the dolphins for maybe 50 ft or like 5 seconds. It also includes a second interaction where I met another dolphin after the group swim. They take a ton of photos, but they are not included in the costs and I think the charge for the photos was around $179, I'll take the memories - thanks, can't afford the photos. After the dolphin swim the trainer for the day ends. I then was on my own and took some time to hang out of the lazy river and swim with the fish and rays followed by lunch. This was a great experience (except for the pricing of the photos which can't be purchased after you leave) to do once. It's very pricey but it does help to support their operations.

I came with a small group in January. We were looking for a warmer getaway to escape the snowy Northeast, and Discovery Cove seemed like a great activity. We looked for tickets for months and got day passes with dolphin swim for $149 each. We had to look for months for the deal, but it was worth it! The day we went it was 40 degrees in the morning and got up to 57 degrees max. It really didn't affect our day negatively at all. We did run in between the pools so we wouldn't freeze, and some of the mammals stayed inside because they were cold. But that was it! The water was warm, the provided wetsuits kept us warm, and the weather kept the number of people in the park low. We started with check in, which was very smooth, before breakfast. It's a continental breakfast with no surprises, but it has a good variety and the food was good for what I expected. We went immediately after to change. They provide free lockers with keys you can tuck into your swimsuit or bathing suit. The bathrooms have showers, toilet stalls, and changing stalls. They're huge and clean and have towels and bags for wet bathing suits. The staff help you get wetsuits in the right sizes. We went to the aviary first thing. The birds are incredible- they pick beautiful, colorful and unique species, and several birds are friendly or at least not afraid of people. You can feed them as much as you or they would like, and there are always attendants there to answer your questions. I loved feeding the birds and even got a couple doves to sit on my arm. After the aviary we headed to the dolphin swim. For our group it was a nice bonus, not the highlight, and we had a great time. First you head to your assigned cabana where the staff check you in and you watch a video talking about the upcoming experience. The dolphin trainers come to pick you up and take you to the lagoon. The trainers keep you really structured in the water. You stay in lines and they ask you to stay still, move only when they ask, and follow their directions pretty closely. I think your experience could depend on your trainer, but we had an excellent time. The trainer clearly loves the dolphins and answered all of our questions. The dolphin was great, but the session has an emphasis on taking photos that they charge a lot for. I would just be prepared for the cost and go into the session knowing if you want photos or not. After the dolphin swim we went to the lazy river. The water is warm, the noodles are very buoyant, and you go through the aviary! There's another pool inside the lazy river where you can swim around a marmoset exhibit and swim next to otters- a very cool experience! The highlight for us was the large reef and, specifically, the rays. The rays were amazing! To get in you start in a shallow area and the rays are everywhere! If you're still and calm they'll swim right up to you, bump into your legs and back, and let you touch them. There are staff members in the water to answer all of your questions. Swimming in the deeper parts of the reef is incredible too. You can see hundreds of colorful fish that splash around you. With wetsuits on, it's easy to float and bob in the water and just watch all of the action. Lunch was really excellent with a wide variety of menu items and great quality food. The desserts were a highlight! But we were really focused on getting back in the water and barely spent time eating! At the end of the day it was easy to shower and change into clean clothes. As animal and water lovers, this was the highlight of our trip. However, we also got tickets for a great price. I don't think I would spend $400 to go and I wouldn't want to go with more crowds.

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.

The dolphin experience was something I have wanted to do for most of my life and finally got to do it and it was the highlight of my day! We got there at 7:15am and there was already a long line out the front door to get in. My daughter and I both agreed the included breakfast was not worth getting there that early, she advised if I ever go again to get there around 8:30am- but then you won't get good parking. They check your id to confirm tickets and give you lanyard with a card for park access. My daughter and I both have birthdays this month (this week) and we realized later that we had red, birthday lanyards! Everyone else had blue lanyards. This helps alert the staff to say happy birthday to you and they did. A lot. I found it amusing, my daughter was mortified, which made me laugh more. Breakdown: Check in: 5 stars Long line, but bag check and checking in went pretty smoothly. Good system and Louise checked us in and was great. Breakfast: 3 stars I felt like it was hotel breakfast food. Powdered eggs, thin & floppy bacon, the same exact danishes and such that you would find at a continental breakfast at a hotel giving you free breakfast. Horribly long lines with no direction. My favorite thing was the yogurt (I don't even like yogurt) with granola and blueberries. And the homefries were good. The french toast sticks weren't good either and that primarily what I thought I would like. Opening of the water: 4 stars all the water features don't open till 9am- so you rush to get there and end up waiting for everything to open Getting you gear: 3 stars The first snorkel gear station and wet suit/life vest station we found, we asked where the sun block and towels were & I reached for a snorkel set and the worker shoo'd me away from grabbing and gave us directions for another station further down when we realized later a sun block dispenser was right behind us and towels were in the bathrooms (again- right near where we asked) I took asking 3 different staff members before someone said dispenser. I thought I was getting a small bottle, that little piece of info made finding it so much easier. Gear- ugh, the guy handing out the wetsuit vest gave my daughter and I both 3x. I have never been a 3x and these were unisex (aka mens sizes). I was mortified. I swapped it for my correct size at another station. Tell your staff to ask what size. Don't guess. Masks leak, I wish I had brough my own snorkel gear. Dolphin Encounter: 5 stars Instruction where to meet, the safety info and presentation were all great. Mario and Lindsay were our trainers and fabulous. Luna was a star! Groups are small- we had 9 in our group. I loved the quality of our encounter. Wonderful learning experience too. Photos were great too! Water was exhilarating first thing in the morning Photos: 4 stars Pricey, very pricey- but great photos to capture your experiences. We bought the Discovery package- be sure to take advantage of the bonus buys when picking up your photos- $20 for Discovery Cove fleece blanket or beach towel. I snagged both. Grand Reef: 3 stars you must have a life vest or wet suit/vest on to enter the water. It is VERY crowded, don't kick if you are snorkeling (you will kick someone). more than half the coral was dead and brown or gray color. Plenty of fish to see, the living coral is stunning. Water is coldest here. Bar: 3.5 stars Bar doesn't open until 10:30am, I would never buy the drink package again because there are only 2 bars, long lines and limited time to get drinks. The bartenders were great though. Wind Away River: 3.5 stars Crowded again, trash floating in the river by the time we got to it after lunch. Discarded floats, snorkels, life vests everywhere in water and along river. It honestly made me sad to see it trashed so quickly. My favorite part was floating into the aviary- but you get pelted by the waterfall (to keep the birds in, the water is heavy). Serenity Bay: 3.5 stars- same as the river, but we did find a shady spot to relax in and cool off. Lunch/Icees/Snacks: 4 stars what we had was tasty and there are plenty of snacks. Icees were a good treat since summer in FL is HOT Tips** Pack water shoes, the concrete walkways get hot and some of the water entrances are rough/rocky. If you have a snorkel & mask that fits correctly- take it! Skip the premium drink package- the lines are too long and it takes you away from the fun. Book encounters- I only did the dolphin encounter and wish I had booked other encounters. If you want photos, buy them ahead of time online- you will save money. I went on a Sunday, if I ever went again I think I would try a weekday.

Ok so I have always wanted to go to discovery cove, but the rate per person can be pricey. If you are flexible with your dates it can really help to save money as you can pick days that are cheaper and have added bonuses during sales like free SeaWorld and Aquatica admission. I have to say that I loved the experience. There is so much to do and the relaxing vibe is amazing. Being able to snack and eat all day with cost included is nice. The food was sometimes bland and lacking salt, but I understand they are trying to make meals healthy for all. They offer all of the condiments you can think of to add to your food so that makes it ok and not something that would deter me from coming here. The warm cookies and iceee options was great. Loved seeing the flamingos , birds and string rays. It's really a great experience and all the staff I encountered were really nice. Bathrooms were clean, and staff was always cleaning everywhere we went. They provide towels for the beach and showering. We didn't feel like it was crowded at all and loved to move to different places to see what there was to offer. There were lots of kids there but it still was some place you can go without kids to relax. I will 100% recommend and can't wait to go back.

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.

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.

This was an all-inclusive, educational opportunity to spend time in the outdoors. We chose the upgraded package with the dolphin encounter. Breakfast and lunch were included, and were served buffet style as you might find on a cruise ship where you can choose and eat at will. The food options were good and there were a variety of options. A variety of cold and frozen drinks were also available, including Icees and soft serve. There were also a selection of desserts available, including cookies and cake. When it was our assigned time, we were able to observe two dolphins within a small group of fellow tourists. The trainers showed us how to get the dolphins to do a couple of tricks and explained how they train them. The animals were treated with ultimate respect and it was clearly stated that if they chose not to participate, they would not be forced to do so and could swim away with their friends and socialize. We were given the opportunity to swim with the Dolphins a short stretch. A photographer was present and took pictures of all of the interactions. We knew that the cost of the photos would be somewhat expensive in keeping with most amusement parks. And this was certainly true. However, we decided it was worth it to have those photos, since being close to dolphins is not something that will happen very often. It was a unique experience, well worth it. Wet suits are provided as are life jackets and noodles and towels. Ample time is given to float and swim in multiple large pools within the park. Various animal encounters are available, including the opportunity to feed a variety of birds. We could have stayed longer, but we stayed most of the day and left within a couple hours of closing. We had a very enjoyable time and we're very glad that we not only bought tickets, but that it included the interactions with the dolphins. We would highly recommend this park experience.

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!

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!!!!!

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.

This was the highlight of our trip. The dolphin experience is worth it. Food being included and all the amenities helps add value to what you pay to spend a day at Discovery Cove. See their website for the list of amenities. We got two day beds thinking it would be a good idea to have our own spot that has shade thinking there weren't enough umbrellas. There are plenty of umbrellas. Go early. I will say it again, Go early! When you get there is when you get assigned your dolphin time slot. Also, if you're going to do the dolphin experience, and you have someone in your party not doing the experience, they can take pictures from the shore. If everyone is doing the experience, it would be wise to prepurchaae the picture package as there are no discounts on the day of your trip to Discovery Cove. They do not allow for the participants of the experience to bring their phones with them into the dolphin pool. If you have any bracelet that cannot be taken off and you are doing the dolphin experience, just grab a full/long wet suit and get into it, they will make you wear one if they see you have a bracelet on that you can't take off. So save yourself the time you would be reducing from your encounter by just putting it on. The food is pretty good. Service is good. It's great to be included in the price of the day. I really liked the lazy river. Do note that there are parts of the river that are 8' deep. If you're not a strong swimmer, put on a life vest. Longest lazy river I have ever experienced. They don't havefloatie rings available. Just pool noodles, so use a life vest if you're not a strong swimmer. Put on a wet suit before going into the Grand Reef. It's 75F in there. The wet suit helps you to not be freezing. With the wetsuit, you can swim comfortably and snorkel looking at the cool fish. If you go to the back of the Grand Reef, you can see the sharks that are separated by glass. When you're in the Aviary - Hold your hand with a food cup within view of the bird but not holding it up next to them, and they will come down to perch on your hand while they feed. If you hold it close enough for them to eat from the line/branch, they won't come down. This day was a lot of fun. I would consider doing it again the next time we are in Orlando.

We came here in November of 2016 and it was one of my best vacations ever. We loved it so much we came back on the last day of our extended trip to relax in the resort and just drink and sun tan. Highly recommend you make this a destination on your list cuz it's breathtaking the experience.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We had a great time at Discovery Cove! We are all Orlando locals so we decided to take advantage of the FL Resident discount. Our package included the upgraded drink package but that was the only upgrade/add-on we did. The park includes food and drink, you can upgrade your drink package for the fancier drinks but if not, the drink offerings are still good. It also includes the aviary where you can feed all kinds of neat birds, the grand reef and the lazy river. I will go into more detail in a bit... The actual park is quite small, now don't get me wrong, it's gorgeous but for a theme park it was fairly small. I kind of liked that it was on the smaller side, that way we knew we didn't miss anything. It was beautifully landscaped with flowers and all sorts of plants. When you first get there they check in your party, take your photos and give you lanyards with a card on them. This will indicate any add-ons, for us it showed that we had the premium drink package. I'd assume it would say other add-ons such as the animal encounters but I'm not completely sure. Once you are checked in they will direct you to go eat breakfast. Breakfast was actually better than I anticipated! Food choices were: scrambled eggs, southwest scrambled eggs, chicken & waffles, french toast sticks, breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit, yogurt with granola and a few more options. The eggs were cold, the potatoes and french toast sticks were prob my favorite items. The definitely need more than one coffee station in the breakfast area. It being right by the exit door caused congestion as well. After breakfast we attempted to go to the aviary because it said the birds are most active in the morning. We were told that portion of the park was not open yet (and after looking around it seemed nothing was open unless you had a dolphin encounter or something) so we went to get lockers, etc. Most of us were corralled to the furthest lockers. Lockers were fairly simple, we also picked up our snorkel gear (this is your only opportunity unless you are at the set of other lockers only for animal encounter people) which we were kind of annoyed by bc we had to lug it around the whole time til we needed it. It would make sense to have snorkel gear pick up and return right by the main reef where you'll need it but I digress. After we got lockers, doused ourselves in the animal safe sunscreen we still had like 5 minutes before the rest of the park was open, or so we thought. We waited around til almost 9:30 before the rest of the park was actually open. Once the park was open we had a grand ole day! We started in the aviary which was really neat. Theres several different areas with different birds in each area. Some were more interested in interacting than others which was fine. They gave us small cups of food to feed the birds. They were all so beautiful and it was really neat to be able to experience them so close compared to at a zoo where they're in the cage and you are outside of it. Next we went to see the otters which were adorable but a little underwhelming. It was one little area with a few otters hanging out. I was expecting a bigger area. The one neat part though is that you can get in the water on the other side of the plexi-glass and watch them so if they go underwater you can go underwater as well and watch them. We went back later for the enrichment session which was just a lady feeding them and then she came around and got in the water and answered questions. We didn't realize she was coming around to talk to us so most people had already left by the time she made it around to us. After that we floated in the lazy river which was beautiful with caves and waterfalls. Some portions of the lazy river are through the bird sanctuary too which was neat. They have pool noodles by the entrance that you can grab or some people wore life vests. By the time we were done being lazy the bar was finally open! (It doesn't open til 10:30 btw.) We went to the Blue Bamboo bar where we met Ryan. He was friendly, fast and helpful. We got a variety of the mixed drinks, all of which were pretty sweet. There was def alcohol in them but the sweetness was almost too much. They had like 4-6 specialty cocktails at the different bars as well as the typical drinks like pina coladas, strawberry daiquiri and various beers. We hung out in an area near the bar that had cement seating in a shallow area in the shade which was LOVELY. We really enjoyed just relaxing in that area. We also went and saw the monkeys which were cute. We learned about them and watched them eat. The Grand Reef was our last stop of the day, I was expecting something different but I'm not sure what. It was really neat, there were shallow areas and deep areas so every type of explorer felt safe. Tons of fish and sea life but also lots of people. Overall this was a wonderful day! Everyone should experience it at least once!

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.

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.

We went during Spring Break, on a day that had an 80% chance of Thunderstorms all day. It was the only possible day we could go, so getting a raincheck was not an option. Six of us- 4 adults and 2 teens. Parking is free. We arrived at 7:30am and got a 9:20am dolphin swim. Check in was very easy, maybe 15 min in line. They have a coffee station located immediately after check-in which was great! A beautiful walk into the park - first stop - Breakfast! We were all very surprised by the options and the quality of the food. It was very good, lots of fresh fruit, juice, toast, bagels, pastries, eggs, bacon, sausage, etc, etc. After breakfast, we headed to the lockers (there are a few locations, we used the ones by the lazy river (between the lazy river and the dolphin lagoon)...they seemed less busy than the others. We got on some wet suits and some sunscreen-since it looked like the sun was going to come out!! Then headed to our dolphin swim. The dolphin swim was absolutely 100% worth every penny. The trainers were amazing and definitely love the dolphins. We all had a great time and swimming with our dolphin was an experience I will never forget. After the dolphin swim we went and grabbed our stuff and staked out a spot between the lazy river and the fresh water river. This was such a perfect spot, you are between both lazy rivers, right next to a bar and snacks! You cannot access this area until 10am, but it was less crowded, and had a really nice area in the fresh water side with water that was about 6 inches deep with cement chairs in it. Was a great place to grab something to drink and just hang out. So--lets talk about the bar and the snacks for a moment! Warm pretzels, warm cookies, cheese nips, ice cream, slushies, bottled water, beer (Yuengling!), and wine (chardonnay and cab) all included with the price of admission! Bar starts serving alcohol at 10:30am. Pizza is located at the bar/snack bar by the Reef-the pizza is delicious (they seemed to always have pepperoni, cheese, margherita, and BBQ chicken available)!! Time to grab a snorkel (the snorkel part is yours to keep) and head to the reef. This was such a great area to explore. My sister wanted to spend all day here! The water was chilly - not as cold as the dolphin lagoon, but we made the mistake of removing our wet suits LOL. Lunch-again- was way better than we expected (I had very low expectations headed in haha!). They had a large variety of foods, enough to please everyone. Everything from Salmon to chicken tenders to a salad. We really loved the lazy river. The water was nice and warm. Unfortunately, it was half closed all day (was told they didn't have enough lifeguards), so we would get out at the bird aviary and head to the start to begin again . Overall, we had an absolutely terrific time. It is so relaxing, like a day at an all inclusive beach resort. And we couldn't have been happier with the weather-we did get kicked out of the water due to lightning in the area twice. But luckily the sun just kept poking its head out! Cost- When I compare what I spend on a day at Disney (parking, food, drinks, snack, tickets) and a day at Discovery Cove (tickets)....I don't see that big of a difference, but I have teenagers and a husband who can eat a lot of food haha! Tips and Tricks: - purchase a picture package before arrival on line for a 10% discount - the showers outside of the reef are really nice and warm :) - watch for the flamingo walk in the morning! It was so cool to just see a bunch of flamingos walk by! - in the reef-each of the lifeguards are sitting on "something"-go over to where they are and look under them! - don't forget to hit the aviary early in the day when the birds are hungry

I truly enjoyed my day here up until i heard there was a death the day prior which freaked me out but overall the beginning of my day was good with breakfast and dolphin interaction then I felt a little weirded out enjoying this park so didn't get to do too much.

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!

For my birthday, a friend and I decided to do Discovery Cove on a Saturday and to do the Dolphin experience, do some swimming, lounging and just enjoy the park and we had a great time. Here are some tips: The pool opens at 9am, however, the lines start forming at around 7am or so to check in, security, and so forth. Once you go through security you go to the kiosk to get your times for your experiences, breakfast and lunch. The downside to Discovery Cove is, unlike Disney, which is almost too much on an app, none of this is done on an app and seems to be a bit of mass chaos in the beginning. People really didn't know what to do or where to go and the line sort or slugged along. Everything is manually done. BUT once you're given your times it's smooth sailing or floating from there on out. We loved the lazy river and just floated and floated for as long as we cool. We got our wet suits to keep warm. We liked swimming with the fish and sting rays, although that area was much busier than the other side, so we spent less time there. The food was not great, but that's kind of to be expected. The breakfast was pre boxed for you and it was limited to a standard breakfast meal or sandwich. They did have cereal as well. Lunch had more options, pasta, burgers, hot dogs and more. But really, it wasn't that tasty. Free (included in the price of the ticket) but kind of blah. They also have drink packages and cabanas to purchase as well. We did the dolphin experience which I really enjoyed. One thing to remember is that your Busch Garden pass discount works at Discovery Cove. I was able to get a discount on my photo package, which saved us a ton of money because those photos are expensive. I enjoy that this park is limited in its capacity, so it never really feels crowded. It's a really, really relaxing experience and I would absolutely do it again soon.

This was my second time visiting Discovery Cove. The first time we did the dolphin swim which was an amazing experience and definitely worth it for anyone who loves dolphins! This time, a group of us went to enjoy the park as our friend holiday outing. We did not add on the dolphin swim this time, but chose to do a cabana since it was reasonable split between all of us. The cabana experience is also worth it and definitely made me feel very spoiled and pampered! Kendall took great care of us and he kept our fridge stocked with beers, water, soda, and stocked us up on snacks and even swept sand away while we were out and about enjoying the park. He even took our lunch orders and brought it right to the cabana. Very relaxing experience. The park itself is so much fun. They have an area filled with lots of birds you can feed and they may even decide to land on you! It's best to check this out early in the morning while the birds are still hungry. The lazy river is a great place to float and enjoy the scenery. You can even float by an island with marmosets and if you time it right, watch a demonstration with them from the water. You can also float through where the otters are and see them playing. There is also a snorkeling area where you can see tons of beautiful fish and huge string rays! You can also observe sharks through glass in this area. All of the staff are so nice and they are very knowledgeable and happy to share info about the animals. My only gripe is that the food here isn't very good, but it's included and there are a decent amount of choices so not a huge deal to me and definitely didn't take away from the overall experience. Discovery Cove is one of my favorite theme park experiences and definitely worth the splurge to go!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Muy buen lugar y excelente servicio gracias .

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.

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.

This is the most amazing place I have ever been to. Our family did the ultimate VIP experience and it was absolutely worth it! Highly recommend! Everybody is so friendly and happy to help and share their knowledge. This will be part of our yearly vacation to the area. We are bringing more family with us next time. We cannot wait to return!

I second a lot of what others have said about Discovery Cove: it has lovely tropical resort-style grounds, its a different experience than any other Orlando parks, and the food is ... meh. I'm an Orlando native but today was the first time I've visited Discovery Cove. It's definitely worth checking out if you're interested in wildlife. The reef with the stingrays was amazing. If you stand still, the stingrays will definitely come to you. I added the Shark Snorkel Experience and that was the absolute highlight of my day! If you find sharks fascinating, this is worth the extra money. You will swim right next to nurse sharks, white tips, and leopard sharks. Warning though: although its advertised as a 45 minute experience the actual swim is only about 10 minutes. The rest of the time is taking land-based photos, hearing the instructions, and putting on extra gear. Also a planning tip: it seems that the shark swims start in late-morning so you really don't need to be at the park by 8:00am like the website recommends. Our swim time was 10:45am and they said that was typically the only shark snorkel of the day. Even allowing time to walk over, get your locker and wetsuit, get your wetsuit on, and check-in, you could probably enter the park at 10am and be on-time to the shark snorkel. Another tip: the water is very cold but because you will be in a full length wetsuit, gloves, and socks, its not uncomfortable at all. I hate the cold and I didn't even notice it after the first minute in the water. I'd also recommend the aviary. Even if you're not super into birds, its really cool. They give guests unlimited cups of fruits and seeds to feed the birds so the birds will come right up to you to eat. One even sat on my wrist eating out of my hand. Be warned: there are also vultures in the aviary and we unexpectedly encountered one eating a mouse. It was interesting - but if anyone in your party is squeamish, the sight could be disconcerting. Overall, this park is a great one-time experience due to the amazing wildlife encounters. It gets you far more up-close-and personal with animals than Animal Kingdom. But considering its high price, the short swim time with the sharks, and the consistently poor taste of the food, I probably wouldn't plan a second visit. Once was great but twice isn't really necessary.

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.

Discovery Cove is a must to do trip for anyone with a small one. I have had the privilege of experiencing this magical place as a child, as an adult and as a guardian. Each time more special than the last. The meals made here for guest are incredible from salmon, steaks, hamburgers, salads, hot dogs, etc! Numerous options all you can eat part of the visit! Swimming with the sting rays is an experience like no other. I knew I was amazed as a kid, so watching a child light up in amazement and adventure is worth all the money in the world. Plus you get the hands on experience with aviary's room, so many beautiful birds! They even land on you! (And poop lol) I would recommend this place to anyone wanting a good time. For 200$ as an adult, it includes all you can drink with liquor to. For the standard package, you can still drink beers unlimited included! So has a blast and visit Discovery Dove! An experience that you'll never forget!

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.