Discovery Cove
Discovery CoveOrlando, where you can
interact with a variety of marine animals, most notably bottlenose dolphins. The park is next to SeaWorld
Orlando. As well as swimming with dolphins, at Discovery Cove you can interact
with exotic birds, tropical fish, rays and animals.
This park is unlike any other theme park in Florida. Admission is much more,
around $280 per guest in the summer season (this price includes the Dolphin Swim, admission can be reserved without this for a lower rate.
Also in the fact that you need to make reservations, as they limit it to around 1000 visitors a day.
Admission price to the park includes all
you can eat and drink at the restaurants, snack bars, and even the alcoholic bar. All
guests that enter the park have the option to get a wetsuit to use, and a snorkel
and mask to keep. A Discovery Cove admission includes lunch, equipment rental and ticket to
either SeaWorld Orlando or
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.
The park recently launched a program called "Twilight Discovery" that
also includes a gourmet dinner and drinks. Park attractions range from a heated
"river" that circles the park, although I found this cold, the large variety of plant life, a reef that
allows guests to swim with thousands of different creatures, including 8-foot wide
rays, an aviary, a large pool for the many dolphins. This is one of
the smallest parks in Orlando, though due to its high quality entertainment and
family enjoyment, it is one of the top-rated parks. Note: There
are cheaper admissions that do not include the Dolphin Swim.
The park contains an aviary which contains parrots, toucans, and other exotic birds
of different types. The "Lazy River" floats directly through the aviary,
with waterfalls to keep the birds inside the aviary.
The park has restrictions on bringing your own sun screen. They provide you with
their own "Environmently Friendly" lotion. The water temperatures for the "Lazy
River" and the reef varies quite a lot. The Lazy River can be quite cold but the
reef is warmer.
There are no maps for this park, when I asked for one I was told to "Discover"
Discovery Cove is well worth a visit but it is one of those attractions that you
wouldn't do every year or every visit.
More info can be found on the Orlando Florida Villas forums
or The Perfect Florida Guide