cemeb4dk
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 7, 2008
Well Just back from a quick WDW 5 day trip with a day at Discovery Cove thrown in. First off thanks to all the members and posts here on all the tips and advice.
My wife, daughter (8) and I just did had our first experience at Discovery Cove, Friday, June 6th. We did Elite package, with the Dolphin swim.
Cab ride from Old Key West, about 15 minutes and about $30 with tip.
Cab ride back, the cab company there has more town car/subraban vehicles and was a flat rate of $30 then the tip.
We got there about 7:30AM check in was quick, and all got our landyards and ID's. We got a Sand Dollar cabana and a 10:10 dolphin swim. So we ate breakfast then were shown to our cabana. The cabanas are very nice and our attendant was great. Even though we did not meet him til about 1pm cuze we were never at cabana. Once we got to our cabana, there were some trainers feeding the stingrays, and were very talkative and seemed eager to share information. No one is allowed in the water til 9am. So it was tough standing at the waters edge just looking for a half hour. Just before 9 we wandered over to were the bridge is to go to the fresh water area and the aviary. They let you in at 9 and we headed straight to the aviary. In the first 2 rooms we did not get much bird activity, then we went into the larger bird room, and we all had a great experience, with multi birds landing on us and our heads. Some great photos for sure.
After that we headed to get ready for our dolphin swim. Got with our group, and walked out to the water where we met our first Dolphin, an older female (can't remember her name) Multiple passes of letting us touch her, and some dolphin information. Then we had Rascal come out, and he did some pass bys and then some photo ops, Kissing the dolphin, and then the tow back. Then since we had the Elite package, and the only one in our group, they pulled my daughter out and got a toy from Rascals mouth and it was the buoy, with our name and vacation written on it. My Daughter just about freaked with Joy she was so excited and surprised. Then the swim was over and someone on the beach handed her a tote bag with a stuffed animal dolphin in it. She was over the moon with joy. Then they escort you to the photo booth where you choose your photos.
Then we went and did the not so lazy river as we called it in the fresh water section. Water is very warm, we were expecting more of a current and just relaxing as we float but its not the case. Its a very natural design so many shallow and deep water sections, with very little flow. Some parts we had to walk, some had to swim and most parts we had to scoot with our feet along the bottom. It was fun, just dont go thinking a typical lazy river like we did.
Lunch was very good with multiple options.
Then we finally hit the reef, and what a great experience, once my daughter got used to snorkel, and having to wear a life vest just to make it easier for her so she would not have to swim. The rays are HUGE and very used to people touching them. Tons of fish and some great photo ops. Multiple trainers in the water and all were very kid friendly and full of information.
We basically hung in the reef and in the cabana the second half of the day.
So things that we came away with that you may or may not find helpful.
The westsuits, you can wear a full body short suit or just a vest. We opted for the vest, and we just wore our normal swimsuits. The bathrooms have showers with soap, shampoo and conditioner in them if ya want to shower before leaving. If you are buying pics get in line at about 3pm. This is a very long process even when you already have a prepaid elite package. Multiple snack options. We really loved having the Cabana, and if you can swing it, do the Elite package, it was so nice not having to worry about taking pics. The pics they take are great quality and it just nice not having to watch your family experience it thru the view finder.
All in all we had a blast, and would definitely return, maybe not do a dolphin swim every time, but a cabana and a day at Discovery cove will be on our must do list next Disney Vacation.
Hopefully some of you found this useful, if you have any questions, I will try and answer, but I am no expert.
My wife, daughter (8) and I just did had our first experience at Discovery Cove, Friday, June 6th. We did Elite package, with the Dolphin swim.
Cab ride from Old Key West, about 15 minutes and about $30 with tip.
Cab ride back, the cab company there has more town car/subraban vehicles and was a flat rate of $30 then the tip.
We got there about 7:30AM check in was quick, and all got our landyards and ID's. We got a Sand Dollar cabana and a 10:10 dolphin swim. So we ate breakfast then were shown to our cabana. The cabanas are very nice and our attendant was great. Even though we did not meet him til about 1pm cuze we were never at cabana. Once we got to our cabana, there were some trainers feeding the stingrays, and were very talkative and seemed eager to share information. No one is allowed in the water til 9am. So it was tough standing at the waters edge just looking for a half hour. Just before 9 we wandered over to were the bridge is to go to the fresh water area and the aviary. They let you in at 9 and we headed straight to the aviary. In the first 2 rooms we did not get much bird activity, then we went into the larger bird room, and we all had a great experience, with multi birds landing on us and our heads. Some great photos for sure.
After that we headed to get ready for our dolphin swim. Got with our group, and walked out to the water where we met our first Dolphin, an older female (can't remember her name) Multiple passes of letting us touch her, and some dolphin information. Then we had Rascal come out, and he did some pass bys and then some photo ops, Kissing the dolphin, and then the tow back. Then since we had the Elite package, and the only one in our group, they pulled my daughter out and got a toy from Rascals mouth and it was the buoy, with our name and vacation written on it. My Daughter just about freaked with Joy she was so excited and surprised. Then the swim was over and someone on the beach handed her a tote bag with a stuffed animal dolphin in it. She was over the moon with joy. Then they escort you to the photo booth where you choose your photos.
Then we went and did the not so lazy river as we called it in the fresh water section. Water is very warm, we were expecting more of a current and just relaxing as we float but its not the case. Its a very natural design so many shallow and deep water sections, with very little flow. Some parts we had to walk, some had to swim and most parts we had to scoot with our feet along the bottom. It was fun, just dont go thinking a typical lazy river like we did.
Lunch was very good with multiple options.
Then we finally hit the reef, and what a great experience, once my daughter got used to snorkel, and having to wear a life vest just to make it easier for her so she would not have to swim. The rays are HUGE and very used to people touching them. Tons of fish and some great photo ops. Multiple trainers in the water and all were very kid friendly and full of information.
We basically hung in the reef and in the cabana the second half of the day.
So things that we came away with that you may or may not find helpful.
The westsuits, you can wear a full body short suit or just a vest. We opted for the vest, and we just wore our normal swimsuits. The bathrooms have showers with soap, shampoo and conditioner in them if ya want to shower before leaving. If you are buying pics get in line at about 3pm. This is a very long process even when you already have a prepaid elite package. Multiple snack options. We really loved having the Cabana, and if you can swing it, do the Elite package, it was so nice not having to worry about taking pics. The pics they take are great quality and it just nice not having to watch your family experience it thru the view finder.
All in all we had a blast, and would definitely return, maybe not do a dolphin swim every time, but a cabana and a day at Discovery cove will be on our must do list next Disney Vacation.
Hopefully some of you found this useful, if you have any questions, I will try and answer, but I am no expert.