The zoologists did a great job of answering all our questions about Stella, our dolphin. You get to learn about and interact with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins during an interactive lagoon adventure. The Dolphin lagoon has three areas for your dolphin encounter. Discovery Cove Video HighlightsĪ post shared by Cristy Stewart-Harfmann | Recipes | Travel | FL Cove Map I recommend arriving as early as possible to get a start on your fun-filled day. Wetsuit: They provide you with wetsuits so there is no reason to bring your own.ĭiscovery Cove opens at 7:00 a.m.They even have prescription masks that you can get from the shop. Snorkeling Gear: They provide masks, snorkels, and carrying bags in several areas of the park to grab and go.Flotation devices: Discovery Cove provides life jackets and floats so you don’t need to bring anything.Outside food or drinks: You have unlimited drinks and food so you don’t need to bring any snacks with you.Make sure you apply it before your dolphin encounter since the closest sunscreen is a couple of minutes away. Sunscreen: They provide reef-safe sunscreen for you everywhere in the park.You can wear wedding rings, but I left mine in the safe at the hotel just in case. Jewelry: This is for the safety of marine animals.You have to wear one of them when you are in the water for safety. Yes, Discover Cove provides towels and so much more including wetsuits and wetsuit vests. Optional Extra Bathing Suit for Little Ones: Since Slade is only 2 I always bring him a change of bathing suit so he does not get too cold.Completed Waivers: Waivers are needed for everyone under 18 years of age.Makeup Brush: This sounds sort of funny, but Discovery Cove provides Reef-friendly sunscreen and it is easier to apply it with a makeup brush.Water Shoes: The sand can get really hot so these are very helpful.But, don’t forget a hairbrush and your deodorant. They have soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Change of Clothes and Toiletries: They have showers where you can clean off at the end of the day.
Swim Diapers: if needed for little ones.Cash or Credit Card: Discovery Cove is all-inclusive so you don’t need any money for your food or drinks, but they do have great souvenir shops if you want to take home a reminder of your trip.Photo ID: Bring one for everyone who is over 18 years old.Cover-up: You will want to have a cover-up for getting breakfast and lunch.The kids wore wetsuits so they could look like dolphin trainers in training. I choose to wear the vest instead of the wetsuit so I wore my swim shirt. They have wetsuits so you don’t have to bring one. Bathing Suit: I also brought a swim shirt for all of us since I knew we would spend most of the day in the sun.Snorkeling and exploring the Great Reef.Arrive as early as possible They open at 7am, and we did not get there until 8:30am and that was my only regret, but vacationing with kids can mean everything takes a little longer in the morning.We had our breakfast in the cabana, if you don’t have a cabana, they have lots of tables and lounge chairs. We had a cabana so we were greeted by a staff member who walked us to our cabana. They book your extra activities like the dolphin interactions based on what time you arrive. Here you will check in with a representative. What to Expect When you Arrive at Discovery Cove The unlimited food especially the ICEEs and pretzels.Floating through the Discovery Cove Lazy River.Swimming with tropical fish in the Grand Reef.They provide everything and there is something to do for everyone. In addition to breakfast and lunch, they also had unlimited snacks and drinks (beer and wine for people 21 years and older.) We upgraded to the mixed drink package and they had resort-style drinks that added to the fun of the day. Our kids love a buffet and the food was so yummy. I have never felt so relaxed in Orlando! We love that it is all-inclusive. From the moment we arrived, we all felt like we were on a tropical private island. There is so much to love at Discovery Cove. Want to see all the highlights of the day? You can see them here. Everyone in our family had a blast!! From the moment we arrived, we all felt like we were in the islands and no longer in Orlando. And I cannot recommend their experience enough. This was our first time at Discovery Cove. Thank you to Discovery Cove for hosting us