The Ultimate Guide to Discovery Cove in Orlando • Happy Family Blog

Sharing the ultimate guide to Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida. Discovery Cove® is an all-inclusive day resort. Once you arrive you feel like you have been transported to a tropical island. You get to enjoy one-of-a-kind opportunities like swimming with dolphins, snorkeling with tropical fish and rays, hand-feed hundreds of exotic birds, taking pictures alongside flamingos, unlimited food and drink, and more.

This was our first time at Discovery Cove. And I cannot recommend their experience enough. 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.

Why Do you LOVE Discovery Cove

Want to see all the highlights of the day? You can see them here.

There is so much to love at Discovery Cove. From the moment we arrived, we all felt like we were on a tropical private island. I have never felt so relaxed in Orlando! We love that it is all-inclusive. Our kids love a buffet and the food was so yummy. 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.

They provide everything and there is something to do for everyone. Our highlights included:

Interaction with Stella the dolphin
Swimming with tropical fish in the Grand Reef
Relaxing in the cabana
Floating through the Discovery Cove Lazy River
The unlimited food especially the ICEEs and pretzels
Petting sting rays in the Grand Reef

What to Expect When you Arrive at Discovery Cove

Self-parking is complimentary. Then you walk into the Welcome building. Here you will check in with a representative. They book your extra activities like the dolphin interactions based on what time you arrive. We had a cabana so we were greeted by a staff member who walked us to our cabana. We went straight to get breakfast. We had our breakfast in the cabana, if you don't have a cabana, they have lots of tables and lounge chairs.

Ideal Day Schedule at Discovery Cove

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.
Breakfast
Dolphin Interaction
Snacks
Lazy River
Lunch
Snorkeling and exploring the Great Reef
Snacks
Showers and heading home

What to Wear to Discovery Cove

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. They have wetsuits so you don't have to bring one. I choose to wear the vest instead of the wetsuit so I wore my swim shirt. The kids wore wetsuits so they could look like dolphin trainers in training.
Cover-up: You will want to have a cover-up for getting breakfast and lunch.

What to Bring to Discovery Cove

Photo ID: Bring one for everyone who is over 18 years old.
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.
Swim Diapers: if needed for little ones
Change of Clothes and Toiletries: They have showers where you can clean off at the end of the day. They have soap, shampoo, and conditioner. But, don't forget a hairbrush and your deodorant.
Water Shoes: The sand can get really hot so these are very helpful.
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.
Completed Waivers: Waivers are needed for everyone under 18 years of age.
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.

Does Discovery Cove Provide Towels?

Yes, Discover Cove provides towels and so much more including wetsuits and wetsuit vests. You have to wear one of them when you are in the water for safety.

What NOT to Bring

Jewelry: This is for the safety of marine animals. You can wear wedding rings, but I left mine in the safe at the hotel just in case.
Sunscreen: They provide reef-safe sunscreen for you everywhere in the park. Make sure you apply it before your dolphin encounter since the closest sunscreen is a couple of minutes away.
Outside food or drinks: You have unlimited drinks and food so you don't need to bring any snacks with you.
Flotation devices: Discovery Cove provides life jackets and floats so you don't need to bring anything.
Snorkeling Gear: They provide masks, snorkels, and carrying bags in several areas of the park to grab and go. They even have prescription masks that you can get from the shop.
Wetsuit: They provide you with wetsuits so there is no reason to bring your own.

Hours Discovery Cove Orlando

Discovery Cove opens at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. daily. I recommend arriving as early as possible to get a start on your fun-filled day. At 5pm we did not want to leave.

Discovery Cove Video Highlights

https://www.instagram.com/p/CeR2_x6AgVV/

Discovery Cove Map

Dolphin Lagoon

The Dolphin lagoon has three areas for your dolphin encounter. You get to learn about and interact with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins during an interactive lagoon adventure. The zoologists did a great job of answering all our questions about Stella, our dolphin. The trainer's love for these animals was so sweet. One of the highlights was definitely the glide alongside one of these magnificent animals. Kurt said I looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. We will always treasure the photos that the Discovery Cove photographer captured. Note that guests must be at least 6 years old for the Signature Dolphin Swim Experience. We split into two groups so that Kurt could stay with Slade while B and I did our dolphin interaction. Then we watched Slade while Kurt did his. The staff was so sweet and offered to watch Slade too. This pandemic baby is not open to having a sitter, but it was so sweet.

Discovery Cove Grand Reef

The Grand Reef Discovery Cove was an unexpected highlight. I did not think that B would be super into snorkeling, but she loved it. I loved this area because it had something for all of us. Slade and I hung in the shallow areas and watch the fish and rays while B and Kurt snorkeled in the deeper areas. Then Kurt took Slade to the bridge over the sharks while B and I snorkeled.

Discovery Cove Stingray Pool

The Stingrays live in the Grand Reef. And we loved watching the zoologists feed them. They were also great at answering all our questions. I was so proud of B who went from freaking out when she saw them to actually petting them.

Discovery Cove Lazy River: Wind-Away River

The Discovery Cove lazy River is like nothing I have experienced. This waterway goes through the park from sandy beaches to palm-covered walkways and rocky lagoons. The rocky areas come up sometimes expectedly so swim shoes are helpful. We especially loved the underwater cave area I felt like we are transported to Mexico. The wind-away river takes you into the large free-flight aviary. When you enter the aviary and exit it you go through a super intense wall of water. Flotation devices are provided as the river varies in depth. I was glad we had Slade wearing a lifevest. We also used floatation devices for all of us. Which I would definitely recommend. I was also impressed with the number of lifeguards they had.

Discovery Cove Aviary

The aviary is home to more than 250 exotic birds. You are able to hand-feed hundreds of birds and interact with birds as tall as four feet. If you want to skip the waterfall, you can also get there via the beach.

Freshwater Oasis®

During your trip down the lazy river, you can pop out of the water and go over to the Freshwater Oasis. Here you will find playful otters and curious marmoset monkeys. This area has a rainforest canopy above with the sparkling clear springs below.

Serenity Bay Beaches and Pools

You can also enjoy the warmer water of Serenity Bay. The water is crystal clear water and there is even a waterfall. You can swim or grab a beach chair on the sugar-white beaches.

Unlimited Food and Drink

Included with admission, can enjoy unlimited access to a great selection of food and drinks all day long. Laguna Grill serves breakfast from opening to 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There was something for everyone in our family at both meals. The kids loved the pretzels and ICEEs. I lost count of how many they had. We upgraded to the drink package with mixed drinks too. They had so many yummy options.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES

These experiences are a nominal fee, capacity is limited – reservations are required

Private Cabanas

Our cabana was amazing. We had one that was tucked away behind lush foliage along the lazy river. I loved having it because it was the perfect retreat for mealtime. We had a table under a tent with a fan. The kids always loved the refrigerator stocked with drinks and the treasure box with unlimited snacks. I had plans of chilling in the hammock, but there was so much to do I never made it.

Since Slade is only two we did not experience any of these, but I wanted to include them because they look like fun.

Animal Trek

Private 30-minute tour with our expert animal experts to go behind the scenes to meet some of our birds and small mammals. You start in a lush private oasis with a Discovery Cove Animal Ambassador such as an anteater, armadillo, kinkajou, macaw, or sloth. Guests must be 6 years of age or older for this experience.

Shark Swim

Enjoy this exclusive experience of a lifetime as you get up close and swim with a variety of sharks. Step into the shark habitat for an intimate shark training session with Discovery Cove’s expert Aquarists; and, with more than 20 sharks in the habitat – there is a lot to learn about! Take the next step and don a snorkel and mask to enjoy a deep-water, free swim alongside blacktip reef, nurse, zebra, and bonnethead sharks. During the program, you will gain a better understanding of the uniqueness of each shark species and the care they receive at Discovery Cove. Plus, five percent (5%) of the proceeds from the Shark Swim Program supports the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, which conducts scientific research and hosts educational programs aimed at conserving the marine environment. Guests must be at least 10 years old to participate in this experience.

Ray Feeding

Join Discovery Cove’s expert aquarists in this exclusive, early morning experience as you help feed our various species of rays from the energetic Cownose Rays to the impressively large Southern Rays. You will also have the opportunity to feed thousands of beautiful tropical fish their morning meal and meet some of our smaller animals while learning how we work and care for all the animals in The Grand Reef. The session includes educational hands-on opportunities with the exciting animals that call the reef home. Guests must be at least 6 years old to participate in this experience.

SeaVenture®

SeaVenture, is an innovative underwater walking tour where, while wearing a dive helmet, you’ll feel right at home under the sea. Find up-close excitement around every corner, each step yielding a new discovery. Easily climb down a ladder and set foot on the reef floor where you’ll come eye-to-eye with sharks through an 8-foot-tall, 21-foot long panoramic window. During the journey, you’ll experience one-on-one encounters with unique animals, schools of fish, and velvety rays. You’ll even get to touch unique sea life found along the way. The adventure ends with schools of fish feeding around you with the massive open reef as your backdrop. Discovery Cove donates 5% of the proceeds to Rising Tide Conservation, a non-profit dedicated to the protection of coral reefs through sustainable aquaculture. Guests must be at least 10 years old for the SeaVenture experience.

Flamingo Mingle

Get ready for an unforgettable early-morning experience with Discovery Cove’s expert aviculturists as you meet, mingle with, and help feed our famous Caribbean flamingos. This exclusive, intimate, and physically distanced opportunity begins and ends with a private stroll that will make you feel like you’re part of the flamboyance (what a gathering of flamingos is called!). You’ll flock to a sandy shore to feed the beautiful birds one-on-one before wading in the cool reef waters together. We’ll have a photographer there to capture the experience and our experts will answer questions and share more fun facts about these amazing animals and how we care for them. Guests must be at least 6 years old for the Flamingo Mingle experience.

Discovery Cove Celebration Package

We witnessed a super sweet couple who got engaged at Discovery Cove. You can have the dolphins have assisted in countless watery wedding proposals, launched love notes, and been a splash at the best of birthday celebrations. For each Special Occasion package, a bottlenose dolphin delivers a personalized message on a keepsake buoy, putting a fantastic end to the already memorable dolphin experience. In addition to the special dolphin delivery, each package features an array of other impressive touches in a unique setting. Call 407-513-4600 for details.

Discovery Cove Cold Weather Policy

If you are booking your stay in the winter and are thinking about the rare days it is cold in Florida have no worries. I have spoken to friends who went on a chilly day and they said they had a great time. The resort provides wetsuits so they spent a lot of time in the water. The water is temperature-controlled for the animals. And they put out heaters to keep you warm when you first get out

Directions to Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove is right across the street from Seaworld.

FROM THE ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT:
Take Highway 528/Beachline Expressway Westbound
Get off on the International Drive exit
Take a left at the end of the ramp (follow signs toward SeaWorld®)
Make a right onto Central Florida Parkway at the third traffic light.
The entrance to Discovery Cove is on the left-hand side of Central Florida Parkway.

FROM TAMPA OR HIGHWAY 192 HOTELS:
Take I-4 East (toward Orlando) to exit 71. This is the SeaWorld exit.
Bear right onto Central Florida Parkway when exiting the ramp.
The entrance to Discovery Cove is on the right-hand side of Central Florida Parkway, past the sign for SeaWorld Orlando.

FROM DOWNTOWN ORLANDO:
Take I-4 West to exit 72 (Beachline Expressway/FL-528/Airport).
Once on the Beachline, take the first exit (International Drive).
Make a left onto International Drive.
Make a right onto Central Florida Parkway at the third traffic light.
The entrance to Discovery Cove is on the left-hand side of Central Florida Parkway.

MAILING ADDRESS:
Discovery Cove
6000 Discovery Cove Way
Orlando, FL 32821
407-513-4600

Below are some questions we got from followers:

How Far is Seaworld from Daytona Beach

Seaworld and Discovery Cove are about an hour and 20 minutes from Daytona Beach.

How Far is Seaworld from Clearwater Florida

Seaworld and Discovery Cove are about 2 hours and 30 minutes to 3 hours from Daytona Beach.

How far is Seaworld from Kissimmee Florida

Seaworld is in the Kissimmee area. It is about 30 minutes.