Essential Guide: Discovery Cove Orlando Florida Review

For families looking for a unique, all-inclusive day resort experience, spending a day with Discovery Cove in Florida is a great way to do it. Discovery Cove, located in Orlando Florida is owned by SeaWorld. It offers a high-end, all-inclusive, unique experience, and guests can choose to swim with bottlenose dolphins as part of the adventure.

Disclosure: I received complimentary admission to Discovery Cove for purposes of review. All opinions are my own. This post includes affiliate links and click-through and/or purchase through one of these links (including on the map) may result in a commission paid to us.

Discovery Cove Review: Swim With Dolphins in Orlando

Travelers interested in visiting Discovery Cove Florida should visit the website early and make a reservation. Unlike admission to larger theme parks, park attendance at Discovery Cove is limited (to a little over 1000 people) and needs to be booked in advance.

Choose your dates and experience (with or without swimming with the dolphins), and then you'll see rates and availability. They recommend that you book at least two months in advance during the peak season.

When you purchase your admission ticket, you'll have a few options. You can purchase a regular ticket, which includes access to the resort. Or, you can upgrade to the day at the resort plus the 30-minute dolphin swim for an additional cost.

You can also purchase a ticket that includes a day at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as well as tickets that include a day at SeaWorld Resort and Aquatica. These can be the best value if you are already planning on visiting the other theme parks as well. There are also packages for Florida residents, and some that include hotel stays.

Upgrades to your experience are also available at the time you book your ticket. These include the following:

• Cabana rental (includes snack basket, stocked mini fridge, and towel service). If you think you'll want a "home base" during your day, this could be a worthwhile option.
• Elite Cabana (includes all of the above plus a personalized buoy delivery and a photo package during your Dolphin swim)
• VIP Cabana (including everything in the Elite cabana plus a cabana host, reserved seating at Laguna Grill, a Dolphin Lagoon view, and an animal encounter).
• Seaventure - a underwater experience utilizing a dive helmet to see tropical fish and more
• Trainer for a day (should be booked with the Dolphin Experience)
• Shark Swim
• Animal Trek - a 30-minute private animal tour with a staff member
• Premium drink package
• Day bed - gives you a reserved spot to hang out for the day
• Photo packages - there are several options available

Children 2 years of age and under are free at Discovery Cove Orlando, but they still need reservations. So, when you purchase your tickets and make reservations, be sure to add on any children two and under.

Arriving at Discovery Cove

Arrive at Discovery Cove as early as possible (during my trip, check-in started at 7:30 am, but that could vary) to take advantage of the full-day adventure.

You'll have a photo taken for your photo id badge and will be given your Dolphin experience time at check-in if you purchased that upgrade. Then, you can head to the lockers and pick up your complimentary rental gear (wetsuit or vest, dolphin-friendly sunscreen, snorkel, and mask).

Once you receive everything, you can explore at your own pace (except for specific reservations you may have for the upgraded experiences).

Food at Discovery Cove Orlando FL

Breakfast and lunch are served buffet-style at the Laguna Grill and are included in the cost of admission. Guests can also get complimentary alcoholic beverages (beer and wine), unlimited snacks, and drinks throughout the day.

The unlimited food is pretty average - similar to what you'd get on a cruise ship - but is served quickly and efficiently. If you want drinks other than the included beer and wine, a premium drink package is available as an add-on.

Once you've eaten and have settled in, you have your choice of activities - from the Explorer's Aviary, The Grand Reef, Serenity Bay, Wind-away River, and the Freshwater Oasis.

Activities at Discovery Cove

Due to my flight arrival time, I didn't get to Discovery Cove until lunchtime. My dolphin swim time wasn't until after 3 pm, so I started at the Grand Reef, where I snorkeled for a bit. The water at the Grand Reef is a little chilly - 77 degrees - but once I was in the water for a few minutes it felt comfortable.

This tropical reef is the best spot for snorkeling and can be lots of fun. I returned to the Grand Reef after I did some other experiences at Discovery Cove Orlando because I felt I had much more exploring to do among the coral reefs.

Then, I headed to the Wind-away River, which is similar to a lazy river. After grabbing a float, I headed down the river, under the overhead aviary, and through the park. It's very slow and relaxing but does have some big drops, so it's best for someone comfortable in the water.

I always love lazy rivers, and this one is lots of fun. There are several sandy beaches along the way, as well as waterfalls, a rainforest, and an underwater cave.

Guests can also walk through the Explorer's Aviary for a more up-close experience with the exotic birds. You can even feed them and watch as they come right up to you.

After the Wind-away River, I checked out the Freshwater Oasis, where you can see small mammals including marmosets and otters. The otters are adorable but are behind glass. You can, however, swim right up to the glass. The marmosets (very small monkeys) are on an island in the center of the oasis.

All-Inclusive Experience

Almost everything is included with your admission to Discovery Cove, except for the add-ons. So, you'll get free locker rentals, food, snacks, drinks, equipment rental, towel usage, reef-friendly sunscreen, and more. There are several gift shops on site to purchase souvenirs.

The Dolphin Experience at Discovery Cove

At that point, it was time for my dolphin experience. After a brief orientation, I headed to the 72-degree dolphin lagoon. There were eight of us in the group, and we all had the chance to interact with the dolphin a few times. Underwater cameras aren't allowed in the water, but photographers are there to take your picture (photo CDs, DVDs, and prints are available for an extra charge).

The whole experience takes about 30 minutes, but we experienced a thunderstorm during our swim and had to go back to the cabana and wait it out. I think we ended up getting about 45 minutes total with the dolphins - the full experience despite the rain. While we waited, we were able to have drinks and snacks and watch a film about Discovery Cove and the animals.

Is Discovery Cove Worth It?

So, is Discovery Cove worth the price? If you want to swim with dolphins in Florida, I'd say definitely. Even if you don't add on the dolphin encounter, it can still be so much fun to relax and enjoy the environment and marine life. It's a very unique experience, and the reservation system means it's never too crowded. It's also a great idea for a special occasion.

To learn more about Discovery Cove, visit their website. Or, check out the reviews on TripAdvisor. You can save $16 on the package with the dolphin swim at Undercover Tourist.

Looking for a hotel? We recommend the nearby Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, which is directly across the street from SeaWorld.

You can also find other lodging options on the map below.