Discovery Cove

We had an absolutely amazing time at Discovery Cove in Orlando, Florida. We went in June 2021 and the weather was perfect, nice and sunny and warm, and we were lucky to not have any afternoon thunderstorms. Since we were required to reserve our tickets in advance, the park wasn't too crowded.

Dolphin Lagoon

We took full advantage of the Dolphin swim. The time of the Dolphin Swim is reserved on the day you enter the park on a first come first serve basis, so we were the very first ones at Discovery Cove for the 7am open and we were able to book an early morning swim with the Dolphins. The Dolphin swim is for ages 6 and up, so unfortunately Elianna could not participate since she is only 4. We got to meet the dolphins, play with them a bit and even take a ride with them. It was a moment to remember so we were sure to purchase the photos provided by the on-site photographers at Discovery Cove at the end of the experience.

The Grand Reef

The kids had a blast in the Grand Reef snorkeling around with all the fish, stingrays and sharks (thankfully the sharks are separated behind a very thick glass). The epic moment of the trip was that Nina was able to overcome her fear of stingrays to not only swim with them, but also to reach out and pet them. We are so proud of her for overcoming her fears! Little Elianna was a champ, she had trouble with the snorkeling aspect, but she had no problem swimming around the Grand Reef with all the sea animals. The wet suits and snorkel gear was provided by Discovery Cove so there was no need for us to lug our own to and from the park which was really nice. The water temperature in the Grand Reef and the Dolphin lagoon is pretty chilly so it definitely helped to have the wet suit to keep us warm.

The Freshwater Oasis, Serenity Bay and Windaway River

The Freshwater Oasis, Serenity Bay and Windaway River were all so much fun to splash around in with the kids. The water temperature was a bit warmer here than the Grand Reef and Dolphin Lagoon, but still refreshing. We went in and out of these areas all throughout the day and it was a blast. As we went through these areas we were able to stop along the way to interact with birds in the aviary, watch otters play and eat, and see some pretty neat monkeys.

Unlimited Food and Drinks

That's right, all your food for the entire day is provided for no additional cost by Discovery Cove. They have refreshment stands throughout the park which served snacks, icees and beverages, including adult beverages. The breakfast and lunch was served by Laguna Grill. They gave us a scheduled time to eat to keep the crowds to a minimum. We enjoyed the food, it was definitely not Charlie's Steakhouse, but the food was okay.

Discovery Cove

6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL 32821

(407) 513-4600