Home |  Discounts  |  Discussion Boards  |  Resorts  |  Holidays  |  Rehabs  |  Sweepstakes  | Dining |  News  | Search

Picture this:  An Orlando theme park, with no lines, no waiting.  YOU have your own reservation to spend time swimming with dolphins.  Sound too good to be true?  Not anymore.  No more than 1000 guests will be scheduled for each day, so there will never be a crowd.

This theme park is located adjacent to Sea World in Orlando, Florida. 

Part of an All-Inclusive Day of Discovery

Swim with dolphins at Discovery Cove and connect one-on-one with these friendly, fun-loving creatures. That’s just part of a day spent in this secluded tropical paradise. You’ll also interact with fascinating rays, snorkel amid thousands of colorful fish, hand-feed exotic birds, explore lush greenery, and relax on pristine beaches.

Every moment of that day is included in your admission—so are your meals, beverages, gear, parking and an unlimited pass to either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa during your vacation.

For a limited time, save 10% off per reservation when you book at least 100 days prior to your visit.

Make Discovery Cove part of your Orlando vacation. Enjoy a day of discovery that you’ll never forget.

DAY EXPERIENCE
Discovery Cove has two wonderful all-inclusive admission packages offering an experience like no other. Take part in every attraction Discovery Cove has to offer.

Reservations are necessary and can be made by calling 1-877-4-DISCOVERY.  You can also book them online at www.discoverycove.com.

• Discovery Cove is a full day adventure with operating hours of 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. daily. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m.

• From the West (Lake Buena Vista/Tampa):
  Take I-4 East (toward Orlando) to exit 71. This is the SeaWorld exit.
  Bear right onto Central Florida Parkway when exiting ramp.
  The entrance to Discovery Cove is on the right hand side of Central Florida Parkway, past the sign for SeaWorld Orlando.
  
  
• From the North (Downtown Orlando, Universal Studios, Sanford, Deland):
  Take I-4 West to exit 72 (Beeline Expressway/FL-528/Airport).
  Once on the Beeline, take the first exit (International Drive).
  At traffic light, turn left. (You will be driving on International Drive.)
  At the second light, turn right onto Central Florida Parkway.
  The entrance to Discovery Cove is on the left hand side of Central Florida Parkway.
  
  
• From the East (Cocoa, Cape Canaveral, Titusville Area):
  Take FL-528 (Beeline Expressway) west to the International Drive exit.
  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.
  
  
• In case you wish to custom map your route online, Discovery Cove’s address is as follows:
  6000 Discovery Cove Way
  Orlando, Fl. 32821

• Self-parking at Discovery Cove is complimentary, however, the parking admission at our sister parks is not included. If you would like to add a parking package to your reservation, please contact our Guest Reservations Center at 1-877-4DISCOVERY.

• Please click here to view current package rates.

• Since children are able to participate in all of the park’s activities, we do not offer a children’s rate, however, toddlers age 2 and under do receive a complimentary admission.

• Guests of all ages are welcomed at Discovery Cove. To swim with the dolphins, however, guests must be at least 6 years old. This policy was established to ensure the cognitive and physical stature of the child. These factors are taken into consideration to ensure children are able to interact in a group social setting, accept instructions, and understand the trainer. Also, the physical size of the child is taken into account since he/she will be in water that is approximately 3 feet deep with large, powerful animals. Also, children must be at least 13 years of age to participate in the Trainer for a Day program without an accompanying adult and at least 15 years of age to visit Discovery Cove without adult supervision.

• Since Discovery Cove limits attendance to only 1,000 guests per day, it is highly recommended you make a reservation for your visit. Also, if you are planning on visiting during the summer or near a holiday, you should book your reservation at least two months prior to your intended visit to ensure availability as these timeframes tend to book early.
• Once you have made a reservation, you simply check in on the date of your visit. All you need is your name, confirmation number, and a photo ID for those guests over the age of 18.

• Since Discovery Cove limits attendance to only 1,000 guests per day, it is highly recommended you make a reservation for your visit. By limiting attendance each day, Discovery Cove guarantees that guests are treated to a relaxing and highly personalized experience without crowds or lines. If you are planning to visit during the summer or near a holiday, you should book your reservation at least two months prior to your intended visit to ensure availability as these timeframes tend to book early.

• The admission packages to Discovery Cove are all-inclusive products. Therefore, admission includes the use of lockers, wetsuit, towels and mask during your stay, free parking, shower amenities, souvenir snorkel, complimentary entry photo, continental breakfast, lunch, all drinks and snacks, access to the Aviary, Coral Reef, Ray Lagoon, Resort Pool, Tropical River, a 7-consecuative day pass to either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa, and the dolphin interaction. Our guests select in which activities they would like to participate. At this time, we do not offer customized packages for guests who chose not to participate in selected activities.

• At Discovery Cove, we recognize that vacation plans sometimes change. To accommodate this, we will allow one complimentary date change prior to your visit. Further changes to your itinerary will be provided for a nominal charge of $50 per change. If you have to change or cancel your reservation, please contact the Discovery Cove reservations center at 1-877-434-7268. International guests, please call 1-407-370-1280.

• To review your reservations online, please visit ‘Review My Reservations’ on the Discovery Cove reservations home page. To ensure compliance with reservation procedures, however, all changes must be made through the reservations center toll-free at 1-877-434-7268 or 1-407-370-1280.

• A full refund will be given if your visit is more than 30 days away.
• A 50% refund of your reservation total will be made if between 15 - 29 days of your visit.
  
• A 25% refund of your reservation total will be made if between 8 - 14 days of your visit.
  
• Because of the unique nature of Discovery Cove's reservations-only format, no refunds or cancellations can be made within 7 days of your visit.
  

• In the event a named tropical storm or hurricane approaches Orlando, Tampa, or a guest's hometown, the parks will reschedule or refund any vacation package and/or individual park tickets booked through SeaWorld Vacations, Busch Gardens Vacations, DiscoveryCove.com, SeaWorld.com, or BuschGardens.com. The parks will not apply any cancellation or change fees for this service. For additional Discovery Cove information call 1-877-4-DISCOVERY.

• We do not place restrictions for expectant mothers; the decision is left up to each individual. However, guests should take the following into consideration: the day will involve swimming of some sort with water depths ranging from 3 feet to 15 feet. In addition, if you have chosen to participate in the Dolphin Interaction, it will be with a live animal weighing in excess of 500 lbs. The interaction will involve up-close activities such as kissing and petting of the dolphin, and being towed 12 feet through the water while holding onto the dorsal fin of the dolphin. Therefore, we do ask that you consult a doctor prior to your visit. Please ensure that you explain the nature of the interaction and activities to receive a proper assessment.

• Discovery Cove can accommodate guests with disabilities who are able to maneuver themselves with limited assistance (or with the aid of a personal assistant) during their dolphin experience and in the various wading locations. Discovery Cove also offers specially-designed outdoor wheelchairs with oversized tires for easy maneuvering on the beach. Wheelchairs can be reserved by calling 1-877-4-DISCOVERY.

• Guests may use their personal cameras and video recorders throughout the park, with the exception of the dolphin lagoons (for the safety of the equipment). We do, however, allow other party members to take photos and record video of the interaction from our beach areas. In addition, we provide photographers and videographers to capture every minute of your once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• Photography packages vary in selection and pricing. Packages are available which include photos, posters, DVDs, photo key chains and magnets.

• Discovery Cove is available for private functions and night parties. For more information, please call Group Sales at 1-407-363-2200.

• Discovery Cove offers a variety of challenging careers in fields such as guest service, animal care, operations, food service, landscaping and marketing. Visit http://www.becjobs.com or call the employment hotline at 1-407-363-2600 for details. Also, for more information regarding a career in Animal Training, check out our career resources page.

• Discovery Cove is included in three camp programs offered through the SeaWorld Education Department:
  
  • Career Camp
  • Advanced Career Camp
  • Coastal Career Discovery
  
  
• For more information on these camps please call 1-866-GO-TO-CAMP (1-800-406-2244), or check out http://www.seaworld.org/adventure-campus/swf/resident/index.htm

• Discovery Cove is the ultimate field trip for school and youth groups. For youth group reservation information, please contact Discovery Cove Reservations at 1-877-4DISCOVERY (1-877-434-7268).

• Guests should bring their own swimsuits, and, if they choose, water socks or rubber pool shoes, hat, sunglasses and cover-up or dry clothes. Discovery Cove provides all guests with swim vests and/or wetsuits. Participants in the dolphin-swim experience may not wear jewelry, for the safety of the animals.

• Discovery Cove provides a mask and snorkel, towels and beach chairs. Guests may use their own masks and snorkels if they prefer, but may not bring any other diving or swimming equipment into the park. Discovery Cove will also provide guests with a sample of specially formulated sunscreen that is safe for use in the animal habitats. This is the only kind of sunscreen that may be used and additional quantities may be purchased in the gift shop. Since a meal is provided with admission to Discovery Cove, no other food, beverages or coolers are permitted. Guests may wish to bring books and magazines, a CD or tape player with headset or similar items to help them relax on the beach, and a camera to catch all of their special moments.

• Even for non-swimmers, Discovery Cove has plenty to offer. Not only can you relax on the white sand beaches or one of our many hammocks, but we have an Aviary full of exotic birds to hand feed. More importantly, however, we do provide life jackets so you can enjoy the waterways as well. The devices are designed to keep you afloat, so you would still be able to snorkel with the fish in the coral reef or take a journey down our tropical river. The lifejackets can even be worn in the dolphin lagoons!
  

• The in-water dolphin experience is 30 minutes long. Beforehand, there is a short orientation session (10 minutes) led by Discovery Cove’s expert dolphin trainers to discuss safety and offer an opportunity for participants to ask questions. Next, small groups wade into the shallow water of the Dolphin Lagoon for the in-water experience with the dolphins. At the end, one at a time, guests and a trainer will swim into deeper water for a personal “dorsal tow” back to shore. After the water experience, guests can view photographs of their interactions and talk about their experience with trainers and other participants.

• All participants or their legal guardians are required to sign a liability release form before experiencing the Dolphin interaction.

• Discovery Cove offers special prescription masks in various strengths (near-sighted: -1 through -8 and far-sighted: 1 through 8) on a first come, first serve basis.

• The temperature of our pools remains constant throughout the year. The fresh water Resort Pool and Tropical River are maintained between 86°F ±2° (30°C ±1°). The salt water dolphin pools, Stingray Lagoon, and Coral Reef are 77°F ±3° (25°C ±1°).

• If your package includes the seven or fourteen day come-and-go-as-you-please pass to SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, you must use it consecutively with your visit to Discovery Cove, either before, after, or a combination of both.
• Your personalized ID card will serve as your ticket if you decide to visit SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa, or a combination of both, after your reservation date. However, if you plan on visiting the park(s) of your choice prior to your Discovery Cove adventure, simply present your confirmation letter at their Guest Relations window located at the front gate.

• Discovery Cove provides complimentary transportation to and from SeaWorld Orlando for those guests who do not have their own transportation on the day of their visit. To utilize this service, there is a well-marked phone at the Bus and Taxi drop-off/pick-up station at SeaWorld. Simply pick up the phone to be connected with a shuttle dispatcher.
• We also provide complimentary transportation to Busch Gardens Tampa for guests whose Discovery Cove package includes admission to Busch Gardens. For more information, please contact The Shuttle Express at 1-800-221-1339. Reservations are not required, but recommended.

• The Culinary Operations Team at Discovery Cove recognizes the importance of all aspects of food safety – especially those challenges our guests with food allergies encounter when dining out. On the day of your visit, you are welcome to visit the Laguna Grill early in the day to discuss their personal needs with one of our chefs. Our Culinary Team, like everyone else at Discovery Cove would like to provide you with piece of mind that your day will be as enjoyable, and safe, as possible.
• Discovery Cove does provide Kosher meals. In order to ensure they are prepared to order, we ask guests to visit Laguna Grill 45 minutes prior to their anticipated lunch time.
• Discovery Cove does provide Vegetarian options for our guests.

• While in the water, we do require guests to wear either a wetsuit (short or long depending on the season and guest’s preference) or a swim vest. This ensures our lifeguards are able to see guests as they swim underwater, thus, enhancing safety. *Sizing ranges from toddlers through 18XL.

• While Discovery Cove doesn't offer any direct discounts, you may contact your base's travel office for special pricing at our other Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks.
• You may also be interested to learn Anheuser Busch, our parent company, does offer the "Here’s to the Heroes Salute" throughout 2008. Members of active military duty and as many as three (3) direct dependents can receive complimentary admission to one of our sister parks.
• This offer is valid January 1st through December 31st 2008. Please visit herosalute.com for more information.

• Please click here to view information about featured attractions at Discovery Cove.

• Please click here for more information about Special Occasion packages.

• Please click here for more information about special offers, including gift cards.