Discovery Cove Orlando

Discovery Cove: Swim With the Dolphins

Everybody loves dolphins and at Discovery Cove, you get the chance to swim and interact with them. Located in Orlando right next to SeaWorld, Discovery Cove is not your ordinary theme park. It’s a one-of-a-kind tropical paradise, which according to TripAdvisor.com, ranks #3 as one of the top 10 attractions in the United States.

This reservations-only exciting adventure is limited to 1,000 guests per day, setting it apart from other attractions in Orlando. You will not find any crowds or long lines here, but you will need to make reservations as early as possible as dates sell out well in advance. Plan to arrive early and stay late to get the most out of this spectacular park.

Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive park. Admission includes a continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages, snorkel gear, swim vest, towels, lockers, sunscreen, beach chairs and parking. It also includes admission to either SeaWorld Orlando or Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for seven consecutive days.

One of the most popular attractions is the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. During the dolphin swim, you have a chance to touch, play and swim with the gentle and remarkable creatures. After a short orientation, six to eight guests at a time wade into the shallow turquoise waters of Dolphin Lagoon. For 30 wonderful, memorable and exhilarating minutes, you get to hug, kiss, rub and swim one-on-one with the friendly and playful dolphins through the lagoon. The highlight is the swim back to the shallow area holding onto the dolphin’s fins. 

At Discovery Cove's Coral Reef, you can immerse yourself in the unique coral reef. Swim and snorkel in the turquoise water amongst thousands of tropical fish, numerous types of rays and colorful reefs. You can even get a glimpse of real sharks and barracudas that are swimming safely behind protective glass, as you explore the shipwreck remains. Anyone who enjoys snorkeling will love Coral Reef.

For adventure, you can reach out and touch southern and cow-nose rays in the Ray Lagoon. Snorkel and wade in the Ray Lagoon with dozens of rays, some up to 4 feet in diameter. These velvety gentle creatures swim gracefully around the clear shallow lagoon allowing you to safely play with the stingrays!
 
For relaxation, you can float along the meandering Tropical River while admiring the lush gardens, dense rainforest and palm trees lining the banks of the river. Pass through an underwater cave and maneuver your way through the rocky waterfalls. Afterwards visit the free-flight Aviary, which is home to more than 30 species of birds, where you can mingle with and feed the exotic birds.

Another calming and serene option is the Resort Pool where you can soak up the sun while swimming in crystal-clear blue water maintained at a refreshing 80 degrees year round.

Although the entrance price is steep, the incredible experience and the memories you make will be remembered for a lifetime!