If you are looking for something very unique, visit Discovery Cove during your trip to Orlando. You will see birds, fish and sting rays, but the highlight of your day will definitely be swimming with the dolphins. You must reserve your tickets in advance. Only one thousand guests are admitted each day to this attraction.
Swimming with the Dolphins
The dolphins are Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins. The park is home to thirty five of these magnificent creatures. Guests are taken to swim with the dolphins in groups of six to eight people. Each group gets a thirty minute session in the lagoon with the dolphins. You will love their friendly and playful nature.
Prior to meeting the dolphins, you will be given an interactive orientation session. This includes a video that will introduce you to the bottlenose dolphin. During the orientation, you will learn about dolphin communication and hand signals used by the trainers. The session will also cover safety guidelines for the swim.
Other Attractions at Discovery Cove
You will find pristine beaches inside Discovery Cove. This is a great place to relax and enjoy the sunshine that has made this state famous. Take a swim in the tropical river. This is a freshwater river with rocky waterfalls. The water fall and rain forest areas offer relaxing sounds and sights for guests to enjoy. The beaches contain soft sand that is perfect for relaxation.
If you want to observe more sea life, consider snorkeling in the coral reef and ray lagoon. Here you will find a variety of tropical fish and sting rays. In spite of what happened to the Crocodile Hunter, rays are generally very gentle sea creatures. The rays are Southern and Cow nose rays. They are very calm, but can be quite large. They are up to four feet in diameter. When you touch their skin, it has a smooth texture like velvet.
There are also shipwrecks for you to explore around the coral reef. This adds fun to the snorkeling experience. These are man made ship wrecks. You will also get to observe sharks and barracuda that are located behind glass. You can come face to face with these amazing creatures behind the safety of the glass.
When you have seen enough wild life, take a relaxing swim in the resort pool. The water temperature is a very comfortable 80 degrees. There are deep areas and shallow areas for children. The grottos and waterfalls add a relaxing element to the pools, which is perfect after an encounter with ocean life. It is the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure in Discovery Cove.
There are different packages available to guests. All packages include lunch, a snorkel, fins, mask, towels, a swim vest and locker. Sunscreen is provided to protect guests from the strong Florida sun. If you plan to attend Sea World, there are combination tickets that can save you money. You will need an entire day to visit Discovery Cove. There really is a lot to see and do here.
