Orlando Archives - Swimming with Dolphins 1-800-667-5524

Posted on October 25, 2017 by Dolphin Man — Leave a comment

Discovery Cove – Dolphin Swimming in Orlando

Orlando, Florida is one of the top tourist destinations in the world. When you think of Orlando, you typically think of theme parks. After all, this is home to some of the greatest amusement parks like Epcot, Universal Studios, Aquatica Orlando, Disney’s Magic Kingdom and Legoland.

But all of these theme parks are based on make believe, on things and adventure that aren’t real. If you’re looking for a real adventure – head to Discovery Cove, where you can swim with the dolphins in Orlando. Talk about magic!

Discovery Cove - A magical place — Discovery Cove – A magical place

Live a Dream and Swim with Dolphins

Dolphin Cove offers visitors a variety of programs that allow them to get up-close-and-personal with these amazing creatures. One of the most popular programs is the Dolphin Swim Experience.

This is an awesome one-on-one encounter that you will never forget. You’ll first learn all about dolphins – how they behave and communicate in the wild. Then you’ll wade into the beautiful dolphin lagoon where you’ll meet your new friend, the highly-intelligent and playful bottlenose dolphin.

After your initial meet-n-greet where you’ll be able to hug and kiss your new friend, your 30-minute interactive adventure will really take off when you experience a dorsal fin ride. Hold on tight as your friend pulls you around the deeper end of the lagoon. You’ll feel like you’re flying!

For very young children or those guests who are not strong swimmers, there are also dolphin encounters that take place entirely in shallow water. No matter which Discovery Cover dolphin program you choose, you’re sure to make memories that will last a lifetime!

Play Well – Eat Well

Of course, at some point during your day, you’re going to notice that all of this adventure has made you and your group very hungry. But not to worry because a day at Discovery Cove Orlando includes delicious meals, snacks and beverages.

Depending on when you arrive, you’ll have the opportunity to grab a hearty breakfast of freshly prepared pastries and muffins, fresh fruit, juices, coffee and more. You’ll also notice that throughout the park, snack stations have been positioned so when you need a bit of energy, you can grab something on the go.

Lunch is served daily between the hours of 11am and 3pm and offers delicious entrees such as:

· Bacon Beach Burger
· Sweet Hawaiian Chicken Served over a bed of fried rice
· BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich Served with French Fries and Corn Cobbette
· Seaside Club Sandwich Ham, Turkey, Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, and Onion on baked bread
· Chicken Tenders Served with choice of French Fries or Corn Cobbette
· Island hot Dog Served with French Fries
· Home Made Macaroni & Cheese

And make sure to save room for desert because you’ll be tempted by chocolate chip cake, cherry cheesecake, carrot cake and assorted pastries. It’s okay, live a little. You’re on vacation AND you’re burning a lot of calories on this adventure.

Also, if anyone in your group has special dietary needs and requires vegan, gluten free or dairy free menus, they are available upon request.

Other Exciting Activities

After you’ve had a delicious lunch, you’ll no doubt want to experience more adventure. Luckily, Discovery Cover offers more.

Shark Swim

If you thought getting up-close and personal with dolphins is an adrenaline rush, just wait until you stare a shark in the face! You’ll start with a training and learning session, then will have the opportunity to swim freely alongside several species of sharks in deeper water. Don’t worry, there’s no great white sharks here, so though you’ll be thrilled with this experience, you’ll also be perfectly safe.

Ray Feeding

If you get to the park early enough you can help the trainers feed the resident stingrays! You’ll also have the opportunity to feed thousands of vibrant tropical fish their morning meal before you head out on a private, guided swim of Grand Reef.

SeaVenture

There are those who want to swim underwater, and then there are those who would rather walk underwater. Well, you can do just that with SeaVenture, The Grand Reef’s innovative experience that lets visitors take an underwater walking tour in a diving helmet. You’ll be able to walk around and breathe while exploring the amazing underwater landscape and animal life. Without question SeaVenture is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and one you won’t soon forget.

As you can see, Orlando is indeed a magical place to visit. If you’re looking for the thrills of your life, be sure to make time on your vacation to explore Discovery Cove and get up-close-and-personal to some amazing animals!

Click NOW! Pricing & Information >>

Posted on December 14, 2016December 13, 2016 by Dolphin Man — Leave a comment

The Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Discovery Cove

When considering a vacation destination that offers a chance to swim with Dolphins, you would not think Orlando, a landlocked region of the sunshine state, would be one of your best options. But you’d be wrong, because Discovery Cove, located in Orlando, offers one of the best Orlando swim with dolphins experience and so much more.

You get an all-inclusive experience including the chance to interact with many animals, eat and drink until your heart is content, and relax and be pampered by an attentive staff. After visiting Discovery Cove many times, I have come up with my Top 10 insider secrets.

1. Get there early

The expression, “The early bird gets the worm” is true here. When you purchase a ticket at Discovery Cove, you don’t get a set time but a confirmed day. The spaces are on a first come, first served basis. So, if getting a swim time before lunch is important to you, you want to get there early. Otherwise, you will have to take the last swim times in the late afternoon. Also, if you have little ones, you might need to split the swim times, so mom can go with one child and dad go with another. The only way you can do those things is to get to Discovery Cove Early. The doors open at 7:30am.

checking_in_discovery_cove — Checking In at Discovery Cove – Early Bird gets the Worm

2. Split up your times

If you want to take photos of each other, I would recommend splitting up your swim times. This way one person can take photos of your group and the other person can take photos of you during your dolphin interaction. Note: the professional photographers can take much better photos than you can, but it’s always nice to have a choice if you’re on a tight budget. Photos can cost $100 and up.

split_up_your_group_times_discovery_cove — Split Up Your Session Times

3. Stay at a SeaWorld approved Hotel

Orlando has many choices for hotels, but if you stay at one of the Sea World-approved hotels, you will get many perks at Sea World, like special amenities for the shows, speedy check in at gate, close proximity to Discovery Cove and Sea World, free shuttles to the parks, and even a free souvenir cup.

4. Enjoy the extra activities at Sea World

Your admission to Discovery Cove includes admission to Sea World and Aquatica, 14 days before or after your admission date. So why not enjoy all that Sea World has to offer, like some really exciting VIP tours? The Frozen VIP Tour gives you a chance to meet and touch seals, Beluga whales, and a huge walrus. This 90-minute behind-the-scenes tour is memorable and provides a ton of great photo ops.

beluga_whale_behind_the_scenes — Extra Activities at Sea World

5. Cool off at Aquatica

Aquatica was one of those blessings to have included during the super-hot summer month of August. My children and I spent all day in the water and stayed chilled out even though it was 90 degrees plus. The waterslides and pools were so much fun. Many folks don’t take advantage of this bonus park. Again, you have 14 days before or after to use this park pass.

aquatica_orlando_-_cool_off_here — Cool Off at Aquatica

6. The Lazy River is a blast

The lazy River at Discovery Cove is really fun. You can grab a water noodle and start at one end of the river and move around the park. This river is usually not very crowded and a great way to relax for 20 – 30 minutes. The gentle manmade current pushes you through the river so no swimming is required and you pass a bird sanctuary, a long cave, waterfalls and beautiful gardens.

7. Did anyone say open Bar?

At Discovery Cove, all your meals are included, including breakfast and lunch. But a nice surprise is that all of your drinks and snacks are also included. When I mean drinks, that includes beer, wine and frozen drinks like strawberry daiquiris and pina coladas. They have a tiki bar set up and you can go there any time during the day for a nice cold one. Be careful, it is easy to get really drunk and you don’t want to drive.

open_bar_discovery_cove — Friendly Service at the Open Bar

8. Choose your spot wisely

Once you get to the park, you’ll be given lounge chairs and then it’s time for you and your family or friends to hunt for and claim your spot. Do you best to find a spot that offers shade and is close to the open bar and food and to where you’ll be swimming with the dolphins. If you want less crowds, set up camp near the Lazy River side. The chairs go quickly, so the early bird gets the worm and lounge chair.

chairs_are_everywhere_discovery_cove — Choose Your Chair and Make a Home Base

9. Plan a full day

I highly recommend that you spend the full day (from 7:3am to 3 – 4pm) at the park. I know it sounds like so many hours but it will fly by because you are enjoying the dolphins, the food and drinks and all the amenities. It’s almost like being on a cruise ship but on land. Why not take the entire day to relax and have fun?

10. Tick Tock watch the clock

The only thing that is a little stressful, and I really do mean only a little, is making sure to be on time for your dolphin swim. When you check in at the gate, you will get a swim time. There are clocks everywhere with in the park, so know where your clock is so you are not late for your swim. That is another reason why I like doing my swim early, so I don’t have to look at the clock anymore and just relax the rest of the day.

set_your_watch_to_clock_dicovery_cove — Know Your Swim Time

Hopefully this Top 10 list will make your experience at Discovery Cove Orlando even better. Wait, I do have 1 one more tip, if you plan to come to Discovery Cove, makes sure to make your reservation early! You can make your booking right here on Dolphin World with real time availability. After all, your vacation only comes around once each year, so you want to be sure it’s as stress-free as possible. Have fun!

Book Your Discovery Cove Programs >>

Posted on May 5, 2016October 19, 2019 by Dolphin Man — Leave a comment

Have a Blast Visiting Orlando’s World-Famous Theme Parks and Dolphins!

Known as the “Theme Park Capital of the World,” Orlando is a destination where both the young and the young at heart can play, explore, activate their imaginations and make memories that last a lifetime. With new theme parks being created often and new rides and attracting being installed at some of the classics, there is always something new and thrilling to be discovered.

Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove came up with a brilliant idea: Restrict guest access to only 1,300 visitors per day. This makes it feel more like an exclusive resort than it does a crowded theme park. Here you can enjoy memorable interactive experiences with dolphins, sting rays, sea otters, tropical fish and exotic birds. Another genius idea the park had was to make the admission fee all-inclusive, so once inside you never have to worry about food, towels or snorkeling equipment.

Islands of Adventure

Universal brings you “Islands of Adventure,” a theme park where some of your favorite movie experiences come to life. Your kids will absolutely love wandering through the world of Hogwarts at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Feel like huge scares? Then experience the thrilling raft ride past the enormous dinosaurs on the Jurassic Park River Adventure. And for a surreally good time, head for Seuss Landing where your children can meet their favorite Dr. Seuss characters, then continue on to the Marvel Super Hero Island and fly through the air on one of its many attractions.

Epcot

Epcot started out as a theme park to showcase the latest in innovation and in the years since its opening it has become one of Orlando’s largest and most popular theme parks. After taking days to explore all that Epcot has to offer, you’d never guess it is only 305 acres large. There’s an aquarium, a promenade around a manmade lagoon, 11 different pavilions celebrating the nations of the world and numerous educational and imaginative attractions like the famous Spaceship Earth.

Aquatica Orlando

Aquatica Orlando seems to have been created by the imaginations of children instead of adults. It’s one of those destinations that have thought of everything. Combining the very best of an aquarium, zoo, water park AND amusement park, Aquatica offers 38 slides and 84,000 acres of white sand beaches that have private cabanas you can rent, so you and your family could spend days here and never tire of it. Did we mention the Dolphin Plunge ride – a clear tube water slide that winds you through the Commerson’s dolphin habitat!

LEGOLAND Florida

Whether you like LEGOS or not, LEGOLAND is about as cool a theme park as you’ll ever visit. The park features 50 rides plus outstanding shows and attractions spread out over 150 acres. Designed for children between the ages of 2 and 12, LEGOLAND is a great destination for those families traveling with little ones. But don’t expect to leave the park without stopping by the Big Shop to bring some new LEGO toys home with you.

Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Perhaps the most beloved park in all of Orlando, the Magic Kingdom is where dreams really do come true. No trip to Orlando would be complete without visiting and meeting Mickey and all of his pals, or riding the many charming rides based on Disney classic movies. Visitors to the park can enjoy Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Tomorrowland and Fantasy Land.

Universal Studios Florida

Universal Studios brings all of your favorite movie characters to life. Whether you’re in your 40s and want to experience the thrill of meeting E.T., or 4 and want to experience the thrill of meeting Shrek, the park is a destination where every age of imagination is brought to life.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney Animal Kingdom has taken the concept of a zoo and elevated it to something extraordinary; of course that’s what Disney does with everything it creates. Take your family on an African safari without ever leaving Florida and see real live giraffe and elephants and over 1,500 animals representing 250 species. Take a raft ride down the Amazon or ride a train through Mount Everest – this park is beyond fun and thrilling!

SeaWorld Orlando

If you’ve ever dreamt of meeting Shamu, the world’s most famous killer whale, then head to Sea World where you can also meet and watch all kinds of underwater life like sea lions and otters. You can hop on one of their many thrilling rides and roller coasters and catch some funny live action shows as well.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

How to get into show business without ever really trying, that’s what the Hollywood Studios offers visitors. Get a behind the scenes look at Hollywood by enjoying live stunt shows, animation galleries, a backlot tour and a plethora of thrilling rides and attractions like Twilight Zone’s Tower of Terror.

After reading about all of these amazing theme parks, you’re probably realizing that Orlando is indeed the most magical place on Earth and are booking your trip right now.

Need a Places to Stay?

The Gaylord Palms Resort and Spa is a breathtaking resort with 4.5-acre glass atrium & tropical gardens and near many theme parks. It is located a half-mile mile from Walt Disney World Resort (Disney’s Maingate East), this resort is near the Arabian Nights Dinner Show and Downtown Disney Area. SeaWorld, Universal Studios Florida, and Pointe Orlando shops are within 10 miles. Gaylord Palms Resort and Spa features 2 pools, 5 restaurants, live gator feedings, and nightly entertainment. And to top it all off, this resort has a 20,000-square-foot health spa which includes 25 treatment rooms, a fitness facility, and a full-service salon. Doesn’t this place sound perfect for a getaway?

Insider Secrets

We would enjoy to hear any of our reader’s insider secrets, if any of you have traveled to Orlando and want to share some of your travel experiences there. For example, Where did you stay and how did you like it? Did you find any interesting restaurants or attractions that you enjoyed and want to write about? How did the locals treat you? Please share your experiences below in the comment section. Our community of avid travelers and dolphin lovers would like to hear what you did and your travel advice.

Posted on July 29, 2015January 22, 2024 by Dolphin Man — 1 Comment

Make Memories at Discovery Cove Orlando

Orlando has to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It has glorious weather all year long so if you like being outdoors, this is the place for you. And, besides the obvious theme parks, Orlando offers plenty of activities for people of all ages. There are state parks to swim, canoe and camp, there are multiple museums that house fine art collections, and there are some high-end shopping boutiques for those who get a thrill out of spending too much on vacation. And for those looking for a completely unique and unforgettable experience, there’s Discovery Cove Orlando.

Book Your Discovery Cove Ticket Online Now >>>

What You Get at Discovery Cove

There is so much to do at Discovery Cove, you may find you have to spend a couple of days here just to experience everything!

You can start your adventure at Explorer’s Aviary where you will suddenly be immersed in the most colorful and musical landscape. You’ll be delighted and amazed at the hundreds of colorful birds that soar above your head and then land on your arm to feed right from your hand!

There’s also SeaVenture, a completely cool and unique experience where you can take an underwater walking tour wearing a dive helmet. The great thing is you don’t need to be SCUBA certified or have any SCUBA experience to enjoy this adventure. You’ll come face-to-face with sharks, but don’t worry, they’re on the other side of a thick piece of glass. You’ll also get to spend time with vibrant schools of fish and other unique animals like velvet rays. Some visitors have compared this experience to walking on the moon.

Wind-Away River

Imagine being gently swept down a lazy river, only instead of being in a boat you’re on your stomach with snorkel gear so you can see all of the beautiful and colorful wonders below you in the crystal clear waters.

Have You Always Wanted to Swim with Dolphins?

They don’t call it Dolphin Cove for nothing. If you’ve always wondered what it would be like to swim with these magical creatures, you’ll finally get your chance. This one-on-one dolphin encounter starts with a trainer teaching you all about dolphin behavior. You’ll then wade into the dolphin lagoon where you’ll meet and quickly become best friends with an inquisitive and playful bottlenose dolphin.

Your 30-minute interactive adventure will have you hugging and kissing your dolphin pal, and getting the ride of a lifetime when you hold on to their dorsal fin and they pull you around the water. IT’s an experience you’ll never forget of swimming with the dolphins in Orlando!

Other Amenities for You to Enjoy

After your dolphin adventure, you and your family might want to head over to The Grand Reef to get up close to some more wondrous creatures from the sea, or visit the Freshwater Oasis and have some fun with the adorable otters and playful marmosets. You might want to relax and take a nap on the lovely man made beaches. Everyone will get their own lounge chair, towels and sun screen, so no need to worry about space for you and your family.

Don’t forget the delicious food that you will be getting, breakfast and lunch buffet and all your snacks and beverages all day long. You won’t walk away hungry because you will be treated like a family guest at Discovery Cove. You will be burning a lot of calories with all the fun activities you will have to explore with in the park.

And, if you still have time – and energy – you’ll be able to head to another one of Orlando’s great parks. That’s right, a day at Discovery Cove includes admission to two other great Orlando parks, 14 Days unlimited admission to SeaWorld and Aquatica.

SeaWorld Orlando

If you still have a hankerin’ to interact with amazing sea animals, then head to famous SeaWorld where you can hang with playful penguins, mysterious sharks and even the gentle beluga whales. Plus, there’s thrilling rides and of course Shamu!

Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark

One of the coolest and most unique waterparks in the country, Aquatica could have only been created by SeaWorld. You’ll be amazed when you float through a colorful and magical underwater world of exotic fish and coral. Experience the thrill of rolling rapids, or just relax on the soft, white sand beaches while your kids still run around burning up the energy you once remember having. After you’ve rested and have gotten your second wind, you’ll want to take a tube slide through an underwater world where black-and-white Commerson’s Dolphins play and race alongside you.

It’s no wonder people consider Orlando a magical place – there’s just so much to see and do. If you want to SEE amazing animals and Dot the kinds of things that will give you bragging rights back home – head to Dolphin Cove Orlando for your next vacation.