Tucked away from the hustle, Discovery Cove Orlando is an exclusive day resort where unforgettable underwater adventures await. Perfect for families, individuals and couples alike, Discovery Cove provides a blend of natural beauty, marine encounters and relaxation. A park where you can swim with dolphins, snorkel, enjoy a great meal and even learn about conservation, visitors will create memories for life. So whether seeking excitement or trying to just get away for the day, Discovery Cove Orlando, provides an all-inclusive escape, making it a must-visit destination for any Orlando itinerary.
Disclosure: I was provided complimentary admission to the attraction below. All opinions are my own. This post contains some affiliate links. I may earn compensation when you click on the links. There’s no charge to you and helps keep the site up and running.
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What is Discovery Cove?
What sets Discovery Cove apart from other attractions in Orlando is its emphasis on personal interaction with marine animals and a serene, resort-like atmosphere. It’s definitely a unique activity to do in Florida.
Entrance for all covers a variety of things, including parking, so families don’t need to worry about a whole lot of things unless there are a few extras you choose to do (which we’ll get into in a bit!).. There are no separate ticket prices for adults and children because children can do everything included in the ticket price. Youngsters age 2 and under do get free entry, though. There are also sometimes discounted prices available for Florida residents.
Discovery Cove has a capped capacity of 1,800 people. That is not only to make it feel like an exclusive, non-crowded experience, but also for the safety of the animals. The park is committed to conservation and research to help and protect animals. Many of the animals at Discovery Cove Orlando are rescue animals and a lot of the animals come from other aquariums or zoos. There are also lots of live births at the park as well.
When Should You Arrive at Discovery Cove (Hours of Operation)?
The main parts of Discovery Cove are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but that doesn’t mean you and your family should show up at 8:55 a.m. The great thing about Discovery Cove is that food, basic drinks (including some alcohol), and snacks are all included in the entrance ticket!
What that means is the front part of Discovery Cove is open at 7:30 a.m. to serve breakfast. And it’s not a small offering of cold options. We’ll get to the food and drink breakdown in a bit but make sure not to miss out on this opportunity to eat a hot meal before the park even opens.
What to Expect When Visiting Discovery Cove
What to Bring (and not bring) with You
When you visit Discovery Cove Orlando, save some time packing your beach bag. That’s because the following items are provided for you when you get there:
- Beach towels
- Wetsuit (choice of full-bodied or vest) – this is required to participate in certain activities
- Snorkel and mask for
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Flotation device for lazy river
And remember to leave these items at home:
- Outside food or drinks
- Swim noodles, floaties, etc.
- Jewelry (a wedding band is allowed)
- This is to protect the animals if the jewelry falls off and to protect visitors from curious animals who like shiny things.
Things to Do at Discovery Cove
Included with Discovery Cove Ticket Price
Lazy River
Relax and float down the park’s lazy river. Winding through landscapes and waterfalls, it offers an escape along currents while taking in the plants and even the animals (between the waterfalls is the aviary). One small point – the currents aren’t very powerful, which is good for small children. But it also makes it a little hard to be propelled so sometimes you have to use your arms to get going.
Aviary
A paradise for bird lovers, this open aired area features hundreds of local and exotic birds. As you wander through this sanctuary, you can feed the birds (which is free) and look for specific species. With 60 distinct bird species inside, there’s plenty to enjoy.
The Grand Reef
Go snorkeling in a tropical oasis in the saltwater Grand Reef. You’ll get a chance to get a close-up view of thousands of fish and multiple types of rays.
Flamingo Point
A brand new attraction at Discovery Cove Orlando, Flamingo Point lets guests observe a beautiful, pink flock of flamingos. With an up-close view of these beautiful birds, there’s plenty of opportunities for great photos.
Freshwater Oasis
This part of the park is really unique. A crystal-clear spring, the Freshwater Oasis lets swimmers get a look at playful otters and curious marmosets (behind glass) as you swim and wade through this immersive environment.
Food and Beverage
One great thing about Discovery Cove Orlando is that every ticket includes an all-including dining package. Don’t let that fool. you though – this doesn’t mean that you’ll get the minimum amounts of cold food. There are hot bars set up with employees serving you. Breakfast included eggs, meats (bacon and sausage), breads, muffins, yogurt and fruit. Lunch had selections from different parts of the world, including sandwiches, Jamaican jerk meat, sides and desserts. There was literally something for every type of taste bud.
In addition to breakfast (7:30am-10:30am) and lunch (11am-3:30pm) being served, there were several different venues throughout the park, including a pizza location, that are included in the selection. And there are also snacks like bags of chips and ice cream, also included in the price. No one will go hungry at Discovery Cove!
For beverages, coffee, sodas and water are all included for all guests. Those over the age of 21 also can get a small selection of beer and wine at one of the several bars around the park (this is included with the ticket).
Discovery Cove Orlando Parking
Parking if free! Try to find that deal anywhere else in Orlando.
Optional Additional Fees at Discovery Cove Orlando
With all of the included activities, there’s no need to pay for anything additional while enjoying the day at Discovery Cove. But if interested, there are a few other things you can enjoy for an additional fee:
Swim with Dolphins
Dolphin lovers, this is for you! Get up close and personal with your own dolphin experience at Discovery Cove Orlando. The park is home to more than 30 dolphins and they live in a huge lagoon that’s separated into several sections. The dolphins aren’t forced to come out, and if they decide not to, they’re left alone, and another dolphin is given the option of participating.
Guests are given a 15-20 minute presentation prior to entering the water. There are many rules including not interacting with the dolphins unless instructed. This is for guests safety as well as the dolphins. It’s always good to remember that they’re cute, but they are wild animals. After instructions, guests are led to the lagoon to stand in the shallow part and watch trainers interact with the dolphins. Guests are welcome to take a quick dorsal fin ride, which is amazing to see how powerful these creatures are. And of course, you can get your picture taken with the dolphin. Cameras and phones are not allowed in the pool. Neither is jewelry because dolphins are very curious. Sunglass are allowed, but you must wear them the entire time and not even take them off during photos.
SeaAdventure
Those who are curious about the underwater activities of The Grand Reef can purchase an underwater experience with SeaVenture. Guests put on a dive helmet and go down to the floor of the reef to come face to face with all of the animals beneath the surface, including the sharks that can be viewed through the 21-foot-long window. The SeaVenture takes about 45 minutes, and a portion of the proceeds collected are donated to Rising Tide Conservation, which works on sustainability in the marine aquarium industry.
Cabanas and Daybeds
Visitors to Discovery Cove can use any of the lounge chairs located in the beach area. For those looking for some shade, a little more privacy or an extra treat, private cabanas or daybeds can be rented.
Daybeds have two lounge chairs and along the quieter beaches near the dolphin swim experience. Cabanas can accommodate up to 8 people and come with a mini fridge, snacks, sodas and water and towels. With the VIP Cabana you also get your own dedicated host to get you drinks from the bar, who comes by to escort you to your extra experiences (so you don’t miss out) and answers any questions you may have. In additional VIP Cabanas also receive reserved seating at breakfast and lunch, a view of the dolphin lagoon, an animal encounter and the digital photo package, making it a great deal.
Interact with Animals
In addition to the dolphin experience, Discovery Cove Orlando offers other opportunities to get up close with the animals of the park, including a behind-the-scenes tour to see small mammals and birds, a flamingo mingle to meet everyone’s favorite pink bird, a shark training and feeding interaction and ray feeding.
Premium Drinks and Photos
While alcoholic drinks are included with a basic entrance ticket, anyone who enjoys a specific beer or wine or likes a tropical drink should add to the premium drink package. The premium drink package includes local craft beers, hard seltzers, liquor, ready-to-drink cocktails, specialty drinks and frozen such as daiquiris, margaritas, and piña coladas.
Autism Certification and Accessibility at Discovery Cove Orlando
Another thing that sets Discovery Cove apart from other theme parks is that it is a designated Certified Autism Center™ by the industry leader, the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). To receive this certification, Discovery Cove Orlando must have 80% of its guest-facing employees trained to interact with those who have autism or another cognitive disability.
A sensory guide is available to guests both online and in the park to help see which attractions at the park have low sensory stimulation. According to Nikki Sisco, the Park Ops Manager, Discovery Cove is low on the sensory level because there are not a lot of lines (due to capacity levels), and there are no fireworks or parades. There are also quiet spaces located throughout the park where those who need to take a break from others can sit and decompress.
In addition to sensory guides, Discovery Cove Orlando offers complimentary qualified American Sign Language interpreters to those with hearing disabilities. For those with allergies, allergy friendly recommendations are available as well.
How to Get to Discover Cove and Where to Stay
Discovery Cove is located in Orlando, Florida, and directly across the street from its sister property, Sea World Orlando. The closest airport is Orlando International Airport (MCO) and there are also Amtrak and Greyhound stations in Orlando. For those visiting Walt Disney World, Discovery Cove Orlando is located 10 miles northeast of the Magic Kingdom park.
The area is a huge tourist destination and there are plenty of hotels around Discovery Cove. International Drive, which is a prime location for hotels, bars and restaurants, is 2.5 miles away.
