Discovery Cove - Orlando

This reservation-only adventure allows guests to experience the most exciting animal encounters the world has to offer – swimming with dolphins, playing with stingrays, and coming eye-to-eye with sharks and barracuda.

Located adjacent to SeaWorld in Orlando, interacting with bottlenose dolphins is the highlight of a day-long adventure that also includes snorkeling through reefs teeming with thousands of tropical fish including stingrays, and lazily swimming down a tropical river under a rocky waterfall into a free-flight aviary.

This "ultimate dolphin experience" starts with a brief orientation through an informative video and trainer talk. Guests learn about dolphin characteristics and how trainers use hand signals and positive reinforcement to communicate with these amazing animals. The actual dolphin experience provides a rare opportunity to spend 30 minutes in the water getting acquainted with dolphins through hugs, kisses, rubdowns and the occasional dorsal tow or belly ride.

Your day's adventure doesn't end there. Guests don snorkels and masks for a glimpse into the amazing underwater world at Discovery Cove's Coral Reef where thousands of exotic fish surround guests as they explore the remains of a shipwreck while coming eye-to-eye with sharks and barracuda. After enjoying a freshly prepared meal, guests may drift down a relaxing river as it winds its way through unique landscapes – a sunny island beach, a tropical rainforest, an underwater cave, and an interactive aviary where you can play with over 200 tropical birds.

"With Discovery Cove, we've created an extraordinary family adventure and have given guests an all-new reason to come to Orlando," says Frank Murru, Discovery Cove's general manager. "Discovery Cove has truly become Central Florida's newest vacation destination."

Information and Directions

Discovery Cove offers two types of daily admission packages and a special "Trainer for a Day" package:

• The All-Inclusive Packages are for those who want to fully experience Discovery Cove including the dolphin-swim experience. Price for 2008 is $269-$289 (plus tax) depending on the season. Florida residents' rate is $219 (plus tax) when adventure is booked for April 25 through May 18 and September 3 through December 20.
  
• The Non-Dolphin Swim Package is for those too young (between ages three and five) to participate and for those not interested in the dolphin-swim experience. Price for 2008 is $169-$189 (plus tax).
  
• The "Trainer for a Day" package includes enhanced dolphin interaction and behind-the-scenes feeding and training experiences. Cost is $468-$488 (plus tax).

All packages include: free self-parking; a freshly prepared meal; use of a mask, snorkel, swim vest, towels, lockers, fins, and sunscreen; as well as admission to SeaWorld Orlando for seven consecutive days. Some restrictions do apply to all packages and reservations are required.

Information and Directions

Discovery Cove's hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with check-in beginning at 8:00 a.m. on the day of your adventure.

Discovery Cove is located adjacent to SeaWorld Orlando at the intersection of Interstate 4 and FL 528 (the Bee Line Expressway) and is just 10 minutes south of downtown Orlando and 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport.