The marquee attraction at Discovery Cove is Swimming with Dolphins, during which you’ll exchange hugs with these intelligent creatures.
A day on the sand and in the water of Discovery Cove may be one of your most relaxed in Orlando. At this upscale resort you’ll tick off bucket-list experiences like a cashier scans groceries.
Upon arrival, guests check in and are ushered to a waiting area, where they meet guides who get them all the equipment they need, give an overview of the facility and go over the times of all scheduled activities. Breakfast and lunch are included in all packages, so arrive early to fill up your tank, then kick back in your cabana or on your day bed and just enjoy the atmosphere. It’s easy to slip into island time-mode here; you may just be concerned with how much lounging time you get in between the animal interactions.
Not that you should skip on those—it’s what you came for, and rightly so. The main attraction here is Swimming with Dolphins, and if you do nothing else, do this (but you’ll want to do it all). The “swimming” part is a bit misleading, as the dolphins do all the work—so don’t worry if you’re not the world’s best swimmer, because your feet will never leave the sandy bottom until you’re coasting along with your dolphin partner.
Interact with Discovery Cove’s animal ambassadors on an Animal Trek. You may just be able to let a macaw perch on your arm.
In my case, those partners were Madison and Latoya, sweet girls trained to give hugs and kisses. During my session, I was able to reciprocate, gently gripping the dolphins as a photographer snapped away. The only thing missing from my session was more time with the dolphins, an experience I will forever cherish. Be sure to purchase your photos on the way out, you’ll regret it if you leave without them!
With the dolphins checked off my list, I had some time before my next experience, so I grabbed my snorkel and headed over to the Grand Reef to walk alongside the velvety rays, brightly colored fish and beautiful reef sharks. Then, I headed to the back of Discovery Cove for a gander at the new flamingo habitat before my next experience, the Animal Trek.
On this tour, Discovery Cove’s animal ambassadors come out to meet their adoring public. This time, it was a kookaburra, a tawny frogmouth, an armadillo, macaw and a sloth. You can take your own photos and videos, so have your camera ready—you’ll definitely want video of the macaw flying to and perching on you, and you can never have enough photos of the sloth, named Louie.
The marquee attraction at Discovery Cove is Swimming with Dolphins, during which you’ll exchange hugs with these intelligent creatures.
Editor’s note: Swimming with Dolphins, Animal Trek, cabanas and day bed rentals are all add-ons to your experience at Discovery Cove.
There are many more animal encounters to be had at Discovery Cove, such as the Shark Interaction, where you can feed and snorkel among half a dozen different shark species; a ray feeding, in which you’ll help dole out breakfast; and a visit to the Freshwater Oasis, where you can interact with otters and marmosets. Near the Freshwater Oasis is an aviary where you can feed the birds; afterwards, wind through the lazy river, which you can access directly from the aviary. discoverycove.com/Orlando
Splash Away at SeaWorld Orlando
Sister property to Discovery Cove, SeaWorld Orlando is also full of unforgettable animal interactions. The property has a series of up-close tour add-ons that will take you behind the scenes with your favorite aquatic creatures.
Discover SeaWorld Orlando’s all-new Antarctica Empire of the Penguin on the Penguins Up-Close Tour. Take 45 minutes to chill out with your new feathered friends and learn what goes into caring for them from the animal experts who take care of them.
Have you ever wanted to pet or feed a shark? You can on the Sharks Up-Close Tour. Along the way you’ll learn fascinating facts about these animals, the specialized care they receive at SeaWorld Orlando and peer down the 700,000-gallon aquarium they call home.
Learn how to train magnificent beluga whales when you visit these creatures’ habitat on the Beluga Whale Up-Close Tour. It’s your chance to make a special connection with these mammals you’ll cherish forever.
Sit down for a family meal while orcas play in the background when you Dine With Orcas. After you eat, you’ll learn more about the mammals, their animal care specialists and about what you can do to help preserve the orcas’ natural habitats.
To learn more, visit seaworld.com/orlando
