10 Reasons to Visit Discovery Cove

Maggie Ballantyne
7.22.21

Discovery Cove is a beautiful all-inclusive day resort located right in Orlando. When visiting, however, you will feel like you are on a tropical island and not in the heart of one of America’s busiest tourist spots. I have visited Discovery Cove twice and plan to visit again. I find it relaxing, fun, enjoyable, and no two experiences are ever the same. I have made some of my best travel memories at this tropical paradise and want to make many more in the future. Here are my top ten reasons for visiting Discovery Cove:

1. Swimming with Dolphins Excursions: I am so happy I added on swimming with the dolphins to my admission ticket. It was about a 45-minute experience and definitely the best 45 minutes of the day. My friend and I met up with two trainers in one of the dolphin lagoons where we were also introduced to our dolphin, Maui. She was playful, loving, sassy, and made our experience unforgettable. We got to pet her, work on some tricks, and glide across the lagoon. We posed for pictures, asked questions, learned from our trainers, and really had an experience personalized to us.

• Feeding the Stingrays Excursions: This is the earliest excursion available in the morning, which is one reason I love it. You and your small group will be in the grand reef feeding the stingrays before the public is allowed in. This means that the fish and stingrays are very active because there are less humans in the water and they are ready for their breakfast! You will get to pet the southern stingrays, feed the cow nose stingrays, and feed all of the fish. There is a photographer in the water to capture the moments for you!
• Swimming in the Grand Reef: The Grand Reef is open to everyone once the resort opens. You will be swimming with stingrays and tropical fish galore! You can also swim up to the glass walls and it will feel like you are swimming next to the sharks or eels! All snorkel gear is complimentary at Discovery Cove.

• Drink Packages: YUM! There are two different drink packages available at Discovery Cove. I always choose the premium drink package because then I can have cocktails, frozen drinks, beer, or wine. This adds an additional level of convenience to the day; just show the bartender your drink package card on your lanyard and there is no need to retrieve your I.D. and wallet every time you want a drink. It really is that easy!

• Included Meals: Breakfast and lunch are included with the price of admission. It is all-you-care for dining, so enjoy! There are about 4-5 entree options for both breakfast and lunch and lots of sides and desserts.

• Included Drinks and Snacks: Throughout the resort and at the bars, there are soda machines, water stations, slushees, and snack stations including chips, fruit, cookies, soft pretzels, and ice cream. This is all included in the price of your admission!
• Family-Friendly. This all-inclusive experience is perfect for the whole family! Kids are invited to experience the fun too!
• Cabanas: Cabanas are the perfect way to reserve a shady spot for your family, or get some alone time if you are looking for a more romantic experience. Different cabanas come with different luxuries depending on if you book, “Private,” “VIP,” or “Elite,” but most include snack baskets, towel services, and stocked mini fridges!
• Lazy River: The Discovery Cove Lazy River is so unique. It goes behind a waterfall, through an Aviary, past some sea otters, and around the whole resort. It is huge so it never feels overcrowded and you get to see so much.
• Add-on OR Vacation Package Option: There are two ways to book a Discovery Cove Trip. We can add this on to a vacation that is already planned and book it as an a-la-crate offering. OR, we can plan this as a full vacation package and it will include a hotel, day pass, and complimentary transportation. Whatever works best for you, we will figure out how to best fit it in your vacation itinerary.

Interested in Discovery Cove? Follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wishesfamilytravelmaggie to learn more about my experiences. You can also email me at maggie@wishesfamilytravel.com to talk more about adding this experience to your future travel plans.