Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
DISCOVERY COVE
Discovery Cove
THEME PARK
14-day unlimited access to SeaWorld & Aquatica tickets $169-280, incl dolphin swim $229-399,
SeaVenture extra $59;
8am-5:30pm, all-day experience, advance reservations required;
;
Lynx 8, 38, 50, 111)
At Discovery Cove, guests spend the day snorkeling in a fish- and ray-filled reef, floating
on a lazy river through an aviary, and simply relaxing in an intimate tropical sanctuary of
white-sand beaches. Sure, this island getaway is all artificially made, but that's what Or-
lando does best. For an added price beyond the Resort Only package, you can swim with
dolphins and walk along the sea floor.
Note that since the early 1990s, there has been a growing controversy regarding the eth-
ics of dolphin captivity for the purposes of public display and human interaction. Both the
Humane Society of the United States and the World Society for the Protection of Animals
have come out strongly against the practice. If you'd like more information on the issues
surrounding keeping dophins in captivity, The Case Against Marine Mammals in Captivity,
by Naomi Rose, is a good resource.
If you have signed up for a
Dolphin Swim
, you'll be given a time and place to meet your
instructor when you arrive in the morning. Groups of about 10 gather under a thatched-
roof tiki hut, are given a brief orientation and a wetsuit, and then head into the chilly la-
goon with the dolphins. Each group is assigned a dolphin for hands-on interaction and a
short one-on-one glide through the water. The minimum age is six, and children under 12
must be accompanied by a paying adult. Purchase the Dolphin Swim when you make
your reservation.
The second add-on option is
SeaVenture.
Don a dive helmet for a walk along the reef
among schools of saltwater fish, rays, sharks and other creatures, but don't worry - the
more dangerous ones lie behind a glass barrier. Suitable for ages 10 and older; no scuba
certification required. The experience is limited to six people at a time and takes one
hour, with 20 minutes of it spent underwater. As with the Dolphin Swim, you must pur-
chase this experience when you make your reservation.
Beyond this, just kick back - wiggle your toes in the sand, stretch out in the sun with a
beer and explore as the mood moves you. Discovery Cove is small, allowing only 1300
guests per day, and is completely secured with several lifeguards overseeing the swim-
