Discovery Cove Orlando Tips

Non-Disney Parks
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We are (hopefully) heading to Orlando in late October and our first stop is Discovery Cove. We would love any tips folks would like to share and especially the following:
1 - Do they have plus size (2x or maybe even 3x) wetsuits (for oldest/teen DD)
2 - Are getting the chairs w/ awning worth it or will there always be enough “regular” lounge chairs?
3 - Do we have to get there by 8am or can we wait until 9am or so (if we are not doing a morning experience)? When is breakfast served to?

My oldest DD’s dream is to swim around with the rays and sharks (but is terrified of the open ocean). Second DD thinks its all seems pretty cool.

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Doing a through go through of the Discovery Cove site and found the hours for the restaurants:

• Discovery Cove Breakfast Hours: 7:30 A.M. - 10:30 A.M.

• Discovery Cove Lunch Hours: 11:00 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.

• Hibiscus Hideaway Pizza Hours: 10:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.

• Bar Service Hours: 10:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

3

Hi - my family loved Discovery Cove and it sounds like yours will love it too.

A couple of my thoughts:

  • There are definitely wet suits of all sizes. This should not be a problem and you feel comfortable quickly.

  • We did not have any problems getting chairs but we went on the early side. We never sat in them, we were always somewhere.

  • We did not pay extra for experiences and had no regrets. There was plenty to do.

  • One of my favorite parts was the aviary. I could have stayee there all day.

  • But the reef section really was my favorite. There was a time when the keeper dumped in brine shrimp right as me and DD were swimming by and we were surrounded by rays. It was seriously awesome. If you have your own snorkel gear bring it. DH found the mouth piece particularly hard to manage. It is big which can take a moment to get used to.

Discivery Cove is a favorite memory for me. I hope you love it!

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4

There is a very active DC page on DIS boards.

It’s a bucket list item for me for sure.

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Thank you! It sounds like it really is a wonderful as it looks.

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When did you go to Discovery Cove? I’m planning a June trip centered on SW/AQ/BGT with the DC multi-park tickets.

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Hi. We went in October of 2023. It was amazing and is still one of the best experiences (at a “theme park”) ever.

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I can’t remeber the exact date but it was definitely pre- COVID, probably 2018?

Do you all like snorkeling? Or birds? Because I could hang out in the aviary or snorkel in the lagoon all day!

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Thank you, both!
It’s hard to find reviews/info. I do see people say they let a lot more people in daily and it is harder to get seats/food, etc. What was your experience @ASchroader ?

I do love aviaries @heathernoel I’ve never snorkeled in open waters, but I am excited to try in DC.

Any tips would be welcomed. I am looking at going 6/14 and will book as soon as I get final responses from my family.

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Hi Sorry for the delayed response.

We did not find it overcrowded at all when we were there, but that was 2.5 years ago and we were a bit off season (end of October, after most people’s fall breaks). There were lots of empty chairs.

I added on the sharks for my two teens. They liked it, but I thought it was expensive for what it was. I added on the day lounger and was glad I did. It seems it bit hard to find shade.

There was lots of good, and healthy food!

There is currently a 30% DC special until March 1st. That is one of the best deals they put out outside of black friday.

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