Discovery Cove, Orlando - a boat is docked at the end of a pier
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Discovery Cove Orlando

4.7
·14k reviews·Orlando, United States

An all-inclusive tropical oasis in Orlando, offering dolphin swims, snorkeling with marine life, and a relaxing lazy river.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Early mornings

Beat the crowds & enjoy calm waters

CrowdLow
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Discovery Cove, Orlando - a boat is docked at the end of a pier

Discovery Cove Orlando

Best Time

Early mornings

Beat the crowds & enjoy calm waters

CrowdLow
Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

An all-inclusive tropical oasis in Orlando, offering dolphin swims, snorkeling with marine life, and a relaxing lazy river.

4.7
(14k reviews)

"Discovery Cove is amazing! An all inclusive paradise!"

Vertical photo
TIP

🎯 Arrive Early for Best Experience

Get there right at opening to maximize your day and enjoy fewer crowds.

🤿 Use Provided Snorkel Gear

The park provides masks, snorkels, and wetsuits/vests. You can keep the snorkel!

Third hero image

Quick Facts

Hours

Rating

4.7 · 14,291 reviews

Type

Amusement Park

👶 Good for kids♿ Wheelchair accessible🅿️ Accessible parking🚻 Accessible restroom

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

The Grand Reef

The Grand Reef

Central lagoon

Snorkel alongside thousands of tropical fish, rays, and even small sharks in a vibrant coral reef environment.

Dolphin Swim

Dolphin Swim

Dolphin Lagoon

Experience a memorable interaction with intelligent dolphins in a dedicated lagoon.

Lazy River

Lazy River

Winding river

Float through lush landscapes, waterfalls, and even an aviary filled with exotic birds.

Explorer's Aviary

Explorer's Aviary

Aviary enclosure

Hand-feed colorful, exotic birds in a tropical aviary setting.

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Planning Your Visit

Book in Advance for Best Experience

Discovery Cove limits daily capacity to ensure a relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere. Booking well in advance is crucial, especially for popular add-ons like dolphin swims. This also helps secure better pricing and ensures your desired date is available. TikTok

All-Inclusive Means All-Inclusive

Your ticket covers unlimited food, snacks, and select alcoholic beverages, plus towels and lockers. This means you can truly unwind without constantly reaching for your wallet. TikTok+2

Best Times

When
Early mornings
Why
Beat the crowds & enjoy calm waters
Crowd
Low
When
Weekdays
Why
Fewer families, more relaxed vibe
Crowd
Low
When
Late afternoons
Why
Golden hour for photos
Crowd
Medium

Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

☀️🌴 PSA: #discoverycove #orlando #vacationvibes #GossipGirlHere #travel #snorkeling
@daniellerose.art
199.2K likes • 1.4M views

🎯 Arrive Early for Best Experience

Get there right at opening to maximize your day and enjoy fewer crowds. TikTokReddit

🤿 Use Provided Snorkel Gear

The park provides masks, snorkels, and wetsuits/vests. You can keep the snorkel! Reddit

Discovery Cove was the first park we visited this year. I schedule it this way because we get free entrance to Aquatica for 14 days after our day at DC. You can also purchase add ons like swimming with dolphins or sharks, feeding the flamingos and hanging out with Otters. I love it here!! @Discovery Cove #discoverycove #orlando #orlandoflorida #discoverycoveorlando #waterpark #florida #floridalife...
@mrsstealyostew
160.2K likes • 1.6M views
Did you know there’s an all-inclusive day resort in Florida where you can snorkel and swim through caves?! 😍✨🌴 @discoverycove offers all day fun and experiences from their rivers, lagoons, and caves, to snorkeling with fish and rays, hand-feeding tropical birds, animal encounters and more! The best part is that it’s all-inclusive with food, drinks, select beer and wine, lockers, sunscreen & tow...
floridatravelguide
84.6K likes • 2.2M views

☀️ Animal-Safe Sunscreen Provided

No need to pack your own; they offer reef-safe sunscreen for guests. TikTokInstagram

💧 Wetsuits Are Optional

Choose between a wetsuit (short or long) or a vest for comfort in the water. TikTokReddit

Comment "FUN" and I'll send you the booking link to get 30% off of your visit for @discoverycove !! 🎉🐬🌴🍹 We were truly blown away by our visit in Orlando, Florida! You can escape to a tropical paradise in the heart of Orlando at Discovery Cove! This all-inclusive day resort offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you can swim with dolphins, snorkel through coral reefs, and float down a gorg...
travelmorecoach
4.6K likes • 173K views

Tips

from all over the internet

🎯 Arrive Early for Best Experience

Get there right at opening to maximize your day and enjoy fewer crowds. TikTokReddit

🤿 Use Provided Snorkel Gear

The park provides masks, snorkels, and wetsuits/vests. You can keep the snorkel! Reddit

☀️ Animal-Safe Sunscreen Provided

No need to pack your own; they offer reef-safe sunscreen for guests. TikTokInstagram

💧 Wetsuits Are Optional

Choose between a wetsuit (short or long) or a vest for comfort in the water. TikTokReddit

💰 Cabanas Offer Extra Comfort

Consider a cabana for a private retreat with shade, seating, and a stocked fridge. TikTokInstagram

📸 Waterproof Phone Case

Essential for capturing memories in the water, especially on the lazy river. Reddit

👟 Water Shoes Recommended

Protect your feet on hot sand and slippery surfaces. Test them beforehand! Reddit

What Travellers Say

4.7
(14k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Discovery Cove is widely praised as a unique, all-inclusive paradise offering a relaxing escape with incredible animal encounters. Guests rave about the unlimited food and drinks, the serene atmosphere due to limited capacity, and the beautiful tropical setting. Some find the added cost for dolphin swims less essential than other experiences, and a few mention the food quality as 'mass cafeteria' style, though still enjoyable for the convenience.

"My third time 😊 I wouldn't do a Florida holiday and not spend a day here. My sisters first time and she absolutely loved everything too. Breakfast, lunch, drinks and snacks included. Dolphin swim great fun and informative, you can tell they really care and look after their animals. Snorkeling is fantastic, you can spend all day just floating with the fishies. The aviary is fun too, feeding the birdies and having them on your shoulder. We spent alot of the afternoon simply floating about the lazy River. You can easily spend all day here and just enjoy yourself. Recommend 100% as a great day out."

Dottysangel

"The day was perfect! We ordered our tickets online. The package included everything and being this was our first time at Discovery Cove it didn't disappoint. They supply breakfast, lunch and beverages. Alcoholic and none alcoholic drinks. Our dolphin name was Kandell and she was awesome!! What are you waiting for book you trip."

Shan Roque

"We went to Discovery Cove this past March and swam with the dolphins. It was a fun experience, one like no other. We also witnessed a flamingo parade and went on the river rapids ride, which was fantastic. There's a few other minor things to do there, such as snorkeling in the reef, but it was a cold day and we didn't do too much. The snorkeling was already next to the shark and manta ray pool, which we had seen. There was free food and meals with your purchase of a ticket. While this was a great adventure, I thought the price was very steep and you have to pay more for different encounters. It was worth it for the dolphin encounter, but I'm not sure if I will go back for awhile, because other than the dolphin encounter and river rapids ride (at your own pace), there isn't a whole lot to do here. We arrived when it opened and was out by 1 or 2 PM, having done everything we could and been satisfied. I honestly wish there was more to do here, and more for your money. I understand that we get the free food with the purchase, but I feel they need more attractions to make the stay better. What they do have is unique and awesome, but I probably won't go back for awhile after checking off "swimming with the dolphins" on my bucket list, simply because it was expensive. I recommend going once, but it's not a place I would invest money in continuously. If you do decide to go, buy tickets early on and be there early to make a reservation to swim with the dolphins because people lineup as it opens and it's first come and first serve."

Adam Phelps

What People Like

All-inclusive food and drinks
Limited capacity, uncrowded
Beautiful tropical environment

What People Dislike

High ticket price
Dolphin swim cost
Food quality (for some)

Frequently Asked Questions

🚇 🗺️ Getting There

Discovery Cove is located at 6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL 32821. It's easily accessible by car and is a short drive from major Orlando attractions. Parking is complimentary. TikTok

Yes, complimentary parking is available for all guests. TikTok

Yes, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft can drop you off at the park entrance. TikTok

Discovery Cove is located near SeaWorld Orlando, making it convenient if you plan to visit multiple parks. TikTokInstagram

From I-4 West, take Exit 74 for SeaWorld Drive. Turn right onto SeaWorld Drive, then left onto Discovery Cove Way. The entrance will be on your right. TikTok

🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry

Ticket prices vary, but generally start around $139.20 per person for the all-inclusive day resort package. Add-ons like dolphin swims or cabanas increase the cost. InstagramReddit

Tickets include unlimited food (breakfast, lunch, snacks), select alcoholic beverages, towels, lockers, snorkel gear, and access to all areas like the Grand Reef and Lazy River. TikTokInstagram+2

Yes, it's highly recommended to book in advance as Discovery Cove limits daily capacity to ensure a relaxed experience. TikTokReddit

Look for package deals that might include admission to SeaWorld or Aquatica, or check for seasonal promotions. Reddit

Discovery Cove typically opens at 7:30 AM and closes around 5:00 PM, though hours can vary seasonally. InstagramReddit

🎫 🐠 Onsite Experience

You can snorkel in the Grand Reef with tropical fish and rays, float down the Lazy River, hand-feed birds in the aviary, relax on the beach, and enjoy animal encounters. TikTokInstagram+1

Yes, swimming with dolphins is a popular add-on experience. It's a scheduled encounter and requires an additional fee. TikTokInstagram

Absolutely! The Lazy River is a highlight, winding through lush scenery and even an aviary. It's a very relaxing experience. TikTokReddit

The Grand Reef is a large, vibrant lagoon where you can snorkel with thousands of tropical fish, stingrays, and other marine life. TikTokInstagram

While you can bring your own, Discovery Cove provides high-quality snorkel masks and snorkels (which you can keep). They also provide wetsuits or vests. Reddit

🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining

Yes, all-inclusive tickets cover breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day. TikTokInstagram+2

Dining options include fresh breakfast and lunch at Laguna Grill, as well as various snack bars and a pizza bar. TikTokInstagram+1

Yes, select beer and wine are included with your admission. TikTokInstagram+1

The park offers a variety of options, and staff can usually accommodate dietary needs. It's best to inquire at the dining locations. TikTok

Breakfast is served from opening until around 11 AM, and lunch is available until 3:30 PM. Snacks and drinks are available throughout the day. TikTokInstagram

📸 📸 Photography

Yes, you can take photos with your own devices. Consider a waterproof case for your phone or camera. Reddit

Yes, professional photographers are available to capture your experiences, especially during animal encounters like the dolphin swim. Photos can be purchased separately. TikTok

GoPro usage may be restricted during certain activities, particularly the dolphin swim. It's best to check with staff upon arrival. Reddit

The Grand Reef, Explorer's Aviary, and the Lazy River offer beautiful backdrops. The cabanas also provide scenic views. TikTokInstagram

Yes, Discovery Cove often offers photo packages that include all the professional photos taken during your visit. TikTok

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