No, seriously.
The very idea seems to defy some law of nature. But after a day with my family in Orlando's Discovery Cove, I not only felt relaxed -- I felt downright refreshed.
Who knew?
Not your traditional "ride until your innards are hanging out" kind of place (there is, in fact, not a single ride in the whole park), Discovery Cove is a natural-wonder adventure land. On 33 acres, the man-made tropical paradise comes complete with white sand, water, "reef," and wildlife. No passive-amusement mecca, the park lets you swim for your thrills, exploring underwater sights, bobbing next to dolphins, and visiting with other lovable critters.
Is the Price Right?
Discovery Cove doesn't come cheap. The price tag is about $200 per person, per day (there is an option in the $100 range, but it doesn't include the dolphin swim).
Before you choke on your dolphin-safe tuna sandwich, let's do some math.
In addition to admission to the park, visitors get a seven-day pass to SeaWorld, next door. Realistically, no one's going to spend a whole week with Shamu. But assuming you'll visit SeaWorld for at least an afternoon, this brings the price of Discovery Cove nearer to $150.
The final tab is relatively reasonable when you consider that dolphin programs at other locations will cost you that much alone. Here, the romp with Flipper is included in the price. These rates are subject to change, but the savings ratio should remain relatively the same.
Still, by any calculation, a day at Discovery Cove is expensive. For my family, it came down to what we call the "Principle of Vacation Returns." We could have forgone the dolphin swim, but to pay a hefty amount anyway and miss the activity we wanted to do most seemed like a poor return on our investment.
What You Get
So what exactly do you get for your money?
First and foremost: dolphins. Dolphin interactions are short (about 90 minutes, not all of it in the water) but memorable. To swim with the dolphins, children must be age six or older (there are no other age restrictions inside the park). You'll start with an orientation and then split up into small groups of four to six for the meeting with one of the bottlenose beauties. Guests learn the signals for a few tricks, play around a bit, and submit to the requisite splash.
Fun as it is, it's important to note that this is not a free swim à la The Blue Lagoon, but rather a carefully controlled meeting. Still, the smiles on my daughters' faces spoke volumes of their level of enjoyment. Our only regret: It went by too quickly.
And dolphins are but one of the resident species. Swim alongside colorful fish, meet up with stingrays (the slimy guys will suck food right out of your hand, a prospect that may sound repulsive but is actually quite fascinating and fun), and explore underwater "shipwrecks" and grottoes. We spent hours lazing along the balmy Tropical River and diving sunken "ruins." Venturing through a cave and under a waterfall took us to an aviary where exotic birds perched on our shoulders and ate right out of our hands.
Extra Bangs for the Buck
Discovery Cove also has its share of amenities.
Crowd control. The park limits entrance to 1,000 people per day. On paper, this might seem like the equivalent of New York's Herald Square during the Thanksgiving Day Parade. But over 33 acres, that translates to a little more than 33 people per acre. And in theme-park terms, that further translates to having an island to yourself.
Apart from the overall tranquility, there's a practical side: During my entire eight hours in the park, I did not wait in line once: not for food, water, lounge chairs, equipment -- not even the ladies' room.
Equipment. Everything you need is included in the price, beginning with wet suits, which are optional, but highly recommended: Water temperature is maintained for water animals, not humans. That means it's cold, particularly if you're standing still for a long time (as in the dolphin pool). Even on the hottest day, you'll do well to be fully insulated.
Also included in the price are snorkels (which are yours to take home), masks (bring your own to ensure a good fit), swim vests (required for all visitors), towels, beach umbrellas, and lockers.
Lunch -- a tasty and plentiful meal that is far better than typical theme-park pickings -- is also included in the tab. The park will even throw in some sunscreen for good measure.
Safety. Far from permitting you to snorkel in the endless and unpredictable wild, Discovery Cove offers the safety of sheltered, man-made pools complete with lifeguards. The setup smartly restricts your child's ability to swim off and eliminates the worry of strong currents and unwanted wildlife visitors.
Final Thoughts
A few other things to keep in mind.
Bring extra cash. Like any amusement park, Discovery Cove is expert at milking you for souvenirs. Professionals snap photos of you and the dolphins (you won't be allowed to bring a camera of your own, but you may have a family photographer standing on dry land nearby) and display them for your review on computer screens. Photos run about $15 each. Trust me: You won't leave without buying at least one.
Get an early start. To get the most out of the day -- and your money's worth -- you'll want to arrive early and spend a full six to eight hours at the park. An early start also means you'll have your pick of dolphin-swim times; we liked the middle of the day, right after lunch, when we'd experienced other areas of the park but weren't yet tired out.
Finally, don't forget to spend at least a little time stretched out on a chaise, enjoying the park's quiet atmosphere. You can't help but relax.
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