Nineteen nights of MouseFest, Disney and Christmas - THREAD 4 - UPDATED 3/17 About This Page:

[chezp]

This is thread four of this trip report. If you'd like to read thread one, you can find it here, while thread two is here. Thread three is here.

[chezp]

Now we're back from Hong Kong - which was amazing by the way (there will be a trip report in due course in the Globetrotting trip report forum, so keep an eye out for it!) - it's back to business with this trip report. Now where was I? Ah yes, I remember....

Sunday 16 December – part one: swimming with the stingrays

A week in and I doubt we’ll get any lie-ins this trip, thanks to our plans. (and heck, yes, I know that’s all of my own making!) We had agreed to meet Mark’s family at 9.00 at Discovery Cove, as I figured that they would still be on British time and so it proved when we got a call as we drove there to say they were already there and were waiting for us in the reception area.

After a rather hair-raising incident involving a girl who decided to throw open her car door straight into the path of our car, forcing Mark to do an emergency stop, we met up with them.

At Discovery Cove, the first thing you do is check in and have your photo taken. Here you need photo ID to get in and once they have all the photos taken, you pick up your photo ID cards that you keep with you for the rest of the day. These will also serve as your entrance tickets into SeaWorld – and in our case – Busch Gardens Tampa, as we’d gone for that option as well. You’re then met by a photographer, as you walk down to the main area.



From there, you get a tour guide, who explains where everything is. You don’t get a park map here, as they could blow into the water, but you have a park map on your lanyard with your ID and there are also maps in stone around the park and of course, you can also ask a member of staff.


One of the maps around the park

It’s really quite straightforward to find your way around. The dolphin swim area is round at one end of the park and the rest of the attractions are over a bridge in the opposite direction. The other attractions include the stingray lagoon, which is a lot of fun, and the barracuda reef that you really need a snorkel and mask for and there’s also now a resort pool, lazy river and free fly aviary, all of which are new since our last visit here.



We headed off to the dolphin swim area and hit the restrooms to go and change. Today we had the option of either a vest or a short sleeved wetsuit that comes down to your knees. I went for the vest. As they said, those are way easier if you need the restroom during the day and trust me, that’s true. I went in after Anne (who went for the wetsuit) later in the day and came out way before her. But if you do go for the vest, a piece of advice, they’re better off with either a bikini or tankini. I wore a swimsuit and it was a bit of a pain.


Doesn’t he look cute?


A dolphin sighting!


Once you’re all equipped and dressed, then it’s up to you what you want to do. The whole place is yours to enjoy and the only additional charges are for souvenirs, such as photos. All drinks and food are included in your admission price.

Our first stop was the stingray lagoon, but before I went in there, I wanted to sample the resort pool and that was lovely. It’s set at 85°F, whereas all the water with animals in is only set at 75°F. It may not sound like much of a difference, but it is! I had that place completely to myself, but eventually I had enough of swimming and moved into the ray lagoon to join the rest of the family. This is one of my favourite parts of Discovery Cove. The quieter and stiller you are here, the more rays you’ll see here. Although they don’t often brush past you, it does happen and it’s a funny feeling when it does, as you just feel like you’re in the middle of nature and have been let into a very special world.

You can also touch them, but only on the tip of their fins. Some people stood there, hands outstretched, trying to attract them over. Personally I prefer to let them come to me whenever possible.



These photos were taken by the professional Discovery Cove photographers:





Soon it was time to head off for our dolphin swim, which was at 10.50. They tell you to be there about 15 – 20 minutes beforehand and the reason for that is so that you can get the waivers all filled in before you head into the water. Once everyone is there (and in our case, one family showed up just before we were due to get in the water, talk about cutting it close! ), you watch a video about dolphins and then you’re off for your interaction.

Next: in with the dolphins

[lauriep]

Welcome back!

Thanks for all the detail on the Discovery Cove experience. I think I have to do this some day! Looking forward to the rest of the day...

[lauren-roxy]

Welcome back Cheryl!!! Discovery Cove sounds wonderful and your photos are just lovely!! We want to visit here sometime so I can't wait to read more!!

[angiek1024]

Welcome back. I can't wait to hear about your trip to Hong Kong!
I loved the update. Discovery Cove looks like a lot of fun. All the pictures are great!

[disneydani]

Welcome back, Cheryl!
Discovery Cove looks beautiful...and amazing it looks like you have the whole place to yourselves!

danielle

[Colexis Mom]

Yeah, you're back Fantastic pictures of Discovery Cove What a fantastic day so far More please

[mestitch]

Welcome back

Awww I seeing your photos from Discovery Cove!! I want to go back there sooo bad! The stingrays were my favorite (even more than the dolphin ) Can't wait to hear more!!!

P.S I went for the wetsuit when we went cause I'm all for the best body coverage But yes, it proved difficult in the bathroom

[Lemap760]

Welcome back. Your Discovery Cove day sounds like fun.

[RobDVC]

You are having a great time so far at Discovery Cove. Anxious to hear about the dolphin swim.

[patclairesmom]

So glad your back had a good time! Discovery Cove sounds wonderful. That might be enough to drag me off Walt Disney World's property.

[WHMom]

Discovery Cove looks wonderful! I can't wait to read about the dolphins!

And welcome back from Hong Kong! Can't wait to read about that, too!

[MickeyMAC]

Looks like a lot of fun. I'm glad your back, I've missed your trip report each morning.

[WDWJAMBA]

You're making me want to go back to DC!

[ilovedisney247]

Welcome home, I'm now all caught up . . .my DSL was down as I moved! Can't wait to read the rest!