If you’re craving a tropical vacation that’s shown in all the travel magazines, but don’t have the vacation time or money to travel towards the equator for a week, there’s an oasis in the heart of Orlando.

"We felt like we were in tropical paradise,” exclaims Kristen Romanowski, visiting Florida from Texas with her family.

There’s no turnstiles here, although the lobby feels like a resort hotel.

“It’s very secluded,” Kristen says looking at the lush landscaping. “You don’t feel you’re at an average water park.”

Discovery Cove isn’t a traditional water park. Named by Trip Advisor readers as one of the top theme parks in the world, Discovery Cove offers a day full of swimming with a dolphins, snorkeling with rays, feeding tropical birds, floating down hidden rivers and a meal plan where you can eat as much as you like.

“It’s an environment for guests to be immersed in an environment with the animals,” explains Stewart Clark, the Vice President and unofficial mayor of Discovery Cove.

While most theme parks in Florida hope to back the entrance gates with visitors each morning, Discovery Cove limits attendance to only 1,300 a day. This allows Stewart to talk to visitors personally, which has become one of the park’s cornerstones personal service.

"They look like freckles, but they are hair follicles, so that is where she was born with whiskers,” marine mammal trainer Lauren Taft explains while working with a dolphin named Jenny.

“Touch for them, like a lot of animals can be reinforcing, like with dogs, even people as well,” Lauren says while gently massaging Jenny’s dorsal fin. “We are reinforcing her, telling her she’s doing a good job.”

Other activities under palms that sway in the breeze include snorkeling in a salt water lagoon filled with tropical fish. The Grand Reef is home to hundreds of tropical fish who glide by in hues of red, purple and yellow. Sting rays also glide by, sans their barb to keep everyone safe.

The SeaVenture experience allows the brave to put on a helmet and come eye-to-eye with sharks, who are safely behind glass. Visitors will descend a ladder and soon find themselves walking along a sandy bottom.

The helmet has a fresh supply of oxygen, thus being Scuba certified is not a requirement. Guides along the underwater path will lead participants in a fish feeding, resulting in dozens of tropical fish swimming inches from your helmet. They will also put sea creatures in visitors hands, that normally cling to coral.

SeaVenture has become so popular in its first few years at Discovery Cove, that Stewart says wedding proposals are popular.

"You can't really hear the answer, so you hope it's a head shake yes.  You hope it's not a head shake no."

He says with a laugh that most of the proposals end in a yes.  Although there have been a handful of brides needing more time to think before rendering a decision.

Back above ground, visitors can float down a winding river that leads to the bird aviary.

"The birds are flying all around.  They will land right on you,” says Discovery Cove Assistant Curator, Dave Eden, demonstrating how affectionate the birds here can be.

“They will eat right out of the cups.  They will land on your shoulder and head just for fun too," Dave shows with ease.

Since opening in 2000, the bird aviary expanded to twice its size.

When visitors are hungry, they can head to the restaurant on site, where meals are prepared daily.  And meals is plural.  Here, visitors can return to the line as many times as they wish.  That includes breakfast and lunch(es).

Other locations around the park provide snacks and drinks for free.

"It's all included,” Stewart assures.

From now to the end of the year, Florida residents can enjoy a day at Discovery Cove at a reduced cost.

Adults interested in a day with a dolphin swim will pay $219 each.  Skip the dolphin swim and pay $149 each.  A SeaVenture experience will add on $49. 

Each ticket to Discovery Cove comes with a season pass to SeaWorld Orlando valid until January 31, 2016, with no blackout dates.  That gives Discovery Cove visitors free admission to Shamu’s Spooktackular and Christmas at SeaWorld shows and events.

The cost is something Stewart is cognizant of.

“This is a special day.  This is a big day.  This is a day that kids have looked forward to, adults have looked forward to,” he concludes.

About this Destination
Discovery Cove

Where: Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, Orange County

Open: Monday through Sunday

Hours: Doors open at 8 a.m.

Phone:
 305-242-7700

Florida Resident Admission:
• $219 Dolphin Swim
• $149 Day Resort
• $49 SeaVenture
Valid thru December 31, 2015

Address:
6000 Discovery Cove Way
Orlando, FL 32821

Operating Hours:
Check-in and Breakfast begin at 7:15 a.m.
Activities begin at 9 a.m.
Closing time is 5:30 p.m.

Website:
www.DiscoveryCove.com

GPS Longitude & Latitude:
Latitude: 28.405421
Longitude: ,-81.461584

Latitude: 28° 24' 19.5156"
Longitude:  -81° 27' 41.7024"

Drive Times:
From Orlando: 20 minutes
From Tampa: 1 hour

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