Discovery Cove Entrance — Attraction in Dr. Phillips

If you’re going to spend over $1,500 for a day at Discovery Cove for 2, the least you’d expect is to actually be able to snorkel. With the new rule requiring life jackets in the Grand Reef, it feels more like bobbing on the surface like a buoy than snorkeling. I tried to make the best of it, swam out, and dipped just 2 feet under the surface with the life vest on just to see the fish… only to get whistles from every direction telling me “no diving under.” How is that snorkeling?

I’ve been here before and Discovery Cove used to be my favorite park in Orlando, but this change leaves a really bitter taste. I understand safety, but forcing every adult to wear a vest all day and not even allowing us to go underwater is where I draw the line. At least give the option of waivers like the shark interaction, or keep it mandatory for kids and let adults choose. Instead, guests get punished while employees give half-truths about why. Three people being found unresponsive in pools last year points more to lifeguard oversight than guest rules.

The dolphin swim was the best part and definitely worth doing once in your life, but everything else felt watered down compared to what it used to be. The shark interaction was hit or miss, our first guide (a bigger built guy) was awesome and let us really experience it, while the other young girl rushed through and barely involved us at all. She seemed more interested in playing with the shark herself and really ruined it, never acknowledging my wife or I and talking to this shark like it was her baby. For the extra cost it wasn’t worth it. Food was fine but nothing better than a hotel buffet, lunch was the highlight. Drinks were only worth it with the premium package, and cabanas aren’t worth it unless you’re with a big group. Honestly the shaded chairs by Blue Bamboo or under the trees are the best spots in the park.

This was my second time coming back since I visited as a kid, and I’ll be honest the magic is gone. The fish in the reef aren’t as vibrant, the rays looked stressed, and kids are still grabbing at them while parents wander off drinking. Between stricter rules, higher prices, and overall decline in quality, it just doesn’t feel like the same special place anymore.

I’m giving you guys two stars only because I know how great this park once was, and I really hope you can make it better again by making the right changes. I truly love what you do and your programs, but don’t forget this is only possible because of the guests who support you, don’t lose sight of what’s important.

On top of that, every employee I asked about these changes and what it’s like working there gave the same canned response, which felt really strange. But a few genuinely cool employees opened up, and what they shared was eye opening. They said the place is filled with corporate lies, that staff aren’t allowed to acknowledge or deny incidents at the park, and that they can’t be honest with guests about how they feel. From what I saw, the animals aren’t the only ones struggling… even most employees look unhappy. The only staff who seemed genuinely happy were the animal trainers, since they’re clearly passionate about the animals. Everyone else looked miserable, and several employees confirmed exactly what I suspected.

I also couldn’t help but notice how many people had almost no swimming ability. In the shark interaction, one woman had a full on panic attack, not even near the sharks, just because she was too scared to kick off the stairs into the deep water. If you don’t have real ocean swimming experience, not just pool practice, you shouldn’t sign up for something like this. It’s unfair to the rest of the group when people freeze up or panic, because it slows down the activity and forces the trainers to water everything down. That’s how you end up with unnecessary rule changes that affect everyone, like requiring all adults to wear vests all day or banning people from going...

I've been scouring the reviews, being mindful of the terrible (but ligitmate) ones, hoping for the best and expecting the worst for our upcoming trip on Labor Day. There must've been changes since we went for my birthday 14 years ago, so let's see. We arrive at 7:16am and all done and check in by 7:34. Not bad! Headed off to breakfast. Believe what you read about the food (it was reminiscent of holiday inn buffet breakfast with lesser choices and NO butter-NONE). People queued for no reason as there is little signage or staff to tell you there are multiple stations serving the same food. Finally found a spot beneath an umbrella - i would recommend doing this before breakfast - and went off to the avery first. At the end of this day, i could tell you that this was prob a top highlight as we visited in a.m. and p.m. There are so many varieties of birds you could feed and even observe mating rituals. The avery has an entrance into the Lazy River as well, so naturally, we headed off to tackle this. Grab a noodle and go. Bring the snorkle gear to find the sunglasses that will fall off your head. I read of people complaining about the noodles ruining the experience instead of the once used tubes, but i disagree. It prevents a log jam of people, and you can go as fast or slow as you please. We didn't see the otters, but the little monkeys were a delight. We headed off to our dolphin encounter at 10:45. Our trainer Megan ("Mo") was animated, knowledgable, and great to listen to, and Yoko was adorable doing the schticks they rehearsed for yuck yucks. Truly adorable. And also, despite what you might have read, this lasted a lot longer than i thought it would. We were able to interact with our dolphin quite a few times, posed for several photo opportunities, Yoko did some tricks with a Q&A also. I honestly believe it was better than 14 years ago! My 21-year-old son thoroughly enjoyed this experience. The Grand Reef portion was pretty fascinating; giant eagle rays just gliding beneath you. Be sure to check out every nook and cranny. There is a glass wall where the sharks are. Snacks and drinks are fully provided the entire day. Warm pretzels and chocolate chip cookies, fruit and slushies, and ugh....most, if not all of it, is NOT good for you. But you're on vacation. The focaccia pizzas were pretty good. The lunch closes at 3:30 and the hot selections were a bit scary. In the words of my #3, "the food is kinda butt." I would recommend the cous cous, the coconut salmon. I strongly suggest you make sure they put on the liquidy thin pineapple sauce that goes with it. (The zombie kid will not offer unless you ask- poor kid.) The cheeseburgers at 3:15 were god awful- dessicated hocky pucks. For what you paid today, it should be good at all times. Period. I think the school cafeteria might be marginally better. The caviche was nothing more than baby shrimps and salsa. The other meats were bad and overcooked also. All in all, besides the food (waaaaay better 14 yrs ago), some nonexistant signage and uninformative general staff, it was a pretty great day. It really was.

Pro tip#1: Get yourself to walmart, not far away on Turkey Lake, and pick up a Body Glove Tidal waterproof phone case. Used mine all day it was great $20. NO water infililtration. Body glove universal floating phone case in black $10.

Pro tip #2: Find a chair RIGHT after checking in. Get your coffee and breakfast afterward. Rain or shine, you'll be miserable without an umbrella.

Pro tip #3: pack a change of clothes, bring your fave sponge and your blowdryer if needed. All soaps and conditioners are provided. Not lotions, though.

Food recommended: couscous, the citrus salad, coconut salmon w pineapple sauce and the focaccia pizzas.

Four out of five stars. Pros: Animal husbandry staff, sealife trainers, cleaning crew, landscaping. Beautiful! Cons: food, signage, gen support staff could use...

Decent day out this one pal alot better than the madness of universal and all the rides. It was proper laid back from the start of the day to the finish. On arrival we checked in at the ode cove and were given a time of 2.20pm for our dolphin 🐬 encounter. 1st stop was the breakfast buffet as all food and drink are included in this booked attraction. Had all sorts to choose from but I went with abit of scrambled egg, potatoes and circular sausage, it was a goodun pal, then went with a cup of apple juice as my preferred tipple! Found the complimentary lockers and left the majority of our belongings in there. A few money saving tips here for you pal, i bought a pair of water shoes off temu before holiday that cost £1.50 and these were absolutely amazing today, no blisters, awesome in the sand and water a definte must! Also off the ode temu I picked up some pouches that go round your neck for your phone to go in. These are waterproof and amazing let's you take photos or videos underwater or in water safely, again costing just a £1 each. In the cove these were on sale for $35 each and the water shoes were $25 each so just be savvy before coming! We found some loungers and set up stall for the day, then hit the lazy river. This is a cracker but make sure you can swim or where the ode life jacket as it drops off to 8ft deep in some sections but was a lovely laze in the gorgeous weather. Talking of weather you have to use the coves own suncream which is completely free so as not to harm the animals. Beware though the ode suncream goes along way. A small squirt will sort most of your body, but it was funny as people were squirting too much then covering there bodies and not realising, but I tell you something pal there were loads of casper the ghosts walking round today it was a great watch ⌚️ 🤣 Had a quick snorkel with the fish and stingrays but this wasn't for me as i don't like the salt water and snorkeling so decided to go hit the all day buffet. Food and drink included all day makes this attraction excellent, the pizza is devine and there was all sorts from wraps to burgers available on the buffet. Drink wise it's coca cola, fanta, apple juice, water basically all your pops. Ice cream machines are available as well. Our actual dolphin 🐬 swim was amazing and a first for me. We got to touch, stroke and got taken for a ride by the dolphin it was a fantastic experience and "Roxy" has been serving discovery cove from the day it opened 25 years ago, it was lovely to meet a fellow compatriot with as many years service under her belt! My stomach went again at this point and I had to dash to the ode loos. There has got to be something my tummy don't like that they cook with over here and I tell you what pal but i nearly lost my right bum cheek down the loo! I dropped the kids off then stood up, and faster than you could say donald trump, the toilet automatically flushed itself and nearly took my cheeks with it, so powerful! 💪💩 Last stop before leaving we joined the other hordes of holiday makers who were stashing there bags full of crisps, peanuts and other treats that are complimentary before hitting the uber back to the motel! Excellent work Discovery cove, keep up the...