Discovery Cove closed for repair

I would love to visit this place. Has anyone been here and what are some good deals you have gotten?

Busch passholders can get in for, I think, $125-$150 ( I know the discount was pretty substantial).  We've considered trying to go when business is a bit slower to get more out of the experience, but haven't signed up yet...

-----------------
PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

Wow, if the discounts are that deep, maybe we'll go next fall. We bought Platinum passes last year from BGW, and we want to get every dime out of them possible!

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

You may want to double check if BGW passes provide the discount. As BGT/SWF/AdvIsland (WaterPark) Gold Pass folks, we get a Discovery Cove discount, but minimal discount with the Virginia properties. It may be the same in reverse for BGW pass holders.

I went to Discovery Cove last year.  Now, it's only $199 if you go in and do the dolphins.  If you skip the dolphin experience, it's only $90 for admission.  This includes a 14 day pass to SeaWorld (7 days before and after your visit to DC), all day at Discovery Cove, Lunch (these things are friggin huge!  And they have the Busch quality), and a souvenir picture.  The bathrooms have showers in them (you must take a shower before going in the pools) and they are complete with shampoo, conditioner, etc.

All in all, this place is amazing.  If you are able to snorkel, you'll do fine.  They have this huge river encompassing the stingray and fish pools...it's a little bit cooler in temperature, and it lacks the fishies, but it's great for getting used to the snorkeling aspect and also great for swimming down and exploring among the rocks.  You may find some hidden things (I know I did).  The Aviary is spectacular...you go in there, and there's these little Deer walking around.  You an go right up to them and pet them, they don't mind.  If you go in the Aviary at the right time, there will be someone in there with a huge cart that holds the bird food.  This can range from mized fruits, seeds, and even mealworms.  What you do is hold the little plate with the food in it out into the air, and the birds will fly right down from the trees onto your hands, arms, shoulders, hair; it's great.

The Stingray lagoon is cool because it's very shallow and here's this one group of stingrays constantly circling around.  You can sit down with your head underwater, and they will swim right around your head.  It's so cool!  The main lagoon which houses the millions of fishies, barracuda, and sharks, is also cool to swim around in.  It's a very deep pool, though.  I sat in one place with this huge school of fish surrunding me for 10 minutes, not moving.  They just swim right around you.

I reccomend anyone who goes to Flroida to go to Discovery Cove...it's an excellent experience.

-----------------
Bomb Squad Technician

If you see me running, try and keep up!

Makes me wish I could swim.

I think the reason they are closed for a few weeks is because nobody wants to pay $200 just to see a couple a whales. 
-----------------
TAJ @
www.morefunonline.tv

You can go a lot of places and see dolphins for free (Blue Planet on the Travel Channel is an awesome show, btw), but where can you swim WITH them? I'd pay 200 bucks for the experience, along with all the other stuff they have to offer. *** This post was edited by scanz on 1/28/2002. ***

Alister: That's a fairly uninformed opinion. Not only are there no whales there, but obviously people do want to swim in these environments and with the dolphins. The place has been thriving since it opened.

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Dolphins are a type of whale.

That's not entirely true. Whales and dolphins are in the same order (Cetacea) but they're not in the same family. Humans and chimps are in the same order, but we don't consider them a type of human.

-----------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

From what I hear Discovery Cove has had rave reviews from visitors. It not uncommon for it to sell out. They keep the experience by only letting a certain number of people in. That way they can give the best individual service possible. Because of this I think it is a great idea for them to take a break.