2008 Fact Sheet
Overview:
Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive family adventure in which guests enjoy a one-of-a-kind opportunity to swim with dolphins, rays and tropical fish and hand-feed exotic birds.
At Discovery Cove, guests experience the most exciting animal encounters the world has to offer in a 30-acre tropical oasis. Discovery Cove is a paradise of rocky lagoons surrounded by lush landscaping, coral reefs, tropical river, a resort-style pool complete with waterfalls and pristine, white-sand beaches.
Location:
On Central Florida Parkway, at the Intersection of Interstate 4 and FL 528 (the Beeline Expressway), 10 minutes south of downtown Orlando and 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport.
Exclusively:
Reservations are required, and daily attendance is limited to 1,000 guests, ensuring no overcrowding. Guests are greeted at a luxurious reception center and proceed down a nature walk for their day of discovery. A guest-to-staff ratio of 2-to-1 guarantees truly extraordinary service.
The all-inclusive adventure of a day at Discovery Cove includes all meals – from a continental breakfast and freshly-prepared lunch, to snacks and beverages, including Anheuser-Busch products, throughout the day. Each guest is also provided his/her own swim vest, towel, and swim gear, including a snorkel, mask, fins and Panama Jack eco-friendly sunscreen. Private lockers and dressing areas feature Crabtree & Evelyn bath products.
Animals:
The park’s animals include Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, Southern and cownose rays,10,000 brilliantly colored tropical fish, fearsome barracuda and sharks, and more than 250 exotic birds in a free-flight aviary.
Adventures:
Dolphin Lagoon
The highlight of a visit to Discovery Cove is the opportunity to swim with a bottlenose dolphin during a 30-minute interactive adventure. Accompanied by a trainer, groups of six to eight guests wade into shallow water and become acquainted with their dolphin through hugs, kisses and rubdowns. Then, taking the adventure one step further, guests interact with their dolphin in deeper water for an exciting dorsal fin tow ride back to shore.
The dolphin swim experience requires guests be at least six years old and the Trainer for a Day program requires guests between six and thirteen years old be accompanied by a paying adult.
Coral Reef
Visitors can follow colorful schools of tropical fish in this spectacular coral reef. Swimmers will snorkel with thousands of the world’s most colorful underwater species, and within inches of barracuda and sharks, fierce predators safely housed behind clear acrylic partitions.
Ray Lagoon
In this quiet, protected area, guests can enjoy the thrill of wading among various species of rays, while the animals glide throughout the park’s saltwater lagoon. These gentle animals are velvety to the touch, and can grow up to four feet in diameter.
Tropical River
This waterway meanders through the park, encountering beaches, palm-covered walkways and rocky lagoons. Guests swimming through the Tropical River travel through different environments: a sunny island beach, a dense tropical forest, and an underwater cave. Swimmers going under a waterfall will emerge inside the immense free-flight aviary. Flotation devices are provided as the river varies in depth.
Aviary
The free-flight aviary is home to more than 250 exotic birds. Guests can hand- feed hundreds of tiny birds and interact with birds as tall as four feet. Guests enter the aviary’s lush, tropical environment by way of the park’s beaches or drifting under the refreshing waterfalls in the Tropical River.
Beaches and Pools
Sugar-white beaches are lined by swaying palms, tropical foliage and quaint thatched huts. Guests can claim their own spot among the tall shady umbrellas, lazy hammocks, sunning lounges and beach chairs. Buckets and sand toys are sprinkled along the beach for kids to enjoy. (All amenities are included with admission.)
Conservation Cabanas
Guests at Discovery Cove enjoy a rare and unforgettable glimpse into the lives of endangered and exotic animals through personal interaction and experiences that are as enriching as they are fun. At Conservation Cabana, visitors can dig in to the animal world by touching replica bones, reading from resource books, and searching on computer terminals about the animals they will spend the day with and the park’s conservation partners. Educators are stationed at the Cabana to answer questions, provide animal information and showcase feathered and furry friends throughout the day.
Fantastic Fare
Included with admission, guests at Discovery Cove enjoy unlimited access to a fantastic selection of food and drink all day long. A continental breakfast is served at Laguna Grill until 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. From familiar fare to chef specials, all dishes are prepared with fresh ingredients and incorporate healthy elements, with daily seafood selections, salad options, and vegetarian dishes available. Snack stations throughout the park provide all-day service, and offer everything from yogurt and soft pretzels to fruit smoothies and gourmet coffees. Ice-cold beverages, including bottled water, juices, sodas and Anheuser-Busch products are also offered all day.
Extras:
Trainer For A Day
For a truly extraordinary experience, up to 24 guests a day can spend additional time with dolphins with three interactions plus go behind-the-scenes with Discovery Cove’s trainers to learn more about the animals that call the park home.
The Trainer for a Day package includes all features of the standard Discovery Cove package plus the behind-the-scenes activities starting at $468 plus tax.
Special Occasions
Discovery Cove has created a number of unique Special Occasion packages that include the delightfully unexpected assistance of a bottlenose dolphin. Discovery Cove dolphins have assisted in countless watery wedding proposals, launched love notes, and been a splash at the best of birthday celebrations. For each Special Occasion package, a bottlenose dolphin delivers a personalized message on a keepsake buoy, putting a fantastic end to the already memorable dolphin experience. In addition to the special dolphin delivery, each package features an array of other impressive touches.
Private Cabanas
Tucked away behind lush foliage, private cabanas (available for an extra fee) overlook the secluded dolphin experience pool area. All come complete with table and chairs, loungers, folded towels, fresh flowers and a refrigerator.
Twilight Discovery
During the warm summer nights at Discovery Cove, visitors can enjoy Twilight Discovery, an all-inclusive evening package that takes the intimacy of the park experience to an extraordinary level for just 150 people each night. This exclusive package is available from 3 to 9 p.m., and features sunset animal interactions, sumptuous island feasts, and live Caribbean-style entertainment in a tropical setting.
Admission:
Admission Discovery Cove is an extraordinary adventure with seasonal prices starting at $269 plus tax for 2008, which includes:
· 30-minute dolphin-swim experience
· Unlimited access to swim and snorkeling areas and aviary
· Meals, including a light continental breakfast and freshly-prepared lunch
· All snacks and beverages, including various Anheuser-Busch products
· Use of a snorkel gear, swim vest, towel, locker and beach chairs
· All-day self-parking
· PLUS – a pass for seven consecutive days of unlimited admission to either SeaWorld Orlando or
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
For those who wish to explore Discovery Cove but not participate in a dolphin-swim experience, the non-dolphin package pricing starts at $169 plus tax.
Group rates are also available.
Hours:
Discovery Cove is open daily from 9 a.m to 5:30 p.m. Guest check-in begins at 8 a.m.
Reservations:
Due to the exclusive, limited-attendance nature of Discovery Cove, advance reservations are required. Reservations and information are available by visiting DiscoveryCove.com or by calling toll-free at 1-877-434-7268.
*Prices vary seasonally.
Discovery Cove is one of 10 Worlds of Discovery parks operated by Busch Entertainment Corporation, the family entertainment division of Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. Other Worlds of Discovery parks include SeaWorld parks in San Diego, Calif., and San Antonio, Texas; Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa, Fla. and Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Va.; SeaWorld in Orlando; Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pa. near Philadelphia; Aquatica, SeaWorld’s water park in Orlando; and water parks Adventure Island in Tampa and Water Country USA in Williamsburg.
Worlds of Discovery, based in Orlando, Fla., employs more than 21,000 people nationwide. On the web www.seaworld.com or www.WorldsofDiscovery.com.
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