Discovery Cove

About Discovery Cove

Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive day resort in Orlando, Florida, that opened in 2000 and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Located at 6000 Discovery Cove Way, it operates differently from a traditional zoo: rather than open general admission, the park limits daily attendance through required reservations, admitting a fixed number of guests so that everyone can take part in scheduled animal encounters.

The park is part of the SeaWorld family of parks, sharing ownership with SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, and reservation packages can bundle admission across those properties. Rather than being organized around traditional exhibits, Discovery Cove is built around a handful of named areas — including the Grand Reef, Freshwater Oasis, Explorer's Aviary and Serenity Bay — that combine animal encounters with beaches, lagoons and a lazy river.

Discovery Cove's day pass includes prepared breakfast and lunch, unlimited snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, select beer and wine for guests 21 and older, and equipment such as wetsuits, snorkel gear, towels and lockers. The park has been recognized as a Good Housekeeping Family Travel Award winner for three consecutive years as of 2026, based on ratings from Good Housekeeping editors, travel experts and consumer evaluators across five continents.

History

Discovery Cove opened in 2000. Available material does not include further detail on the park's founding, expansions or exhibit history beyond its opening year, so this section is limited to that fact.

Exhibits and habitats

The Grand Reef is a roughly 1-million-gallon reef habitat where guests can snorkel among thousands of tropical fish and rays. An underwater walking tour of the same habitat is also offered as an add-on experience, letting guests explore it without swimming. The Explorer's Aviary consists of three free-flight aviaries where guests can hand-feed hundreds of exotic birds.

The Freshwater Oasis is a turquoise-water habitat where guests can glide past otters and marmosets in a walk-through setting. Serenity Bay is a tropical lagoon area with sandy beaches, kept at a water temperature of roughly 85 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, distinct from the cooler, roughly 76 to 77 degree saltwater of the Grand Reef. A separate flamingo-viewing area lets guests observe Caribbean flamingos as they walk through the grounds, and a lazy river, the Wind-Away River, carries guests through caves, waterfalls and rainforest-style landscaping past the free-flight aviary.

The park's best-known feature is its Dolphin Lagoon, where guests with a Signature Dolphin Swim package take part in a one-on-one dolphin encounter. The in-water portion of the dolphin experience runs 30 minutes, preceded by a 10-minute orientation session led by trainers covering safety and answering questions; small groups then wade into shallow water for the encounter. Add-on experiences beyond the standard day pass include SeaVenture, a Shark Snorkel, a Shark Interaction program, and the Ultimate Animal Experience, a more extensive dolphin-trainer program.

Animal highlights

No species list is published on Discovery Cove's website, so the animals described here come from the park's own descriptions of its habitats and encounters. These include bottlenose dolphins in the Dolphin Lagoon, exotic birds hand-fed by guests in the Explorer's Aviary, otters and marmosets in the Freshwater Oasis, Caribbean flamingos, and thousands of tropical fish and rays — including cownose rays and other species — in the Grand Reef. Shark encounters are offered as an add-on experience for guests age 10 and older.

Discovery Cove states that none of its animals come from drive fisheries and that the overwhelming majority of its marine mammals were born within its own parks, in line with policies shared across the SeaWorld family of parks it belongs to.

Planning your visit

As listed on the park's website, Discovery Cove operates with waterways open from roughly 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, though overall operating hours have been listed as 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. depending on the source page checked; guests are asked to arrive for check-in between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m., or by 7:00 a.m. if participating in three or more add-on experiences. Breakfast at the Laguna Grill runs 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., as listed, and lunch runs 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Confirm current hours on the official site, as they can vary by season and package.

Reservations are required and daily attendance is capped, so booking ahead — especially for summer and holiday dates — is strongly recommended. Pricing varies seasonally and by package (Day Resort, Signature Dolphin Swim, and multi-park combinations with SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens); check the official site for current rates, as none were consistent enough across the pages checked to list here reliably.

All-day self-parking is complimentary. The park provides swim vests, wetsuits, snorkel gear, towels, lockers and shower facilities as part of admission, along with animal-safe sunscreen at all restrooms. Accessible parking is available near the entrance, and wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles can be rented inside the park, with all restrooms wheelchair accessible. The park is a Certified Autism Center through the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards, with a designated Quiet Space near First Aid. Complimentary ASL interpreters and visually impaired guidance are available with 14 days' advance notice.

Children ages 6 and older, and at least 42 inches tall, may swim with dolphins when accompanied by a paying adult also taking part; guests must be at least 15 to enter without parental supervision, or younger with signed waivers. Outside food and beverages are not permitted, with exceptions for dietary needs. As always, check the official Discovery Cove website for current hours, prices and reservation availability before planning a visit.