Dolphin swim at Discover cove

[Jules]

Thanks Kate

[orlando novice]

thanks for this info will go and buy my underwater cameras now, have just booked up for October and can't wait

[Maz]

We went to D C in 2003 - out of our party of 8 2 didn't swin with dophins - including me. I was quite happy to take photos of those swimming and they all enjoyed it very much. The snorkelling was fantastic - I am not a confident swimmer but still gave it a go - there are 2 pools one with hundreds of fish etc. The meal was pleasant and the whole day very relaxing.

It is an expensive day out - but a great treat.

Debbie

[Helena Jane]

Hi there,
we are hoping to go to Discovery Cove with our two children aged 12 and 9 years. Our youngest has learning difficulties and is deaf, she uses hearing aids, and speaks, she does not sign. We would like the girls to swim with the dolphins, but wondered if they will be ok on their own in the dolphin swim enclosure, we would just like to watch. When our deaf kid is in the water she cant hear anything as she has to take out her aids.

Could anyone tell me if we will be able to supervise her, without having to pay for the dolphin interaction ourselves, how near can the non dolphin swim guest get? I have asked the team at Discovery cove and they were happy to get staff who could sign, but this is no good for our daughter. Any tips about the set up etc that could help me decide if they would be ok, would be much appreciated. Thanks Helena

[mizzy]

Hi Helena

Both of my children have a disability ( i will dm you some details regards to needs as i do not discuss the children openly on the forum)

hope some of the following helps you decide what to do

we contacted DC in advance of our visit and they where very helpful i would recommend you give them as much information as possible when you book

to be honest if i where you i would go in with the child and assist your daughter to help her enjoy the interaction with the dolphin to the full

we got about 40 minutes in the water with our dolphin earlier this year and the staff where fantastic with the children

you do not get a reduced rate to accompany your children and you will not be allowed in the water to assist if you stay at the shore you will find that your children have their backs to you so you will probably feel useless to help

also you need to think about any momentoes you may want of the actual swim you go in the water in groups of 6-8 people if you want to buy the dvd of your childrens swim your gonna get footage of 6 strangers and your children much better to pay that little bit extra and have a family experience that you will all treasure

when we went my husband moaned like hell at the cost (£560 for four of us) now we are planning our second florida holiday and DC is top of his list

hope this helps Mizzy

[pt cruiser]

As Mizzy said Helena i would contact discovery cove, our son has special needs, we emailed them before we went and we told them when we arrived for the swim. They were absolutly brilliant with him they even gave him a little extra time with the dolphin. They made him feel at ease as he was very nervous going in, but he really enjoyed it,(so did we!!!) we have a lovely photo of him stroking the dolphin and smiling. I would go in with your daughter you'll have a great time! I dosnt matter if you can't swim, hubby is terrified of water and he loved it they didn't make you do anything you wern't happy with.
Teresa

[ALR]

Hi

My son has special needs and I was quite concerned about swimming out with him. However, my husband swam out to the deeper water for the dolphin swim and he wasn't out in the deeper water for a great length of time.

They were very helpful and even allowed my niece to swim with the dolphin in the shallow end as she was a none swimmer and extremely nervous.

Going swimming with dolphins was our reason for going to Florida as my son has quite complex difficulties and I think it was one of the most beneficial things we've ever done.

Everybody had a great time[msnsmile]

[sharondl]

been to discovery cove 2 weeks ago booked online and description doesnt tell you how long interaction with dolphin was, unfortunatly laptop of getting fixed when booked on friends pc so couldnt access this site

experience was great £156.00 for dvd and photos but as hadnt done usual shopping mall or outlet trips where always buy more than need thought what the hell need some reminder and even under husbands protest of cost I got them. Photo are excellent dvd/video footage good but us and another family took part in same interaction and was told there bits, apart from group moments would be edited, but they werent

if just us our family would have been better 30 mins not long enough for 2 families

someone on plane coming back to depressing old england said that if you go for being a trainer for day you get more time with dolphins anyone tried this?

Only 49 weeks till go again.

sharon

[cad-properties]

Thanks for sharing this with us Sharon.

Both of my children are having swimming lessons at the moment (Ages 3 and 5) and I have promised them that when they can both swim we will take them to DC to swim with the Dolphins.

I have read your post out to my husband, so now thanks to you, he will not be shocked when I tell him the cost of the pictures/DVD, which I will no doubt want !!

How competent at swimming will the children need to be to enjoy this experience. Are you in the water swimming for all 30 minutes ??

Clair.
http://www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/495.aspx

[Liesel]

I think they have a minimum age requirement of 6yrs for swimming with the dolphins. The Twilight experience is open to everyone, that's just shallow wading, no swimming involved.