Discovery Cove tickets

[Ruth]

Thanks Caroline

quote:Originally posted by caroline

Fantastic photos Ruth

[Kickstart]

Can you take waterproof cameras of your own into the dolphin swim?

[steph_goodrum]

No
You have to remove any cameras , jewellery, loose face masks etc when you go in with the dolphins so there is no risk of them getting hurt by any of them.

I went up on the rocks with the video camera when my daughter did her dolphin swim and my husband stood at the edge of the beach with the camera. It's a good idea if there are more than one of you doing the swim to stagger the times so you can arrange this rather than all swim together.
they also allowed us to take a family photo at the end of the swim as well which another guest who we'd been chatting to took for us.

[TandMe]

Although reselling tickets is illegal in the US, it's referred to as "scalping" and you see it very often for popular sports events and rock concerts. This situation is probably the same type of thing. Someone bought a bunch of tickets to DC knowing that it will be a very popular time, and the short supply and high demand will force those who are desperate to pay the higher cost. As previously mentioned, there's really not much that can be done about it.[msnsad]

[neilandkay]

If you want to talk about scalping, here is a silly example. A band called the Wiggles came to town last year. They are very popular with the 2-7 age range. Tickets which cost $16 at the box office were selling for $200 on Ebay! This was a kids concert - not a rock band! I was amazed - and no, I didn't buy any even though my son loves their music - he will have to make do with a DVD or two.

[Ruth]

OMG $200 for the Wiggles[msnoo]My children like them but they drive me nuts[msnsad]If you paid me $200 then I might just manage to go[msnwink]

[Kickstart]

Well the confirmation and tickets arrived today, we have a reservation confirmation number from Transolar holidays (don't know who they are) and Discovery cove.

I had to pay £162 per ticket, does anyone know of an ABTA travel agent who is selling them cheaper than this. The company I bought from offer a price guarantee pledge – they will match any other attraction ticket price I can find on the web
(ABTA licensed UK sites only)

Mind you the Transolar web site lists them at £173, and I thought the exchange rate was going in our favour!

I think I will still ring the Discovery Cove number to confirm of the booking and I will also ask about the price then.

[Kickstart]

I rang Discovery cove and confirmed our reservation, all OK.

I said I had tried to book direct and I had been told they were sold out. The operator told me they pre-reserve blocks of tickets for travel agents which is why I was able to get them. I asked about the inflated price but he just didn't answer the question, he said he couldn't comment!

So you guys who are still looking for tickets at Easter it might be worth your while trying other travel agents on the web, if you can afford the extra chrages.

[skippy]

we have had DC tickets from Transolar in the past and there were no problems. We paid £163 last Aug for them. A quote from another co. was £166.
RUTH;-
What was the weather like for your day at DC we are planning to at xmas.

Denis and Sue

[MrEktion]

All the UK sites I have checked had prices around the same price as you have paid Kickstart (£165 approx.).

I think this is more a case of UK tour operators fixed prices in pounds being a rip off compared to the online price in dollars with the advantageous exchange rate.

The price at DC is $249,00 currently including Dolphin Swim, at exchange rate of £1 = $1.50 that is £166.00! The exchage rate currently at £1 = $1.79 gives a price of £139.10. The trouble is the online tickets go first for any day and you are left with the tour operators pre-booked tickets at UK prices.

The only answer in the current climate is to try haggling for part of their exchange rate benefit or find a tour operater in the USA with tickets left and prices in dollars.

My $0.02

Mr Ektion