Is Discovery Cove Worth It? Our Unbiased Review of a Full Day at Discovery Cove Orlando

If you are planning an Orlando vacation—or looking for something relaxing to do in Central Florida before or after a cruise—you may have come across Discovery Cove. With tropical landscaping, snorkeling, animal encounters, a winding lazy river, beaches and all-inclusive food and beverages, it sounds more like a Caribbean resort than a traditional Orlando theme park.

But is Discovery Cove worth it?

After reading about the park's many awards and accolades, the Florida Sail & Stay team decided there was only one way to find out: spend a full day there ourselves.

Our Review Policy: We Paid for Our Own Visit

Before we get into our unbiased review of a full day at Discovery Cove Orlando, there is something important we want you to know.

Florida Sail & Stay purchased our own admission tickets to Discovery Cove. Our visit was not sponsored, hosted or compensated by Discovery Cove, and the park did not ask us to write this review.

We visited on a weekday in mid-September and purchased regular day admission. We did not upgrade our visit with a dolphin swim or any of the park's additional small-group animal experiences.

Our goal was simple: experience Discovery Cove the way a typical day-pass guest might experience it and decide whether we would spend our own money to return.

Spoiler alert: Yes, we would.

What Is Discovery Cove?

Discovery Cove is an all-inclusive day resort in Orlando designed around tropical water experiences and animal encounters.

Unlike a traditional theme park filled with rides and long lines, Discovery Cove feels more like stepping into a tropical resort. You'll find sandy beaches, lagoons, tropical landscaping, waterfalls, snorkeling, exotic birds, a resort-style pool and the park's famous Wind-Away River.

Your admission also includes much more than simply entering the park. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and nonalcoholic beverages are included throughout the day, along with select alcoholic beverages for guests 21 and older.

Guests are also provided with towels, a wetsuit or swim vest, eco-friendly sunscreen, snorkeling equipment including a souvenir snorkel, life vests and complimentary locker access. Shower facilities and changing areas are available as well.

That all-inclusive approach makes a big difference in how you pack—and how you spend your day.

Arrive Early—Even Though the Water Doesn't Open Until 9:00 AM

We arrived at 7:30 AM, and almost immediately we knew Discovery Cove would be different from a typical Orlando park experience.

The welcome area was attractive, organized and well-staffed. Check-in moved quickly, and the tropical landscaping was beautifully maintained. That attention to landscaping and cleanliness continued throughout the park.

Although the water attractions don't open until 9:00 AM, we recommend arriving early.

Why?

It gives you time to enjoy breakfast, familiarize yourself with the property, look at the park map, find your locker and decide which attractions you want to visit first.

We headed to breakfast after checking in. There are plenty of choices, but our favorites included the cheesy grits, crispy bacon, pastries and fresh fruit. Coffee, juices and Coca-Cola products are self-serve.

Instead of rushing through breakfast to get somewhere else, we could enjoy our meal knowing the day's activities were only a short walk away.

Choose Your Locker Location Strategically

Here's a tip we wish every first-time visitor knew: look at the map before choosing where you want to settle in for the day.

Lockers are located throughout Discovery Cove.

We knew the Grand Reef would be one of our priorities, so we headed toward that area and stored our belongings nearby.

It sounds like a small decision, but when you're wet, barefoot or ready to grab your phone or other belongings, having your locker near the area where you'll spend a significant part of your day is convenient.

Our #1 Experience: Snorkeling the Grand Reef

If you love snorkeling, make the Grand Reef one of your first stops.

This large saltwater environment combines sandy shallows with deeper areas where guests can swim and snorkel among an impressive collection of tropical fish and rays. You can stay in relatively shallow water or swim farther into the reef and float over underwater canyons.

There is also a bridge where guests can watch sharks swimming below.

We consider ourselves experienced snorkelers. We've snorkeled throughout the Caribbean, so we arrived with fairly high expectations.

The Grand Reef impressed us.

The sheer variety of sea life was remarkable, and the giant rays were one of the highlights of our entire day. We spent several hours returning to different areas of the reef.

There is one important thing experienced snorkelers should know.

Guests are required to wear one of Discovery Cove's flotation vests in the Grand Reef. Even if you are a strong swimmer or experienced snorkeler, you won't be diving down to explore the reef. The purpose is to keep guests floating near the surface and help protect the hundreds of fish and rays living below. At first, avid snorkelers may find that a little restrictive. But don't worry about missing the animals.

They come to you.

Fish—and particularly the rays—can swim surprisingly close, including in relatively shallow water.

For someone who is new to snorkeling, we think the Grand Reef is an excellent introduction. The environment feels controlled and approachable while still offering the excitement of being surrounded by marine life.

Based on our experience, we think this attraction is particularly well suited to children over about age eight who are comfortable swimmers, although parents should always make their own decision based on an individual child's swimming ability and comfort level.

And yes—you'll want a waterproof camera or phone pouch here.

Wind-Away River: Not Your Typical Lazy River

We've floated plenty of lazy rivers.

Wind-Away River is one of the best we've experienced.

Rather than circling a conventional swimming pool, the river carries you on a journey through different tropical environments.

You'll float past sandy beaches and lush vegetation, drift through deeper water and rocky areas, pass through an underwater cave and travel beneath waterfalls. Part of the journey even takes you through the Explorer's Aviary.

Don't let the term "lazy river" fool you, however.

The water depth varies considerably and reaches more than eight feet deep in some areas.

Our advice: grab one of the provided blue pool noodles before beginning your float.

Even confident swimmers will appreciate having one. The river is long, and the noodle makes it much easier to relax and enjoy the scenery instead of continually swimming.

Because of the varying depth, we again feel this experience is best suited to older children who are comfortable in the water. Families should consider each child's swimming ability before entering.

And keep that waterproof camera handy. There are some fantastic photo opportunities along the way.

Don't Skip Explorer's Aviary

It would be easy to focus so much on the water that you overlook one of Discovery Cove's most memorable attractions.

Don't miss Explorer's Aviary.

The aviary consists of lush, free-flight environments filled with hundreds of exotic birds.

Guests can enter from the park's beach areas or arrive in particularly memorable fashion by floating beneath the waterfalls from Wind-Away River. Once inside, you can interact with and feed the birds.

We encountered species we had never seen before and captured some of our favorite photographs of the entire day here.

Even if you don't consider yourself a "bird person," make time for the aviary. It is one of those Discovery Cove experiences that may surprise you.

How Good Is the All-Inclusive Food?

We took our reviewing duties seriously.

We sampled almost everything—except the pizza. And for the record, the pizza looked pretty good too. You'll find the expected family-friendly favorites, including hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries and chicken tenders.

But there are more interesting choices as well.

Our favorites included the Caribbean jerk chicken with rice and fried plantains. We also enjoyed the salmon and salad, along with some of the premade sandwiches and wraps.

How would we describe the main buffet? Think of a good mid-range cruise ship buffet.

There's enough variety for most families to find something they like, and being able to stop for food without thinking about the price of every meal adds to the relaxed atmosphere.

Snacks and Drinks Throughout the Day

Food isn't limited to breakfast and lunch. Drink and snack stations are located around the park, making it easy to grab something without trekking back to the main restaurant.

One unexpected favorite? The self-serve ICEE stations.

We found two locations offering three ICEE flavors. We also took full advantage of the unlimited self-serve Coca-Cola products available throughout the day. We didn't purchase an upgraded drink package and didn't feel like we needed one.

One of the best parts of Discovery Cove's all-inclusive format is simply not having to think about food and drink prices throughout the day.

Pack Light—Discovery Cove Provides Most of What You Need

This is not the Orlando attraction where you need to arrive carrying an enormous park bag.

Pack light.

Discovery Cove provides many of the things you'd normally have to bring to a water park, including towels, sunscreen, flotation equipment and snorkeling gear.

Food, snacks and beverages are readily available too.

Our group received a locker for personal belongings, and we found there was very little we actually needed to carry around the park.

One thing we absolutely recommend bringing is water shoes. We wore ours throughout the entire day and were very glad we had them.

Is Discovery Cove Worth the Price?

Now for the big question: Is Discovery Cove Worth It? Our Unbiased Review of a Full Day at Discovery Cove Orlando comes down to whether we would pay to do it again.

Our answer is an easy yes. In fact, we're already planning another visit.

The experience is especially appealing because Discovery Cove doesn't feel like another hectic theme-park day. It provides a completely different pace. Instead of moving from ride to ride, you're snorkeling with rays, floating beneath waterfalls, relaxing on a beach, feeding tropical birds and stopping for food and drinks whenever you're ready.

For Florida residents, Discovery Cove can make an excellent getaway without leaving the state. For travelers coming to Florida for a cruise, it can also be a fantastic addition to a pre- or post-cruise Orlando stay.

Visiting Orlando Before or After a Florida Cruise?

This is where Discovery Cove particularly fits the Florida Sail & Stay philosophy.

Your Florida vacation doesn't have to begin when your cruise ship leaves the port—or end the moment you disembark.

If you're sailing from Port Canaveral, adding time in the Orlando area gives you an opportunity to turn a cruise into a larger Florida vacation.

Discovery Cove could be especially appealing after several busy days at Orlando's major theme parks. It offers the opportunity to slow the pace while still enjoying an experience that feels special. Families can snorkel together. Couples can relax along the water. Multigenerational groups can enjoy different areas of the resort at their own pace.

Instead of squeezing another traditional theme park into your itinerary, consider giving yourself a tropical resort day.

Our Florida Sail & Stay Discovery Cove Tips

Here are the things we'd tell friends before their first visit:

Arrive early. Use the time before the water opens to enjoy breakfast, explore and get organized.

Study the map before choosing your locker. Pick a location convenient to the areas where you expect to spend the most time.

Bring water shoes. We wore ours all day.

Pack lightly. Towels, sunscreen, snorkeling equipment, flotation gear, food and beverages are already available.

Bring a waterproof phone pouch or camera. You'll want it in the Grand Reef and Wind-Away River.

Grab a noodle for Wind-Away River. The river is long and reaches depths of more than eight feet.

Don't skip the aviary. It turned out to be one of our favorite experiences.

Give the Grand Reef plenty of time. We are experienced Caribbean snorkelers and still happily spent hours exploring it.

Consider swimming ability when visiting with children. In our opinion, several of the major water experiences are particularly enjoyable for children around eight and older who are already comfortable swimmers.

Come hungry. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and beverages are part of the experience, so take advantage of them.

What to Bring to Discovery Cove

Affiliate Link Disclosure: Some of the product links in this section may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, Florida Sail & Stay may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend travel gear that we believe can be useful for this type of experience.

You won't need much, but these are the items we'd put in our Discovery Cove day bag:

Water Shoes Our number-one recommendation. A comfortable pair of quick-drying water shoes makes moving between beaches, walkways, the reef and other water areas much easier.

Waterproof Phone Pouch If you plan to bring your phone into the water, a reliable waterproof pouch lets you capture photos without constantly returning to your locker.

Small Waterproof or Water-Resistant Bag Keep it small. Because so much is provided by the resort, you shouldn't need to carry a large beach bag.

Sunglasses and Retainer Strap A strap can help keep your sunglasses secure while moving around the water areas. The sunglasses are polarized and they float!

Remember: Discovery Cove already provides towels, eco-friendly sunscreen, snorkeling equipment and flotation gear, so there's no need to overpack.

Would Florida Sail & Stay Go Back?

Absolutely.

We paid for our own tickets, received no sponsorship and experienced Discovery Cove with a standard day pass rather than upgraded animal encounters. And we would happily spend our own money to visit again.

Discovery Cove manages to combine some of our favorite parts of a Florida vacation: water, wildlife, tropical surroundings, snorkeling, relaxation and plenty of food.

For cruisers, it's also a reminder of what Florida Sail & Stay is all about:

Don't just sail from Florida. Discover Florida, too.

Need Help Planning Your Discovery Cove Visit?

If you're considering adding Discovery Cove to an Orlando vacation or a pre- or post-cruise Florida stay, contact Florida Sail & Stay.

Travel advisors may have access to special offers or discount opportunities for Discovery Cove, and we can help you explore how to fit an Orlando stay into your larger Florida cruise vacation.