Discovery cove - Orlando

[mindingmyown37]

Thanks to some inheritance from DP’s father we are fortunate enough to be Taking the DC to Florida next Easter, I went 21 years ago, although I was turning 16 so had no responsibilities whatsoever.its a bit daunting now being the adults, especially with this being dc first time on a plane. Despite being there 2 weeks last time we didn’t get to swim with dolphins. As I’ll be celebrating my birthday out there again this time, I’ve told DP I don’t want presents I just wanna swim with dolphins. They also have an aviary and I absolutely love birds. I basically just wanna know if anyone has managed to do this and what it kind of entails. So I’m prepared. DP and DS are up for it. Dd doesn’t know yet so will have to try ask her with out telling her.

https://www.worldanimalprotection.us/latest/blogs/5-reasons-you-should-never-swim-dolphins-vacation/

I hope you have a wonderful birthday trip. Please consider an activity you love that doesn't rely on animal cruelty.

I was there last year. I enjoyed swimming with the rays etc in the main pools and the aviary was large and excellent. We had a good day, but I have to admit that the dolphin swim was disappointing. I mean, yes, we each got a 10 second swim with the dolphin, but that was all it was and the rest was all set up to pose for photos, which then cost around $20 each. If you’re going to do the dolphin swim, book the earliest time so that you aren’t clock watching for the rest of the day. I think we got tickets that covered other attractions as well as discovery cove and we enjoyed them all.

I am conflicted myself the dolphin swim is just so unethical. From what I’ve just read about discovery cove the dolphin area is too small, they have been heavily criticised for not allowing the dolphins to rest, there is evidence of raking which signals stress and fear and finally two dolphins have died in their care recently and many infant dolphins historically. The rest of the park looks wonderful but the dolphin arena is just cruel

We were going to go, but I can’t it’s just not fair for the dolphins.

Please don’t do this. If you love animals you won’t.

Yeah sorry if your dream is to swim with dolphins please don't do it with ones forced into captivity

There are ethical ways to do this in the wild, when dolphins can choose to engage or they can swim away

We are going to orlando this summer and absolutely will be avoiding seaworld and discovery cove

Please don’t do this and support keeping these animals in captivity in conditions that do not meet their needs. Read the World Animal Protection info posted above.

Also some good info here from Whale and Dolphin Conservation on captive dolphins
uk.whales.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/11/vision-for-whales-and-dolphins-in-tourism.pdf

I got bitten on the arm pretty severely by a very grumpy dolphin at Discovery Cove years back, they clearly aren’t happy creatures there! It took several courses of antibiotics to eventually clear it up and the staff took me ‘backstage’ to clean the wound and made me sign a whole lot of waivers so I wouldn’t sue. So my experience wasn’t great, and I certainly would never do it again knowing what I know now about marine mammals in captivity.

If you have watched the documentary Blackfish you will never ever support any facility that holds captive marine mammals. Ever.

oops! was just trying to link to The Dibb website, a lot of useful info for you @mindingmyown37

I've swam with dolphins a couple of times in the wild, but the ethical, responsible tour operators follow the dolphins lead, if they are not interested and swim away, you get back on the boat and you were never allowed to touch them.
Honestly, my best dolphin experiences have been when they have turned up unexpectedly swimming alongside a boat and you get to see them exhibiting playful behaviours on their own terms.
After seeing them in the wild, seeing them in captivity would break my heart.

That was the documentary that opened my eyes fully too, just heartbreaking.

We did it three years ago, and I think if I could choose again I wouldn’t. It is a lovely park (though I didn’t enjoy the large pool with the rays as felt it was too small and people were allowed to prod/poke - just felt too much). Our dolphin interaction was lovely and I felt it a better option that Sea World, but I wouldn’t choose it again. We had a wonderful sunset cruise in Coco Beach (anbout 2 hrs from Orlando) area where we saw plentiful dolphins and seeing them in nature is far more magical.

We went a couple of years ago but didn’t do a dolphin swim. I’d rather see wild dolphins from a small boat tbh.

Had a wonderful time in the aviary and in the lazy river/pools though!

I mean, tbh I’m not bothered about the swim itself, I just want to interact with them. I do love animals, and I’ve always wanted to interact with them. Maybe I’ll reconsider 🫣

If you love animals as you say you do, you wouldn’t touch discovery cove with a barge pole.

If you do go, the earlier you check in the earlier your dolphin swim time. I think DC opens at 7am.

We went 10 years ago so maybe it’s changed but you can’t interact with them unless you’re in the specific dolphin pool and you only go in there if you’ve booked the get dragged along for 5 seconds there and back swim experience.

There were 5 or 6 groups in the same pool dotted about, each with 6 people in a line waiting their turn for the drag swim. It wasn’t magical , it was a bit sad to see, just a $$$ making exercise.

By the way the water in the pools with aquatic life is sea temperature, sounds obvious to say it, but a shock when you first get in.
I think the lazy river is heated to a degree. We liked that, quite deep in places too.

You can’t get near them unless you’ve paid for the dolphin experience. (And they’re strategically placed in the middle of the complex so, if you haven’t paid, your children can see what they’re missing out on all day.)

You won’t get any interaction with them. They do their job and look about as pissed off as a minimum wage worker would if you asked them if you could hang off their backs. I went many years ago and regret it.

Seeing wild dolphins from a boat, however, as I have done in the Everglades (10,000 islands boat tour), is just magical.

I'm a wildlife professional with knowledge of dolphin social behaviour and welfare. Dolphins should never be kept in captivity, it is impossible to adequately meet their needs for space and social groupings. If you can, use your money instead to go on a dolphin boat trip to see them in the wild. Interacting with wild animals is all about what we want, rather than what's actually good for the animals - and it is purely for the operator to make money. Wild animals should be in the wild and admired safely from a distance, rather than being petted or interacted with.

We did this as a family a few years ago and it was totally brilliant. We prebooked, swam with dolphins (didn't pay for any other animal encounters), swam with rays, and loved the river swim and aviaries too.
We paid extra for the digital photos package, and as we were staying at Disney hired a car for the day and drove there (we spent the rest of the time in the Parks).

For me it's a special memory to hold for ever. Having said that, I have since then seen fantastic wild dolphins several times off the UK coast (Cornwall) and am not sure I would have visited them in captivity if I had known the dolphin welfare issues I know now.

Do not ever swim with imprisoned dolphins 😡. Honestly, give your head a wobble.

If you want to see dolphins go on an approved marine boat trip and see them swim alongside a boat while learning about them.