Discovery Cove® Tickets

Opening Times:

• Open daily from 9am – 5.30pm
• Check-in and breakfast begins at 7.15am, so try to arrive early to make the most of your day!

Duration:

• Discovery Cove is a full day adventure!
• Dolphin swims are 30 minutes long, with a 10-minute orientation session beforehand, sessions are within a small group of participants

Capacity:

Attendance is limited to about 1300 guests per day, which ensures no overcrowding and excellent service.

Address:

6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL 32821

Parking:

Parking is FREE for the whole day

Directions:

From the West (Lake Buena Vista/Tampa):

• Take I-4 East (toward Orlando) to exit 71. This is the SeaWorld exit

• Bear right onto Central Florida Parkway when exiting ramp
• The entrance to Discovery Cove is on the right hand side of Central Florida Parkway, past the sign for SeaWorld Orlando

From the North (Downtown Orlando, Universal Studios, Sanford, Deland):

• Take I-4 West to exit 72 (Beachline Expressway/FL-528/Airport)
• Once on the Beachline, take the first exit (International Drive)
  Make a left onto International Drive
• Make a right onto Central Florida Parkway at the third traffic light
• The entrance to Discovery Cove is on the left hand side of Central Florida Parkway

From the East (Cocoa, Cape Canaveral, Titusville Area): 

• Take FL-528 (Beachline Expressway) west to the International Drive exit
• Make a left onto International Drive
• Make a right onto Central Florida Parkway at the third traffic light
• The entrance to Discovery Cove is on the left hand side of Central Florida Parkway

• The date you specify when making your booking is the date you will visit Discovery Cove.
• However, your ticket is valid for any 14 consecutive days provided your booked date is within that period.
• For example: If you book to visit Discovery Cove on the 6th, you could start using your ticket on the 1st (to visit any of the other parks included) and use it up to the 14th

Children at Discovery Cove

• Children must be at least 14 years of age to visit Discovery Cove without an adult
• Children under 3 years of age enter for free. However, you must phone to let us know you're bringing a little one once you’ve made your booking. Call us on 0330 100 3130 with your booking reference handy
• Children over 3 require an adult ticket

Children & the Dolphin Swim

• Children must be 6 years of age and at least 42 inches tall to swim with the dolphins
• Children aged 6-12 must be accompanied by a paying adult (over the age of 18) who also is participating in the dolphin swim experience
• Children participating in a dolphin swim must have a “Minor” waiver completed by their parent or legal guardian. If the parent is not present when checking in, you must be able to produce a copy of their driving license or photo ID

Disabled Access

• Discovery Cove can accommodate guests with disabilities who are able to manoeuvre themselves with limited assistance (or with the aid of a personal assistant) during their dolphin experience and in the various wading areas.
• Specially-designed outdoor wheelchairs are available to use on the beach. Please note that these wheelchairs are not self-manoeuvrable so guests will need assistance to use them. 
• Discovery Cove has been designated as a Certified Autism Center by The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)

Expectant Mothers

There are no restrictions for expectant mothers. However, if you are unsure about any aspect of the experience, we recommend that you consult a doctor prior to your visit.

• In the unlikely event the park is closed on the date you have booked due to the weather, please try to arrange an alternative date with Discovery Cove
• If this is not possible and your ticket has not been used, we’ll offer you a full refund when you’re back in the UK

You’ll be given a wetsuit and snorkel when you arrive. Bring your own swimsuit and a set of dry clothes for later.

All-inclusive food, drink and snacks are included in the price of your whole day’s visit.

Food and drinks you can enjoy include:

• Continental breakfast
• Freshly prepared lunch, with vegetarian and healthy options
• Desserts
• Fresh fruit
• Water
• Soft drinks
• Beer & Wine (for over 21s)

No amendments can be made on Discovery Cove bookings. If a booking has been made incorrectly it will need to be cancelled, which may incur charges. No changes at all can be made inside 32 days of your booking.

If you would like to include a 30-minute dolphin swim experience, make sure you select a Discovery Cove with Dolphin Swim Ticket.

If you choose the Discovery Cove without Dolphin Swim Ticket you will NOT be allocated a dolphin swim.

Yes – your ticket is valid for 14 consecutive days, so you can use it to visit SeaWorld and Aquatica (and Busch Gardens with the Ultimate Ticket) anytime over a 14-day period around your Discovery Cove visit date.

Discovery Cove is open daily from 9am – 5.30pm

We will send you an e-ticket which you simply present when you arrive, and will allow you to avoid the queues and enter the park straight away!

FloridaTix is an official authorised ticket broker for Discovery Cove tickets. This park no longer issues "real" tickets, only e-tickets.

Yes - just head to the entrance and scan yourself straight in!

Don’t worry! You’ll be given a lanyard after the first time you scan your paper ticket. Then you can put your ticket away in a locker at the park.

No need for a heads-up about little adventurers! Children under 3 years of age do not need a ticket to enter Discovery Cove. Infants (ages 0–2) can just stroll in with you and be checked in on the spot! Just a reminder: kids ages 3 and up will need their own paid reservation to join the fun..

Please do not put on sunscreen before you get to Discovery Cove!

Normal sun creams are dangerous to the wildlife that lives here, so you will be given a sample of “animal-friendly” sun lotion when you arrive, and can buy more of this at the park.

Limited capacity so booking is essential!

Discovery Cove has limited capacity to 1300 people each day, and it’s so popular that tickets can sell out months in advance! It’s absolutely essential to pre-book your tickets to ensure you can visit on your chosen date.

Pay less with UK exclusive prices!

By pre-booking your tickets you’ll make huge savings before you even travel to Florida!

Our Discovery Cove tickets are exclusive to UK customers and can’t be bought in the USA. This means we can give you unbeatable value compared with the price of ‘on the day’ gate tickets.

This service will be complimentary to all guests with a multi-park, Busch Gardens inclusive ticket in hand.

The Busch Gardens Shuttle Express service to Busch Gardens in Tampa resumes from January 2023 and provides a return service from the Orlando area to the park in Tampa.

Drop Off & Pick Up Locations

Drop off and pick up locations are the following:

• 1. SeaWorld (near the bus & taxi drop-off)
• 2. ICON Park, 8350 Universal Blvd (8445 International Drive, (in the heart of the Entertainment district of I-Drive)
• 3. Publix, 8145 Vineland Avenue, Lake Buena Vista (near Premium Outlets – Lake Buena Vista area)
• 4. Old Town Entertainment District, 5770 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy (serving 192 East in Kissimmee)
• 5. Doubletree Orlando by Hilton at the Entrance to Universal Orlando, 5780 Major Blvd, Orlando, FL (serving North International Drive area and Universal Orlando guests)
• 6. Margaritaville Resort – 8000 Fins Up Circle, Kissimmee

IMPORTANT

The service schedule will vary through the year and be subject to change. For guidance purposes only, the Orlando area pick up will be between 0830 and 0930 - depending on location. The return journey from Busch Gardens will depend on park closing time and vary throughout the year.

Guests are recommended to make a reservation for the Shuttle Express to secure their seats. This can be completed by calling 800-221-1339 or visiting https://buschgardens.mears.com. Schedules can be confirmed at this stage.