Discovery Cove® Ultimate Package with Free Parking

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to reserve a date to visit Discovery Cove or is it possible to leave my Discovery Cove ticket open?
Discovery Cove is a reservations only experience and attendance is restricted to 1300 visitors per day. You must therefore book your visit date in advance to secure your place. Please see our availability calendar for available dates. Dates in blue are available; dates in red are currently sold out.

Do I need to be an experienced swimmer to visit Discovery Cove?
You do not need to be a strong swimmer to enjoy Discovery Cove. Life vests are provided where needed and you do not need to go out of your depth.

Are there any age restrictions for Discovery Cove?
You must be at least 6 years old to participate in the Dolphin Swim programme. Children under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Are children allowed to participate in the dolphin swim without their parents present? Children between 6-12 years old participating in the dolphin swim experience must be accompanied by an adult who also is participating in the dolphin swim experience. Any minor under the age of 18 years participating in the dolphin swim experience must have a “Minor” waiver completed by a parent or legal guardian. If a parent is not present at check in, they will need to complete a liability release form prior to the day at Discovery Cove and those accompanying the child will need to bring the completed form as well as a photo copy of the parent’s Driving License or Passport to verify their signature. Please contact us should you need a form sent with your Discovery Cove documents. 

How long is the Dolphin Swim programme?
The dolphin swim session comprises a ten minute introduction with the trainers and a thirty minute session in the water (in groups of no more than 6-8 and 2 trainers) with the dolphins. This will be followed by a 30 minute debrief for any questions.

What time should I arrive at Discovery Cove?
Discovery Cove opens at 8.00am and closes at 5.30pm. You can check-in from 7.15am and it is recommended you arrive early so you can enjoy a full day at Discovery Cove. Dolphin swim times are allocated on arrival.

Can I use the SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens® or Aquatica portion of my Discovery Cove package before I visit Discovery Cove?
Yes. You can enjoy 14 consecutive days unlimited admission to SeaWorld, Busch Gardens and Aquatica, and you can visit these parks, including Discovery Cove in any order. Your ticket is activated the first time you visit one of these parks.

Does Discovery Cove Ultimate include transportation to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay?
Free transportation to Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on the Busch Gardens Shuttle Express is included in Discovery Cove Ultimate. The service departs from SeaWorld® Orlando and throughout various locations in the International Drive and Kissimmee areas. Pre-booking is a must and reservations can be made by calling 1-800-221-1339. The service is subject to change.

Terms and Conditions

• Discovery Cove is a reservation only experience and you must choose the date you wish to visit at the time of booking.
• Your ticket includes 14 consecutive day’s unlimited admission to SeaWorld®, Busch Gardens® and Aquatica®.
• You must purchase the Ultimate Dolphin Swim ticket if you wish to swim with Dolphins.
• Children must be at least 6 years old to swim with the dolphins. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult to gain entry to Discovery Cove
• You will be issued with a Discovery Cove electronic ticket which you have to present upon arrival at Discovery Cove. Discovery Cove no-longer issue hard tickets.
• Children between 6-12 years old participating in the dolphin swim experience must be accompanied by an adult who also is participating in the dolphin swim experience. There is no minimum adult to child ration, so one adult can accompany more than one child
• Any minor under the age of 18 years participating in the dolphin swim experience must have a “Minor” waiver completed by a parent or legal guardian. If a parent is not present at check-in, they will need to complete a liability release form prior to the day at Discovery Cove and those accompanying the child will need to bring the completed form as well as a photocopy of the parent’s Driving License or Passport to verify their signature. Please contact us should you need a form sent with your Discovery Cove documents. 
• Visits to SeaWorld®, Aquatica® and Busch Gardens® may be taken before or after your visit to Discovery Cove.
• All bookings for Discovery Cove are subject to 100% cancellation fees within 30 days of your booked visit. There can be no refunds for amendments (for example to change from Swim to Non-Swim) or cancellations within this period
• In order to ensure everyone's safety, participants must be able to comprehend safety-instructions in English
• The Busch Gardens Shuttle Express departs from SeaWorld daily and picks up from various locations along the way. Service may be subject to change. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 1-800-221-1339 when in Orlando.