So you’re on holiday in Orlando and you fancy taking some time out from the theme parks? Then a day at Discovery Cove is just what you’re looking for and a must-do on any Orlando holiday. It’s the perfect opportunity to have a rest from all the action and get up close and personal with some of nature’s friendliest creatures. Located just off International Drive, Discovery Cove is a haven of calm in the midst of bustling Orlando and the perfect way to round off anyOrlando holiday.
If you want to immerse yourself in the total Discovery Cove experience, then Trainer for the Day is for you.
The day starts by the group being met by one of the very experienced Dolphin trainers who will be our guide throughout. After the initial very smooth check in at reception at around 8am, breakfast is the first thing on the agenda, helping to start the day well. Breakfast and lunch is included and snacks and beverages are available during the whole day (which ends around 5.30pm). We are then equipped with wet suits or jackets and are given a snorkel, dolphin friendly sun protection lotion along with goggles, a Tshirt and waterproof camera. Towels and lockers are also supplied.
Following breakfast, time to visit the Explorer’s Aviary to feed and enjoy the hundreds of colourful birds within, as well as to observe some not so very obvious owls! Next it’s time to stroke one of the many sharks that are bred there; the ones you can stroke are small and there is a trainer on hand to ensure all goes well. We are then escorted to an area of shallow water to feed the Stingrays which swarm around our legs eagerly knowing that food is on offer. They have had their sting removed so there is no chance of anything untoward happening during this very enjoyable experience.
Finally the moment comes when we can interact and have a swim with the dolphins! We are gathered together in a covered area prior to entering the water and supplied with some interesting dolphin facts. It takes 3-5 years to train a dolphin and the age of the dolphins at Discovery Cove range between 6 months and 42 years old! Our dolphin was named Capricorn and was one of the oldest, extremely friendly and very well trained! It does not matter what time of day the swim with the Dolphins takes place as they do all participate throughout the day and are changed around frequently. Once in the water, we get the opportunity to see how a dolphin reacts to various hand commands; these commands can produce various reactions from the dolphins, either a physical or a vocal reaction. If deep water is not your thing, then it is possible to remain in the shallow water when having the swim.
Lunch is served from around 1130 am and we are given an hour to enjoy a leisurely meal and drink of choice.
The afternoon offers other experiences which are very enlightening; how the trainers establish how much each dolphin can eat in a day and a remarkable timetable for both feeding times and dolphin interaction with Discovery Cove visitors participating in a swim. The amount each dolphin is allowed to eat is all based on their weight and is very finely tuned.
We are then treated to more interaction, not with dolphins this time but with a tropical bird, small mamal and a couple of armadillos. The icing on the cake later in the afternoon is the enhanced deep water dolphin interaction, which constitutes a toe push and riding on Capricorn’s belly to the shore. There are photographers on hand to capture each dolphin experience, and these photos can be purchased before departing this haven in Orlando.
All in all a very memorable day and experience, which we can all highly recommend.
