Explore Orlando · Family Theme Parks

Discovery Cove: An All-Inclusive Day Near SeaWorld

Discovery Cove is a reservation-only day park set beside SeaWorld, built around swimming, snorkeling and quiet stretches of beach rather than queues and coasters. The park limits each day to around 1,300 guests, so it never feels crowded the way a typical theme park does.

Guests move between a dolphin lagoon, a snorkeling reef and a slow-moving river, with admission designed to cover most of what the day needs. It sits a short drive from our vacation villas, so an early start still leaves time to unwind poolside before dinner.

Signature Experiences

The day is built around a handful of core experiences:

Dolphin Swim Experience — Wade and swim alongside a bottlenose dolphin in a shallow lagoon (ages 6 and up).

Grand Reef Snorkeling — Swim among schools of fish and rays in a clear, sheltered lagoon.

Freshwater Oasis — Float through tropical water shared with otters and marmosets.

Explorer's Aviary — A walk-in habitat where guests can hand-feed exotic birds.

Serenity Bay & Wind-Away River — A lazy river and a quiet stretch of beach for slowing down.

What the Day Includes

Dining

Breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks throughout the day

Gear

Snorkel equipment, towels and wetsuits

Facilities

Lockers, showers and reef-safe sunscreen

Parking

Included with admission

Ways to Upgrade the Day

A few optional add-ons let guests customize the visit further:

01Private cabanas — A shaded, reserved spot to base the day from.

02SeaVenture — An underwater helmet walk along the reef floor.

03Flamingo Mingle or Trainer-for-a-Day — Closer, guided time with the park's animals.

Planning Around a Reservation

Book well ahead — limited daily capacity means popular dates sell out early.

Arrive early — the day starts with orientation and breakfast before the lagoons open.

Bring ID — it's needed for guests 21 and over having a drink.

Check age minimums — a few experiences, including the dolphin swim, set a minimum age.

From the Lagoon Back to Your Villa

After a day of snorkeling, floating and slowing down, head back to your own villa to keep the quiet going - no queues, no schedule, just a private pool and the rest of the evening ahead.

Stay Near Discovery Cove

Our villas sit a short drive from Discovery Cove, so the calm of the lagoon carries straight through to your own pool at the end of the day.

Explore Nearby Villas