Discovery Cove is a
theme park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, and events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central theme, often fea ...
owned and operated by
United Parks & Resorts, and located in
Orlando, Florida
Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...
. It is the sister park of
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando is an animal theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Although separately gated, it is often promoted with neighboring parks Discovery Cove and Aquatica as well as Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, all of which are owned and operated ...
and
Aquatica Orlando
Aquatica is a chain of water parks owned and operated by United Parks & Resorts. Aquatica parks are operating in Orlando, Florida and San Antonio, Texas.
History
SeaWorld Orlando originally announced plans to build a water park on July 15, 20 ...
. Visitors to the park can interact with a range of marine animals including
bottlenose dolphins
The bottlenose dolphin is a toothed whale in the genus ''Tursiops''. They are common, cosmopolitan members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Molecular studies show the genus contains three species: the common bot ...
.
Attractions
The main experience at Discovery Cove is swimming with a dolphin, where visitors can "talk, touch, play and swim" with bottlenose dolphins.
The park contains a free-flight aviary, which contains over 250 tropical birds including parrots, toucans, and over 30 other species of exotic birds.
The heated Tropical River runs through the aviary and circles the park, allowing guests to float past an assortment of the Discovery Cove's beaches, waterfalls, and rainforest landscape. The Tropical River runs into the park's freshwater resort pool.
In June 2011, the park expanded with the opening of The Grand Reef. This reef was needed due to the original reef having a persistent salt water leak, which affected the ground water, and replaced the original reef with Freshwater Oasis.
The Grand Reef features a white-sand beach, palm-lined island and underwater grottos filled with
moray eels,
reef sharks and scores of other tropical fish. Activities range from snorkeling with
eagle rays to crossing a rope bridge over a shark-filled lagoon.
In summer 2012, the park introduced the Freshwater Oasis. The area features water filled trails covered by a rainforest canopy that contains a viewing glass window featuring an exhibit for
Asian small-clawed otters and an island in the center of the pool known as Primate Island containing
White-headed marmosets.
Admission
Three different admission options are offered by the park, including the dolphin-swim, non-dolphin-swim and "Trainer for a Day" packages. The park also sells multi-park tickets that include admission to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa. Reservations for Discovery Cove are required and a maximum of 1600 guests can be present in the park at any one time.
Discounts are often available for Florida Residents.
Incidents
In 2008, a
bottlenose dolphin
The bottlenose dolphin is a toothed whale in the genus ''Tursiops''. They are common, cosmopolitan members of the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins. Molecular studies show the genus contains three species: the common bot ...
named Sharky (a.k.a. Natasha) at Discovery Cove died after colliding with another dolphin during aerial movement signaled by park staff.
The cause of death was listed as traumatic cervical vertebral fracture. A park representative said it was an "unfortunate, random incident," and that the other dolphin survived and was being watched by veterinarians.
In response, animal rights group
PETA
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA; ) is an American animal rights nonprofit organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president.
Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk and animal right ...
released a statement saying it is not uncommon for
captive dolphins to die decades short of natural life expectancy as Sharky did, and that tragedies are "inevitable when these animals are required to perform tricks that are as unnatural to them as they are inhumane."
In 2024, a 13-year-old park guest died after being found unresponsive in a pool and transported to a hospital in critical condition. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as accidental drowning. The police said the investigation is active and ongoing.
References
External links
*
Discovery Cove Photo Gallery
{{Zoos of Florida
2000 establishments in Florida
Amusement parks opened in 2000
Dolphinariums
Oceanaria in the United States
United Parks & Resorts
Zoos established in 2000