Discovery Cove water question?

[catlady]

Hi All,

Just booked our tickets for DC in August, and can't wait as it's something I have always wanted to do. However I have read a couple of things on here which worry me slightly!

Will we get wet suits in August? I have really low blood pressure and I get cold very quickly! (hands and feet blue most of the time anyway!). I never go in cold water and I am worried that I will get so cold that I will have to get out before it's over.

Are they full wet suits or just tops? Also do they have them to fit all sizes???? I am an 18 (unless I do really well with the diet and then may-be I might get down to a 16!!!). :blush:

Also, have read a few comments about the lack of shade in the park. My daughter is a redhead and burns really easily, so abit worried, have others found this?

Finally, In full panic mode!! We are hopeless at getting up and out in the morning!! :zzz: Everyone on here seems to get there about 7.30! Is there anyone out there who arrives later, and if so what time was your swim? What were the queues like etc.

Sorry to go on, any comments much appreciated. :wavey:

Kate

[toddy17]

Wet suits are plentiful and come in all sizes. I'm a size 20 and large fit me (I initially went for XL but this was too big) I think they go up to XXXL. For those who don't wish to wear suits there are vest.
You can find shade in the DC, there are sunshades over some of the loungers, there are also shops, cabanas and the restaurant. Restaurant tables outside also have sunshades/brollies.
Sorry, can't help ypu about late arrival, we were there for nine. you can get in slightly quicker if you valet park, as you don't have to walk from the car park.
Have a great day, you'll really enjoy it, we did!!!

[pluto rules]

We got there for 9am, I wouldn't arrive any later our dolphin swim was for 10.30, by the time you get yourselves sorted you'll be rushing.:wavey:

[loopydiamond]

we got there at 8am and our swim was for 11am that was in October.... dont worry about anything, it is very well organised and everything you need is provided....you will have a wonderful day there im sure.... it was the best day of my entire holiday last year....

Jules

[loadsapixiedust]

The water in the dolphin lagoon where the interaction takes place is noticably cooler than the other pools, so you may find it takes a while to acclimatise. I would wear a full wetsuit if the temperature is likely to bother you. We only wore the waistcoat style in July and they were fine but our DS did shiver a bit when he first went in.

The wetsuits come in all sizes. I am a size 18 and tried several before finding one small enough :D

You can manage to find shady spots and there are parasols on the beach so your DD should be OK, just be careful when in the water, you can ask for extra suncream if needed.

As for timing people were arriving all through the morning when we were there. Everyone is looked after and you will not miss out on anything. We were there early but had an afternoon swim, other than the likelihood of a thunderstorm the afternoon swim time was fine as we had done all of the other things in the park by then and just waited to have a late lunch after the swim when it was very quiet in the restaurant.

Hope you have a lovely day! :)

[catlady]

Hi Again,

Many thanks for all the advice, I'm so glad there will be wet suits available , and that they are likely to fit!! As long as no one photographs me in a full wet suits I'll be fine :o:

I'd much rather have a later swim, I wonder how they decide? Can you check before you go, or do you think they do it as you arrive?

I will just have to get myself organised on that day so we get there early enough!

Final question, there are 4 of us, will we have our swim together just us or will there be others in the group?

Thanks again,

Kate :wavey:

[florifan]

we are going to Dc in august too, i am really looking forward to it, I can't answer from experience, but from what I have picked up on previous threads;

there are a range of wetsuits from full suits to short arm and leg to vests and you can choose which you prefer, they go from childrens sizes right upto 4XL.

You don't get allocated your dolphin swim time until you arrive, but then I guess you can state your preference (only trouble with asking for one later is that there are often thunderstorms in august in the afternoon)

You get given snorkel, mask, towel etc and dolphin friendly suncream

You do the dolphin swim in groups of 6 (I think)

DC take a video of your dolphin experience which you can purchase as a souveneir

You may want to take your own water shoes as some of the coral reefs are rocky, you can buy these at Dc itself or cheaply at Walmart, or I got mine last week at sports soccer for £2.99 per pair

Hope that is of some help if you click on the search on the toolbar and punch in Discovery cove you will find lots more info:thumbs-up

[little mermaid]

i went to DC last year!i had been wanting to go for years and it really is an amazin relaxed place!i would advise you to go as early as possible if u r wanting to possibly pick ur dolphin swim!im not sure if they can change this but if u r early they mayb b able to organise this!
there was already four of us and we gt put into a group of 8!there was no problems being with others everyone gets the same time with the dolphins!im not sure wat the smallest groups r but most seem to be around 6-8ish!
there are loads of wetsuits so that shouldnt b a problem!
also altho the water mayb cooler in the dolphins water, when standing water is only around waist height and so if u stand up you will get the heat from the sun to keep you from gettin too cold!
i would also agree with the water shoes!espec when snorkellin, u can at times bang into rocks which without shoes may b sore!
also there are plenty of places to sit in the sun!when i went(around july 05)there were plenty of seats in and out of the shade!
have a good time!
p.s. takin cameras which work under water are fun to do espec with younger kids when snorkelling with the fish!can b bought in most places altho i would advise u to buy these before you go mayb in walmart to save money!

[jue40]

Hi
Cant answer from experience as we are going to DC in July fro the first time. I have read lots of threads on this and my friend was at DC in April.

Everybody has said what a fantastic day it was:grin:

Have been told a few times about the pool shoes so this I think is a good idea, I also got ours last week from sports soccer for under £3 a pair, think DD's were £2.49!

Hope you have a wonderful time

Julie

[Scrap_Vamp]

Hi, we were also in a group of 8 when we went - there was me and my DF, a British couple and their daughter, and an American lady with her two daughters :)

[freckles]

You can choose what time you have your swim, but the time slots are allocated on a first come, first served basis, so the later you leave it, the less choice there will be. Having said that, I think its the early ones that are most popular.
Don't worry about the wetsuits fitting, they have to fit their American visitors, don'yt they??!!!
We swam in a group of 8. Sometimes its a 6, depending on the size of each party on the day, but I don't think they'd let you do it as a 4.
I know getting up early on holiday can be a bit of a drag, but I would go as early as you can to make the most of the day. Quite apart from the dolphin swim, its a lovely place to spend the day and quite different from the usual clamour of the parks. You can have breakfast there, you don't need to dress up so just get up , fling a cossie on and go!
Thw waterproof cameras are a good idea for the lagoon pool, but you aren't allowed them in the dolphin pool.
There is plenty of shade.

I hope you have a fantastic time.

[Karena]

We went to DC twice this visit (May) - the times for the dolphin swims are actually allocated based on the time that you check in - they will over ride the computer if you have special circimstances (children that are not swimming and need accompanying, disabled guests and so on) but we were not made aware of this on our first visit

We were a party of 11 - the first time we went we checked in at 07.45 and our dolphin swim was at 08.40 - when I asked for another time slot the lady serving us said she was unable to change it!!!!
we had gone with the intention of having a leisurely breakfast - getting the kids settled and so on - unfortunately it didn't work out that way as by the time we had had the photo on arrival, got our wetsuits and got changed we had to rush to get to our dolphin interaction:(

When we went back the second time it was much better and we were allocated swim times that we asked for and the party was able to be split to make sure there were enough adults to supervise the kids

My advise would be to be pleasant but assertive about requesting a reasonable swim time (and they are so hot on customer service that they are keen to help if possible)

Everything else is fab and we do really love DC :)
The customer service is (mostly) second to none and now that all drinks and snacks are included in the price, as well as lunch, it really makes for a day of luxury !! :)

[Gaz]

GOD how many dibbers are going this aug, we are as well, if it was me we are not wanting an afternoon swim in case they cancel it due to the usual thunder/lightin storms.

as far as getting up in the morning juist think about how much it has cost you and for every min you are not in the park you are missing out. DC is a wonderful place and it is done at such a relaxed pace you could catch up on any missed sleep thyroughout the day sunbathing if you wish.

we cannot wait to get there.

[batleyboy26]

What happens if the dolphin swim does get cancelled due to a thunderstorm? Are you allocated another time later on in the day?

[margy]

Hi, anyone going on August 29th ? would be nice to meet some of us dibbers there

[uklad23]

The water in the Dolphin pool, ray lagoon and the tropical fish reef are very cold so a full wet suit and watershoes may be the best option. I would go in these first before you do the "lazy river" area with it's warmer waters. If you do that bit first the other areas will feel much colder so leave that until the afternoon when you have done the rest.

Have fun!

[thinktink]

im going 4th july - anyone else??

tinks x x x

[catlady]

We're going on the 23rd August! :wavey:

Anyone else?

Thanks for all your replies :D

Kate
X

[Gaz]

12th august us

[florifan]

We're going 8th August for Ds 21st birthday

[Maqs Mann]

We've booked for 26th July GW. :spin:

[LBD]

I did the Dolphin swim last Saturday.

You can now reserve your swim time by ringing 24 hours in advance. They will then allocate your swim as near to your preferred time as possible.

I asked for 11am and when I arrived I was allocated 11.15am.

The details on how to reserve your swim will be on the detailed letter you get from DC.

[thinktink]

The details on how to reserve your swim will be on the detailed letter you get from DC.

when do you get this letter??

tinks x x x

[LBD]

when do you get this letter??

tinks x x x

Mine came with my tickets which I bought from Attraction Tickets Direct.

[jue40]

Hi:wave:

Our tickets for DC arrived yesterday:grin:

We are going to DC on 14th July cant wait:d:

Think I will ring 24 hours before to try book a swim time.

Jue

[dot]

we will be there 27th aug

[tina cooper]

we had the same as karina when we went in april. we checked in at 8.00 and were given our swim with no choice of time for 8.50. it was a big rush and the water was cold by the time we had finsihed looking at our photos we missed the free breakfast. we were not over excited by discovery cove but were lucky enough to go to the keys for a week after so we saw it all there in a natural habitat.

[thinktink]

what it actually says on the letter is, 'if you require a specific time slot...' this makes me think that it may be special circumstances, ie a disabled guest or especially young children. anyone actually booked 24 hours in advance or are we just speculating??

tinks x x x

[LBD]

what it actually says on the letter is, 'if you require a specific time slot...' this makes me think that it may be special circumstances, ie a disabled guest or especially young children. anyone actually booked 24 hours in advance or are we just speculating??

tinks x x x

Yes I did!

[Donaldduck]

for dicovery cove there is a dolphin section, a tropical fish section and a ray pool with stingrays in...how cool is that!? :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

[Donaldduck]

im going 4th july - anyone else??

tinks x x x


wow!! me 2! coincidence...i think not!! :donald_bo

[cazaline]

wetsuits are fab can turn anyone into a size 12!!!:d: :d: :d: We were there last week and got there for 7.15 and got a swim for 8.30 so had the rest of the day to relax, also spoke to someone who got there at 8am and there swim was for 1am...it just depends on if lots of people get there early...have fun

[Tony Toon]

Great informative thread .... and turning into a DC/Dibbers calendar. For the record, we're going (8 of us!) on 15th July. Can't wait .... and not only to see pics of me in the "slimming" wetsuits.:d:

[Helen uk]

Feeling sad now,i want to go with you all but cant:cry: :cry: :cry:

I want to win the Lottery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!