Discovery Cove
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Theme park |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Orlando, Florida , United States |
Area served | Orlando, Florida |
| Owner | United Parks & Resorts |
| Website | discoverycove |
Discovery Cove is a theme park situated in Orlando, Florida, owned and managed by United Parks & Resorts. It operates as a companion venue to SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando. Visitors can engage in hands-on interactions with marine life, notably bottlenose dolphins.
Attractions
The primary highlight of the park is the opportunity to swim alongside bottlenose dolphins, where participants can interact by communicating, touching, playing, and swimming with these animals.
Within the park lies a free-flight aviary that accommodates more than 250 tropical bird species, including toucans and parrots. The heated Tropical River meanders through this aviary and throughout the park, flowing past rainforest settings, waterfalls, and beach areas before culminating at the freshwater resort pool.
In June 2011, Discovery Cove introduced The Grand Reef as an expansion, replacing the initial reef due to a saltwater leakage issue. This new feature boasts a white-sand beach, an island fringed with palm trees, underwater caves inhabited by moray eels, reef sharks, and various tropical fish. Visitors can snorkel alongside eagle rays and traverse a rope bridge spanning a shark lagoon.
The Freshwater Oasis debuted in summer 2012, showcasing water pathways beneath a rainforest canopy. This area includes exhibits for Asian small-clawed otters and Primate Island, which is home to white-headed marmosets.
Admission
Visitors can choose from three ticket options: dolphin-swim packages, non-dolphin-swim passes, and "Trainer for a Day" experiences. Additionally, multi-park tickets are available that grant access to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa. Due to limited capacity capped at 1,600 guests simultaneously, advanced reservations are mandatory. Special pricing is often offered for Florida residents.
Incidents
In 2008, a bottlenose dolphin named Sharky died following a collision with another dolphin during an aerial stunt. The fatal injury was identified as a traumatic fracture to the cervical vertebrae. The park characterized the event as an unfortunate and isolated accident. Meanwhile, PETA criticized the practice of keeping dolphins in captivity and their involvement in performances, citing reduced lifespans under such conditions.
In 2024, a 13-year-old visitor tragically passed away from accidental drowning after being found unresponsive in one of the pools. Local authorities are currently conducting an active investigation into this incident.