Planning an Orlando, Florida vacation? There is no shortage of things to do, but one of the most memorable experiences for families and couples is swimming with dolphins Orlando. The dolphin program takes place at Discovery Cove, where guests can enjoy a tropical-style, all-inclusive day filled with marine life, swimming, snorkeling, relaxing, and a dolphin interaction. Depending on the package you choose, you can enjoy a 1-day or multi-day Orlando experience. For travelers with limited vacation time, the one-day dolphin package can be an excellent way to experience Discovery Cove without taking two full days away from the rest of your Orlando itinerary.
General Orlando Vacation Information
Orlando is located in Central Florida and is one of the most visited vacation destinations in the United States. Families travel here from around the world for theme parks, water parks, shopping, restaurants, resorts, entertainment, and unique animal experiences. Because Orlando offers so many different attractions in one area, it is easy to build a vacation that combines traditional theme park days with something completely different, such as swimming and interacting with dolphins.
Orlando Major Attractions
Orlando is famous for its major theme parks and resorts. Universal Orlando Resort offers theme parks, hotels, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment. Walt Disney World is also one of the largest vacation destinations in the world, with multiple theme parks, water parks, resorts, restaurants, shopping areas, golf courses, and recreation.
SeaWorld Orlando is another popular Central Florida attraction for families interested in marine life, rides, shows, and animal presentations. Visitors can also explore attractions throughout International Drive and the surrounding Orlando tourism district.
For many visitors, one of the most unique Orlando activities is spending a full day at Discovery Cove. Unlike a traditional theme park day, Discovery Cove is designed around relaxing tropical surroundings, water activities, marine-life experiences, and limited daily attendance. The highlight for many guests is the opportunity to participate in a dolphin interaction as part of their visit.
If swimming with dolphins Orlando is one of the main reasons for your trip, it is a good idea to plan this day before filling your vacation schedule with the other theme parks. Discovery Cove is generally a full-day experience, so give yourself enough time to enjoy everything included instead of trying to squeeze it between other attractions.
Remember, Discovery Cove offers much more than the dolphin portion of the day. Depending on your package, you can enjoy additional water activities, marine-life experiences, tropical areas, food and beverages, and a relaxing break from the pace of the larger theme parks. You may also have options to add admission to other nearby attractions. <Discovery Cove Orlando Pricing Information>
Dolphin Experience Near Tampa
If you are staying on Florida’s Gulf Coast and searching for a dolphin experience near Tampa, Orlando can still be a practical option for a special day trip or an overnight addition to your vacation. Many Tampa Bay visitors already plan at least one day in Central Florida because of the concentration of major attractions in the Orlando area.
Families staying in Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, or surrounding communities can travel to Orlando for the Discovery Cove dolphin experience and then return to the Gulf Coast after their visit or spend the night nearby. If swimming with dolphins is a high-priority activity for your family, it can be worth building an Orlando day into your Tampa Bay vacation rather than limiting your search only to attractions directly on the Gulf Coast.
Another Location to Swim with Dolphins St Augustine
Orlando is not the only Florida destination where you can enjoy a dolphin program. Travelers heading toward northeast Florida can also swim with dolphins St Augustine. This can be an excellent option for visitors vacationing in St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, or along Florida’s Atlantic Coast.
The St. Augustine area provides a very different vacation experience from Orlando. Instead of large theme parks, visitors can combine a dolphin experience with beaches, historic attractions, sightseeing, restaurants, and America’s oldest city. If your Florida trip includes more than one destination, you may want to compare the Orlando dolphin program with the St. Augustine option and choose the location that works best with your travel route, schedule, and family.
Getting to Orlando By Plane
Travelers arriving by air can fly into Orlando International Airport (Airport Code: MCO), the primary airport serving the Orlando area. Another option is Orlando Sanford International Airport (Airport Code: SFB), located north of Orlando. Orlando International Airport receives flights from destinations throughout the United States as well as international destinations, making Central Florida easy to reach for many travelers.
Orlando Accommodations
Orlando has an enormous selection of places to stay, ranging from budget accommodations to luxury resorts and vacation homes. There are Orlando hotels for nearly every type of traveler and budget.
Families planning several days in Orlando may prefer a resort close to the major attractions, while larger families sometimes choose vacation homes or villas for additional bedrooms, kitchens, and personal space. When choosing where to stay, consider how many days you will spend at Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Discovery Cove, and other attractions so you can reduce unnecessary driving time.
Getting Around Orlando
The car is still king in Orlando and remains one of the easiest ways to travel between resorts, theme parks, shopping areas, restaurants, and other attractions. Orlando’s major tourism areas are connected by large roads and highways, but traffic can become heavy during morning and evening travel times as well as during weekends, holidays, and school vacation periods.
International Drive is one of Orlando’s main tourism corridors and runs near many hotels, restaurants, shops, attractions, and entertainment venues. Interstate 4 connects many of the area’s major vacation destinations, including the Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, and Discovery Cove areas.
When planning your Orlando vacation, try not to schedule every minute of every day. A full day of swimming with dolphins Orlando can be one of the most relaxing and memorable parts of your trip, especially when it is balanced with your theme park days, sightseeing, shopping, and time by the pool.
