bobbie68
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2009
- I have been wanting to go to DC for years. It is very expensive and I could not justify it before to spend the extra money on top of Universal. Since I was turning 50 and having some health issues I bit the bullet and asked my DH and he said sure. My DD also loves dolphins and would enjoy it after a long hard year for her. I was off to planning. It would turn out to be one of the best days we had and so worth it
I went to the website and started researching the packages. It is interesting because besides the price difference in the season the price will be different depending on when you book. I booked about 3 months out my date and I checked the website a week before for something and noticed my days was now double the price. It is important to book in advance if you can. Included with this price is your vests, snorkel gear, breakfast buffet, lunch buffet and snack stands around. These stands have fresh baked cookies and pretzels. All kinds of chips and nuts. ice slushies and soft drinks. For adults there is beer and wine included. You also get a 14 day unlimited ticket pass to Sea World and Aquatica.
We chose a Monday July 30, 2017 right in the middle of our trip. I knew it would be a more relaxing day so thought that it would work well. With all my research I found out that I had to be there by 7:30 am to get in line to get a good time for the dolphin swim. We did not have a car here so we decided to use an uber. It worked out great. I think we paid $10.00 each way. I thought by getting there at 7:00 am I would be close to the front of the line. Well nope there had to be about 100 people in front of me. I will say they are very organized and kept the line moving.
We had bought the Dolphin swim elite package. This included a half hour dolphin encounter, the picture package and a cabana. I was splurging for this one
We checked in got our badges and was escorted to the building where they provide an all you can eat breakfast in the price. It was your typical breakfast hot foods, danish, fruit coffee. It was still a nice selections and the food was hot. After we ate we had to check in for the cabana. I had read that there were three sections of the cove where the cabanas are. Most people say to reserve the dolphin lagoon. I never had a chance to so it was going to be pot luck. The other area is the main lagoon and they have about three or four on a little island where the bird aviary is. The lazy river also goes through this area. It is very off beat and secluded. Of course I was like "please no not there". Well guess what that was where my cabana was.
We were escorted to pick up our life vests or wet suit to wear for the day. You have to choose one and wear it all day. My whole family chose the vests. I don't know how people took those wet suits off all day.
At 8:00 we were allowed onto the island with our cabana and I was so scared to see where it was. When we got to the gate and went in I was amazed. It was an absolutely perfect location and scenery around it.
This cabana was on the end so right next to us was an entrance into the lazy river. This lazy river is warm and beautiful. It takes you around that part of the cove. It also goes through a section of the bird aviary which is beautiful. It is very long and I would suggest a noodle that they provide. Throughout the river it goes from 3 feet to 9 feet. If you are tired you just can't put your feet down. DH and I did it once the teens did it a few times. My DD's BF is so sweet. Right next to our cabana where you can enter there were rocks under water. He kept going under and putting the rocks together to say I love you!
The bird aviary is amazing! You have about 250 rescued birds flying around in there. You are allowed to get a cup of food for them and put it out in your hand. They will land on your arm and eat! We spent a good hour or so there. It is best to go there as soon as they open because the birds are hungry then. It is divided into 3 sections and you go through doors and there is staff to answer questions. Our cabana was about 100 feet from the entrance.
The dolphin experience was amazing. There are no pictures taken at this time with your camera. Each group is divided into about 12 people with 2 trainers and a dolphin. There is a photographer and video person for each group. The dolphin experience is really good. It is however, a little different than some people might think. The trainer brings the dolphin around in a circle for you to stroke it. They teach you how to call the dolphin and you give it a kiss. The trainers do a few tricks with them and talk about them. The highlight is that you hold onto their fins and they give you a quick ride in the lagoon. However, short it was amazing. It was about a half hour long. I got the elite package so I was lucky enough to have a bouy brought to me by the dolphin. It was great because I got to take it from her. I was able to have them write on it whatever I wanted. I personally feel it was worth the money and would do it again.
We then went to the main lagoon for snorkeling. This water is cold as well as the dolphin lagoon. It is amazing with all the fish swimming around. The best part is they have the stingrays swimming with you and they come right to you. I was able to touch them. It was magical and I enjoyed it so much. They have now implemented a ray feeding which I will do next time. We did have our underwater camera and took pictures. The camera was a cheap one so they weren't that good.
We went to the buffet lunch. They do have hamburgers and hot dogs but than they have chicken, rice, pork, mac and cheese. A good variety with salad and desert. Once again all you can eat.
The cabana was so good to have. It was worth the extra money and I would do it again. We had a great server she was very attentive. You have a full size fridge and locker in your cabana. She kept filling us up with soda, water and beer. It was nice to have a place to relax. On our day it was overcast and sprinkling a little so we appreciated having a dry place to relax. At one point it did downpour and all our stuff stayed dry.
I would recommend DC to anyone who can afford to do it. My DH and I thought it was worth the money we spent. You can do some different packages and make it a little cheaper. We can't wait to go back in 2019.
We left at 5:00 when they closed and went back to the resort. After all that water we wanted to soak in the hot tub. It was such a relaxing day. Everyone said it was amazing.
- 2019
