Disney World isn’t Orlando’s Only Place to Have Fun

Disney World is a pretty busy place, but did you know that it’s not the only amusement park Orlando has to offer? There are actually quite a few. Being the theme park freak that I am, I do have to talk about Discovery Cove. When visiting Discovery Cove, I was also able to get a pass to SeaWorld, Aquatica, and Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens was where I was able to get in on the amusement park rides. At Discovery Cove, however, the fun was in the relaxation, swimming with the dolphins, checking out exotic birds, hand feeding birds, and floating in the Wind Away River. Anyway, I paid $50 more to get admission to all of the parks, otherwise you can choose one with your admission to Discovery Cove.

You do have to make reservations to go to Discovery Cove. This isn’t one of those things where you can go to the window, buy tickets, and expect to get in. They have room for around 1,000 guests per day. It really is a beautiful place with snorkeling, unlimited snacks, tons of food, a real beach, and everything you need to have a good time. Ticket prices are going to vary based upon the package you choose and what month you are vacationing. Children under two get in for free. You can expect to pay around $300 for an all inclusive day resort package for two adults and any children under two. Of course, the more children over 2 or the more adults, the higher the cost. This is just for Discovery Cove and one other park of your choice. Remember, you can add all three of the other parks for $50 per more per person, which ends up being a $100 savings per person.

If you know anything about SeaWorld, then you know it’s a lot of fun with all of the aquatic life there. You also get to see Killer Whales in action, as well as the many shows that the park offers. There is a lot of food, rides, such as Journey to Atlantis, Wild Arctic Ride, and a lot more. It’s easy to spend an entire day at the park.

When you visit Aquatica, you are visiting another water park, but this is where you get to enjoy a lot of slides and other attractions. It is one of the best water parks I have visited because there is a lot to do. There are also animals to see, such as the black and white Commerson’s Dolphins. There is also a lagoon housing tropical fish and a number of rather whimsical characters. You may encounter a little sensory overload, so what I did when I went was I split Discovery Cove and Aquatica up with Busch Gardens. That way I wasn’t enjoying water park activities too close together.

At Busch Gardens in Tampa, you have it all. You have rides, music, food, shows, and animal attractions. There are also gift shops, which are present at every park you visit as a part of your vacation package, and special events. For the kids, there is the Sesame Street Safari of Fun with water fun, rides made just for the small kids, and characters to have fun with. The kids can have fun at Ernie’s watering hole, fly with Grover, and chill out in Elmo’s tree house.

So as you can see, you go to Discovery Cove and you can have access to an entire world of fun that both adults and kids can enjoy. I covered it all in four days, but would’ve liked to have had a week to do so. At least you can visit a park a day and still have a blast.