Discovery Cove is a beautiful, tropical oasis. The park is well run, and the entire staff is very friendly. Although the park is expensive, it is a good value considering everything that is included (i.e. admission to either Sea World or Busch Gardens or Aquatica, all your food and drinks and parking at Discovery Cove, as well as a free photo of your group when you enter DC).

The park's restaurant is open from 9AM to 3PM, and there are also snack shacks around the park stocked with chips, cookies, hot pretzels, ice cream, beer, soft drinks and coffee.  Since park admission is all-inclusive, food and drinks at the restauraunt and snack shacks are complementary.

You might want to wear pool shoes, but they aren't necessary. It is not uncomfortable to walk anywhere (including in the snorkeling area), in fact, the white powdery sand throughout the park feels wonderful on your feet.

The snorkeling is easy to do once you get the hang of it, and the fish are beautiful. The water in the lazy river is warm and the tropical landscape surrounding it is also beautiful. There are waterfalls and a cave in the lazy river, as well as birds pirched in the trees since the aviary is in the area.

Buy the picture CD that the park sells if members of your group are doing the dolphin swim. Their close up pictures are great quality, and you will not be able to get such a good angle on pictures you take yourself, although you are welcome to take your own videos and pictures.

Also, look for the photographer throughout the park, and ask to have your picture taken. All pictures of your group taken during the day will be included in the CD. There is a photographer in the bird aviary, by the waterfall, and in the sting ray pool. If you go with another family, you can combine the pictures of everyone in your group on one CD. You will be allowed to split the cost of the CD. You can then burn a copy at home to share.

Get there early as the day will fly by.