Discovery Cove

The Write-Up

The full story

Discovery Cove is the calm splurge on I-Drive: a reservation-only day resort where attendance is capped and the water stays clear. Guests drift the lazy river, snorkel the Grand Reef with stingrays gliding past, and take the dolphin swim, with meals and drinks included along the way. Families who return call it a getaway from the major theme parks. The one sting guests name is the dolphin-swim photo packages, priced steeply on top of admission.

What People Are Saying

The word from guests

Real words from people who have been, gathered from public reviews. Discovery Cove holds 4.7 on Google across 14,859 reviews.

District Story

The story of International Drive

A hotel in the boondocks, a road paved after it and named to sound big and important, and the corridor that taught Orlando how to be a vacation.

Read the International Drive story →

Similar Feel

More places with this feel

Matched by vibe, not by neighborhood: the places across Greater Orlando closest in spirit to Discovery Cove.

Villatel Orlando Resort

Hotels · International Drive · $$$

On Del Verde Way off I-Drive, villas for big groups sleep four to nine bedrooms, each with its own pool, plus Aqua Bay water park on site.

5120 Del Verde Way, Orlando, FL 32819

Hilton Orlando

Hotels · International Drive · $$$

A convention hotel with a resort hiding inside it, linked to the South Concourse by its own pedestrian bridge.

6001 Destination Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32819

CoCo Key Water Park

Attractions · International Drive · $

A low-key hotel water park on International Drive that sells day passes, so no resort stay is needed.

7400 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819

B&B HOTEL Orlando International Drive

Hotels · International Drive · $$

On International Drive, the European budget formula stateside: newly renovated, spacious rooms, breakfast buffet, pool and free lobby popcorn.

6323 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819

Universal's Islands of Adventure

Parks & outdoors · Universal · $$$$

Eight themed islands ring the lagoon here, and guests keep calling the coaster lineup the strongest in Orlando.

Universal's Islands of Adventure, 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819

Aquatica Orlando

Attractions · International Drive · $$$

At SeaWorld's water park, the Dolphin Plunge clear tube passes Commerson's dolphins, and Roa's Rapids runs faster than a lazy river should.

5800 Water Play Way, Orlando, FL 32821

Keep Going

More in International Drive

Other places in International Drive, Local Picks first, then the closest to Discovery Cove.

Tom's Watch Bar Local Pick

Bars & lounges · Bar · $$

On International Drive, a sports bar built like a stadium, with an oversized screen and screens wrapping the room so every seat faces the action.

8050 International Dr, Suite 1000, Orlando, FL 32819

Baires Grill Local Pick

Latin & Caribbean · Argentinian Steakhouse · $$

The parrilla decides everything at this Argentine steakhouse just off International Drive.

8050 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819

Expedition Odyssey: Fire & Ice

Attractions · $$$$

SeaWorld's Arctic flying theater lifts riders over polar landscapes filmed in Iceland, with real animals rather than rendered ones.

SeaWorld Orlando, 7007 SeaWorld Dr, Orlando, FL 32821

SeaWorld Howl-O-Scream

Attractions · $$

Howl-O-Scream takes over SeaWorld after dark as a separate-ticket Halloween event, all fog, scare zones, haunted houses and coasters in the dark.

7007 SeaWorld Dr, Orlando, FL 32821

SeaWorld Orlando

Attractions · Theme Park · $$$$

A working marine park with serious coasters, from Mako and Pipeline to Penguin Trek, plus orca presentations and a shark tunnel.

7007 SeaWorld Dr, Orlando, FL 32821

Aquatica Orlando

Attractions · Water Park · $$$

At SeaWorld's water park, the Dolphin Plunge clear tube passes Commerson's dolphins, and Roa's Rapids runs faster than a lazy river should.

5800 Water Play Way, Orlando, FL 32821