SeaWorld Orlando or Discovery Cove: Which One Is for You?
4 min read
Short answer: SeaWorld is the park for rides, shows and a full theme-park day. Discovery Cove is a different kind of day: a limited-capacity resort where you swim and snorkel. Most families will want SeaWorld; choose Discovery Cove when the animal encounter is the point of the trip.
What each one is
The SeaWorld Orlando admission ticket is sold from €79.56 per person. Its listing describes world-class roller coasters, marine life exhibits and animal presentations, with multi-day or multi-park upgrades for Busch Gardens, Aquatica and more.
The Discovery Cove admission ticket is sold from €164.59 per person. Its listing describes an all-inclusive day with tropical lagoons, snorkelling and animal encounters in a limited-capacity setting, with dolphin swim upgrades and additional park admission as options.
Where they are
Both lie in the same part of Orlando. Discovery Cove’s directions page puts its entrance on Central Florida Parkway: leave I-4 at exit 71, the SeaWorld exit, and it is on the right, past the sign for SeaWorld Orlando. SeaWorld’s FAQ gives its address as 7007 Sea World Drive. You can plan a day at each on separate days without moving hotel.
What is in the Discovery Cove day
Discovery Cove’s pricing page says the day includes breakfast, lunch, unlimited snacks, non-alcoholic drinks and select beer and wine, plus lockers, towels, wetsuits, snorkel gear and parking at Discovery Cove. On the booking page, the 30-minute Signature Dolphin Swim and 14 days of admission to SeaWorld, Aquatica and Busch Gardens are included only in the packages that list them, and transport from your hotel is not included.
For the dolphin swim, Discovery Cove’s FAQ sets the limits: children must be at least 6 years old and 42 inches (about 107 cm) tall, and children aged 6 to 12 must be accompanied by a paying adult who also takes part in the swim. Other programmes have their own limits, so read the one you want before you plan around a child. The booking page lists children under 6 as not suitable, while Discovery Cove’s own FAQ welcomes guests of all ages and lets children aged 2 and under in free; if you are travelling with a young child, ask before you book.
Who should choose what
Pick SeaWorld if you want rides and shows, if you are visiting with a group of mixed ages, or if you want a conventional park day. Pick Discovery Cove if you want a calmer day in the water and the animal encounter is what you came for. If you are choosing theme parks for the whole trip, our guides to Walt Disney World tickets and Universal Orlando help you place SeaWorld among the others.
Our recommendation
| Ticket | Price | Rating | What the listing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeaWorld Orlando admission | €79.56 | 4.2 (2,263) | Coasters, marine life exhibits, animal presentations; multi-day and multi-park upgrades |
| Discovery Cove admission and additional parks | €164.59 | 4.6 (1,068) | All-inclusive day, lagoons, snorkelling, limited capacity; dolphin swim upgrades |
For most visitors: SeaWorld Orlando. It is the more reviewed of the two and suits a wider range of ages. Discovery Cove is the better answer if you already know you want the swim.
