Discovery Cove’s Best Kept Secret

As I mentioned in my previous post, I truly believe Discovery Cove to be the best kept secret in Orlando.  However, within the walls of Discovery Cove there lies another well kept Orlando secret.  Imagine a place in which exotic birds and wildlife are so tame, they will literally eat from your hand.  This is exactly what you will experience at Discovery Coves jungle aviary.

As you wait for your dolphin encounter, make sure you allocate a portion of your day to exploring the three aviaries of Discovery Cove.  The aviary, spanning both land and water, is home to over 200 exotic birds representing 30 different species from all over the world that you can mingle with, touch, and feed.  As you enter the aviary there are trainers who provide you with various types of bird food and will happily answer any questions you may have about the wildlife that lives within the aviary.  Most of the birds have been hand-raised by these trainers and are so tame that they have no problem eating right out of your hand!  So, as you walk through the three aviaries of Discovery Cove be prepared for birds to unexpectedly land on your hands, arms, shoulders (and sometimes even your head)! 

As I pointed out above, the trainers will provide you with food as you enter the aviary with the specific type of food they give you determining which birds you will attract.  You can pick from grain pellets, fruit, or meal worms depending on what species you are interesting in seeing up close and personal.  If you are in to bird watching and want to test out your skills, make sure to pick up a laminated chart that identifies all the species in the aviary when you first walk in.

There is no time limit while visiting the aviary, so go slow and be sure to take in all that Discovery Cove’s three aviaries have to offer!  Discovery Cove was conveniently located only minutes from my Orlando vacation rental at Windsor Hills Resort and offered free, complimentary parking for all its guests. 

Jordan

Aquatica: SeaWorld’s Newest Water Park

On Friday, February 8, 2008, Aquatica (SeaWorld’s brand new water park), opened its doors to members of the Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCCVB) and I was lucky enough to get an early glimpse of this one-of-a-kind water park.

I would classify myself as a seasoned water park enthusiast, having been to Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon countless times.  Because I am the General Manager of Global Resort Homes, I am fortunate enough that Disney allows me to visit each park (water parks included), free of charge, one time every year.  I have yet to visit Wet-n-Wild; however my children’s opinion is that it is not nearly as nice as Disney’s water parks, being smaller and not as clean.  They concluded that Wet-n-Wild was geared more towards an older crowd, looking for more intense and extreme rides.

My first impression of Aquatica was an overwhelming WOW!!  I love SeaWorld and would rank it as my favorite park in Orlando and one of the coolest things about Aquatica is that it has the SeaWorld feel.  Aquatica is painted in all the beautiful and tropical colors that SeaWorld is known for and you can’t help but feel like you are in the tropics with the festive calypso music in the background.

One of my initial observations was that Aquatica is huge.  Not the, “Oh my gosh we are going to have to walk for miles huge,” but the huge were there is something for all ages and for all tastes.  You can float down a river through an undersea world of colorful fish or tube slide in an enclosed tunnel through a lagoon filled with black and white Commerson dolphins.  You may be wondering, what is a Commerson dolphin?  If you are like me you have never heard, let alone seen, such a creature.  Commerson Dolphins are black and white, similar in color to that of Shamu, and absolutely stunning.  Remember, Aquatica is a part of SeaWorld and as such is abound with birds, fish, exotic animals, and plant life.

I also noticed that the park has extreme rides for those looking for an adrenaline rush in addition to white sandy beaches for those looking to relax, catch a snooze or soak in some Florida Sunshine.  Additionally, there are ample areas of spouts and play areas for guests with small children.  Aquatica also has a dual wave pool where you can choose to ride the huge waves or bob along serenely.  I did not have the chance to indulge in any food or beverages during my visit but am certain the refreshments will be outstanding – don’t forget that Aquatica/SeaWorld is owned by Anheuser Bush!

Aquatica opens to the public March 1st.  They will have some soft openings beforehand for SeaWorld employees and their friends/families.  Ticket prices are $38.95 for adults and $32.95 for children ages 3-9.  I received two free tickets at the OCCVB event so I will definitely be one of the first to enjoy the newest of water parks in the Orlando/Kissimmee area.  I’ll follow up with another review, but my initial impression is, DON’T miss out on visiting Aquatica during your next Orlando, Florida family vacation!

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