Other than a daily bike ride, I rarely go beyond my patio. I hide like the Queen of Cowards from Covid-19. Yet I ventured to Discovery Cove for two reasons: 1. The boutique water park is inherently on the safe side since it’s almost exclusively outdoors and uncrowded—and germ-killing, monitored and regularly filtered saltwater abounds in swim areas, and 2. Discovery Cove takes strong Covid-safe measures.
Staffers wipe down every item in every cabana between visits, even any bags of chips in the snack box.
There’s a No. 3, and that’s an opportunity. I was invited to test out the park’s safety measures with a day of dolphin play, lazy river lallygagging and napping on a hammock in n a private cabana. The point was for me to experience Discovery Cove’s newly amped up safeness then write about it.
Conclusion: Go. From the parking lot on, the whole Orlando complex is set up to keep you coronavirus-free. #orlandohonestly
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—Before You Enter
I arrived at 7:30 a.m. and was directed away from the front door to a hidden part of the parking lot. There, I rubbed sanitizer into my hands, then entered a tent to have my temperature taken. If the thermometer says 100.4°F or higher twice, guests are sent away and invited to return another time.
Those hand-sanitizer dispensers were everywhere. During my visit, I found hand-sanitizer stations throughout the park. Like, wherever you wanted one. Discovery Cove has more sanitizer stations than I’ve seen in hospitals.
Before going near the Discovery Cove entrance, you’ll be directed to a back area to sanitize your hands and have your temperature checked.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—Checking In
The last time I was at Discovery Cove–just this past November—the entry room was packed with people waiting to check in. This time, well-marked circles outside the entrance showed where each group should stand outdoors to be 6 feet apart from others. The interior section was empty except for employees, the few guests currently signing in, and a manned bag-search table.
Every employee wore a mask, and not just in this large air-conditioned space. I never saw an unmasked employee indoors or out during my stay.
Dispensers are seemingly everywhere throughout the park.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—Contactless Payment
If you want to buy a logoed towel, a plush dolphin doll or a fruity cocktail, you can hook up your credit card to your badge during check-in. Then you can pay without having to hand over your cash or credit card. Apps including Apple Pay and Google Pay are other contact-free options. Once you’ve settled your retail bill, you’ll bag or wrap your purchase yourself.
Instead of waiting inside to check in, guests stand 6 feet apart on the outside walkway until it’s their turn.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—The Cabanas
Discovery Cove’s cabanas are so private and so nice that honestly I could hang out in one all day. They have chairs, loungers, snacks, an overhead fan, a cooler filled with drinks plus a hammock. Now, all those items are wiped down or replaced daily, even the Rice Krispies Treats and cans of Sprite, the bottle of animal-safe suntan lotion and the trash can. The hammock is sprayed with a disinfectant. So are all high-touch park areas including lockers and locker keys. THere’s a lot of shpritzing going on.
Yep, the lush cabanas are that private. #lifeisgood in Discovery Cove cabanas.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—The Restaurant
At the restaurant, Laguna Grill, servers always plated most foods and handed them to guests. Now, masked and gloved, those servers stand behind a Plexiglas shield, the food close to them but not to diners. When foods are pre-portioned, like a cup of fruit, the employee slides it to you. Coffee and orange juice are pre-poured into covered disposable cups; you can grab what you want. In the past, both were self-serve. As you leave the serving area, you’re handed a plastic-wrapped package of eating utensils. Menus are disposable, and grab-and-go meals are an option.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—The Employees
I got a peek behind the scenes. As it turns out, employees now check into and out of work using a Bluetooth sensor on their phones. Markers tell them where to stand when arriving from the parking lot. And arrows point the way around their lockers, to keep foot traffic from bunching up.
Restaurant greetings. Employees are masked and tables are spread apart.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—Spreading People Out
Discovery Cove is all-inclusive, which in part means that your breakfast, lunch and snacks are included. To make sure 50 people don’t bunch up on the lunch line at once, guests are now asked to choose a time slot in advance for the midday. Select noon, for example, and you can get in line from 12pm sharp to 12:59pm—so you still have flexibility. And it’s not like anyone’s going to toss you head first into the Grand Reef if you show up for your quinoa salad or grilled churrasco steak at 11:45 or 2:15. But the reservations are aimed at keeping you away from everyone else.
In the park areas filled with lounge chairs, the seats are clumped into small groups, away from other small groups. Same with the restaurant: The outside tables are spread apart. Also, park capacity has changed. Now the maximum is about half what it used to be.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—Lazy River
Discovery Cove’s lazy river, Wind-Away River, was a pretty place to float around aimlessly on an oblong so-called noodle. The noodles are gone, since they were shared. Now you’re given a sanitized life vest or wet suit, and you float around in that. My cabana concierge said the vests are actually safer as floating devices. But, the noodles will be back on September 4, now sanitized after every use like the rest.
Wind-Away River starts just beyond these chaises. Notice how the seats are broken into groups.
This is a pre-Covid picture of the lazy river, from November 2019.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—the Dolphin Experience
Swimming with a dolphin is the big deal of a day at Discovery Cove. The park schedules the experience for small groups, as it always did. Together, each group learns about dolphins and watches nifty tricks. Since this is still a group activity, the park gives each person is given a waterproof mask in case folks get too close to one another. Also, guests stand with their own families or friends, away from other people. The entire experience is now held in shallow water.
Discovery Cove Takes Strong Covid-Safe Measures—the Rest
I had to cut my visit short before experiencing all of Discovery Cove’s Covid-safe measures, so here’s the rest, from literature:
· Face coverings—Everyone 2 and up has to wear a mask at the entrance, in the shopping areas and in the restaurant. You don’t need masks when you’re in any of the beautiful water areas for floating, splashing or snorkeling—only for the dolphin swim. Oh, and the masks can’t be printed with anything nasty or provocative.
· Employee training—In addition to common actions like making employees stay home if they feel sick, Discovery Cove puts all staffers through Covid-19-specific training so they know exactly what is and isn’t OK.
Lounging in the clear cool water. (Again, back in November 2019, which is why the lifeguard isn’t wearing a mask.)
· Animal interactions—Most animal experiences that involve guest interaction are the same as they were pre-Covid, although guests are asked to wear masks in the aviary.
· Animal safety—Discovery Cove does whatever the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Veterinary Medical Association recommend to keep its water and land creatures safe from Covid-19. It’s also doing preventive health screenings more often, just in case a problem arises. Employees who work with felines and primates wear extra personal protective equipment as an extra precaution.
· Flexible booking—Recognizing that it’s harder to commit to a day-long expensive experience right now than it usually is, Discovery Cove has gone lenient-ish. You can rebook without a penalty fee up to 48 hours before your reservation, choosing any new date through year-end 2021. Give 30 days notice or more and you can cancel with a 100 percent refund. Contact 407-513-4600 or DCO-GuestRelations@discoverycove.com to make arrangements if you booked directly.
A random picture from my November 2019 visit
· Experiences—Clean, clean, clean. If you want to do the SeaVenture where you walk underwater, the ray feeding, the snorkeling, etc., you can stroll in knowing that the helmets are sanitized after every use. (See SeaVenture photos from my November 2019 visit below. What an amazing experience.) Snorkels are single-use, so you’ll be the only one to use it.
· Discounts—Through September 13, 2020, Discovery Cove is 20 percent off for everyone, and you can buy tickets valid through the end of 2021. Florida residents also receive a free drink package. Current deals are here.
Even with the discounts, Discovery Cove is a splurge, for sure. Still, if you can cope with the masks in certain locations, you’ll get to enjoy the park when it’s less crowded than usual. That’s a big perk, even though the place never feels congested.
So go swim with a dolphin. If you have the means, upgrade to a cabana. Spend a whole day putting our current world nuttiness out of your mind.