Why Orlando���s Discovery Cove Tops The List For Best Theme Parks In America

Aerial view of the lazy river at The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek.

After taking an action-packed, three-day family trip to Orlando last year that was filled with plenty of fun but not much downtime, this year I craved a vacation that let me try new activities with my son, 11, and daughter, 10, while also leaving plenty of unscheduled time for family bonding. And frankly after a winter spent in Upstate New York where lows hit -10 degrees Fahrenheit and snow fall added up to 110 inches, simply laying on a lounge chair and feeling the sun on our faces sounded like pure bliss. Here is the three-day itinerary for our family vacation to the Sunshine State that combines adventure at Orlando’s Discovery Cove with time to chill.

What To Do: Animal Adventures At Discovery Cove

There���s a reason why a recent travel study found that Orlando���s Discovery Cove is rated number one in the top 10 amusement parks in America (beating out Disney World), and also tops the list for ���Best Animal Encounter in Florida��� by Newsweek Readers��� Choice Awards. It offers animal lovers up-close encounters (think: swimming with dolphins and hand feeding colorful macaws) without the big crowds in a tropical oasis that connects guests with nature. Celebrating its 25th-year anniversary in July 2025, Discovery Cove is Florida���s only all-inclusive day resort.

Swimming with Dot the dolphin at Discovery Cove.

After arriving in Orlando late on a Sunday night, we woke up early the next morning to make the most of our marine animal adventure. Reservations are required at Discovery Cove as the park limits the amount of visitors so it doesn���t get overly crowded.

The day I spent at Discovery Cove with my two pre-teens will forever go down as one of my most favorite vacation memories. Being close to incredible wildlife in a peaceful nature setting without needing to think about logistics, such as where to eat or what to pack (apart from our bathing suits), allowed me to focus solely on having fun with the kids. 

Our package included a private cabana stocked with towels, snacks, and a cooler with drinks. We even had our own personal concierge, a twenty-something man named Ethan who was originally from the Midwest. Ethan good naturedly answered my kids��� endless questions about the sharks, the birds, and, of course, the ice cream options. Ethan not only showed us the ropes, but was incredibly kind and patient, reminding me that it���s the people you meet along the way as well as the places that you visit that makes travel truly special.

Our cabana at Discovery Cove with Ethan.

Unlike many amusement parks where you spend the day lugging around a backpack filled with essentials or need to download an app to schedule a time to ride a ride, visiting Discovery Cove felt virtually effortless. You don���t have to worry about bringing any food or drinks because this all-inclusive has all meals, snacks, and drinks covered. Breakfast at the onsite Laguna Grill starts at 7:30 am so you can fuel up early before the adventure starts (the water activities don���t open until 9 am). You don���t need to bring sunscreen because the resort supplies animal-safe sunscreen for all its guests. Wetsuits, towels, lockers, snorkel gear, and flotation devices are also provided.

What I loved most about visiting Discovery Cove with my kids is that it is such a sensory experience: The park kept them offline and immersed in nature with hands-on learning. One of my son���s favorite animals is a sloth, and the three of us got to learn about and get close to Luey the sloth with a private 30-minute tour known as an Animal Trek. Ethan led us off the public pathways to meet our ���animal ambassador,��� a two-toed sloth, in the lush forest. My kids peppered the accompanying animal expert with questions (Question: ���Can you cut a sloth���s nails?��� Answer: ���No, that���s how they climb and hang from trees.���). We were lucky enough to pet Luey while he was awake (sloths sleep between 15 and 20 hours a day).��

Hanging with Luey the two-toed sloth at Discovery Cove.

We spent the rest of the day floating underneath waterfalls in the Wind-Away River; looking for otters in the Freshwater Oasis; getting cups of food to feed the rainbow-colored, free flying birds in the Explorer���s Aviary; and snorkeling among thousands of tropical fish and rays in The Grand Reef. We even did the SeaVenture, an underwater walking tour where you wear a dive helmet. My kids said it felt like being an astronaut, but instead of walking on another planet you���re walking along a coral reef while tropical fish and majestic rays swim right past your face.

Getting up close to Dot during the dolphin swim. Dot gives me a kiss at Discovery Cove. Checking off a bucket list item: ride on a dolphin.

However, the experience we can���t stop talking about is our swim with a dolphin, and so I highly recommend upgrading to the Signature Dolphin Swim Package. We gathered in the crystal-clear lagoon with animal care experts to learn about the bottle-nosed dolphins who live there, such as how they communicate and work together to catch food. The star of the day was Dot, a spirited and playful dolphin who was born at Orlando���s SeaWorld and came to Discovery Cove in 2006. Dot was quite the performer, breaking through the water���s surface to do flips in the air and giving her audience kisses on the cheek. Each person in our group waited their turn to hold on to Dot���s fin as she pulled us closer to shore.��

Discovery Cove; 6000 Discovery Cove Way, Orlando, FL, US, 32821; (877) 557-7404

Where To Stay: The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek

I left the next two days of our trip wide open, thinking we might grab last-minute tickets to Disney���s Animal Kingdom or Universal Studios. We stayed at The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek, just a few minutes away from Disney World���s theme parks (we were so close we could even see the nightly fireworks show at Walt Disney World from our hotel room). We stayed in a lake view room with two queen beds that was great for the three of��us, and they also have family bunk bed rooms that come with either two queen beds or one king bed and a separate bunk bed area.��

Aerial view of the Oasis Pool at the The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek.

Though the resort was conveniently located close to Orlando���s biggest attractions, the resort is a destination in itself. Overlooking a 10-acre lake filled with koi fish, turtles, and ducks, we began our second morning walking the half-mile path around the lake. The kids loved seeing a family of baby ducks, and nicknamed one adult duck ���Einstein��� due to white feathers sticking out haphazardly on his head. They even spotted a heron at the lake���s edge.

The main lobby has a place called The Barista to grab breakfast sandwiches and coffee to go. We opted for the buffet breakfast at Tesoro Cove (about $29 for adults, $17 for kids with an 18% gratuity automatically added). The staff was very friendly, asking us about our stay and walking us through our food options. The buffet includes an omelet station along with other breakfast staples such as fruit, pancakes, and oatmeal; a pastry basket with muffins, croissants and more; and bottomless beverages such as assorted juices, teas, and sodas.��

The rest of the day was spent pool hopping in the five swimming pools (our favorite is the main Oasis Pool), grabbing tubes to float in the two lazy rivers, and soaking in one of the eight  hot tubs. My kids made friends with other kids who were vacationing at the resort, tossing around a ball in the pool and having splash contests. 

The walking path around the lake at the The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek.

My kids had so much fun that we repeated our morning nature walk around the lake and epic pool day on our third and final day. We didn���t make it to the onsite mini golf course or the Blue Harmony Spa. The only time we broke from the water activities was to check out the nearby Orlando Premium Outlets to pick up on a few items for summer as the kids��� had outgrown much of their clothes from the summer before.��

Outdoor seating at the Bay Back Bar & Grill.

For our last night, we ate al fresco overlooking the lake at the newly-renovated Back Bay Bar & Grill (the other onsite option is the more upscale Deep Blu Seafood & Grill). Guests can also order food and drinks from Back Back Bar & Grill poolside. For picky eaters, it has a standard kids��� menu with staples such as chicken tenders and hot dogs. There are shareable plates, such as Bay Back jumbo wings or chips and fire-roasted salsa, salad options such as a Buddha bowl, and handhelds such as the Bay Back fish sandwich.

Some vacations are for adventure, and some are for relaxing. This vacation turned out to be a blissful combination of both. We returned to Upstate New York with some serious tan lines that we hoped wouldn���t quickly fade, and memories of animal adventures and pool fun that will stick with us long after our trip is over.

The Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek; 14651 Chelonia Pkwy, Orlando, FL 3282; Reservations: (407) 390-2300

What To Pack For Orlando When You���re Bringing Only A Carry-On

I like to say one of my secret talents is being able to travel anywhere in the world with only a carry-on bag, and I���m trying to pass on this skill to my kids. It���s much easier to get through airports when each of us has only one bag to keep track of. Now that my kids hit their ���double digit��� birthdays as they like to say, I give them the task of creating their own packing lists.

I���ll share my 10-year old daughter���s Orlando packing list below for inspiration (I explained to her why the body pillow didn’t fit our mission of carry-on only:). 

4 short sleeve shirts1 pair pants4 shorts/skirts1 sweater3 pajamas2 swimsuits2 sundressescover blankettravel pillowunderwearsocksjewelrymoneyIpad and Gizmo watchchargersart booksmarkerssnackswater bottlevitaminstoothbrush/toothpasteskincare/makeupbody pillowbook(s)

For my Orlando carry-on, here are a few essentials I love:

Bathing Suit: Quince���s Italian Plunge One-Piece Swimsuit; $49.50

I���ve hardly returned any of the items I���ve ordered from the affordable luxury brand Quince, despite their generous 365-day return policy. This bathing is a keeper: Its plunging neckline is on the sexy side but the style is also suitable for kid-friendly theme parks. I love that it���s made with recycled fibers and has UPF 50.

Bathing Suit Cover Up: Carve Design���s Cody Sun Dress ; $78

Carve Design’s Cody Sun Dress is a cute bathing suit coverup that also has UPF, and a jean jacket is easy for layering.

Carve Design is a women-owned beach apparel company and 95% of its line is made from recycled, upcycled, or organic materials. The Cody Sun Dress in Navy is super comfortable and mixes lightweight fabric with spandex for a flattering fit. It has drawstrings at the sides so you can adjust the length, and UPF 50+ for extra sun protection.

Light Jacket for Layering: Lee Women’s Rider Jacket ; $128

Layers are a must for plane rides that blast AC and cooler nights and mornings before things heat up. This classic jean jacket from LEE is really versatile to wear with shorts or dresses, and is easy to pack.

Sundresses: Body By Miracle Suit Maxi Shaping Dress; $228

I always throw a few sundresses in my suitcase when visiting tropical locations because they don���t take up much space and make it simple to dress up for dinner. The Body By Miracle Suit Maxi Shaping Dress has a built-in shelf bra, a side slit for easy movement, and body-sculpting fabric���which makes it a little hard to pull on so you might want to go one size up.

Jewelry: Jane Win���s JOY Swallow JW Small Pendant Coin; $198

I never travel with a lot of jewelry, but I typically wear one necklace that can add some shine to a casual outfit or a little sparkle to a sundress. I also love jewelry that has a special meaning. I chose the swallow pendant from Jane Win because the product description read, ���In many cultures, the swallow represents hope, love, and transformation – all of which we see through the gift of motherhood. This coin pendant is a touchstone to celebrate mothers of all shapes and forms, and the hope, love, and growth that they bring into our lives.��� 

Foundation: Doll 10���s Peptide Bounce Balm; $44

I love makeup but don���t like to pack a lot in my carryon, so I travel with products that multitask. This foundation offers enough coverage to also act as a concealer and comes in a compact with a mirror for applying on the go. (Note if you have fine lines around your eyes like me, it���s best to apply with a light touch so it doesn���t settle in your lines). It also doubles as a skincare product because it���s packed with skin-nourishing ingredients such as peptides, reishi mushroom, vitamins C & E, and aloe extract.

Eye Makeup Kit: Rinna Beauty���s Better Naked Iconic Eye Kit; $35

To save time packing I keep this all-in-one eye makeup kit in my carryon along with foundation and lipstick. It comes in universally flattering colors and includes a latte-colored blendable eye crayon, black mascara, a two-sided applicator brush, and a compact with a mirror that has four different eye shadows, including a matte nude, a metallic coral, a matte chocolate, and a light mocha.

Sunscreen: VitaSea Kids Play Day Mineral Sunscreen Stick; $14.50

Since it���s not a liquid, you can throw this VitaSea sunscreen in your carryon bag and it comes in a travel size. It���s also super easy for kids to apply themselves. The formula is chemical free and packed with skin-nourishing ingredients such as cocoa seed butter, sea kelp and vitamin E.�� ��

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