Discovery Cove Celebrates 15 Years of Milestone Moments

This summer, Discovery Cove in Orlando will celebrate 15 years since its grand opening. When the park first opened on July 1, 2000, it was an anomaly in the world of theme parks: a reservation-only experience limited to approximately 1,000 guests per day. At 15 acres, Discovery Cove opened with three signature experiences: guests could swim with dolphins, snorkel with rays and tropical fish, and hand feed exotic birds. But the number of offerings continued to grow.

During the last 15 years, the park has flourished in size, earned prestige worldwide for guest service and proved its commitment to conservation and animal care. Milestones include: 

• In 2013 and 2014, rated the “#1 Amusement Park in the World” by TripAdvisor Travelers;
• Grew to more than 22 acres;
• Expanded to include five signature experiences;
• Opened The Grand Reef, which contains more than 10,000 tropical fish and dozens of rays;
• Added SeaVenture, where guests can experience an underwater guided walking tour; 
• Opened Freshwater Oasis with playful Asian otters and curious marmoset monkeys;
• Witnessed hundreds of significant animal births and hatchings, from dolphins to birds to sharks;
• Pioneered the first C-section on a shark;
• Hosted thousands of marriage proposals, military homecomings, bucket-list wishes, and more; 
• Participated in conservation initiatives such as Rising Tide, which helps protect reef ecosystems;
• And, according to guest research, more than 90 percent of visitors have a greater commitment to conservation following a day at Discovery Cove. 

“Throughout the parks 15-year history, the Discovery Cove team has provided millions of guests the opportunity to connect with and be inspired by amazing animals in an environment like no other in the world,” said Stewart Clark, Discovery Cove vice president. 

To discover more about these milestones, visit DiscoveryCove.com/15-years-of-discovery. Park fans are encouraged to share photos of their favorite memories using #15YearsofDiscovery on Facebook and Instagram. To book a reservation, visit DiscoveryCove.com.

PHOTOS: © 2015 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved.