The Tale of the Grow Walk ….Hunh? DCL Magic and WDW Review

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I wanted to see penguins.

 

 

 

 

 

We got in line for the penguin empire ride. It was something like an hour long wait. I was messaging my friend Brook and she told me it was nice, but not worth that long of a wait. I worried too as time would run out and I had to leave by a certain time to go to Discovery Cove. We ended up getting out and trying to find out if we could just see the penguins without going on the ride. Every TM I asked told me no. That is kind of a bummer. They told me we could skip the ride and go directly in to see the penguins, but we still had to wait in that line.

We just decided we would check back later.

 

 

We found the Sea Lions and watched them for a little bit.

 

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And we were already hungry and I didn’t want to be starving while touring Discovery Cove, so we went in search of lunch.

 

 

The selection in there really wasn’t all that great, but we decided to share chicken. It looked like some decent portions.

 

 

Well it wasn’t. It was mostly crust with very little meat in there at all.

 

 

Claire is a mash potato junky so I basically only got a taste of that as well.

 

We also got the refillable mug for the day. Actually I found they had a better deal for one nearer the front. This one had discounted refills but the other one had better discounts at other spots in the park.

 

As we sat there I did get to see a penguin…..just not the kind I thought I would.

 

 

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While we sat there I called Mom and Dad and they met up with us. They were going to take Claire now. We still had a little bit of time, so we headed into a small aquarium.

 

 

Fish were swimming below our feet.

 

 

And above our heads.

 

 

 

 

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That’s my dad’s hand photobombing the picture.

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn’t a very big aquarium, but it still had some neat things to see.

 

And then I was off to the front to catch the shuttle.

 

 

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I ran into these guys and they just were so funny looking so I had to stop and take some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

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And a walk by the crazy Manta.

 

 

Oh there are the flamingoes again!

 

 

 

 

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Oh…this is Sea World’s 50th Anniversary as well. I found out later there was an app you could download and do sort of a treasure hunt for a prize. I never told this to Claire as I didn’t want to spend the day looking for things. LOL. I did however look for a 50th anniversary magnet and there wasn’t any.

 

 

 

I walked along the side and found the shuttle stop and picked up the phone and told the person who answered that I wanted to go to Discovery Cove. They asked how many and I told them 1 and they said a shuttle was on the way.

 

As I waited I saw a little bus arrive and unload a lady in a wheel chair. She was with her husband and they asked if this is where they catch the shuttle to DC. I told them yes and that I had called but they did ask how many would be going, so perhaps they should call too. So they did.

 

Soon the shuttle arrived and the driver was super nice, but she was working her tail off. She got the lady loaded and we all said DC and then she looked at the couple’s info. They were older and not from the US. And very confused. They did not have DC included in their package. The driver told them they could go to Aquatica or Sea World but not DC. They decided on Aquatica, but they asked a ton of questions. They were nice, but I was now watching my time tick and I didn’t want to be late….good thing I had left a little early.

 

Finally we were on our way, but wouldn’t you know, we had to drop them off first and then me. I ended up arriving to DC right on time without a minute to spare…but at least I made it!

 

 

I arrived and went in and the 2 people I had been corresponding with met right up with me. I was confused at first because the guy had told me that he had a meeting that day and wouldn’t be able to join us. I am not sure they want their names used, so I will call them Lucy and Sam. Sam said he was on his way out but wanted to say hi to me. Lucy was going to be taking me around. They were both super nice and Sam left right away then and we got down to business.

Lucy told me that the entrance is made to have a resort feel to it and it definitely looked like a hotel lobby. She showed me where you check in and that everyone gets a lanyard to wear for the day.

 

 

 

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Everyone is also give a plastic card map and she gave me one as well…which I guess I didn’t scan as I don’t see it in my pictures.

There are a couple of packages you can get, but even with the base all food and drinks, including alcohol are included. You can eat and drink as much as you want. With the base package you get to use most of the facilities and it looks wonderful. You can upgrade to a dolphin swim package as well (with an age limit…..I am thinking it was starting at either 6 or 8 without going to look at my notes). There were also a few other add ons that you could do. The prices vary by time of the year and how busy it is. I think she said the price to come on this particular week was something like 300-400 or more per person. I just remember it being extremely high. It does however include 14 days of Sea World and Aquatica as well, but only one day at DC.

 

We then headed outside.

 

 

This place is beautiful and I did not do justice with my pictures as I was shooting and walking and talking all at the same time.

 

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DC had many little lagoons with swimming and snorkeling and some beach areas as well.

 

 

They also provide wheel chairs if needed.

 

 

The paths were so lush with plant life.

 

 

 

 

Lucy asked where I was from and I told her Ohio. I told her that I went to Sea World Ohio many times when it was there and was sad it had closed. What a small world. She worked at Sea World Ohio for many years and she also went to college in Bowling Green, which is 30 minutes from my home….and home to the National Tractor pulls. (I know that doesn’t sound exciting to you, but my husband tractor pulled for years and this was always the big event of the year).

 

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I can’t remember what these buildings were, but I think it was something like a guest service area.

 

 

 

I had asked what this land had been in the past and she told me just wooded land. Sea World owned it already for years and years and just built on it when they were ready. Evidently Sea World still owns quite a bit of undeveloped land in the area.

 

 

This area was new (there were several newer areas here) and I think it was called marsupial Island.

 

 

You can kind of see the critters in the trees there. I might have gotten a better picture later on.

 

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We never stopped for long as we had a lot of ground to cover.

 

Here is one of the food and beverage areas.

 

 

I am sure you have noticed everyone has on a wet suit. DC provides them for every guest. You cannot bring your own in. You have to wear their’s if you are in the water. If helps them keep track and watch each person in the water for safety measures.

 

 

 

They also provide life jackets for those that need them.

 

 

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And yes, they have wild life here and there.

 

 

 

And they have the coolest Aviary.

 

 

You can go in and feed the birds and they come right to you.

 

 

I thought this was funny….looks like a headless peacock.

 

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Yep! That bird is on her head.

 

 

 

 

There’s his head!

 

 

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For an additional cost they do have cabanas.

 

 

 

 

 

And we passed by the restaurant. This lady was very friendly and eager to tell me about the food they had….which looked pretty darn good. I think they should’ve had me taste some of it. LOL.

 

 

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And they had a gift shop.

 

 

If I am remembering right, you could add a CC to your account and use your lanyard ID card to charge things since it was basically a cashless place.

 

 

 

 

When you check in, you are given a section to report to to get your wetsuit. I believe there are 3 stations to do that and then you will also get a locker in that area. Be sure to remember your section as we had an older couple come up and ask which section they were in as they couldn’t find their locker anymore and it appears that they can’t scan your card to find that info out.

 

 

I was also told they have wet suits for all sizes of people, so not to worry about that either.

 

 

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Snacks!

 

 

 

I believe these people were getting ready for a dolphin swim.

 

 

 

Showers to rinse off with.

 

 

Beach strollers provided as well.

 

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Snorkeling.

 

 

 

 

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I believe here you could watch sharks through the glass.

 

 

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On the other side they had something like snuba going on, but I think they have their own name for it.

 

 

This is also an extra add on for an additional cost.

 

 

 

 

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We were constantly on the move and I just kept snapping pictures when I could.

 

 

I think this was inside one of the cabanas.

 

 

 

A dolphin swim going on.

 

 

 

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A walk through the gift shop.

 

 

 

They take pictures of the dolphin swim and the Sea Venture as well (that is what they call the snuba thing I believe).

 

 

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Sadly my tour was coming to an end.

 

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I talked with Lucy a bit and she had called for the shuttle to come and pick me back up.

 

 

 

 

I think I was there just over an hour. The place is fabulous. I learned so much about it too. And if I had not already had plans for the rest of the week I would’ve booked a day there in a heartbeat. It is just like a little piece of paradise there.

I said goodbye to Lucy and got on the shuttle back to Sea World.

 

 

Back at Sea World I messaged my mom to let her know I was back….silence.

 

 

I just started walking randomly nowhere till I heard back from her.

 

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I took this picture for my friend Cass as she hates turkey legs.

 

 

 

Mom finally messaged me back that they were at the Blue Horizon show. I know a lot of people love this show, but I saw it once and it’s just not my thing. I think mainly because I thought it was a dolphin and whale show, but they had a lot of swimmers and acrobats in it and being it wasn’t what I expected I just didn’t care for it. I thought the story was strange too.

I found a spot outside one of the exits and sat and waited.

 

 

And waited and waited and waited. I saw the place clear out and I texted mom who didn’t answer. Finally she responded that they were over by the turtles. Ok, why didn’t they look for me when they exited…or at least text me. So I pulled out my trusty map and headed towards the turtles.

I had to pass the dolphins on my way over.