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SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment review: Terrible Refund Policy 6

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12:57 pm EST
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Discovery Cove in Orlando Florida offers a great tropical getaway for the day where you can swim with dolphins, sun on wonderful beaches, and much more. The only thing they fail to tell you is that they have a VERY STRICT, UNREASONABLE, NO REFUND POLICY and THEY NEVER CLOSE, which is absolutely ridiculous.

My boyfriend and I went in January of 2010 and unfortunately Florida's weather had a very unusual cold snap and the temperatures dropped to a very unfriendly, not tropical atmosphere of between 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit. You would think that this sort of place would have to close during frigid weather, weather that even had some snow flurries, but nope they were open. When contacting them and explaining that we'd like a refund because subjecting people to lay on the beach in frigid weather is ridiculous, the only thing they'd allow us to do was reschedule it for another day. Of course this was an impossible feat to accomplish because the weather remained the same for the week we were there. The only other recourse is to reschedule it they say, and they will only allow you to do so for up to a year of your original purchase. Since both of us are not from Florida, in fact he's from another country, neither of us have any plans on returning to Florida in the near year future.

Currently we are in the process of attempting to speak with someone at discovery cove about this concern but have yet to hear anything back from them despite two separate promises that they would be contacting us via telephone on certain days. Wow, I guess they truly don't care about their customers.

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The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.

6 comments
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randy rudd
, US
Jan 22, 2016 1:40 pm EST

when making a reservation giving my name address tell number, c card info they wanted birth dates and set up a account we will not have axes to internet on are trip any way thinking what the hell, then stopping the order as NO where in are trip did we have to agree to all that just for a reservation, both in are 50's I didn't want then to getting are e mail and all, next morning I get a email from them saying they need more info to compleat my reservation, and there ad popped up on yahoo now they have my C Card info name, address, email even after I decided not to go as they pissed me off, I called they hung up on me saying they need that info, for what to sell,

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Luis Santini
Longwood, US
Apr 26, 2015 2:54 am EDT

On April 25 around 13:30 I went To Discovery Cove Security Gate to get a discharged letter from my former supervisor in order to get back my Discovery Cove Uniforms, The encounter with the "Anglo" security guard was exceptionally rude, unprofessional and discriminatory. Apparently, he though, I was trying to sneak in with my two days expired I.D. He is a "white" Caucasian male 6'1" tall and blue eyes security guard who is not following the Sea World Security Guard Training where respect to all races and consideration to all persons is one of the topics to learn at the training.
Is a Shame that Sea World hire this kind of KKK mentality employees who only look at you as inferiors just because you are a minority, in my case as Hispanic. Is a shame that Discovery Cove hires this kind of ###ed ###s, for a position of power who deteriorate the image of Sea World and Discovery Cove. So if you are planning to visit this park, and you are Hispanic, Black or other minority group, be ready to encounter with this security guard who believe he is a superior Viking God with a High School diploma. Sea World and Discovery Cove Shame on you!

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Kelleyj
South Portland, US
Jul 23, 2013 8:01 pm EDT

My husband and I went to the trainer for the day, what a rip off and a disappointment. It all went wrong, from the disorganization, to the 2nd dolphin interaction being put off till it was literally 5 minutes long because of issues they were having, Then there was some kind of bio hazard situaion were they had to get everyone out of the water over in lagoon..ugh we traveled down from the north east and literally had one day, we were supposed to hear from guest relations never heard a word back...we spent almost a thousand dollars for a day...joke was on us...never again

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anonymous complaint discovery cove
Woodbury, US
Jun 22, 2011 10:16 pm EDT

I adopted my little girl and planned what would be every little girls dream birthday, a day swimming with the dolphins at Discovery Cove. The weather was cold, raining and we had a horrible experience. They offered for us to come back within the year. I just booked our flights and was in a bad road bike accident and broke my pelvic bone in three spots, fractured my hip and knee. My dad offered to fly her out to Orlando and take her in my place. Can you believe they are making him pay full price and it is peek season. They will not transfer my ticket, even with the letter from my orthopedic surgeon stating I can not travel. I worked with them on the weather which was out of their control can you believe that they will not work with me on my accident which was out of my control. Discovery Cove is into making money not memories for kids.

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Sambolee
, US
Feb 10, 2011 6:53 pm EST

My family & I are planned our Disney Dream vacation for months & I was so excited to book our "swim with the dolphins" experience @ Sea World. I booked 9/10 for tomorrow 9/11. Unfortunately my husband & I came down with serious upper respiratory infections for which the Dr. Prescribed Levaquin & advised us to cancel our swim Due to the inclement weather & temps in the 60's. I immediately contacted Sea World & spoke to Ginger who basically told me I could only get a refund if I had something serious like a heart attack! I was also told that I could give the tickets to someone else (very generous of them) or I could use them within a year's time. This is also a problem since we are leaving in 1 more day & I live in NJ & don't have the luxury of being able to come on these expensive Disney vacations
on a yearly basis! I asked to speak with a manager, Keisha, & she was of no help either - just repeated everything the first customer rep. Told me. I feel this is a disgrace! We worked hard to save for this vacation & Sea World literally screwed us out of $400! Of course it's a win-win situation for them - they're making money no matter what! How would the corporate big shots of Sea World feel if they were being taken advantage of in a similar situation at some other attraction? Do you think they would stand for it? At least have an insurance option of some sort so people with legitimate reasons for canceling aren't losing money when it could be put to use for everyday living! Obviously Sea World has no concern or compassion for their guests which will cost them in the end because I will certainly never deal with them again & plan to spread the word to everyone I possibly can! Sea World corporate big wigs are running a great scam!

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markymark261
Fleetwood, GB
Mar 03, 2010 2:22 pm EST
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Being the boyfriend in question, I'd just like to update things and mention that I finally did get a full refund from Discovery Cove, thank to their Guest Relations people. I'd also like to clarify that there was only one occasion when they promised to contact me by phone and then failed to, and they did later apologise for that.