Meet the dolphins of The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion during the Dolphins in Depth Tour and learn about their complex undersea behavior. During this 3.5 hour experience, you’ll talk to the expert trainers and researchers who work with bottle nose dolphins every day and gain a better understanding of these amazing creatures of the sea that you will get up close and personal with.
The program begins outside the Guest Relations booth in the front of Epcot, so admission to the park is not necessarily required. After check-in, guests are escorted “behind the scenes” where they can view the extensive filtration system that circulates all the contents of the 5.7 million gallon aquarium in 2 hours. It’s pretty impressive!
Guests are then led up to two holding tanks at the top of the aquarium and are provided wetsuits and water socks. You must however bring your own bathing suit to be worn under the wetsuit. This is where you will meet your new aquatic friends. There is only one tour per day and the maximum number of guests for each day is 8 divided up into 2 groups – each with a dolphin and a trainer. It’s very nice to have 3 or 4 people in a group per dolphin because there is a lot more hands-on interactions with them. Guests are given some common sense ground rules like do not put your hand inside the dolphin’s mouth, do not touch towards their eyes, do not touch too far down their bellies, etc.
Trainers will teach you different commands for circling, waving, whistling, jumping, and the amazing stretch across the pool raised up on their tails Then, you get the opportunity to squat down in the water and the 500-lb. dolphin is placed in your arms for photo ops.
You will get wet – most likely splashed – however, you do not need to swim or be SCUBA-certified to take part in this experience. After the program, you are given a Dolphins in Depth t-shirt and a video taped of your experience. All of the proceeds that you pay for your experience go to a Marine Wildlife Conservation Fund.
Know Before You Go
View important information including experience details, Guest restrictions and amenities provided:
Dolphins are highly intelligent animals whose interaction with Guests is voluntary; they are never forced to participate. Fortunately, dolphins are also extremely social and generally friendly, so while interaction isn’t guaranteed, it is likely
Please note that this is a wading encounter where the dolphins are brought to you in waist-deep water. You will not actually be swimming with the dolphins at any time
Guests must be 13 years of age or older. All participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a paying adult (18 years of age or older). For safety reasons, Guests must be able to fully understand English
A bathing suit is required to enter the water. Locker rooms with free lockable lockers, towels, shampoo and hair dryers will be provided. Shorty wetsuits will be provided in men’s sizes XS to 5X and women’s XS to 5X
No cameras, video equipment or cell phones may be used while backstage. Photography is allowed and encouraged in non-backstage areas
Unfortunately, no observers are allowed backstage. Also, no jewelry of any kind is permitted in the aquarium
Please check in at Guest Relations outside the Epcot Main Entrance 15 minutes prior to your experience. You will forfeit the entire price of your tour if you no-show or cancel within 2 days of your reservation
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