The Nursery is currently under renovation, or at least it was at the beginning of June. No idea how major or minor those renovations are but it was closed.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Epcot The Seas at EPCOT News
- Thread starter birdsandbats
- Start date
Apparently, it appears that a lot of moving of the parks marine mammals are going to take place in the next month or two. For context, on this upcoming Wednesday, one of aquarium’s rescued manatees (1.0) Lou will be moving to another rehabilitation center. With an additional manatee moving in afterward as a companion for (1.0) Little Joe, who is staying at Epcot.
Additionally, all three of the park’s Bottlenose Dolphins are going to relocated to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in late October; which Disney claims to be the best option for each dolphin. Simply putting it, the park is phasing out their dolphins, seemingly for good.
Additionally, all three of the park’s Bottlenose Dolphins are going to relocated to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in late October; which Disney claims to be the best option for each dolphin. Simply putting it, the park is phasing out their dolphins, seemingly for good.
biggest_dreamer
Well-Known Member
The dolphins weren't on exhibit either time I've been within the past few years, so hopefully they'll be able to move in literally anything else and not have such a massive empty tank taking up so much of the aquarium.
The dolphins were very easy to see when I was there in 2022, I thought it was an excellent exhibit.
@Neil chace I, personally, have to disagree. While I appreciated the dolphins having a relatively deep pool compared to most dolphin exhibits. But we must remember that this trio had nearly lived their entire days at Epcot without direct sunlight. Yes, while it will feel strange at first once the dolphins depart; for once, I agree with Disney’s decision to move them to a place where they can better access said sunlight in an outdoor setting.
Persephone
Well-Known Member
I’m surprised they didn’t quietly do this years ago. Felt like too much of a potential PR liability for whatever money they made off of them.
Is there a reason you are mentioning me in this post?
As a matter of fact I agree with your overall assessment of this exhibit, but for different reasons. Indoors vs. outdoors isn't what bugs me (although it is a little odd for Florida), but having a rather small and essentially barren tank without many habitat furnishings or complexity does. Not a very enriching or stimulating environment for the dolphins! I'll be very curious to see what Epcot does with the Seas pavilion now, and I agree with @Persephone that this phase out should've happened years ago.
It’s just, at first, your opinion on the dolphin tank being “excellent” made me think otherwise. But besides that, it appears that we now seem to be on the same opinion on this subject matter, right?
I was the one who said that.
King of Komodo Dragons
Well-Known Member
always a shame to lose a cetacean holder...
My apologies @birdsandbats, if I am taking this topic out of hand; it’s best that we end it off here.
[Edit] the current profile pictures between you and Neil are often confusing for me to tell who’s who; so again for the misunderstanding.
[Edit] the current profile pictures between you and Neil are often confusing for me to tell who’s who; so again for the misunderstanding.
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flatstingray
Member
It is particularly sad to loose an institution with the ability (funding and creativeness) to provide a top notch habitat for their dolphins and push foward cetacean husbandry. Aside Disney and Sea World, how many institutions could realistically envision and afford a Blue World Project type habitat.
Apologies if our profile pictures are causing confusion. I just changed mine in hopes that it prevents a confusion like this again.
Persephone
Well-Known Member
A Blue World equivalent was never in the cards. That would require Disney to actively draw attention to their dolphins rather than passively profiting from them, mostly beneath the attention of animal rights activists. Second, I don’t think Disney has made a new animal exhibit since Animal Kingdom Lodge opened. There also isn’t really a good IP tie-in for a major dolphin exhibit. It’s hard to see modern Disney approving tens of millions of dollars for a project that has nothing to do with one of their characters (or Walt, but I repeat myself).
The Living Seas was originally made to compete with SeaWorld. Today SeaWorld’s corporation is imploding behind the scenes and actively distancing themselves from cetacean programs. If Disney is at all concerned about United Parks they might be able to win by doing absolutely nothing. They also are, or really should be, far more concerned with battling Universal for guests than trying to stamp out second-tier attractions like they were in the 80s and 90s.
I’m happy they’re keeping the manatee program going and curious what they replace the dolphins with. Do they just bring down the divider and expand the rest of the aquarium? Maybe try for a very odd pinniped exhibit focused on depth rather than land areas? Some kind of a tie-in with whatever animals end up featuring prominently in Moana 2? I would bet on just expanding the main aquarium. Not sure what else actually makes sense there.
Meh, losing dolphins here is going to be a pretty nothing move in terms of visitors, honestly, I doubt most visitors to Epoct even know there are/were dolphins in there. That pavilion has always been less crowded than the rest of the park, in my experiences there. Although my last visit was a couple of years ago....but I am scheduled to go back this weekend.
Here's a short article about Disney moving the dolphins:
Disney World removing all three dolphins from Epcot attraction
Disney World removing all three dolphins from Epcot attraction
To give you all an update on Lou’s whereabouts. I came across a recent article by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, which seems to give away the location of Lou’s new home. In short, Lou was transferred to the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida; and is being introduced to their resident manatee (1.0) Buffet as a companion for the latter.
Mary
Well-Known Member
I visited in June and saw all three dolphins. They have free choice between the back and front areas. It seems they frequently chose the back based on comments I have read like these.
On September 22nd, it was reported that the theme park acquired a (1.0) Florida manatee named Inigo which is now on exhibit.
New Manatee Joins Lil Joe at The Seas in EPCOT - WDW News Today
As confirmed in the respective news thread by Kaleb, the park’s dolphins officially moved to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on October 29th; thus, marking the end of displaying dolphins at Epcot.
Now that all of these transfers have been made, I was glad to have brought up these changes when I did; even if there was a bit of initial confusion during the first announcement.
Now that all of these transfers have been made, I was glad to have brought up these changes when I did; even if there was a bit of initial confusion during the first announcement.
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