There’s about to be a sea change on the Residing Seas pavilion at EPCOT, as Walt Disney World is embarking upon infrastructure work and is reevaluating its roster of mammals within the 5.7 million gallon aquarium. This put up covers the animals that’ll be completely relocated, together with the ensuing suspension and finish of sure excursions of the Seas with Nemo & Mates, plus our commentary.
One manatee and three dolphins quickly can be shifting out of their EPCOT aquarium habitat, Walt Disney World introduced. That is coming on account of suggestions by aquatic animal organizations, in addition to state and federal companies. Disney signifies the adjustments are attributable to infrastructure work, but in addition that Walt Disney World is making adjustments that require “cautious thought, prioritizing the wellbeing of those delicate marine mammals.”
With this in thoughts, Walt Disney World is working with consultants and making adjustments beneficial by the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Providers (USFWS) that may lead to fan-favorite manatee Lou, a longtime resident of the Residing Seas pavilion, to be relocated to a different Florida-based rehabilitation heart.
In keeping with Walt Disney World, Lou will transfer to a brand new dwelling on September 11, 2024 as a part of a statewide manatee initiative beneficial by the MRP and USFWS. These are the statewide companies in command of managing the rehabilitation and conservation of manatees all through Florida, and that is a part of statewide adjustments which can be within the works for manatees.
Quickly after Lou’s relocation, one other manatee will come to EPCOT as a companion to Lil Joe, the remaining manatee within the Residing Seas pavilion. “Whereas we’ll drastically miss Lou, we do stay up for aiding this different manatee within the subsequent stage of rehabilitation as we proceed to do our half in addressing the manatee disaster in Florida, which has seen declining manatee populations previously few years,” Walt Disney World stated in a press release.
The extra vital change is that EPCOT’s trio of male dolphins can be relocated to the Gulfarium Marine Journey Park in Fort Walton Seashore, Florida in late October 2024. Not like the manatees, there aren’t any substitute dolphins en path to EPCOT.
Dolphins have been a part of the Residing Seas pavilion since its debut in 1986, so this can be a large change. Walt Disney World has additionally indicated that there aren’t any plans to reintroduce dolphins to EPCOT at a later date. Briefly, which means that dolphins will not reside at EPCOT.
“This determination got here after a complete analysis as to what’s greatest for these dolphins as infrastructure work progresses at The Seas,” stated Walt Disney World in a press release.
The three dolphins can be completely relocated to the Gulfarium Marine Journey Park in Florida which is accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks & Aquariums and the Worldwide Marine Animals Coach’s Affiliation. Gulfarium opened its multimillion greenback Dolphin Oasis earlier this yr, and provides dolphin encounters and a reside present.
With this reevaluation of the aquatic life current within the Residing Seas pavilion and infrastructure work of unknown nature occurring to the aquarium, there are of course impacts to the particular excursions supplied of the services.
Walt Disney World will proceed to honor reservations for company with previously-booked Dolphins in Depth and DiveQuest experiences via October 19, 2024. DiveQuest will return someday in 2025, probably after the infrastructure work is accomplished. The Dolphins in Depth tour won’t return, on condition that there gained’t be dolphins.
Though there are adjustments on the horizon for the Residing Seas Pavilion at EPCOT, the aquatic animals will proceed to be the main focus of the crew. Forged Members affected by the strikes of marine mammals will proceed to do vital work with different sea life. EPCOT will proceed to be dwelling to marine species, together with sharks, sea turtles, jellyfish, angelfish, eagle rays, clownfish, and extra.
Turning to commentary, let’s begin by dispelling any misconceptions that this can be a matter of price range cuts or penny-pinching on the a part of Walt Disney World. Although we’re getting near the tip of the fiscal yr and begin of the subsequent when precisely that sort of factor begins occurring, that isn’t what that is. The dolphins, clever as they’re, in all probability haven’t demanded raises (except you depend will increase to the variety of fish they’re fed every day, by which case, these requests are in all probability common).
In all probability, this has extra to do with evolving expectations and societal perceptions of cetaceans in captivity. This has been controversial for a minimum of just a few years now, and I’m actually shocked that Walt Disney World didn’t really feel pressured to make this transfer earlier than 2024.
For the final a number of years, a gaggle known as the Dolphin Venture has been working a damaging evaluate, letter-writing and petition marketing campaign about “Disney’s Dismal Dolphins” that makes an attempt to deliver in regards to the finish to Walt Disney World’s dolphin program. It’s unclear whether or not that initiative has achieved success, or if Disney–which companions with number of conservation organizations–has acquired exterior recommendation that it’s time to maneuver on. Both method, the result is identical.
One factor I discovered fascinating and downright disturbing is the historical past of dolphins within the Residing Seas pavilion, relationship again to its beginnings in 1985. Right here’s the total historical past of their seize and deaths of the unique dolphins for individuals who are curious. As somebody who has cherished this pavilion since I used to be a small baby, that was robust to learn. (I’d prefer to assume that: 1) it was a distinct period; 2) the positives from the variety of youngsters who had been impressed to get into conservation, marine biology, and so forth., outweighs the hurt.)
Nonetheless, this information is a bit of bittersweet. It’s the tip of an period for dolphins within the Residing Seas pavilion. Whilst I had my misgivings about cetaceans in captivity, I’d be mendacity if I didn’t additionally admit that I nonetheless take pleasure in watching the dolphins. Possibly it makes me a hypocrite, however the Residing Seas is a favourite noon escape, excellent as darkish and funky counterprogramming to the sunny and scorching summer season days at Walt Disney World.
Simply a few weeks in the past, I occurred to seek out myself within the Seas pavilion one night because the crowds cleared out. Two of the dolphins had been zooming across the tank, and I swear they had been taking part in conceal and search with each other. It was cute and a decompressing method to spend a little bit of time after consuming method an excessive amount of mac & cheese in CommuniCore Corridor.
Or it was till like the one different social gathering in the whole pavilion began banging on the tank, making an attempt to get the eye of the dolphins. I suppose they felt not noted and wished to play conceal and search with the dolphins? In any case, one of these conduct is all too frequent, and it baffles me that grown adults don’t know higher. (Then once more, I see adults feeding geese nearly each time I’m within the parks, too.) However I digress.
Finally, these are good adjustments on stability for the mammals within the Residing Seas at EPCOT. Nonetheless, there can be a damaging affect to the visitor expertise, as dolphins are the spotlight of the aquarium. Positive, sharks are cool and the rays enjoyable to observe glide round. However dolphins are/had been the draw.
The very best “compromise” I can consider is bringing out Scuba Mickey extra usually. We’ve had the nice fortune of seeing him just a few instances within the final a number of years, as Scuba Mickey Mouse usually makes uncommon appearances on World Oceans Day. I can not even start to inform you how superior that is to see as an old style EPCOT Middle fan. (I assume it’s superior for anybody, although.) The Walt Disney World promotional VHS tapes of my childhood all contained footage of two characters in Future World: Figment and Scuba Mickey.
Between the Boy Meets World proposal at Coral Reef and pictures of Scuba Mickey, the Residing Seas pavilion held a particular place in my coronary heart as a child. (It additionally bodily held manatees, which had been my favourite animal as a child.) Mickey Mouse scuba diving in one of many largest man-made ocean environments on the planet is the sort of unforgettable “little factor” that completely defines (or ought to outline) Walt Disney World.
It’s seemingly insignificant, nevertheless it leaves an enduring impression–an indelible reminiscence that company will cherish lengthy after they’ve forgotten which rides they rode or exhibits they noticed at EPCOT. Briefly, it looks as if swapping a trio of dolphins for one gigantic aquatic mouse is a good commerce. One that may make as many or extra magical moments for company, and with none considerations about animal welfare. Win-win.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you concentrate on the adjustments coming to the Residing Seas pavilion? Unhappy to see dolphins being retired from EPCOT, or do you perceive and agree with the probably rationale for the choice? What do you consider Scuba Mickey as a “commerce” for the three dolphins? Ideas on the DiveQuest or Dolphins in Depth excursions at EPCOT? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
