Disney World is always changing — for better or worse.
When talking about Disney World changes, look no further than what’s happening at EPCOT. After finishing its transformation in June by opening CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, we’ve been waiting to see what’s next for EPCOT. Well, Disney just made some announcements about the park and this time change is coming in the form of subtraction, not addition.
Per Disney World, one manatee and three dolphins are about to be permanently relocated from their The Seas with Nemo & Friends habitats in EPCOT, resulting in a backstage tour experience closing.
Disney World will relocate three male dolphins to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach in late October, effectively ending the EPCOT Seas Adventures — Dolphins in Depth tour, a two-hour backstage tour and dolphin encounter.
In a statement, Disney wrote, “This decision came after a comprehensive evaluation as to what is best for these dolphins as infrastructure work progresses at The Seas.”
Dolphins in Depth will honor reservations through October 19th, 2024, after which it will permanently close.
The manatee habitat will see Lou, the 1,800-pound manatee, be relocated to a manatee rehabilitation center in Florida starting Wednesday, September 11th, 2024.
Unlike the dolphin habitat, the manatee one will continue to exist. Lou will be leaving fellow manatee Lil Joe, but Lil Joe won’t be alone for long. Shortly after Lou’s relocation, a new manatee will join the habitat.
About relocating Lou, Disney World wrote, “While we will greatly miss Lou, we do look forward to aiding this other manatee in the next stage of rehabilitation as we continue to do our part in addressing the manatee crisis in Florida, which has seen declining manatee populations in the past few years.”
Another tour set to close is EPCOT Seas Adventures — DiveQuest, a two-hour backstage tour and SCUBA experience in a 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium featuring coral and aquatic life such as sea turtles, reef fish, stingrays, and sharks.
Set to close alongside Dolphins in Depth on October 19th, DiveQuest’s closure is only temporary. Like Dolphins in Depth, DiveQuest will continue to honor reservations through this date. The experience is set to reopen in 2025, per Disney World.
How do you feel about these animal relocations and the ending of Dolphins in Depth? Let us know and continue to follow us here at AllEars for the latest EPCOT and Disney World news!
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Do you plan on experiencing Dolphins in Depth or DiveQuest before they close? Let us know in the comments!
I was planning to schedule my dive in November. Guess it will need to wait a little longer… Best of luck to Lou!
I wonder why the Divequest is closing. I’ve done it 5 times and it’s one of my favorite scuba diving experiences. I’m not clear on what is changing to cause them to temporarily remove the experience.
Can’t believe they are going to separate Lou & Joe. They’re best buds! Hate this so much.
good luck Lou we have seen you many times for a lot of years wishing him well in his new tank.
do they still get any transmitter Data from Bock who was released into the Ocean many years ago?
I took the Dolphin tour and loved it! Another thing that will be gone.
Disney, you are not doing anything to encourage me to return to your world.