Discover this fantastic underwater experience
Most of us don’t have the luxury of exploring the vast oceans of the world, deciding instead to forgo that degree in oceanography to major in something safe like accounting. But what if there was a way you could discover your inner scientist at the most magical place on earth.
This is exactly what Epcot Sea Adventures- Aqua Tour offers.
Disney brings you into their underwater world, providing an experience that traditionally could only take place at the best diving destinations around the world. Now you only have to head to Epcot, sign up for the tour, and let castmembers take you behind the scenes at The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion.
This two and half hour tour will take you backstage and see how Disney keeps this massive 5.7 million gallon aquarium active and growing. You’ll get to see the inner workings of the tanks and meet the dedicated people who care and maintain the creatures in these waters. On top of it all, you will suit up and spend 30 minutes in the water. Visiting with your friends in the undersea world.
Better than a day at the beach
Disney provides you with everything you will need for the tour, including beverages, wetsuits, and snorkel gear. Be punctual and let the cast members lead you on the behind-the-scenes and undersea tour.
You’ll start in a classroom learning the history and science of the artificial reef, and from there, explore the labs and backstage areas. The only downside of the tour is they don’t allow pictures behind the curtains. So while you’ll get a once-in-a-lifetime excursion, your only souvenir is the photo they take as you enter the water.
What you may not expect from the experience is this is a world that you are visiting. Disney asks you not to interact with any of the creatures, even if they take an interest in you. So just let the animals nudge and feel you out.
You are a curiosity to the animals. So they approach you with interest. But quickly dart the other way once their curiosity has been met.
This was the hardest thing to do, especially when a four-foot-long sea turtle decided he would play a game of tag with me. He must have known I couldn’t tag him back as he kept swatting me with his flipper. But, it was all in good fun, and you never feel like you are in any danger, even from the small sharks in the tank.
Another surprise is the park guest walking through the pavilion can see you. You may be as big a hit as some of the fish in the water. Kids would come up to the windows, waving wildly at us as we swam through the area.
All too quickly, it was over, and the tour leaders asked us to come back to the ramp. Leaving our little slice of Disney dreams behind. Afterward, they provide showers and towels for you to get cleaned up and return to the day in the park.
Conclusion
The tour is one of the most fun and rewarding offerings at Epcot. Where else can you feel like a marine biologist, seeing so many species of underwater life in one location? But we shouldn’t be surprised it is Disney, after all, the one place where if you can dream it, you can do it.
What you should know before you go
Matt Inman is a columnist for Boardwalk Times
