EPCOT Seas Adventures-Dolphins in Depth Review
A friend had a chance to do the Dolphins in Depth Enchanting Extra recently, so I invited her to share her experience. Thanks Debra!
A Disney World vacation is always magical, even when it’s just a visit to a park to enjoy the rides, watch a parade or show, or see/meet your favorite Disney characters. For guests who want to add a unique experience, Disney also offers many Enchanting Extras. These include a variety of behind-the-scenes tours, recreational activities like golfing or horseback riding, special cooking or dining experiences, and personal care appointments like haircuts or spa treatments.
For guests who crave an opportunity to experience an up-close animal encounter, Disney offers both Rhino and Elephant experiences at Animal Kingdom. For an aquatic adventure, head to EPCOT for their Dolphins in Depth experience.
Spaceship Earth (the ball) is the centerpiece of EPCOT, where the experience takes place.
EPCOT Dolphins in Depth
On a recent Disney visit, I was lucky enough to get a spot for the Dolphins in Depth experience. If you’re considering whether this activity might be right for you, continue reading to learn more.
Preliminaries
On our scheduled day, we were told to meet at the EPCOT main entrance near Guest Relations no later than 10:15 (scheduled start time for our event was 10:30). There is a designated waiting area, and a cast member met us at the entrance to begin our experience. Before heading into EPCOT, each participant (or parent) had to sign a waiver and hear the basic rules about staying with the group and not taking any photos of the behind-the-scenes areas.
The group was escorted through the doorway of a tall walled area, which led us to a driveway behind the Seas Adventures building. We spent a few minutes outside learning about the equipment used to filter all the water for the massive aquarium.
Click here for some fun facts about the aquarium and other parts of Disney World.
Dolphins in Depth Preshow
Upon entering the Seas building, we waited in a small lobby with a few benches and a TV. The cast members showed us photos and provided descriptions of the three dolphins we would have the chance to meet. We learned about their ages, backgrounds, personalities and physical characteristics. After this brief intro, it was time to change into wetsuits and water shoes provided by Disney.
The next stop included a brief visit to the aquarium food prep area. The food for all aquarium animals is prepared on site, and we had a chance to see charts indicating the types and quantity of food prepared for each species every day.
A manatee in The Seas Aquarium
EPCOT Dolphin Training
We then moved to our next stop where we finally saw all three dolphins up close! There is a small training and animal care area where the dolphins can participate in voluntary training five days per week.
We had the opportunity to watch a live cognitive bias test. One specific dolphin was invited for testing while the other two were released into the larger area for free time. In this specific test, the dolphin was shown a target object. After a brief pause, he was given two choices, one that matched the target, and one that didn’t. The trainers were tracking how often the dolphin selected the matching object.
The session included 15 trials, and it was fascinating to see the process of the team working together. A computer provided a randomized sequence of tests; one trainer manipulated the objects behind a curtain to present to the dolphin on a specific time schedule; and a second trainer documented all results. We were encouraged to cheer and applaud when the dolphin gave a correct response. I thought it was a fascinating experience, but my husband got bored after seeing a couple iterations of the same process. Maybe his attention span is shorter than the dolphin’s!
Interacting with the EPCOT Dolphins
Now, on to the big event – getting into the water with our new friends! Before going to the designated dolphin area, we were able to see the whole aquarium from the very top, and several different animal species swam by as we waited. We saw a ray named Eliza swim by several times. In the future, if she’s ever joined by Angelica (and Peggy!), you can thank me for suggesting those names to the cast member. That’s just a perfect opportunity they can’t pass up.
The Aquarium at EPCOT. Perhaps that’s one of the Schuyler sisters on the ocean floor.
At this point, two trainers joined our group, and we were divided into two groups of four people, with one trainer per group. We stepped off the concrete walkway into a shallow area of water that had a gentle slope. After some additional safety guidelines, we waded into the water until we were waist deep. The trainer used a whistle to call a dolphin to us and showed us features of their anatomy.
We were allowed to pet the dolphin, and we had pictures taken. The trainers rotated different dolphins to us and showed us several examples of behaviors the dolphins had learned. I had heard that the in-water time was approximately 30 minutes, and it felt like we had more time than I thought we’d have. I didn’t feel rushed, and I didn’t leave wishing that we had had more time. The cast members encouraged us to ask questions throughout the entire experience, and they were all friendly and knowledgeable.
End of the Experience
After saying goodbye to our friends, we headed back to change out of the wetsuits. The locker rooms were equipped with showers, changing areas, towels, toiletries and hair dryers. After a few brief closing remarks, we were escorted out of EPCOT. The entire process, start to finish, lasted around 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Is the Dolphins in Depth Worth It?
Is the experience worth it? To me, absolutely. I’m a huge animal lover, especially ones that are so smart and friendly. I also really appreciate opportunities for unique, special experiences. The small group size and high level of interaction was a really nice feature. It was also fascinating to see some of the behind-the-scenes areas that make the magic happen at EPCOT.
I’d be willing to participate again if my schedule ever worked out, but my husband said he’d probably pass if another opportunity arose. I think for most people, going once is a worthwhile investment for an animal encounter of this type.
Things to Know about the Dolphins in Depth Experience
Now for some logistics: Guests for this experience must be at least 48 inches in height, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. SCUBA certification is not required for this encounter, but you will get wet. You’ll need a swimsuit and a change of clothes.
This special ticketed event does not require an admission ticket into EPCOT, so it can be added on any day that your schedule will allow without having to pay for entry specifically to EPCOT. The Dolphins in Depth experience is offered five times per week, and each session is limited to no more than 8 guests. As such, it’s a hard ticket to get. I booked my experience two months in advance. I just happened to look at the schedule at the right time and saw that space was available on the date I wanted to go.
If you’d like to book this experience and have some flexibility during your Disney vacation, I’d recommend that you start looking at the schedule starting 60 days before the first day of your vacation if you’re staying onsite, or 30 days in advance if you’re staying offsite.
Log into My Disney Experience app or website every day and look at the furthest-possible week on the Dolphins schedule to see if any spots are available. Keep checking each day, and grab a reservation if you see a date that could work for you. If you can get the Dolphins experience booked, then you can build the rest of your vacation schedule around this reservation. Since it starts at 10:30 and ends before 1:00, you still have plenty of time in the afternoon and evening for other activities. It’ll be a magical addition to your vacation if you’re able to get a spot.
Conclusion and Further Reading
Thanks to Debra for her recounting of such a unique and exclusive experience. If you want to know more about Enchanting Extras, check out these articles.
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