EPCOT's Manatee and Dolphins Set for Relocation as Part of Animal Welfare Efforts and Infrastructure Upgrades

Sep 10, 2024 in "The Seas with Nemo and Friends (Pavilion)"

Posted: Tuesday September 10, 2024 11:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World announced Tuesday that one manatee and three dolphins currently residing in EPCOT's The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion will soon be relocated.

Marquee wave effect at Nemo and Friends pavilion

According to the Orlando Sentinel, this move is part of ongoing efforts to support animal rehabilitation and accommodate infrastructure work at the popular attraction.

Disney said Lou, the manatee, will be transferred to another rehabilitation center on Wednesday. Lou has been a part of the pavilion's manatee exhibit, which focuses on the rehabilitation of these vulnerable marine animals. Following Lou's departure, another manatee will join Lil Joe, the remaining manatee at The Seas, to provide companionship as part of the attraction's continued support for the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership.

The relocation is part of a coordinated effort involving several facilities across Florida, with recommendations from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services and the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership.

The Seas With Nemo and Friends Pavilion at EPCOT

In addition to Lou's relocation, the three male dolphins currently residing at The Seas will be moved to Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach in late October. Disney explained that this decision followed a thorough evaluation, with the best interests of the dolphins in mind as infrastructure work at The Seas progresses.

While these changes are underway, some of the pavilion's popular offerings will also be affected. EPCOT's "Dolphins in Depth," a two-hour behind-the-scenes tour, and the DiveQuest experience, which allows certified divers to explore the pavilion's 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium, will continue until October 19. DiveQuest is expected to return in 2025, after the completion of the infrastructure work.

Dolphins in Depth

Guests will still be able to enjoy other elements of The Seas pavilion, including its aquarium, home to a variety of marine life such as sharks, sea turtles, and clownfish, as well as the family-friendly "Finding Nemo" dark ride and the interactive "Turtle Talk with Crush" attraction.

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DCBakerMar 20, 2025

Mermaid has arrived and Disney shared this update: Weighing in at approximately 525 pounds, Mermaid was rescued north of Tampa from the Homosassa River in February after needing critical care. Through Disney’s collaboration with the =AZXevPdo3PLagCb2iHf4k3j7jYaMHFi1Sg4mvu4tl-VPwepOxVQJ2C4wPqCEALqt7anH9REAoq_V_adHagSh8KEYOvV9kdHMDI5ixV1Ko1f9QowUo0mBu0PGpjY20K9igU1iK6jvv3r8L0UFpjEwshazDvAhFjtZjw_w8FkLAxBIf1Rp68biPzgUIrS8dPyQghE&__tn__=-]K-R']Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, our skilled animal care team is working to help her regain strength and weight. This partnership and the care Mermaid will receive at The Seas is the next stop on her journey as she prepares for her eventual return to the wild. As a leader in wildlife conservation, we are honored and look forward to aiding Mermaid, and other manatees in the next stage of rehabilitation, as we continue to do our part in addressing the manatee crisis in Florida. [/I]

JohnDFeb 10, 2025

Because of short term, either manatees will overlap and guests will always see at least one manatee on exhibit as they arrive or are transported elsewhere when their rehabilitation ends. Or they may be between periods of having additional manatees and the exhibit will be temporarily closed awaiting the next set. It is what it is.

MothFeb 10, 2025

I mean, five manatees is better than two....

wdwmagicFeb 10, 2025

EPCOT's Manatee Exhibit Reopens with New Residents and a Focus on Rehabilitation https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/the-seas-with-nemo-and-friends/news/10feb2025-epcots-manatee-exhibit-reopens-with-new-residents-and-a-focus-on-rehabilitation.htm

DCBakerFeb 08, 2025

4 manatees have recently arrived for rehabilitation - Cider, Mino, Aberdeen and one currently unnamed. Cider and Mino are the manatees on-stage. The Cast Member we spoke with today said a fifth, named Mermaid, is expected to arrive soon. https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54314697844_9eae5ff91a_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54314938470_d729a8fb5e_k.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54314756638_9ff7bd040c_k.jpg

nickysJan 21, 2025

Except that Rafiki’s Planet Watch is the public facing area of the park’s Veterinary centre. And for as long as there are animals at AK, that needs to remain. Of course they can repurpose the petting zoo and the area between the rest of the park and RPW. But they can’t bulldoze the whole thing.

nickysJan 21, 2025

Epcot World Showcase? From a stroller, of course. 😉

cjkeatingJan 19, 2025

If zoos can exist with entry prices a quarter of DAK and with attendance of hundreds of thousands I don't foresee how Disney can't deal with the cost of animal upkeep.

hismattjestyJan 19, 2025

Disney's Adventure Kingdom? (This is only in jest, but I put nothing past Bob anymore......)

celluloidJan 19, 2025

Neither are injured wild ones. That was the point.

Mr. SullivanJan 18, 2025

Quite a significant difference yes. Oceanic creatures can travel thousands of miles in their lifetimes. They move constantly. This is why a lot of marine animals, especially the exceptionally intelligent ones, tend to get very restless when in captivity. They’re smart enough to recognize they’re enclosed. Your dog or cat thinks of it as a chore to move from the living room to the bedroom.

Tha RealestJan 18, 2025

That, and the competition has gotten a lot better. Back in the mid to late 90’s I don’t recall there being as many world class zoos around. Now? The theming and wildlife variability in many mid to large size city zoos is quite impressive.

Fido ChuckwagonJan 18, 2025

What? No. It’s a domesticated animal. Poodles are not adapted to survive in the wild.

CliffJan 18, 2025

It's not a bad idea. There are probably a few more things Burbank could do to get operations costs down at The Seas. Maybe they could turn off the "Nemo" shell dark-ride part and just make it a back-door, walk-in attraction only. Shutting off the moving ride and not having to maintain those show mechanics could save a few dollars at the end of the year and you won't need to staff that anymore either. That could maybe get a dozen people off their books too and of course cut down on the power bill too. Getting the dolphins and manatees out probably means they can cut down on constant veterinarian staff too. Having just fish to maintain probably requires minimal, less skilled staff for simple scheduled feeding. If a manatee or dolphin dies, it's a huge PR scandal and the state would investigate. Too much liability. Were those dolphins insured? If a jack, tarpon, shark or ray dies, nobody cares or even notices. Maybe water filtering, PH balance checks can be outsourced to a once a week checkup? Also, anything paid to contractors or to a 3rd party company is an added tax write-off too. So, that's a good thing for Burbank.