7 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About The Seas with Nemo & Friends #MonkeyKingdomEvent. Post sponsored by Disney. All swimmingly fun opinions are my own
7 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Thought you knew everything about The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot? Well, I’ll give you a hint. It’s more than a ride and a turtle talking to you! As a part of my amazing Monkey Kingdom Event, we got a chance to chat with Disney staff and go behind the scenes at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. So get in the “Disney Know” with these 7 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About the Seas with Nemo & Friends that I recently learned about the real “stars” at The Seas.
It’s bigger than you think
Back when “The Living Seas” opened in 1986, it was the biggest salt water aquarium in the U.S. Today, The Seas with Nemo & Friends is the 2nd largest after the Georgia aquarium. The Main Tank holds over 5.7 million gallons of water. Spaceship Earth can fit inside this area! That means your dolphin friends have plenty of room to swim, train and interact with you!
How many friends call The Seas home?
Over 6,000. A tank that big can hold a lot of friends! There’s in fact over 60 species including turtles, dolphins, sharks, rays and 1200 salt water fish!
Fish Feeding is Serious Business
One of the most popular attractions at The Seas with Nemo & Friends is getting to watch the fish feedings that occur twice a day. While guests may enjoy all of the fun of watching the divers hand feed twice a day, the fish feeding process actually occurs much earlier. Fish feeding begins at 6 am. That’s right! Way before the park even opens, Disney staff are already preparing the meticulous diets for their animal friends, with some animals having more picky diets than others. For example the Spotted Eagle Rays get whole clams, but there are a few rays in the tank that need special shell-free clams to munch on. The divers know EXACTLY who gets what food items.
Why the Sharks don’t eat the fish in their tank
Ever wonder why the sharks in the tank don’t eat their fellow fish? That’s because the sharks get their own special feeding. In the middle of every night, in total darkness through The Seas, one single spotlight will shine down into the tank. This signals the sharks to come over for their hefty meal of salmon and mackerel…much bigger and tastier than their fellow tank-mates!
Dolphin Research
Be sure to check out the daily Epcot schedule to see when the Dolphin Research training occurs. This was such a fun experience to watch! The dolphins get special training everyday to respond to visuals with a series of correct sounds. The dolphins move between tank windows to identify and call appropriately. And of course, the Disney guests get a closer view of the 4 dolphins at The Seas.
Fish training too
Dolphins aren’t the only ones getting training around here. The fish are also trained to respond to signals, move to platforms and receive physicals twice a year.
Little Known Attractions
Not known to many, but The Seas with Nemo & Friends have 3 extra attractions available for guests to get even CLOSER to the animals! How close, you ask?
- Epcot DiveQuest – If you are a certified diver, you can experience The Seas in a whole new way! Jump in the tanks with over 6,000 animals, go behind the scenes and enjoy a 3 hour exclusive underwater tour of the famous Epcot attraction.
- Epcot Seas Aqua Tour – Not a certified diver? Well, you can still jump in the massive tanks at The Seas! Snorkel with the fishes at this exclusive underwater tour
- Dolphins in Depth – In love with the dolphins at The Seas? Your 3 hour experience includes a waist-deep interactive session with these amazing creatures and a priceless photo op! Go backstage and learn more about the dolphin training and get splashed by these dolphin residents.
Want to learn more facts about the amazing creatures in our world? Be sure to check out Disneynature Monkey Kingdom, now in theaters! This amazing nature documentary features the monkeys from Sri Lanka and a heroine tale of struggle and triumph. Sprinkled with Disney magic, it’s a movie I know that your family will love!
Have you been following along with my #MonkeyKingdomEvent adventures? Today is the LAST of my Monkey Kingdom journey! Check out where we’ve been from once-in-a-lifetime excursions and fantastic eats!
- Disney’s Wild Africa Trek
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Backstage Tales Tour
- Disney Animal Kingdom’s Wilderness Explorers Guide
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Disney Sanaa Restaurant Review
- Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Best New Gardens for 2015
- Exclusive Interview with Disneynature Ambassador Dr. M. Sanjayan
- Monkey Kingdom Movie Review
I honestly didn’t know all of these amazing facts about the creatures residing at Epcot’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends. And now, I feel so fortunate to have been behind the scenes! I cannot wait to take my family back to Epcot so we can get a closer look at all of the action at The Seas. The feedings, the Dolphin Research and maybe even a snorkel session in the coming years, The Seas with Nemo & Friends definitely has so much more to offer guests than just a clown fish. But I have to admit, I really love that ride too 🙂 Gives a whole new meaning to “just keep swimming.”
What do you love the most about The Seas with Nemo & Friends?
Disclosure ~ I was invited to attend an all-inclusive Disney media event in exchange for this posting. All opinions are my own. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more reviews, giveaways and more.
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
This is one of our favorite rides at Epcot. It’s so cute & we love the starfish.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
Thanks so much for sharing these cool facts! I’ve always wondered how they keep the sharks from eating the other fish. Now I know!
Susanna @Zealous Mom says
Such amazing facts! I bet it has been such a great experience to get the behind-the-scenes scoop. Always so much more going on than one realizes.
Kecia says
I would love to get in on the dolphin watching. They are such smart animals and it’s fascinating to see them interacting with humans.
Jeanine says
How awesome. Dolphins are one of my fave. That would be an absolute dream for me! How amazing!
Pam says
This looks like a lot of fun to see. We love aquariums.
Liz Mays says
I didn’t know that about sharks in tanks. I always love seeing the underwater biodiversity in aquariums.
Catherne S says
This is great information. I always wondered why the sharks never ate the other fish.
Candy o. says
Wow I had no idea about the special shark feedings. They are such smart animals.
Camesha says
Good to know about the sharks. My kids always wanna know why they don’t eat the other fish. Now I have an answer!
Cinny says
I don’t remember that being there when I went last time. I’ll have to check it out next time!
Crystal says
Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. Just keep swimming to the fun! I adored the aquarium.
AshleY says
I had no idea there was even an aquarium at Epcot! That is awesome to know for our next visit.
Pam says
What an amazing place. Would love to venture there one day and be able to experience this for myself. I am amazed at how big it is. 5 7 million gallons of water! Wow!
Beth@FrugalFroggie says
I didn’t know how they fed that sharks. I didn’t think about them not eating the other fish in the tank.
ora lee gurr says
That is awesome to find out why the sharks don’t eat the fish in the tank. I always wondered, but dreaded hearing an explanation about having to replace the fish on a daily basis. Now I’m armed with knowledge so the next time I visit a huge aquarium like this I can ask if the shark-feeding process is the same as Disney’s.
Marina John says
These are awesome facts! Especially the one about sharks eating. I had no clue!
Rosey says
Wow, that’s a lot of different things in the tank, you’re right. Fun facts too, and I’m glad to hear the sharks aren’t overly greedy. Who knew? 😉
Ronni says
I’m so hoping to be able to take the kiddo here next summer! I’ve heard such amazing things!