Disney4me Posted September 10, 2024 Report Share Posted September 10, 2024 Some pretty significant changes are coming to EPCOT. EPCOT EPCOT is fresh off its transformation that resulted in CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, but it appears that the Disney World park isn’t done. Disney announced some big changes coming to EPCOT’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends Pavilion and, unfortunately, the news might be disappointing to some. Within the next few weeks, one manatee and three dolphins are about to be PERMANENTLY moved out of their The Seas with Nemo & Friends habitats in EPCOT. Manatee feeding time Lou the 1,800-pound manatee is scheduled to be permanently relocated to a manatee rehabilitation center in Florida starting Wednesday, September 11th, 2024. Manatee Lil Joe, the other habitat’s resident, won’t be alone very long, though, as another manatee is set to replace Lou in the habitat soon after the relocation. Manatee However, the biggest change is coming to the dolphin habitat. Disney World announced that it is relocating three dolphins to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach at some point in late October. This move will effectively end the EPCOT Seas Adventures — Dolphins in Depth tour. ©Disney Disney World addressed both decisions in a statement, writing, “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.” Per the statement, this change reflects other manatee moves being done around Florida that were recommended by the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services. Manatee As for the decision to relocate the three male dolphins and close Dolphins in Depth, 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 is a two-hour backstage tour and dolphin encounter and will end on October 19th, 2024. Additionally, EPCOT Seas Adventures — DiveQuest, a two-hour backstage tour and SCUBA experience in a 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium full of all kinds of aquatic life like sea turtles, reef fish, stingrays, and sharks, will also close on October 19th. However, unlike Dolphins in Depth, Disney says DiveQuest will reopen in 2025. Reservations for both experiences will still be valid through October 19th. ©Disney We have to admit, although we understand the changes, we’re a bit bummed. Let us know how you feel about these changes and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disney World news! We May Have Found an Unfortunate Side Effect of the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival… Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Have you ever done the Dolphins in Depth or DiveQuest experiences? Let us know in the comments!The post NEWS: Permanent Closure Announced for Backstage Tour in EPCOT first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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