Alternative route to Sea Base Alpha (Living Sea)

[LisaR]

Okay, I am big time claustrophobic. I have never done the Living Sea before. My husband always takes the kids and he agrees the elevators would freak me out. I read that you can ask a CM about an alternative route. Is that true? Has anyone ever done this? What is the alternative route? Thanks!

Lisa

 

[Chuck S]

The alternate route is probably just a doorway you walk through, since the "elevators" are NOT elevators, they are small rooms with a shaker floor to simulate an elevator, there is no actual vertical movement.

 

[Goofyish]

Originally posted by Chuck S
The alternate route is probably just a doorway you walk through, since the "elevators" are NOT elevators, they are small rooms with a shaker floor to simulate an elevator, there is no actual vertical movement.

You mean you don't actually go under water??

 

[safetymom]

No it is just make believe. Very realistic but watch the walls while you are in the elevator.

 

[Princess Steph]

Last year we were traveling with a one year old, so the CM told us we could just go right in to the Sea Base part. It was a door across the room from the elevators. So just turn around when everyone else is going to the elevators, there will probably be a CM there. Have fun!

 

[SueM in MN]

You do need to be aware though that since going "down" to Seabase Alpha involves an elevator, going back "up" to the surface involves one too.
I know you can bypass the elevator going "down" as others mentioned. I'm not positive how you bypass it going back "up".
Explain your situation to a CM before going in and make sure you will be able to bypass it going back "up" also.

 

[safetymom]

There is another door that leads outside. A CM can show you what to do.

 

[2Disneybuggs]

We couldn;t figure out if the elevators were real or not. Im clausterphobic too, I had my mister fan going right in my face during the "ride" down. Then we had to ride it back up to land!

I was going to avod Living Seas this year but now I know to ask about the door. Thanks!!

 

[webmomom]

After reading this I rememberd something that was told to us on a tour.

Seems some lady rode the elevators in Sea Base Alpha and then sued Disney. She stated they did not not explain to her that they would be going down under water and she got the bends from going down to deep. Actually I think it is really great that Disney can make it seem so real.

 

[LisaR]

Thanks everyone. It looks like there will be an easy way for me to aviod the whole elevator thing!

Lisa

 

[Goofyish]

Originally posted by safetymom
No it is just make believe. Very realistic but watch the walls while you are in the elevator.

Get away - you'll be telling me next that Mickey is not real!

 

[SueM in MN]

Since the cat is already out of the bag (or should I say, the Mouse is already out?), I have read that the\ Hydrolators are real, fully functioning elevators, but they only go up and down 2 inches. The 2 inch change in height helps with the illusion when you are starting and stopping and also allows them to have room to make the other motions of the Hydrolators possible.
One time when we were at Seabase Alpha, the Hydrolators to get out must not have been working because the front and rear elevator doors were standing wide open. It really affected the whole Seabase illussion to walk right outside after being down at the bottom of the sea.

Originally posted by Goofyish
Get away - you'll be telling me next that Mickey is not real!

I'm sorry to tell you this, Goofyish, but the real Mickey is way too busy sometimes to be all over the parks. Some of those Mickeys are other giant size mice just dressed up as "Mickey's Helpers". But they are so good at it, that even he sometimes doesn't know who is real.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

That was funny about the woman who wanted to sue Disney because she went down too deep in the elevator.
( OK - HYDROlators ). LOL

These elevators descend only between one and two inches. Disney imagineers are masters of illusion.