I did the program the summer of 2006, which has changed, seeing as how they now have the three younger whales, and not the two older ones that were used when I was there.
The program, I believe is an hour and half long. goes something along the lines of:
-meet your tour guide
-get changed into wetsuits (which could take some time, depending on how familar you are with wet suits)
-head over to Wild Arctic, tour the back beluga areas
-meet your Animal Care people that will be working with you
-and I believe you get 20 minutes interacting with the whales.
-there are photographers there snapping quite a few pictures
-other people can watch from the viewing area overlook in the exhibit, usually your tour guide will tell whoever isn't participating, where and when you'll be out there.
-once your 20 mins are up with the whales, you'll go back and be allowed to shower and change and the program is then over.
I loved every minute of my program that I did. They do always try to get "the money shot" of you getting to hug a beluga or getting a beluga kiss. but they did explain that animals when working with animals, that no two training session (which is basically what your watching) will ever be the same, and that the animals will do whatever they want to do. For example, when I did the interaction, we worked with Bandit on playing fetch. we threw out a basketball and worked on her bringing it back, but we did it step by step. Like first just having her touch it, then just setting out a little ways away and bring it back, and then throwing it out really far and having her bring it back. Now just because I got to do that ,doesn't mean that is what they're going to do every single time.
If you want to see what one is like (if your a passholder), I think they usually do some around noon and around 5pm, I know I've seen them pretty regularly around thoes times before. So you could check it out.
