diswedwish
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2002
- Messages
- 812
DH and I did this tour on Tuesday and it was by far one of the highlights of our trip
Aside from us, there were 5 other people on the tour, so it was a nice small group. We met Amanda and Tabitha outside Epcot at Guest Relations, everyone gave their sizes just like before the Aqua Seas tour, and off we went backstage in the Living Seas.
First we were shown to the locker rooms and told to take off any jewelry and loose items and store them in the lockers. We got to keep our clothes on and the key for the time being. We stood in front of a diagram of a dolphin and were told what parts do what. I never even thought about what they'd need a dorsal fin for before this, it was very interesting.
We got to visit Calvin and Rainier backstage and watched Calvin play while Rainier just hung out and napped. Calvin was a bit "excited" which was hysterical - he used every part of him he could to push that toy around
Calvin is 10 compared to Rainier's 25, so he was just a bundle of energy (can you tell who my favorite was ). We stayed back there for a while and they explained dolphins' social structure to us and what types of things they use for toys, showed us one of their "retired" toys, etc. Meanwhile we watched Calvin push his toy (it looked like a little black plasitc pillow) back and forth between his backstage area and on-stage. We were also shown the 3 types of fish they prefer and how they eat, etc.
Then we were taken to another area backstage above the tank, and Tabitha explained how dolphins are trained (the simplified version of course). She used the youngest of our group (he looked to be about 13) to demonstrate how it begins. Then she used another girl (in the College Program) to demonstrate/remind us how to play Concentration. She explained the research program they are doing with Rainier that is based on Concentration (part of it anyway), and how they will use that info in relation to wild dolphins. All very interesting. We watched a short video/slide-show where Tabitha did the talking explaining different training techniques, etc.
Then we put on these lab coats and went on-stage to watch the dolphin demonstration (Rainier and his project) with everyone else. We got the lab coats because we were in front of everyone sitting on the floor - I guess so no one would get upset with us. Rainier was having an off-day and didn't quite do what he was supposed to; they said it could be because Tuesday was his "Monday" or because he was doing it on purpose We were told that one of Rainier's nicknames is Rainman since he came to research fairly late and sometimes concepts take him a long time - lol
Then we trooped backstage again and Amanda used a plush dolphin to show us the proper way to touch them. We were also shown a video with a conservation theme where one woman got bitten by a wild dolphin (e.g. don't try to feed or touch wild dolphins).
After this we got to suit up into our sexy short wet suits and split up into 2 groups. Half of us went with Calvin (yay!) and his trainer Jeffrey (I think that was his name), half with Rainier and his trainer. We were shown how dolphins make sounds, including the click they use when they're up to something, Jeff would show us the hand signals for a certain behaviou, turn his back, then the 4 of us would give the same signal and Calvin would do whatever he was supposed to. Then he lined up beside the 4 of us to get a rub-down. More signals and fun, then we lined up by 2s for our picture. I got to kneel down, 1 hand on his pectoral fin, the other hugging him, DH got to hug him behind me since he's taller.
Then we switched groups and got to be with Rainier for a while. He was a lot of fun too, we got to rub him down twice. He almost seemed to fall asleep when we'd do that, he'd start to float down in the water, very neat... We spent about 30 min. with the trainers, and I'd guess about 5 min. actually touching the dolphins.
After that we were shown to the locker rooms, showered, changed, and went back upstairs to receive our sodas, pictures, shirts, and conservation pins (again I was surprised we didn't receive a special Dolphins in Depth pin). Then we were shown into the park.
We both can't wait to do this again (DH was extremely interested in dolphin training and is researching on-line etc. as a possible career - yes, you too can see just how useful a voice performance degree really is lol - so it was definitely a highlight for him). We were on the Platinum Plan for this portion of our trip so it was included (if we do the Platinum Plan again, we've decided to do this tour and go to Victoria and Albert's every day). Otherwise I believe it's $150/person.
I'd be happy to answer any questions
Aside from us, there were 5 other people on the tour, so it was a nice small group. We met Amanda and Tabitha outside Epcot at Guest Relations, everyone gave their sizes just like before the Aqua Seas tour, and off we went backstage in the Living Seas.
First we were shown to the locker rooms and told to take off any jewelry and loose items and store them in the lockers. We got to keep our clothes on and the key for the time being. We stood in front of a diagram of a dolphin and were told what parts do what. I never even thought about what they'd need a dorsal fin for before this, it was very interesting.
We got to visit Calvin and Rainier backstage and watched Calvin play while Rainier just hung out and napped. Calvin was a bit "excited" which was hysterical - he used every part of him he could to push that toy around
Calvin is 10 compared to Rainier's 25, so he was just a bundle of energy (can you tell who my favorite was ). We stayed back there for a while and they explained dolphins' social structure to us and what types of things they use for toys, showed us one of their "retired" toys, etc. Meanwhile we watched Calvin push his toy (it looked like a little black plasitc pillow) back and forth between his backstage area and on-stage. We were also shown the 3 types of fish they prefer and how they eat, etc.Then we were taken to another area backstage above the tank, and Tabitha explained how dolphins are trained (the simplified version of course). She used the youngest of our group (he looked to be about 13) to demonstrate how it begins. Then she used another girl (in the College Program) to demonstrate/remind us how to play Concentration. She explained the research program they are doing with Rainier that is based on Concentration (part of it anyway), and how they will use that info in relation to wild dolphins. All very interesting. We watched a short video/slide-show where Tabitha did the talking explaining different training techniques, etc.
Then we put on these lab coats and went on-stage to watch the dolphin demonstration (Rainier and his project) with everyone else. We got the lab coats because we were in front of everyone sitting on the floor - I guess so no one would get upset with us. Rainier was having an off-day and didn't quite do what he was supposed to; they said it could be because Tuesday was his "Monday" or because he was doing it on purpose
We were told that one of Rainier's nicknames is Rainman since he came to research fairly late and sometimes concepts take him a long time - lol Then we trooped backstage again and Amanda used a plush dolphin to show us the proper way to touch them. We were also shown a video with a conservation theme where one woman got bitten by a wild dolphin (e.g. don't try to feed or touch wild dolphins).
After this we got to suit up into our sexy short wet suits and split up into 2 groups. Half of us went with Calvin (yay!) and his trainer Jeffrey (I think that was his name), half with Rainier and his trainer. We were shown how dolphins make sounds, including the click they use when they're up to something
, Jeff would show us the hand signals for a certain behaviou, turn his back, then the 4 of us would give the same signal and Calvin would do whatever he was supposed to. Then he lined up beside the 4 of us to get a rub-down. More signals and fun, then we lined up by 2s for our picture. I got to kneel down, 1 hand on his pectoral fin, the other hugging him, DH got to hug him behind me since he's taller. Then we switched groups and got to be with Rainier for a while. He was a lot of fun too, we got to rub him down twice. He almost seemed to fall asleep when we'd do that, he'd start to float down in the water, very neat... We spent about 30 min. with the trainers, and I'd guess about 5 min. actually touching the dolphins.
After that we were shown to the locker rooms, showered, changed, and went back upstairs to receive our sodas, pictures, shirts, and conservation pins (again I was surprised we didn't receive a special Dolphins in Depth pin). Then we were shown into the park.
We both can't wait to do this again (DH was extremely interested in dolphin training and is researching on-line etc. as a possible career - yes, you too can see just how useful a voice performance degree really is lol - so it was definitely a highlight for him). We were on the Platinum Plan for this portion of our trip so it was included (if we do the Platinum Plan again, we've decided to do this tour and go to Victoria and Albert's every day
). Otherwise I believe it's $150/person.I'd be happy to answer any questions
