marinahendrix said:
My boyfriend and I are going to Disney World for the first time in June.
We were thinking about taking the Dolphins in depth tour, but we don't have a lot of money to spare so we wanted to ensure that it would be worth the whole $150 each. How much interaction do you have with the dolphins? Do you actually get to swim with them or you just sit on the side and wait for them to come up to you?
thanks.
I did it with my DS back in July. Here's a copy of my report from that experience:
My DS and I just did it this past Monday. We both LOVED it--the whole thing! True, of the three hours you are only in the water with the dolphins about 30 minutes, but the "classroom stuff" was really interesting and very well presented. They made it fun and left us both wishing even that part could last longer! Here's the rundown on the morning...
First, you meet the instructors and the other members of the group (limit of 8 people per day) They talk to you a little about the program, what to expect and some common sense rules. They take your shoe and t-shirt size.Then they take you around back of the living seas building and to a locker room. They give you a key to your locker and ask that you leave everything in the locker (no cameras allowed ) You are then taken to a room where the dolphins Ranier and Calvin are in smallish holding tanks. They talk to you about the dolphin anatomy and diet and stuff like training and healthcare of the dolphins. Later you are shown a really short video about training. YOu are also taken into the living seas pavillion where trainers are doing a demonstration where Ranier is doing a little visual matching exercise. You get a front row seat in a roped off area--we felt very "VIP". You are taken to another room for information about wild dolphins and protecting them (from us humans). At this time you are given a free can of soda. I may well be forgetting parts of the tour, but it's about this time that you are lead back to the locker room where your wet suit and booties are waiting for you.(not a great fashion look for me, but functional!) The wet suits are in bags with your name--somehow they figure the right size based on your t-shirt size--and maybe from your appearance! Anyhow, you are then led into the big tank where you get to be up close and personal with the dolphins. The water is chilly, but not nearly as cold as I thought it would be. The trainers talk to you a little more, then you get your picture taken with one of the dolphins. They divide you in 2 groups of 4 to meet first Calvin then Ranier and they show you how to do some signals to make them do behaviors like jump, splash, wave, etc. You get to touch them, but you are frequently reminded that if the dolphins don't want to play or be touched, they won't. They were both in a good, friendly mood that day, and were quite happy to interract with us. After you get out of the water, you are taken back to the locker room where you can shower (soap, shampoo, etc are provided). When you are dressed, you go to a room where your photos, t-shirts, and a button are presented to you. You are asked to fill out a quick review/questionaire then you are taken back to the place where you entered.
I would do it again in a heartbeat. It was well worth every penny. (By the way, I did get a small discount by using my disney visa.)
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I thoroughly enjoyed it as well, and even though I looked like the Pillsbury Doughboy's girlfriend in the wetsuit, lol, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
