Dolphins in Depth tour

[100percentDisney]

My future DIL and I participated in the Dolphins in Depth tour at EPCOT. We both had a great time.

The maximum number of people for the tour is eight and all you need is your swimsuit (they ask you to remove ALL jewelry prior to coming. We were told to be at guest services at 9:15 but others were told varing times between 9:15 and 9:45. The tour guides finally showed up at 9:55. They took us backstage of the Living Seas and showed the different aspects of the aquarium and then took us on a quick tour of the guest viewing area. They then gave us individual locker keys in the shower/changing rooms. Inside the lockers were our wet suits and shoes (they ask your shoe size and shirt size in advance). We all then went into the water and got to meet two of the three dolphins (Calvin, age 10, and Rainer, age "a little older than Calvin". Bob was in Baltimore on loan "making babies"). They taught us hand signals and showed us how to feel their heartbeat as well as other neat things and then we each got our picture taken with one of the dolphins.

It was a great experience that we will remember for a long time.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Thanks for sharing your review! DBF and I are planning to do this tour in October and we're really looking forward to it. I think I might have to call them back... I don't remember if they asked for our shoe size etc...

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by 100percentDisney
My future DIL and I participated in the Dolphins in Depth tour at EPCOT. We both had a great time.

The maximum number of people for the tour is eight and all you need is your swimsuit (they ask you to remove ALL jewelry prior to coming. We were told to be at guest services at 9:15 but others were told varing times between 9:15 and 9:45. The tour guides finally showed up at 9:55. They took us backstage of the Living Seas and showed the different aspects of the aquarium and then took us on a quick tour of the guest viewing area. They then gave us individual locker keys in the shower/changing rooms. Inside the lockers were our wet suits and shoes (they ask your shoe size and shirt size in advance). We all then went into the water and got to meet two of the three dolphins (Calvin, age 10, and Rainer, age "a little older than Calvin". Bob was in Baltimore on loan "making babies"). They taught us hand signals and showed us how to feel their heartbeat as well as other neat things and then we each got our picture taken with one of the dolphins.

It was a great experience that we will remember for a long time.

Thanks for sharing your experiance. My husband and I will be taking this tour for the first time on Sept 17th. We were told to arrive at Guest Relations at 9:30am. My husband made the reservations so I will have to ask him if he gave our shoe and shirt sizes.

How much touching of the Dolphins were you able to do?

We have been to WDW many times and have done many tours but never this one so we are looking forward to this very much.

 

[llggood]

Was there a minimum age and how much was it per person?

 

[kkmauch]

I am not sure about the specific answers to your questions...but I took the tour in May and LOVED it. I believe that I read you have to be 15 and if you're under 18 you have to have a signed release form. As far as the cost goes, I know we got a discount on it using our DVC card, and I think we paid a bit over $100 a person.
Not sure if all this is the info you needed, but I highly encourgae you to take the tour, it was most amazing!

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by llggood
Was there a minimum age and how much was it per person?

Hi,

It is 16yrs or older and anyone under 18yrs had to have a permisson slip signed. It is $150 per person but there are discounts avaiable. We got 20% using our Disney Visa Card to book. I do not think that promotion is running anymore but I could be mistaken.

 

[bunnyfoo]

If you have an annual pass, you can get a discount as well ... I think it was 15%.

 

[snowglobe girl]

I did the tour in Jan 2003 and LOVED it. Bob was still there and I have my picture of me and Bob in my office. Everyone asks about it and I love to tell everyone about the tour.

They get your shoe and shirt size when you arrive for the tour - you don't have to give it ahead of time over the phone.

I'll give you fair warning though - those wetsuits are tough to wiggle into. You really get to spend a good amount of time petting the dolphins. In the water, they break you up into two groups of four - one group to a dolphin so there's a lot of interaction. They also show you different anatomy of the dolphin and he was so much bigger in person that I imagined.

I paid $150 for the tour, but that was before having the Disney Visa with 20% off. Regardless, it was worth every penny.

Have a great time and give them a hug for me!!!

 

[Tiffany]

Originally posted by snowglobe girl
I did the tour in Jan 2003 and LOVED it. Bob was still there and I have my picture of me and Bob in my office. Everyone asks about it and I love to tell everyone about the tour.

They get your shoe and shirt size when you arrive for the tour - you don't have to give it ahead of time over the phone.

I'll give you fair warning though - those wetsuits are tough to wiggle into. You really get to spend a good amount of time petting the dolphins. In the water, they break you up into two groups of four - one group to a dolphin so there's a lot of interaction. They also show you different anatomy of the dolphin and he was so much bigger in person that I imagined.

I paid $150 for the tour, but that was before having the Disney Visa with 20% off. Regardless, it was worth every penny.

Have a great time and give them a hug for me!!!

Thanks for all of the details about this tour. We cannot wait.

 

[Kellyh123]

I am thinking of surprising my 18 year old daughter with this tour. She really loves Marine life and is thinking of majoring in this at college. Would she enjoy this tour by herself? When do you make the reservations?
Thanks

 

[Annette_VA]

I did this in 1998 & am wondering if they've made some changes to the program because when I did it, there was not enough dolphin interaction at all!

We probably spent 15-20 minutes in the water w/ the dolphins. The touching of the dolphins we were able to was limited to briefly stroking them on their back, sides & belly. To me, the program was much too focused on education, rather than interaction.

 

[bunnyfoo]

Originally posted by Kellyh123
I am thinking of surprising my 18 year old daughter with this tour. She really loves Marine life and is thinking of majoring in this at college. Would she enjoy this tour by herself? When do you make the reservations?
Thanks

I believe you can make reservations for tours about 1 year in advance (I think). You would call 407-WDW-TOUR to book.

 

[The Duchess]

We did this in November, 2002. It was a really great experience except...

It was pouring rain out, so instead of being able to go outside and back in to where the dolphin tank was ,we all had to walk through Living Seas in our wetsuits How embarassing! Everyone was looking at our group trying to figure out exactly what we were supposed to be!