Dolphins vs Penguins vs Sea Lions

[Donald is #1]

Has anyone done the Penguins Up Close and Dophins Up Close tours? I am taking my 12 year old niece to Disney in August and I will be taking her to Sea World one day during our trip. I am trying to decide whether to do the Peguins or the Dolphins tour.

I would love some feedback on both of them.

OK, how about the sea lion one too? Has anyone done that one?

 

[bella77]

Sorry I can't give you any advice, but I'm dying to know about the penguin tour. The number 1 thing on my bucket list is to pet a penguin.

 

[perdidochas]

Has anyone done the Penguins Up Close and Dophins Up Close tours? I am taking my 12 year old niece to Disney in August and I will be taking her to Sea World one day during our trip. I am trying to decide whether to do the Peguins or the Dolphins tour.

I would love some feedback on both of them.

OK, how about the sea lion one too? Has anyone done that one?

Well, having smelled the Penguin exhibit on a bad day, I would go for Dolphins. Not sure I could stand to smell Penguins for that long.

 

[Best Aunt]

I'm wondering if people get smelly from the penguin tour.

I did the backstage tour at Animal Kingdom one year. They had several pregnant elephants, and we spent a lot of time in the elephant barn.

After the tour, I realized that the elephant smell was clinging to my clothes and my hair. I felt bad for the people sitting near me on the bus back to the hotel.

 

[Donald is #1]

Wow, it seems like not too many have done these tours.

My sister did find this thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2594781&highlight=vip+tours


I think that we will end up doing the Sea Lion tour. Somehow, the kid that used to go around the house pretending to be a penguin, decided that she liked the Sea Lion tour, when my sister showed her the descriptions. lol, but based upon the above thread, it seems like it will be fun.

 

[Donald is #1]

I'm wondering if people get smelly from the penguin tour.

I did the backstage tour at Animal Kingdom one year. They had several pregnant elephants, and we spent a lot of time in the elephant barn.

After the tour, I realized that the elephant smell was clinging to my clothes and my hair. I felt bad for the people sitting near me on the bus back to the hotel.

I would never had thought of that! The last thing we need is to spend the day smelling like the penguin exhibit.

 

[goofystitchfan]

We did a sea lion encounter when we were in Nassau in November, and I have to say it was the most amazing thing I have ever done. I plan to do it again this November when we return.

 

[livndisney]

I would never had thought of that! The last thing we need is to spend the day smelling like the penguin exhibit.

We did the penguin tour and did not smell "penguiny" LOL. And this was in the summer heat.

 

[buckbart]

We fed Sea lions on our VIP tour last week and I was less impressed with them cause they were all too busy basking in the afternoon sun. It is a fair distance to throw the fish to the the sea lions and the stupid birds snag them. We were very frustrated. There was a tour group that was going to be feeding at the end of the day and they got ALOT of fish (anything that was left over from the day). We only got 1 little dish each with maybe 5-8 small fish (size of sardines).

I would definetely do the dolphin tour. The dolphins will come up to you and stay as long as you are feeding them. We had so many opportunities to pet, kiss, hug and rub them. It was very fun.

 

[scottishgirl1]

We did the sea lion tour last october and didnt think it was that great. Apart from the photo at the end we felt there wasnt anything in the tour that couldnt be done in the park anyway. We were the last tour and did get the big bucket of fish but the kids would have preferred less fish to throw. We have done lots of sea world tours over the years and I dont know exactly what the dolphin and penguin ones include at the moment but we always really enjoyed any tours with dolphins or penguins and felt they were really good value.

 

[momtoejanda]

does anyone know what time the tour starts? I was going to book for tomorrow but for time it just says tour 1?

 

[chiamarie]

We fed Sea lions on our VIP tour last week and I was less impressed with them cause they were all too busy basking in the afternoon sun. It is a fair distance to throw the fish to the the sea lions and the stupid birds snag them. We were very frustrated. There was a tour group that was going to be feeding at the end of the day and they got ALOT of fish (anything that was left over from the day). We only got 1 little dish each with maybe 5-8 small fish (size of sardines).

I would definetely do the dolphin tour. The dolphins will come up to you and stay as long as you are feeding them. We had so many opportunities to pet, kiss, hug and rub them. It was very fun.

While feeding the dolphins? I seriously doubt you got to hug and kiss the dolphins at dolphin cove. I believe the trainers give specific instructions that you can pet them under their chin, or on their backs and sides. But I don't think they tell you it's okay to hug and kiss them....

 

[inkkognito]

The level of interaction with the dolphins depends on which tour you do. We have not done the specific dolphin tour but we did the marine mammal experience and you actually step into the water (not very deep) and get very close interaction.

We loved both the penguin and sea lion tour. I think the sea lions put you more at risk to stink because of the large bucket of giant fish (much more than you get on the general VIP tour). We loved it though; one of them was even doing tricks to get us to throw her fish. I didn't find the penguin area unduly smelly, but I have a horse and am used to barns so maybe my opinion is swayed. I got to pet so many different species, including a rock hopper (that made my day).