Epcot Aqua Seas Tour questions

[BraveLittleToaster2]

I'm considering booking this for my DH and my two oldest children who are ages 9 and 12. Do you need to be a strong swimmer? My youngest the 9 year old can swim but she is newer at it.

Also, do they give you nose plugs at all? Is it hard to breathe in and out of your mouth without inhaling water in your nose? My kids are excited about it but I worry they would freak out at the last minute. Also, would my daughter be left by herself when changing and unchanging since she would be with her dad and brother who are likely in another locker room? As I imagine she would need help putting on wet suit etc.

Finally, is there a specific place I can go with our youngest to watch them and perhaps get a video of them doing it?

Thanks for any help! Not sure if it's right for them yet or not. We did the wild Africa trek and loved it!! So just looking for a new experience.

 

[TeamSy]

I'm considering booking this for my DH and my two oldest children who are ages 9 and 12. Do you need to be a strong swimmer? My youngest the 9 year old can swim but she is newer at it.

Also, do they give you nose plugs at all? Is it hard to breathe in and out of your mouth without inhaling water in your nose? My kids are excited about it but I worry they would freak out at the last minute. Also, would my daughter be left by herself when changing and unchanging since she would be with her dad and brother who are likely in another locker room? As I imagine she would need help putting on wet suit etc.

Finally, is there a specific place I can go with our youngest to watch them and perhaps get a video of them doing it?

Thanks for any help! Not sure if it's right for them yet or not. We did the wild Africa trek and loved it!! So just looking for a new experience.

I don't think you need to be a strong swimmer, but you need to feel comfortable in very deep water and be able to float. The water is deep, but there's an area she can stay around (right where you start) that has a small platform. You wear a full wet suit, snorkel mask (you don't need nose plugs because they have the nose cover), and you hold a breathing tank on your back like a backpack with a mouthpiece. She would have to feel comfortable breathing normally with a tank and oxygen flowing via a mouthpiece. I saw young kids do it and they did fine. You may be able to ask if you can go in the locker room with her and help, but since it's a backstage area I'm not sure they will let you if you're not paying. If not, she can have her bathing suit on and come out with the wetsuit and dad can help her. They will be in separate locker rooms. You can't take video from where the tour will be, and most likely won't be able to hang out in the backstage area unless you're going in. You can view where guests can view the tank in the living seas pavilion and hope to see them. You'll have to look up since they will be on the surface of water and it's not like a scuba thing. From in the water, you can see the guest areas and still wave to guests (depending on where in the tank you are, you aren't allowed near the dolphins so make sure you're looking at the right area of the tank), the restaurant, and the Finding Nemo ride. It's an incredible experience!