Epcot Aqua Tour or Dolphins in Depth?

[mousehouse23]

My DD will turn 15 the day after our WDW vacation ends next March. Right now, she thinks she wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up. Living in Ohio, though, she's never had the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive.

I know she'd be over the moon if given one of these experiences as a birthday add-on to our upcoming vacation. They are seriously pricey, though. (We're a pretty frugal family.) Aqua Tour is $149/person and DiD is $199/person. I would get a discount with my AP.

I would have to do the dolphin experience with her, too, if we chose that option, since children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For Aqua Tour, she could do it by herself (but may want me to come along, anyway).

Have any of you paid for these special experiences? Were they worth it to you? Also, I think my DD would be concerned about the conditions the dolphins were being kept in. (She refuses to go to Sea World for that reason.) Anyone have any information about that?

She adores dolphins and I think she'd be most excited about the chance to interact with them. That said, if she felt sorry for them, I can see her just as easily being heartbroken.

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions!

 

[disneykate28]

My husband and I did the Seas Aqua Tour way back in 2007. I admittedly don't remember a ton of the particulars of the tour, but I will never forget swimming in the tank with the huge grouper, sharks, rays, and all the kids waving to us. It was an amazing Disney moment and memory!

 

[spumonisowner]

My DD will turn 15 the day after our WDW vacation ends next March. Right now, she thinks she wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up. Living in Ohio, though, she's never had the opportunity to snorkel or scuba dive.

I know she'd be over the moon if given one of these experiences as a birthday add-on to our upcoming vacation. They are seriously pricey, though. (We're a pretty frugal family.) Aqua Tour is $149/person and DiD is $199/person. I would get a discount with my AP.

I would have to do the dolphin experience with her, too, if we chose that option, since children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For Aqua Tour, she could do it by herself (but may want me to come along, anyway).

Have any of you paid for these special experiences? Were they worth it to you? Also, I think my DD would be concerned about the conditions the dolphins were being kept in. (She refuses to go to Sea World for that reason.) Anyone have any information about that?

She adores dolphins and I think she'd be most excited about the chance to interact with them. That said, if she felt sorry for them, I can see her just as easily being heartbroken.

Thank you for any thoughts and suggestions!

I can't speak for the Dolphin experience at Epcot, but I have done the Aqua tour twice! I went in 2011 and liked it so much, I went again last year, this time with my DDs, 9 and 11. The DD11 is really into manatees and is interested in marine biology, too. All of us LOVED the tour. You get to go back stage and see how they take care of the animals. It is very focused on care and conservation.

If you have the Disney Visa you get 15% off the tours.

Have you been to Discovery Cove? I did the dolphin swim there years ago (2002?) and thought that was great, too.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Aqua tour is snuba - you wear scuba equipment but stay on the surface. It does take a little getting used to, especially if she hasn't snorkeled before. Both of my DDs had snorkeled once or twice before and were able to get the hang of it in a few minutes.

 

[mousehouse23]

My husband and I did the Seas Aqua Tour way back in 2007. I admittedly don't remember a ton of the particulars of the tour, but I will never forget swimming in the tank with the huge grouper, sharks, rays, and all the kids waving to us. It was an amazing Disney moment and memory!

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing your experience!

I can't speak for the Dolphin experience at Epcot, but I have done the Aqua tour twice! I went in 2011 and liked it so much, I went again last year, this time with my DDs, 9 and 11. The DD11 is really into manatees and is interested in marine biology, too. All of us LOVED the tour. You get to go back stage and see how they take care of the animals. It is very focused on care and conservation.

If you have the Disney Visa you get 15% off the tours.

Have you been to Discovery Cove? I did the dolphin swim there years ago (2002?) and thought that was great, too.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Aqua tour is snuba - you wear snorkeling equipment but stay on the surface. It does take a little getting used to, especially if she hasn't snorkeled before. Both of my DDs had snorkeled once or twice before and were able to get the hang of it in a few minutes.

That's great to hear, especially since you took your daughters. I love the care and conservation focus, too. I do have Disney Visa, so that's awesome.

We haven't done Discovery Cove. I have thought about it, but it is just so pricey. I know she'd love it, though. Hmm....

I really appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts and experience! I think the Aqua Tour will be right up my daughter's alley.

 

[sunshine1]

Speaking of dolphins. I was Epcot 3 weeks ago and couldnt see the dolphins. Asked one of the workers/trainers. They said because of construction the dolphins had been moved to another facility and wouldnt be back until 2018. Then someone went the following week and informed me that they had seen the epcot dolphins.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

 

[Hikergirl]

Dh and I did the Aqua Seas tour last year and really loved it. I would recommend that to anyone looking for something extra to do at WDW. The backstage portion was so informative and we loved being in the tank. It was really amazing.
I can't compare it to the dolphin experience because I have never done it.

 

[fely1st]

I also asked for the Dolphin in august and was told, like already said, that they are moved to another place because of the construction. But I also wanted to say that it really touched me that your daughter think so much over the conditions of the animals. A lot of people just see the fun and don't want to see the problems.So when young people are so interested in animals I think that is really wonderful, give my compliments to her

 

[mousehouse23]

Dh and I did the Aqua Seas tour last year and really loved it. I would recommend that to anyone looking for something extra to do at WDW. The backstage portion was so informative and we loved being in the tank. It was really amazing.
I can't compare it to the dolphin experience because I have never done it.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

I also asked for the Dolphin in august and was told, like already said, that they are moved to another place because of the construction. But I also wanted to say that it really touched me that your daughter think so much over the conditions of the animals. A lot of people just see the fun and don't want to see the problems.So when young people are so interested in animals I think that is really wonderful, give my compliments to her

Thank you, fely1st. I really appreciate your saying that. She does have a kind heart, and I'm very proud of her.

I appreciate everyone's input! I definitely think the Aqua Tour is the way to go.

 

[spumonisowner]

Sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing your experience!



That's great to hear, especially since you took your daughters. I love the care and conservation focus, too. I do have Disney Visa, so that's awesome.

We haven't done Discovery Cove. I have thought about it, but it is just so pricey. I know she'd love it, though. Hmm....

I really appreciate your taking the time to share your thoughts and experience! I think the Aqua Tour will be right up my daughter's alley.

I just realized I have a correction to make on my post! I meant to say you wear scuba equipment but you are on the surface. So it's a bit different than snorkeling. I'm sure she'll love it!

 

[Albertan mom]

I did the Aqua Seas tour in 2007 with my then 12 year old daughter. We thought it was great fun. It was very cold though! You float along the top of the giant tank of water. I actually don't remember a lot more about it!
May of 2016, my then 22 year old daughter, my 65 year old mother and I did the Dolphin tour. My mom is obsessed with dolphins. It was so fun. You get to see some behind the scenes parts of Epcot Sea pavillion. We got to learn a ton about dolphins and their behavior, intelligence, and more. We watched them being trained, cared for. You can ask them all the questions you want. They are dolphins that are rescued, so it is good to see them being well cared for and brought back to health. You then get to go in the water, up to your chest or so and be with the dolphins. We got to 'hold' it, pet it, show it how to do tricks, etc. Then get our pictures taken with him. You are in the water for about 20 minutes maybe. Then it's over.
I would suggest you go with her. It is way more fun if you have someone to share it with. You won't regret the memories you will make. I saw people there alone and it seems not as fun for sure when you don't have someone to talk with, laugh with.
Seeing my mom do it, made it half the fun. She cried when she held the dolphin.

 

[mousehouse23]

That's very sweet about your mom.

Thank you for telling me about your experience. I already booked the Aqua Seas Tour for my daughter and me, but we have another trip in the summer, and I may think about booking the Dolphins in Depth then. It's good to know the dolphins were rescued and are treated well. That's a big concern of both of ours.

 

[disneyholic family]

i've done both the aqua tour and dolphin experience..

i was very upset by how they keep the dolphins....so if it will bother your daughter, don't do that one..

i loved the aqua tour!! it was great swimming around in the tank...and you use a regular tank but without a weight belt... so it's much better than snorkeling...

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