Living Seas....What am I missing?

[Mickey Fliers]

In all of our trips to WDW and visits to the Living Seas, I have never seen the Dolphins that people talk about or what is supposed to be an impressive aquarium. After passing through the hydrolaters, we have seen "Turtle Talk", the "Bruce the Shark" exhibit, the "Nemo Exhibit" and the "Scuba diver". We have also notice the big tank, but there are hardly and fish in it at all. What am I missing???

Where else am I supposed to go? Where are the dolphins and the manatees?

Please help!

 

[cleo]

The dolphins are in the aquarium and the manatees can easily be seen from upstairs. They're to the left of the stairs as you come up near the queue to Turtle Talk.

I'm wondering if maybe you didn't go upstairs. You can see a great deal more of the aquarium from up there.

That said, you're not missing much. I'm hoping the ride portion of the attraction will prove a bit more inspired. At this point, it's a pretty dismal pavilion (with apologies to anyone who loves it).

PS: The hydrolators are long gone.

 

[phins_jazy]

I can't wait to see the dolphins! Only 9 more days!!!

 

[Plutofan1]

They are also building a new Nemo ride (at the living seas pavilion) that is currently being built. It is set to open fall 2006. It sounds really cool!!!

 

[pouncingpluto]

As someone who has been inside the main tank, I have to say you're really wrong about there hardly being any fish in there!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

As someone who has been inside the main tank, I have to say you're really wrong about there hardly being any fish in there!!!

Yup! I did the Seas Epcot tour and it was fantastic!

Bobbi

 

[disneyscuba]

As someone who has been inside the main tank, I have to say you're really wrong about there hardly being any fish in there!!!

I have been in the main tank too. There are lots of fish in it. Going to dive it again in Nov when i'm there.

later,

Disneyscuba

 

[All Aboard]

What you are missing is the full-story attraction that it once was.

Hydrolators were an integral part of what was a great story - The Living Seas. It began with a walk through displays showing humankind's failed attempts and successes at exploring the seas over the years. You then entered a pre-show area that discussed the myths and legends of sea exploration. This was followed by a film showing the development of the seas and gave us a glimpse of what lie in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean. The movie ended by offering us the chance to explore the seas ourselves. The screen image of the Hydrolators (elevators travelling through water - to take you down to the observation levels of Sea Base Alpha) was the last thing you see, until dramatically the theater doors swung open and the hydrolators (with bubbling water surrounding them) were visible. You boarded the hydrolator for you "journey" down. Once at Sea Base Alpha, you boarded Sea Cabs which gave you a glimpse of what you could see in the giant aquarium. Then, you were free to roam around the pavillion and explore at your own pace. The story was completed with another "journey" back up the hydrolator to Future World.

The first couple of times, I was convinced that the hydrolators were actually moving (I was a teenager). But, now, it seems like the entire storyline, the whole essence that made this a Disney attraction, is now lost. Now, it's just an aquarium. The concept of Sea Base Alpha was great.

 

[flynnibus]

In all of our trips to WDW and visits to the Living Seas, I have never seen the Dolphins that people talk about or what is supposed to be an impressive aquarium. After passing through the hydrolaters, we have seen "Turtle Talk", the "Bruce the Shark" exhibit, the "Nemo Exhibit" and the "Scuba diver". We have also notice the big tank, but there are hardly and fish in it at all. What am I missing???

Where else am I supposed to go? Where are the dolphins and the manatees?

Please help!

To see the manatees go basically straight back from the temporary entrance. Basically the furthest viewing area from the door. They are viewable through the glass wall or from the upper level, you can get to the top of the tank.

I didn't see any dolphins when I was there in the main tank (or many sharks for that reason). When I was there the main tank seemed desolate One whole walled off section was empty.

In this refurb phase, the Living Seas is pretty disappointing actually Our local aquarium is much better. But hopefully once they relaunch it.. it will be fab.

 

[Micca]

Living Seas has suffered the sad decline of several of the FW pavilions. I believe it still has great potential. I'm hoping the Lasseter will bring some renewed energy to this attaction.

 

[suevee]

The Living Seas aquarium was a disappointment to us, but then I live near the Baltimore National Aquarium so maybe my expectations were to high.

 

[cabanafrau]

Are any of the FW pavilions much more than a shadow of their glory days anymore? I didn't realize Living Seas had changed this much. I was expecting changes from Turtle Talk and the removal of the hydrolators, but wow!

 

[mrsltg]

Dh and I have been going to WDW "seriously" now for about 5 years. Each and every time we go to Living Seas with the high hopes of what others have experienced. Each and every time we are let down. There are hardly any fish (sorry to the divers, maybe the fish congregte somewhere where it is hard to observe?), and I haven't seen the dolphins. The manatees are nice to look at. I agree with a pp in regards to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It's hard for anything to top that place. That said, I will try again in August, and then in December....

 

[KJHawley]

I loved the old Sea Base Alpha - I'm really not looking forward to the new "Nemo-ized" exhibit. It's not that I didn't like Finding Nemo, it's just that you'd think that a semi-educational exhibit like the Living Seas would educate the kids about clownfish. And you can't go too far in learning about clownfish without discovering that they're protandrous hermaphrodites. Which, when you think about the plot to "Finding "Nemo", it gets REALLY creepy.

 

[flynnibus]

The original LS was soo much better then the Baltimore aquarium.. but that was 15+ years ago. Baltimore has gotten nicer over the years while LS has gone to the pits. Hopefully the refurb will do it. Universe of Energy is the only other FW pav that hasn't been radically updated.

 

[JadenLayne]

I love Ellen!

Well I don't really LOVE Ellen!

But I love the Ellen Ride. I make me family ride everytime we go to Disney. They hate it of course.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

Thanks for the help, guys. I thought I was the only one missing some sort of secret doorway to the rest of the LS!

We have seen where the manatees are supposed to be, but we have never seen them. Also, it did seem to me that the the aquarium was rather devoid of fish on our last visit. Like a pp said, maybe they are congregating somewhere else?

I just wanted to be sure that I wasn't missing some secret "bat cave" entrance to the LS .

Hopefully, with the new ride, LS will be brought back to life.

Thanks again!

 

[MadamMim]

What you are missing is the full-story attraction that it once was.

Hydrolators were an integral part of what was a great story - The Living Seas. It began with a walk through displays showing humankind's failed attempts and successes at exploring the seas over the years. You then entered a pre-show area that discussed the myths and legends of sea exploration. This was followed by a film showing the development of the seas and gave us a glimpse of what lie in the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean. The movie ended by offering us the chance to explore the seas ourselves. The screen image of the Hydrolators (elevators travelling through water - to take you down to the observation levels of Sea Base Alpha) was the last thing you see, until dramatically the theater doors swung open and the hydrolators (with bubbling water surrounding them) were visible. You boarded the hydrolator for you "journey" down. Once at Sea Base Alpha, you boarded Sea Cabs which gave you a glimpse of what you could see in the giant aquarium. Then, you were free to roam around the pavillion and explore at your own pace. The story was completed with another "journey" back up the hydrolator to Future World.

The first couple of times, I was convinced that the hydrolators were actually moving (I was a teenager). But, now, it seems like the entire storyline, the whole essence that made this a Disney attraction, is now lost. Now, it's just an aquarium. The concept of Sea Base Alpha was great.

Thank you! I thought I remembered an actual ride being there but thought I had lost my marbles. It's nice to know I didn't just invent the whole thing.