Manatees?!?!? HOW did I not know EPCOT has MANATEES!!!!!!!

[heatherenae71]

favorite ocean animal ever!!!!!!!!!!! I am sooo freakin' excited right now!

How many are there? Is the "exhibit" really nice (I'm assuming it's probably not as elaborate as Sea World's - but still!)

I read a review that if you time your visit right, you can help feed them?!? SERIOUSLY!!??!?!

Any info you can give me - I'd appreciate....are there manatee souvenirs to purchase in the gift shop?!?!

Oh man, I am stoked!!

 

[MelissathePooh]

They have manatee souvenirs - your basic plush and several other things. The viewing area is fairly small - a rounded window on the first floor. They typically have between 2 and 3 manatees. Lydia was there for a long time - not sure if she still is. They've mostly been rescued from Florida somewhere.

The upstairs room is open and has a CM that will answer questions and give a talk, but I'm not sure how often or what the schedule is.

Its nothing like SeaWorld, but its quaint and nice.

 

[Eeyore's Wife]

I spent a lovely afternoon holding a sleeping baby and sitting on the floor in front of the manatee tank. Priceless.

You can see them from under water and you can see them from above the water. I visit them every time we are there an often spend hours there but have never seen anyone but Disney employees feeding them. They are an endangered species and Disney has a special license to house/rehabilitate them, and I just assumed they would not be fed by guests.

They are precious and very soothing, a nice tonic to the crazy overstimulation you can sometimes get while at Disney.

 

[collegejunkie]

there aren't that many.. i think only 2. but i am also a huge fan of manatees. if you're really into them, you can snorkel with them on a non-disney excursion to one of the rivers.

 

[heatherenae71]

there aren't that many.. i think only 2. but i am also a huge fan of manatees. if you're really into them, you can snorkel with them on a non-disney excursion to one of the rivers.

We're taking a trip to Belize the end of April (my family's first time to go out of the country!!) and I'm going to do a snorkeling adventure with manatees!!! I can't WAIT! I have ALWAYS wanted to do something like this!!!

I don't think we'll have any time with our schedule when we're in Florida, though.

 

[papamouse1]

There were 2 of them there on our last trip in March 2010. They are amazing to watch aren't they!

 

[Beauty & the Best]

How many are there? Is the "exhibit" really nice (I'm assuming it's probably not as elaborate as Sea World's - but still!)

I read a review that if you time your visit right, you can help feed them?!? SERIOUSLY!!??!?!

Any info you can give me - I'd appreciate....are there manatee souvenirs to purchase in the gift shop?!?!

Oh man, I am stoked!!

There are 2 (maybe 3 or 4 but I've only ever seen 2 out at the same time) manatees in the tanks at The Seas area in Epcot. You can view them above the water and below the water by going up or down the stairs.

The display is okay, but not as nice as the manatee exhibit at the Tampa Zoo or probably at Seaworld either.

I have never heard of anyone being able to feed the manatees - if this is something they offer, it is certainly not advertised at the manatee tank. Usually they just have a bunch of romaine lettuce floating in the tank & the manatees eat at their own pace.

If you really love manatees, you should check out some of the "swim w/ manatees" tours available in Florida. http://www.snorkelwithmanatees.com/index.html

 

[LaurenT]

As already said, there are 2 of them (at least as of November) - they are rescues - one of them is missing a flipper - very sad. They are sweet animals and it's a shame they are so endangered because they are curious about us and get too close to the boats - I wish people would be more careful when in their waters!

 

[*sarah*]

I did not know this either! So where in Epcot are they??

 

[bradk]

the seas pavilion, in their own tank as described above.

 

[gk90]

It's a quiet, low-key, relaxing exhibit and the CMs running it when we last visited it (in 2007) were really friendly and informative. We want to make a point to drop by on our next trip!

 

[elbodans]

after being quite disappointed with the nemo ride (possibly the only ride we were disappointed in--well, my husband didn't like snow white, but i did!) we exited into the seas aquarium area and stumbled upon the manatees. there were two, and they were CUDDLING. given how we were in a huge hurry to 'see and do everything' (we only had a few hours for epcot--we were there on a convention) we spent a LOT of time just standing there and watching them. they are so peaceful.

though, to be fair, i've also spent a good thirty minutes staring at the elephants at the national zoo in dc. so maybe i just like large, slow, cute animals?

 

[heatherenae71]

though, to be fair, i've also spent a good thirty minutes staring at the elephants at the national zoo in dc. so maybe i just like large, slow, cute animals?

Oh my goodness...I love elephants, too - could sit and watch them all day!! I must like large, slow cute animals, too!!!! hehe!

 

[*sarah*]

the seas pavilion, in their own tank as described above.

Ahhh okay I see now, I don't know what's wrong with me, I read every post but still didn't see it until of course after I asked. Thanks.

 

[DLW8]

I had NO idea about the manatees at The Living Seas! I absolutely love them as well (wish I lived in FL to get a manatee mailbox holder) and cannot wait to find them when we go in September!

First trip that we are keeping a secret from the kids...hoping I can hold out and keep the secret until close to when we go!

Both the kids know I love manatees as well and made sure we made it to that area at SeaWorld last year...they will be happy about this at Epcot for me as well!

 

[amzking]

If you get over to the east coast during your trip you can see them in their natural habitat. They are everywhere here. Believe it or not, the power plant on US1 in Port St. John (on the Indian River Lagoon) has hundreds around it due to the warm water there. You can also see them at Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge, south of Cape Canaveral. Or in just about any part of the Indian River Lagoon, they hang out at almost all the waterfront parks.

Isn't it funny how something that is ordinary for one group of people is extraordinary for another group of people. I feel the same about mountains as you do about manatees!

 

[PrincessMom4]

If you get over to the east coast during your trip you can see them in their natural habitat. They are everywhere here. Believe it or not, the power plant on US1 in Port St. John (on the Indian River Lagoon) has hundreds around it due to the warm water there. You can also see them at Merritt Island National Wildlife refuge, south of Cape Canaveral. Or in just about any part of the Indian River Lagoon, they hang out at almost all the waterfront parks.

Isn't it funny how something that is ordinary for one group of people is extraordinary for another group of people. I feel the same about mountains as you do about manatees!

See we live close to the Adirondack mountain range and I love it. I love going to Florida and seeing the palm trees. The little geckos or lizards running.

 

[robinb]

I see you're going in October or November. If you have time you should drive over to the Tampa area and see the manatees in the wild: http://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/ They hang out near the power plant when the water is colder. We saw literally a hundred manatees when were were there in December 2009.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

I didn't know this either!!!! I will have to go see them!

 

[OBChristine]

I did not know this either. Where have I been. They will definately be an the to see list in August.