DisneyDreamer2
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2002
- Messages
- 627
Not only was this swim a highlight of our trip, it was an experience of a lifetime! I definitely want to become scuba certified now. Maybe it's because I am a Pisces, but it was so calming and amazing to be in the water with such a variety of beautiful sea life.
We started the tour at the outside guest relations booth in front of Epcot. The swim would include myself and my friend (both early 30 something moms who quickly developed school girl crushes on our cast member guide
), two 10 year old kids whose mothers came along to help and watch but did not do the swim, and a nice gentleman from Jersey.
Our CM guide was Gordon
, who as I mentioned above, was certainly one of the greatest highlights of the experience for me. He took our sizes for t shirts and booties, and sized us for wet suits. Then it was off to backstage.
We first saw the enormous water filtration tanks they use to keep the water recirculated and clean. They were Huge! Then we were led inside and shown about Disney's Environmental Conservation Missions to save endangered species which is where all the money spent on the tour is donated to. We got a special visit with the manatees and saw the food prep area. Then it was off to a tropical lounge where we would watch a short film about our equipment and the different species we would see in the tank. We signed waivers promising we would not sue Disney if a shark took off a limb and promising not to harrass, chase or kill any of the sea life in the aquarium.
Then our intelligent, witty, and charming guide showed us all our equipment, how to suit up, and answered our many questions.
One of the children asked if the sharks would try to eat them. He replied that Mickey wouldn't allow that as they were still too young and needed to grow up and have families and bring them back to Disney so the Mouse could get more money from them first.
He gave all the girls new hairbands that were safe for the fish to swallow and told us to remove all jewlery. Any fish that swallows something has to have a necropsy done by the interns. He then gave us locker keys and led us down to the locker rooms.
Inside the locker room was a bag with my name on it with my booties and shorts wetsuit. The locker had 2 white towels in it. We all changed, locked up our stuff and gave the keys to Gordon so he could pillage through it while we swam.
Then we had to walk through the crowds in our wet suits through the Sea Base. Someone yelled, "Look here come the Incredibles!" We were led through the observation tunnel to the door that had a circular staircase. At the top of the staircase was a grate that we would enter the seas from.
Yes, it smelled like fish up there. And it was HUGE! You just can't appreciate the size of the tank until you are above it. It is larger in diameter than spaceship earth - in fact you could put spaceship earth in the seas and still have 5 feet on all sides. It is 35 feet deep too. It is actually a perfect circle like a bagel, the center being from where the guests view. we were able to swim in 3/4 of the tank with one quarter sectioned off for the dolphins since they get "playfully aggressive" with humans.
Here we met Chris, who would be leading the swim portion of the tour. (Chris was really nice but was no Gordon ) We put on our vests and tanks, our flippers, and our masks. The water was a warm 75 degrees. Gordon took a photo of each of us in our gear and we were off.
They now have 4 sea turtles! There were also various types of rays, fish and sharks, one of which is over 8 feet long and swims with his mouth open. But even scarier were these enourmous ugly groupers. I loved the rays and turtles and the little yellow and white fishes. It was so much fun to be part of the show and wave to the excited little children. I also swam past the VIP room with the glass piano, and by the windows to the Coral Reef restaurant.
While the pfd kept us at the surface, we felt deeper. The bubbles when you blow out really tickle your face. the sharks stayed close to the bottom but came much closer a few times and I completely forgot to breathe. The rays and turtles got quite close and were obviously used to having divers in the tank. The little fish liked to nibble on my legs a little more than I would have liked. It was amazing to swim over the "coral" formations and around the huge tank. We were in the water about 35 minutes. My mouth was so dry when we finally came out. It was truly an awesome experience.
When we did get out, Gordon was there with towels for each of us. We took off our masks, flippers, and equipment, and then we went back down the staircase. Then it was back through Sea Base dripping in our wet suits with huge smiles. Gordon showed us a few onstage exhibits like the clams with a little bit more info. Then it was back to the locker room for a hot shower.
The showers were great and had the best smelling shampoo, conditioner and body wash. They had a hair dryer but no bathing suit dryer, which would be a nice addition. (Note to future swimmers- the hot water in the shower seemed to be on a timer. When the water goes to freezing, just turn it all the way off and then back on. All 3 girls had the same thing happen.) We changed and headed back to the tropical lounge room.
Our pictures, t shirts, pin, pamphlets, and a survey were waiting for us. We were all offered a cold soda from the fridge. On they way out, we got to see the dolphin habitat. They have 4 adolecent males, who were very frisky and fun to see. I asked why they have to separate them from the other sea life and Gordon said it was because they were too playfully aggressive with the other animals and liked to play spin the turtle
It was now about 2 1/2 hours after our tour had started. It was truly a wonderful and amazing experience. And even my friend, who was terrified to do it, said it was the highlight of our trip. It was spectacular to see such a great variety of sea life with such wonderful visability, no currents, in such a clean and controlled atmosphere. I always felt safe, and was able to just relax and truly enjoy the whole experience. And I guess that Gordon will always just be the fish that got away.
Here is the before picture. (That is my friend Julie with the scary hair. Sorry, Julie. I am the tall one.)
And here we are actually doing the swim. notice the floatation devices on the tank.
And the happy, We did it without getting bitten by a shark or swallowed by an enourmous grouper after picture.
And yes, I do have pics of Gordon But since he's mine, I'm not sharing. Sorry girls!
We started the tour at the outside guest relations booth in front of Epcot. The swim would include myself and my friend (both early 30 something moms who quickly developed school girl crushes on our cast member guide
), two 10 year old kids whose mothers came along to help and watch but did not do the swim, and a nice gentleman from Jersey.Our CM guide was Gordon
, who as I mentioned above, was certainly one of the greatest highlights of the experience for me. He took our sizes for t shirts and booties, and sized us for wet suits. Then it was off to backstage.We first saw the enormous water filtration tanks they use to keep the water recirculated and clean. They were Huge! Then we were led inside and shown about Disney's Environmental Conservation Missions to save endangered species which is where all the money spent on the tour is donated to. We got a special visit with the manatees and saw the food prep area. Then it was off to a tropical lounge where we would watch a short film about our equipment and the different species we would see in the tank. We signed waivers promising we would not sue Disney if a shark took off a limb and promising not to harrass, chase or kill any of the sea life in the aquarium.
Then our intelligent, witty, and charming guide
showed us all our equipment, how to suit up, and answered our many questions.One of the children asked if the sharks would try to eat them. He replied that Mickey wouldn't allow that as they were still too young and needed to grow up and have families and bring them back to Disney so the Mouse could get more money from them first.
He gave all the girls new hairbands that were safe for the fish to swallow and told us to remove all jewlery. Any fish that swallows something has to have a necropsy done by the interns. He then gave us locker keys and led us down to the locker rooms.
Inside the locker room was a bag with my name on it with my booties and shorts wetsuit. The locker had 2 white towels in it. We all changed, locked up our stuff and gave the keys to Gordon so he could pillage through it while we swam.
Then we had to walk through the crowds in our wet suits through the Sea Base. Someone yelled, "Look here come the Incredibles!" We were led through the observation tunnel to the door that had a circular staircase. At the top of the staircase was a grate that we would enter the seas from.
Yes, it smelled like fish up there. And it was HUGE! You just can't appreciate the size of the tank until you are above it. It is larger in diameter than spaceship earth - in fact you could put spaceship earth in the seas and still have 5 feet on all sides. It is 35 feet deep too. It is actually a perfect circle like a bagel, the center being from where the guests view. we were able to swim in 3/4 of the tank with one quarter sectioned off for the dolphins since they get "playfully aggressive" with humans.
Here we met Chris, who would be leading the swim portion of the tour. (Chris was really nice but was no Gordon
) We put on our vests and tanks, our flippers, and our masks. The water was a warm 75 degrees. Gordon took a photo of each of us in our gear and we were off. They now have 4 sea turtles! There were also various types of rays, fish and sharks, one of which is over 8 feet long and swims with his mouth open. But even scarier were these enourmous ugly groupers. I loved the rays and turtles and the little yellow and white fishes. It was so much fun to be part of the show and wave to the excited little children. I also swam past the VIP room with the glass piano, and by the windows to the Coral Reef restaurant.
While the pfd kept us at the surface, we felt deeper. The bubbles when you blow out really tickle your face. the sharks stayed close to the bottom but came much closer a few times and I completely forgot to breathe. The rays and turtles got quite close and were obviously used to having divers in the tank. The little fish liked to nibble on my legs a little more than I would have liked. It was amazing to swim over the "coral" formations and around the huge tank. We were in the water about 35 minutes. My mouth was so dry when we finally came out. It was truly an awesome experience.
When we did get out, Gordon was there with towels for each of us. We took off our masks, flippers, and equipment, and then we went back down the staircase. Then it was back through Sea Base dripping in our wet suits with huge smiles. Gordon showed us a few onstage exhibits like the clams with a little bit more info. Then it was back to the locker room for a hot shower.
The showers were great and had the best smelling shampoo, conditioner and body wash. They had a hair dryer but no bathing suit dryer, which would be a nice addition. (Note to future swimmers- the hot water in the shower seemed to be on a timer. When the water goes to freezing, just turn it all the way off and then back on. All 3 girls had the same thing happen.) We changed and headed back to the tropical lounge room.
Our pictures, t shirts, pin, pamphlets, and a survey were waiting for us. We were all offered a cold soda from the fridge. On they way out, we got to see the dolphin habitat. They have 4 adolecent males, who were very frisky and fun to see. I asked why they have to separate them from the other sea life and Gordon said it was because they were too playfully aggressive with the other animals and liked to play spin the turtle
It was now about 2 1/2 hours after our tour had started. It was truly a wonderful and amazing experience. And even my friend, who was terrified to do it, said it was the highlight of our trip. It was spectacular to see such a great variety of sea life with such wonderful visability, no currents, in such a clean and controlled atmosphere. I always felt safe, and was able to just relax and truly enjoy the whole experience. And I guess that Gordon will always just be the fish that got away.
Here is the before picture. (That is my friend Julie with the scary hair. Sorry, Julie. I am the tall one.)
And here we are actually doing the swim. notice the floatation devices on the tank.
And the happy, We did it without getting bitten by a shark or swallowed by an enourmous grouper after picture.
And yes, I do have pics of Gordon
But since he's mine, I'm not sharing. Sorry girls!
