Seas w/ Nemo - Mr. Ray's Lagoon question

[Ashley]

Can you pet the rays? The trough they are in is open on top & there aren't any signs saying you can't (at least there weren't on our last trip 7 years ago). I think they are super cool & would love to know what they feel like.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I would think it's frowned upon. The glass around the tanks is pretty high, and the rays usually hang out on the bottom of the tank. I don't know how anyone would pet them unless they jumped in the tank or dangled a kid over it. At least if it's the same tank I'm thinking of.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think they are super cool & would love to know what they feel like.

At Seaworld in San Diego, I learned that rays feel like I imagine wet velvet feels like.


I would always be sure to ask an employee before touching anything.

 

[Ashley]

It obviously could have changed as our last trip was 7 years ago, but there was a tiled tank at one end of a room that had some of those tall round glass tanks. However this wasn't a glass tank, but rather more like a really long sink. It was the width of the room (maybe 15ft) and at most 18in deep and 18in front to back. The rays in it were 6-8 inches across & some even swam up the side while we were watching so that their top edge was out of the water.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

I really don't think that's there anymore. I love stingrays and I feel like I would have been all over that..or I was very very distracted by the puffer fish I saw the last time.

 

[MommytoCaitlyn]

Stingrays are very smooth and definitely feel like wet velvet. If you love stingrays, you need to visit Grand Cayman island and visit Stingray City out in the ocean. It's an area where stingrays congregate and they are so used to humans that you can feed them, pet them, etc. I actually floated in the ocean and had a stingray lay on top of me. It was amazing! We went as part of a cruise ship stop in the Caymans (although we went with a private company, not the cruise ship excursion, there were only 6 people in our group!!).

 

[LockShockBarrel]

For options in Orlando, you can pet them and feed them at SeaWorld and swim/pet them at Discovery Cove.

 

[worco]

The New England Aquarium has a ray pet tank that is pretty cool. There are probably 50 or so rays in it, and a couple of small sharks. Wet Velvet or fuzzy rubber is probably as good a description as any. You are instructed to just let your hand sit in the water and they go flying by in these funny little conga lines. They swim and rub there backs right across your hands. I don't think the tank in nemo is designed for petting though. I think it is just observation and a visual when the cast members give their ray speech. The one at the NEA is very low so you can lean over it and extend your arm down almost to your elbow.

 

[nkereina]

The aquarium in Tampa has the same kind of sting ray tank where you can pet them. I haven't seen the sting ray tank at WDW that OP is referring to, but these kinds of sting ray petting exhibits are common. I would definitely ask before you do it, because they do sting especially if its not a petting tank. If the exhibit isn't manned by a CM, I would imagine it is not the kind where you can pet them.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

If you go during baseball season and go to a game at Tropicana Field, you can pet them there too. They have a tank set up.

Also at Seaworld as others have mentioned. They are very soft, my kids love petting them. I don't know anything about disney because I don't remember looking for the tank last time I was there.

 

[LockShockBarrel]

They're fun little critters. I do have to say that stinging is not the only concern. I got bit by one. I was at Discovery Cove in the ray pool and we were feeding them. The trainers have you put the fish in your fist with a good deal sticking out, then tell you the rays will just come up and suck it out of your hand. Apparently when I have my hands relaxed in water, my thumbs stick up...like a fish. The next thing I know I have a ray trying to eat my thumb. They don't really have "teeth'' as much as "very rough grinding plates" which they use to crush their food. It was a small ray so it didn't really hurt, more like someone was squeezing my thumb between some rocks.

 

[skier_pete]

OP - The tank you are mentioning is not around anymore. There is a tank with Ray's in it that is inside the waiting area for the "Turtle Talk" show. You are NOT allowed to pet the Rays in that tank, however. There is no touching animal aspect to "The Seas" currently.

SP