Shark Reef

[Pyedog]

My 7 year old is very excited about swimming with his goggles (or a mask) and seeing the beautiful fish in shark reef.

I've never been there, but have snorkled many times and am very comfortable with that end of it.....my question is more...what should I expect from the shark reef experience?? Is it very cool or just ok? Will we see a lot of fish? Should I expect a huge crowd? Do they limit the number of people allowed into that pool? Any advice about when to go or how to get the most out of it?

Thanks,
Pyedog

 

[Dan Murphy]

Anything here, Pyedog??

http://www.skin-diver.com/departments/diveinusa/Florida/SharkReefSnorkelingatDisney.asp?theID=427

 

[cavepig]

I did the shark reef for the first time last year and really enjoyed it. There are lots of fish and tiny sharks and coral in the bottom of the reef area, it was really pretty. The fish/sharks stay at the bottom and people are on top so they shouldn't get in your way. The water is kind of cold when you first get in it and it is salty of course.

We were there around 4:00 pm last early June and the crowds for it weren't bad, there were other people but we didn't have to wait long to go in. They let people kind of go in turns and then wait a little bit to let the next group go so people aren't kicking each other. You are told not to splash and kick, but a lady panicked when we were there so I got kicked by her, but it was an accident. You can take your time going across, but you have to keep going forward.

You wear the googles/snorkle and a life vest.

 

[mickman1962]

it is pretty cool but VERY COLD...

 

[alvernon90]

I went in September, which skews my impressions, but here are some thoughts:

1. The swim across the pool is fairly short, so the length of the line will probably determine whether you think it's "cool" or "merely ok." Since there was no line at all when I was there, we could walk around and go many times in a row, so it was very cool indeed.

2. Even in hot weather the water will seem cold.

3. There is a kind of "panic rock" a short distance from the entrance to the pool. I saw lots of little kids there would get scared (not scared of the sharks, but unable to trust that they could breathe with their face in the water). The rock gives a place to land and head back to the entrance without going into the deepest part of the pool.

With a 7-year-old, I really recommend getting a snorkel and mask and teaching him/her how to use it before heading to WDW. That makes it much less likely that panic will set in and much easier to enjoy a very nice experience.

 

[Pyedog]

Thanks for all the great information!! Does anyone know if they have an age/height restriction?
-Pye

 

[N2DSNY]

We have just returned from our trip and my kids LOVED the shark reef!! In fact, I think that we may plan a trip to the islands next year just for the snorkeling aspect. They were able to do it over and over again. I tried it and the water was very cold. My DH and I had snorkeled in the Keys last May and the water there was much warmer, but I endured the cold at TL and saw lots of cool fish! We had done Blizzard Beach earlier in the week, but the highlight of the water parks was Typhoon Lagoon...due to the shark reef!

 

[Colestat]

Are you allowed to bring in an underwater camera?

 

[N2DSNY]

Yes, you are allowed to bring an underwater camera. As for the age or height requirement, there is none. If your child will swim across (or float should I say) the length of the reef (which is about the length of a city pool) then he/she will do fine. The only thing that my kids had trouble with was getting use to the mask and snorkel. Have fun!

 

[Miscrapper]

Do the masks fit snug enough that they don't leak? I wear contacts but really want to try this on our visit!

 

[BabyMo]

Does anyone have any pictures they took in the shark reef with an underwater camera that they could post here?

 

[KCritter]

Miscrapper: I wear contacts too and had no problems with the mask they gave me.