Swimming w/ sharks at Typhoon Lagoon? Questions

[3princesses+aprince]

We are doing waterparks when we go next year and were just looking through the pictures and saw the swimming with the little sharks and sting rays. I would not do it, but my dd10 just saw and said " oh, my god, I want to swim with the sharks!!!!"

Does anyone know how much this costs? Do you need a reservation or do you just wait in line?

Thanks for any info you can give.

 

[JackJack08]

It's free and no ressies needed. It's kind of cool but the water is cold and salty of course. DD10 tried it with me and hated it! I thought it was kinda fun though!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh, thanks so much. She now wants to know if the sharks or sting rays can be touched. I told her I doubted it, but I don't know!!!

She is so excited about this!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Oh, thanks so much. She now wants to know if the sharks or sting rays can be touched. I told her I doubted it, but I don't know!!!

She is so excited about this!!

No, it's basically just floating across the top of the water with a face mask on and getting out on the other side. It takes about 5 minutes or less.

 

[auralia]

i believe you can purchase some sort of air assist snorkel package if you want that lets you stay in the water for like 20 min and was somewhere between 20-30 dollars.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Oh, wow, thanks so much for the info. I figured they could not be touched. I mean, it sounds like a bad idea lol

But I would definitely buy the snorkel set there, that's a great deal. Since we found this out a few hours ago, dd has since brought it up while walking to the park, eating, ..... you get the picture. She's going to be talking about this until we arrive. She said she is going to get her brother to do it with her (But I don't it, he doesn't "live on the edge" like she does.

 

[Leajess99]

Oh, wow, thanks so much for the info. I figured they could not be touched. I mean, it sounds like a bad idea lol

There are different zoos and aquariums that have shark and stingray touch tanks. We just did the Indianapolis zoo last weekend and the girls got to touch the sharks. They are cool feeling. We have touched stingrays in the past as well as other sea creatures. My kids love toucking the sea life. I so want to do the Dolphin excursion with them one day as I think they would love that.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

They usually float near the bottom. That water is darn cold! It took me forever to catch my breath!

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Thanks, yeah, my dd10 does not have a problem with cold water. She is the one that is still in the pool when everyone else got out hours before with blue lips and numb fingers. She's crazy.

Leajess99 we've got to touch sting rays before too, but I think it's a little different when your actually IN the water with them as opposed to just leaning into the tank. We have not got to touch a shark before though.

I keep thinking about this and I know my dd is going to think this is the neatest thing ever. She will tell everyone she meets for the rest of her days that she swam with sharks.

 

[williamson_ja]

My ds (11) was excited about this more than I can even tell you last year. He would talk about it every day and tell everyone how awsome it was going to be. So, the big day came. We were all in line to get into the water. Everyone had their snorkling gear..... and he chickened out and snuck out the back exit. We didn't realize that he hadn't gotten in until we finished up and got out. Then we were all confused wondering where he had gone. He SWEARS he's going to do it THIS time.

 

[crisi]

She won't be able to touch anything. Its a snorkle - along the top and straight through. Its pretty cool, particularly since its free with admission - but keep your expectations (and hers) reasonable - this isn't scuba diving or playing with sharks - this is "put on snorkle gear, snorkle over a tank that includes stingrays and sharks, get out the other end, if you want to go again, get back in line." The SAS is still a snorkle - since you are on top of the water, you don't go deep - but I suspect that they send you the opposite side (there are two "people" sides to the tank) and let you have a little more freedom - you get 30 minutes where the normal snorkle takes about five (once you get through the line!)

 

[3princesses+aprince]

williamson ja, that's too funny!! I hope he does it this time!!!

crisi, thanks for the info too. We know it is just a swim over them, that is what we're expecting. I definitely want to do whatever we need to get the 30 minutes in there. She'll love that.

 

[crisi]

williamson ja, that's too funny!! I hope he does it this time!!!

crisi, thanks for the info too. We know it is just a swim over them, that is what we're expecting. I definitely want to do whatever we need to get the 30 minutes in there. She'll love that.

You can do that by getting there when they open, and hopping around to the line again as fast as you can. We've been when it isn't busy at all and you can take lots of time. We've also waited and been when they want to push you through. If you don't want the extra spend.....

 

[daisyyy]

My DD (11) loved it... and it's always top of her list. I won't do it.... but I love to watch from under the water through the port holes.... She gets bragging rights everytime, cause she's the only one that wants to do it.... (Then again she's a competitive swimmer on a USA team... )

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

We found it less crowded on the side where you pay....

The free side you had to be careful with the novice snorkelers.... Very easy to get kicked in the head even though they tell you to go straight....it's easy to get carried away in while looking underwater

It's a good starting place to see if they like snorkeling with the fish friends

If they are that into touching the rays.....you should check out Discovery Cove!

We went 9/5 and it was awesome. Those rays literally come to you and there are tons!!!! There was a giant one laying on the bottom with sand on it that would have me to death if it started swimming : )


Here are some Discovery Cove pics -

There is a glass barrier to view these guys

 

[Deb & Bill]

The last time we were at Seaworld, there was an area where you could touch the rays.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

crisi, thanks for the tip

daisyy, that's great. Yeah, my dd10, who will be 11 when we go, is the only one here that is interested in doing it also. I may be able to be persuaded. I usually am for the kids. EE was a no-no on my list and dd10 guilted me in to go going on it. (Not really, all she had to do was ask, I have a problem with telling my kids No while in Disney World, it just doesn't seem right )

gabrielsbigtrip, thanks for the advice and the pics, love the one of the sting ray, he's huge. We do plan on spending a few days in Orland before the start of our Disney Trip to do a few things, maybe we'll add that to our list.

Debandbill, thanks, we may be going to Seaworld



I had no idea this would get that many responses, i'm so glad we're finding all of this out. Thanks, again.