swimming with dolphins or sharks

[bray]

I seem to recall reading that Disney offers swimming with either sharks or dolphins. I know it sounds crazy. However, we will be at the WL from June 6-12 and had hoped to spend the 7th at a waterpark.

Any suggestions? My 7 year old DD can't wait for this trip. She is a good swimmer and would love to swim with dolphins at Disney. It has been two years since she was last at WDW. Lat summer she had to "suffer" through a GREAT 7 day DCL cruise!


DL--1999
PO--2000
CB--2001
DCL4 day --2001
DCL 7 day-2002

 

[sunking]

the shark reef is offered at typhoon lagoon...it contains a few leopard and hammerhead sharks and some tropical fish...
have fun!!!
sunking

 

[PanamaMike]

According to Birnbaum's WDW Guide, the sharks in the Shark Reef pool are leopard, nurse and bonnethead. It also says you must be at least 10 years old to enter the pool.

Discovery Cove at Sea World has an all day dolphin experience. The minimum age is 6, but the cost is $229.

 

[donna in Oz]

Will she turn age 8 before your trip? At the Living Seas in EPCOT, you and she could participate in their newest tour, the Aqua Seas Tour.

There is no "interaction" between the inhabitants of the acquarium and yourself, but you are able to swim in the tanks with them. Here's info from Deb Wills' website about this tour:

EPCOT SEAS AQUA TOUR

Epcot Seas Aqua Tour, is now available to persons aged 8 and above. Persons under 18 must be accompanied by a participating adults.

Program is offered daily at 12:30pm. The 2.5 hour experience includes 30 minutes in the Living Seas aquarium. The $100 includes all your gear, a T-Shirt and group photo.

Park admission is NOT required. Discounts available for Disney Vacation Club and Disney Club members.

Bring a bathing suit! You will be given a wetsuit to wear. No special certification required.

 

[slp87]

My daughter was 7 when she swam in the Shark Reef at TL. They didn't even ask her age and we saw no signs indicating an age limit. She had a blast and even went through it twice.

 

[SuiteDisney]

You don't have to be 10 to snorkel in Shark Reef, but children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

http://www.***********.com/fe3d0ec0.jpg

http://www.***********.com/fe4d0ee0.jpg

There is a backstage tour called Dolphins in Depth, but the minimum age for that is 16 (at least it was 16 when I did it.) It's a learning experience with a "hopeful" interraction with the dolphins at the end. They say "hopeful" because it isn't forced. If the dolphins don't want to participate, they don't have to. But the dolphins have always wanted to participate and you're in the water with them for about half an hour. You get to touch and hold them, but not actually swim with them.

 

[bray]

The shark reef at typhoon lagoon sounds great. Is wearing a snorkeling mask and tube required? She is fine with a mask, but we didn't have much luck with the tube last year at Trunk Bay in the Virgin Islands.

Is there an additional charge for this? Also, is there a "better" time to do it? We had not planned on spending a day at TL, because a lot of posts indicated Blizzard Beach was better.

Thanks--counting down the days. Two more days until ballet recital and then we're out of here!