TL do you really swim with sharks

[disneyjulie]

My DD is scared of sharks and won't go if they are real.

 

[mwerner2]

Yes they are real, but they are also very small. No threat at all.

 

[Ted and Holly]

The sharks in the Shark Reef are small tiger and bonnethead sharks. Nothing at all to worry about. They usually stay towards the bottom. If they do venture up, it is just to move around. They are well fed and you really only have to worry if you have bait in your pocket. Most people don't.

Ted

 

[MamaKate]

My DD is scared of sharks and won't go if they are real.

My daughter was scared to swim with them also. But I told her the sharks were under glass and only the fish come up to you. That's what I thought at first, until during our third time through a small hammerhead looking shark came up and touched me. So I asked the worker and she told me they all swim freely.

So I told my daughter and she freaked out at first, but since she realized that they hadn't bothered her while she swam through numerous times before, she was fine and we did it several time after.

Sharks are mostly bottom dwelling fish, so most of them stay towards the bottom. Like mwerner2 stated, they are pretty small, the biggest probably being around 3 ft. long.

It was really neat and you should try it at least once. Hope she opens up to the idea.

,
Katie

 

[Ted and Holly]

It is a great experience, but now that they do the whole lead in lecture and "Dory says..." game, it is only worth it (in my opinion) to go once during a day at TL.

Ted

 

[disneyjulie]

Thanks!!! It was good to get the facts. I had her read this thread and she still said never ever. I hope she changes her mind after she see's how little they are.

 

[KimWDW]

Those sharks are so well-fed, I don't worry at all. One touched my husband (just his dorsal fin). As long as you don't freak out and kick one in the head, you're fine. Also, I wouldn't go in if you were menstruating, but that's just being on the cautious side. They are slow moving small sharks (probably 4 feet max) and they do mostly stay at the bottom.

 

[langin]

I am curious to know how deep it isand how long? My boys are not the greatest swimmers, they'll have life jackets on, of course but they will be a little freaked when they realize they can't touch the bottom

 

[daughterlovestink]

Do we have to set this up ahead of time? We really want to swim with the sharks when we go TL in Aug.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I am curious to know how deep it isand how long? My boys are not the greatest swimmers, they'll have life jackets on, of course but they will be a little freaked when they realize they can't touch the bottom

They tell you how deep it is in the little presentation at the beginning. I think it is 10 and a half. Looks deeper though.

You don't need to set this up before hand. It is an attraction included in TL admission. The line can get quite long though.

Ted

 

[westjones]

We wanted to do this last Friday, but all 4 of us just couldn't get our masks to work right. Each time we put our faces in the water they started filling up. There were 2 others in our group that had this happend to also. About 6 of us gave up and left, but it seemed like most people were doing it.

We do not snorkle, so we probably didn't know what we were doing. I was wondering if we could buy some and bring our own next time. We could always use them on the cruise also if we had them. I didn't see anyone with their own, has anyone taken their own equipment before?

Thanks,
DJ

 

[Ted and Holly]

We wanted to do this last Friday, but all 4 of us just couldn't get our masks to work right. Each time we put our faces in the water they started filling up. There were 2 others in our group that had this happend to also. About 6 of us gave up and left, but it seemed like most people were doing it.

We do not snorkle, so we probably didn't know what we were doing. I was wondering if we could buy some and bring our own next time. We could always use them on the cruise also if we had them. I didn't see anyone with their own, has anyone taken their own equipment before?

Thanks,
DJ

I haven't done it, but I think I saw some kids with swimming goggles in line. I don't know if they were allowed in with them.

If you do buy a mask and snorkel, buy them at a scuba store. They will be able to properly outfit you. It may cost a bit more, but having decent equipment is so much better than buying kits from a blister pack and having them fall apart on you.

Ted

 

[Leigha]

My DD14 was all for it last year! My DD10 wasn't so sure. She made it to the entry and chickened out. She and DH watched us several times and she then tried it. After the first time, she loved it!! We went several more. We aren't used to the equipment either but there is a large rock you can go to and rest and "gather" yourself about half way through. It really isn't that large of a space to begin with. At least have her try it with the option she can leave if she wants and maybe join you later!

 

[GGOOFY1]

It is soooo worth it. You can not kick you feet or you will be to the other side in seconds. Just float in the water and gently move with arms and hands. The fish are so used to people in the water, they will come right up to you. I almost stepped on a stingray sunning himself on the ledge where you enter the reef! It makes TL my favorite water park.
23 days till we go home to OKW
& friends

 

[diswedwish]

We tried this for the first time last Nov. and loved it A few things to add: you can stand inside the submarine and see what you'll be swimming with before you try it, keep trying if your mask doesn't fit right and don't be afraid to ask for help - it took us a few tries and the CMs were very helpful - off course it was Nov. so it wasn't too crowded. In regards to the sharks - when we did Aqua Seas at Epcot, they told us that they feed the sharks at a particular time on particular days and they are conditioned to it. I think the time was 2 am or some time guests would never be there. They're so conditioned to "food-time" that they won't even eat the other food for the other fish. I'd imagine that TL's sharks are similar (but smaller). Why eat smelly people toes at 3 pm if you're used to eating your usual yummy meal at 2 am?

 

[ralfrick]

The sharks in the Shark Reef are small tiger and bonnethead sharks. Nothing at all to worry about. They usually stay towards the bottom. If they do venture up, it is just to move around. They are well fed and you really only have to worry if you have bait in your pocket. Most people don't.

Ted

Actually, I belive they're leopard sharks, not tiger sharks. Of the 300+ types of sharks in the oceans, maybe a dozen or 2 are going to pose a threat, and even then, not always in all situations. That group does include tiger sharks. Anytime you hear of a shark having just about anything in their stomach, license plates, small appliances or weird stuff like that, it's probably a tiger. I've been on a shark feeding dive in the Bahamas with reef sharks, but I'd have worried a bit if a tiger shark had shown up.

Cheers.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Actually, I belive they're leopard sharks, not tiger sharks. Of the 300+ types of sharks in the oceans, maybe a dozen or 2 are going to pose a threat, and even then, not always in all situations. That group does include tiger sharks. Anytime you hear of a shark having just about anything in their stomach, license plates, small appliances or weird stuff like that, it's probably a tiger. I've been on a shark feeding dive in the Bahamas with reef sharks, but I'd have worried a bit if a tiger shark had shown up.

Cheers.

Yikes! I always mix the names up!. And that is a pretty serious mix-up.

Yes, Leopard sharks are not going to bother you. Tiger sharks might.

Ted

 

[PamNC]

but they won't bite or eat you. They aren't that big.

PamNC

 

[snshine123]

Where and what is Shark Reef-it sounds great but I have no idea where or what it is-we are taking or first trip to WDW the last week of July and this sounds like it would be right up my DH and DS alley...also does anyone have any information on the WIshes Cruise-I'm not sure exactly what it is other than its at the MK and a step down so to speak from Illuminations cruise-thanks for the help-great boards-very informative!

 

[msr709]

Where and what is Shark Reef-it sounds great but I have no idea where or what it is-we are taking or first trip to WDW the last week of July and this sounds like it would be right up my DH and DS alley...also does anyone have any information on the WIshes Cruise-I'm not sure exactly what it is other than its at the MK and a step down so to speak from Illuminations cruise-thanks for the help-great boards-very informative!

Swimming with the sharks is an attraction at Typhoon Lagoon, one of Disney's Waterparks. It is very, very cool attraction. And TL also has a new water roller-coaster. In July you will definitely have a great time at the waterparks. HTH