Turtle Trek

RabFlmom

DIS Veteran
Joined
Jun 4, 2003
Messages
1,903
Was not really what I expected. Was a little disappointing. it was a wait wait wait type show and not even sure if people realized the standing portions watching the animals swim in the small aquariums were part of the show. I think we thought it was a preview of what was to come later when we got in.

Let me start at the beginning. Sign said 35 minute wait. So you walk in the old exit of the old manatee viewing building and stand outside in the line. Then you get let in to a room where there is a lower line and an upper line. There is an aquarium window to the left . A Couple manatees eventually swam in there. Right now I can't even remember if there were any other fish in this aquarium. Then after you stand there for 15-20 minutes you are let into another aquarium room. There were alligator gar, huge black and white cat fish in this one and some other types of fish. Then you get let into the next room where the turtles are in the aquarium. The turtles were cool, but for some reason I had assumed that they had built an aquarium that was 360 viewing and that they would be swimming overhead and all around you. So I found it disappointing that only the film was 360. Also I think they should have the CM tell you which kind of sea turtles were in the aquarium. There may have been pictures somewhere telling what type they were but I could not see them .
As for the 3-D film. I loved it. It was fast moving and really awesome, but I have to caution anyone who has motion sickness that you might have problems watching this. You stand to watch it and at times I even felt a little dizzy. The pictures spin around you and you move your head around to not miss anything . I decided that my older sister and my niece would not be able to enjoy it within a couple minutes of it starting.
My other caution is that it is time consuming and you stand for over an hour to view this not even including the wait time you see out front. If someone can't stand for long periods of time, I suggest getting a wheel chair.
 
I'm curious, is the wait time for turtle trek the time to get into the preview aquariums? Or the time to get into the theatre?
 

I'm curious, is the wait time for turtle trek the time to get into the preview aquariums? Or the time to get into the theatre?


We waited outside for quite awhile and then waited inside for another 10-15 minutes because we didn't make the first group but we were the first to go next after the wheel chairs. Then we were in the first room where the 2 manatees were in the aquarium for another 15-20 minutes even though the manatees only graced us with maybe a 5 minute swim in front of the windows. Then in the next room there was a 10 minute sign on the door but was longer than 10 minutes to get into where the turtles were in the aquarium,Maybe 5-7 minutes longer than the sign said. And then another long wait while watching turtles before doors to theater opened. Only one CM even talked about any of the animals in the aquariums and mostly it was the story line for the movie inside not what kind of turtles etc. She asked a few questions but mostly the crowd was just talking among themselves thinking that Turtle Trek hadn't even started yet and that we were waiting to get into a big aquarium with turtles swimming all around us or something and the smaller aquariums were just a preview. Its better than the turtle area was before and the movie portion is cool but I think they need to tweak it and make it more educational experience while you wait.

We got to the park about 11:30, son rode Manta(no line) and we viewed the aquarium. Walked from there to Turtle Trek,maybe spent 2 minutes watching the dolphins on the way. After TT went straight to Voyagers for lunch and it was almost 2:30 already. Remember that because as we were looking at menu husband said "No wonder I'm hungry" LOL
 
Wow, sounds like Turtle Trek is a huge time suck. 2 hours. I think we'll skip this one for now.
 
I really think it depends on the crowds. I was there last Wednesday and, after using quick queue to enter the building directly, spent about 10 minutes in the manatee room, about 10 minutes in the turtle room, and then about 10 minutes viewing the movie. As you enter the building, the sign warns that the attraction will take 30 minutes total. There were plenty of manatee and turtles swimming around when I was there.

I really enjoyed the movie!
 














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