If you’re looking for a unique and personal encounter with some of the ocean’s most intelligent creatures, the Dolphins in Depth experience at The Seas in EPCOT offers an unforgettable opportunity. This behind-the-scenes tour lets you interact with dolphins, learn more about their behavior, and gain a deeper understanding of their care at Walt Disney World. Becky Gandillon, coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World recently enjoyed Dolphins in Depth with her daughter. Here is her report.
What to Expect
The Dolphins in Depth experience is a 2-hour tour that focuses on learning about dolphins and their care, along with hands-on interactions. Your journey begins with a backstage look at The Seas Pavilion, where you’ll learn about Disney’s efforts in marine conservation, the logistics of maintaining an aquarium this large, the feeding of the Seas’ inhabitants, and the training methods used with the dolphins. Experts will share fascinating details about the dolphins’ habits, their intelligence, and how their care is tailored to their needs.
While this isn’t a full-on swim with dolphins, the highlight of the tour is the chance to enter the waist-deep water and interact with them. You’ll be able to touch, play, and communicate with them, guided by Disney’s trainers. This interaction is closely supervised, ensuring both guest and dolphin safety. You’ll even get to watch a training or research session.
Tour Details
The tour runs Tuesday through Saturday and is offered once daily at 10:30 a.m. Pricing for Dolphins in Depth is $209 per guest (plus tax), and unlike most tours at Walt Disney World, valid park admission is not required to participate. The experience is limited to eight participants or less to ensure a personalized experience. Guests must be at least 48 inches tall to participate, and you’ll be given wet suits for your waist-deep time in the water with the dolphins. You’ll need a swimsuit; you’ll be provided with lockers.
For those who want to take away memories of their experience, photos will be taken during your time with the dolphins and provided to you as part of the tour package, so you don’t need to worry about bringing your own camera.
If you’re fascinated by dolphins or looking for a truly unique experience at EPCOT, the Dolphins in Depth tour offers a blend of education, conservation awareness, and unforgettable personal interaction with these amazing animals.
UPDATE: On September 10th, Disney announced that the Dolphins in Depth encounter will end on October 19th. In late October 2024, all three of EPCOT’s dolphins will relocate to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
About the author: Becky Gandillon is the coauthor of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. From St. Louis, Missouri, Becky has been a Disney fan since she was 18 months old! She combines her love for data and Disney by analyzing crowd and touring patterns at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Becky and her husband love traveling both to the World and around the real world with their two daughters. You might run into their redheaded family in some of their favorite places—in Orlando, at sea on a Disney cruise ship, at a ski resort in the Rockies, or at a national park!
For all there is to see and do at Walt Disney World, check out The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and sign up for our newsletter here. Be sure to follow us on Threads, X, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
