Disney has announced that they will soon be moving one manatee and three dolphins out of The Seas in EPCOT. Hopefully, this means they are planning maintenance and updates and not doing something stupid like they are with Rivers of America. Currently, the three dolphins are part of “The Seas with Nemo” attraction, which circles the aquarium in the pavilion.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Lou, the manatee, will be moved to another rehabilitation center tomorrow. However, another manatee will be brought to The Seas’ SeaBase as a new companion for Lil’ Joe. All the manatees that come to EPCOT’s SeaBase have been injured and are in various states of rehabilitation.
“Most manatees at The Seas Pavilion are here for a temporary stay. They’re carefully monitored and expertly cared for—with the goal of being returned to the wild after an appropriate amount of rest, recovery and rehabilitation.”
Disney offered this statement saying,
“While we will greatly miss Lou, we do look forward to aiding this other manatee in the next stage of rehabilitation as we continue to do our part in addressing the manatee crisis in Florida, which has seen declining manatee populations in the past few years.”
The change from Lou to another manatee is being done “as part of a broader set of manatee moves around the state” under the recommendation of the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services.
The Seas Dolphins
Sadly, Lou isn’t the only change coming. EPCOT’s three male dolphins will also move to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach. That move isn’t happening until late October, but it will cause the “Dolphins in Depth” and “DiveQuest” experiences to be halted after October 19, 2024. DiveQuest is expected to return in 2025, but there is no word on whether dolphins will once again return to The Seas.
Disney said they are moving the dolphins for their well-being as “work progresses at The Seas.”
“This decision came after a comprehensive evaluation as to what is best for these dolphins as infrastructure work progresses at The Seas.”
I’m hoping this simply means maintenance and updates and not something more drastic.
If you want to see Lou the manatee you are probably out of luck unless you are currently at EPCOT. The dolphins have a few weeks left until they are moved.
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