EPCOT’s Living Seas and Dolphin Research #MonkeyKingdomEvent

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When we were in Orlando at the Monkey Kingdom Event, 24 other bloggers and I spent some time in Epcot’s Living Seas exhibit and had the opportunity to watch a dolphin  research session.  The Living Seas has always been one of my favorite parts of Epcot because of all of the sea life they have there including all sorts of fish, sharks, stingrays, and more.

P1240500 (1024x768)The manatees were mesmerizing.  
P1240504 (1024x768)At this moment I was wishing I was the diver in the water.  
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P1240554 (1024x768) Look, I found Nemo!!!

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Did you know coral only grows the size of a speck of dust per year?  It’s amazing how big they get knowing how slow they grow!

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Fun Facts we learned at Epcot’s Living Seas:

  • There are 5.7 million gallons of water in the Living Seas at Epcot.
  • The living Seas is AZA accredited (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) just like the zoo at Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge.
  • They only feed the fish and other sea animals restaurant quality food.
  • The sea life at the Living Seas learn to come to food so they will come easily to their trainers and vets when they need an exam.
  • Sharks eat sick fish which helps get these sick fish out of the fish population so humans won’t end up eating sick fish.
  • I think the most fascinating thing we learned is that Nemo ride scenery starts at night.  Then guests go  down the beach until they make it into the sea where the ride starts.  This is just like the path a baby sea turtle takes.  I’ve been on the ride many times and never realized the symbolism before.

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P1240541 (1024x768)My favorite part of our experience in the Living Seas was watching a dolphin training session.  The dolphins have been taught to recognize various object.  The trainer holds up an object against the glass tank and the dolphin makes specific sounds that represent each different object.  There are audio devices inside the take that transmit these sounds to other researchers who are outside of the tank listening for these sounds.  It was so amazing to watch these beautiful, intelligent animals.  I hope to one day do Disney’s Dolphins in Depth tour where guests get into the water with the dolphins.
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Don’t forget to take your family to see Monkey Kingdom!!!

Disclosure- I was invited on an all expense paid trip to Orlando for the Monkey Kingdom Event.  All opinions are 100% my own.

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