Heading left from The Land, we arrive at The Living Seas pavilion. Welcome to Seabase Alpha.
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| Disney Avenue |
The Living Seas
At 5,700,000 gallons, The Living Seas pavilion is home to the second largest saltwater tank in the world (behind only the Georgia Aquarium).
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| Laughing Place |
Looking Back
The Living Seas pavilion opened in 1986, although it had been a planned pavilion since the beginning. In the original pavilion, guests first saw a film - simply titled The Seas - which showed how the oceans were formed ("And they rained...and rained...and rained"). Guests would then board a Hydrolator, which would take them to Seabase Alpha and then ride omnimoving Seacabs through the coral reef. Although the Hydrolators gave the impression that they were going down into the ocean, guests actually remained on the same level the entire time. Once at Seabase Alpha, guests were able to explore exhibits with fish, dolphins, and manatees.
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| Disney Parks Blog |
In 1998, the original sponsor of the pavilion, United Technologies, pulled it sponsorship. Over the next six years, attendance began to decline. The Seacabs were taken away in 2001, and guests were also given the option to skip the film. It was during this time that The Living Seas received the nickname “The Dead Seas.”
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| Disney Parks Blog |
Finally in December 2003, The Walt Disney Company began to re-theme the pavilion to be based off of the successful Pixar film Finding Nemo. Over the new couple of years, Nemo and his gang made themselves at home in The Living Seas. Turtle Talk with Crush was the first Nemo-themed attraction to open at the pavilion, and its surprise success made the pavilion a must-visit once again.
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| Walt Disney World |
On August 21, 2005, the pavilion closed for a renovation when it transformed into The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Parts of the pavilion reopened in November of the same year with noticeable changes to the facade of the building where depictions of Nemo and his friends could now be seen in the murals. The exit Hydrolators had also been removed and Seabase Alpha was re-themed to Finding Nemo.
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| WDW Ride Guide |
The Seas with Nemo & Friends was rededicated on January 24, 2007. When the pavilion completely reopened, it featured a new Clamobile attraction that took guests on an omnimover style ride through the story of Finding Nemo. Similar to its predecessor, the ride concluded inside the tank. The different exhibits inside the pavilion were also re-themed to Nemo. Outside the pavilion, three audio-animatronic seagulls were added, and the trio periodically flap their wings and say “Mine! Mine! Mine!” just like in the hit film.
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| WDW Info |
The re-theming of The Living Seas pavilion to The Seas with Nemo & Friends marked the first time a Disney animated movie property had its own pavilion. It was also only the second time an Epcot attraction featured characters from a movie, with Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable being the first.
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| Walt Disney World |
Looking Forward
Like many of the opening day themes of the pavilions, The Living Seas entertained, informed, and inspiring as it taught guests about the ocean, the animals that live in them, and man's impact on them. Now, I feel The Seas with Nemo & Friends is focused on only one thing: Nemo.
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| Disney Parks Blog |
I believe it’s time to get back to educating guests about the oceans and how we can help them. In a world that is becoming increasingly smaller every day, we need to all know how to protect the natural world around us, and the oceans are no exception. I would love to see a more dominate exhibit on recycling and how plastic and other items are detrimental to wildlife. Disney already does such a great job with conservation that I think it’s time to bring that back to the pavilion.
On a lighter note, I think it would be fun for them to re-theme the pavilion to be the Marine Life Institute. It would not only incorporate the newest installment to the Nemo franchise with Finding Dory, but it would also give them a chance to bring more education into the pavilion. The dolphin research experience at the pavilion is so fun to watch for kids of all ages, and I believe more of that interaction will only increase guest attendance to the pavilion.
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| Raising Whasians |
It’s a big blue world out there, and it’s time for us to learn all about it once again.
Robyn Fleenor is a contributing writer for The Mouse Knows Best Podcast. She is an avid Disney fanatic and would rather be at Walt Disney World eating glazed almonds than anything else. When she isn't working to pay for her next Disney vacation, she likes to binge watch TV shows and fall in love with fictional characters. She can be found tweeting at @rahrah6263.
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