The Seas with Nemo & Friends

When I first visited Disneyworld, this attraction was called ‘The Living Seas’. When originally completed, in 1886, it was the largest manufactured underwater environment in the world. You entered the attraction at ground level & after watching a short film about how the oceans were created, you travelled to ‘Sea Base Alpha’ in a simulated ‘Hydrolator’ (underwater elevator). You then rode through an underwater, glass, tunnel to the main exhibit area where there was free access to the aquarium.

This has now been revamped as ‘The Seas with Nemo & Friends’. You still enter the attraction at ground level but now take your very own ‘Clamobile’ to the aquarium. The clamobiles take you through the ocean with Marlin, Dory, & other Finding Nemo characters that are all searching for Nemo (who has got lost again). You travel through the coral reef where Marlin the Clownfish is searching for Nemo. Towards the end of the reef, you meet up with Mr Ray & his students before coming across a group of jellyfish. Then a crazy Anglerfish comes out of the darkness & chases you down towards a huge submarine wreck in the middle of a minefield with Bruce, Chum, & Mako the sharks swimming about, reminding Bruce that, "Fish are friends, not food! The clamobiles the get swept up into the EAC with Nemo, Crush, & Squirt, before arriving at the aquarium.

We had a walk around, looked at loads of fish & other sealife in the huge aquarium & then lined up for ‘Turtle Talk’ with Crush the turtle. To pass the time, the entrance to this attraction was next to an open topped tank containing stingrays that you could pet & watch swim & jump. Turtle Talk was really cool (&, I think, Cheryl’s favourite attraction)! All the children sat on the floor in front of a huge screen (which looked out into the animated Ocean) with parents on the bleachers behind. When Crush arrived, he taught the children how to talk turtle – it’s like radicaaaal duuude. He then asked them some questions & would describe the child that he wanted to answer to the assistant in the room. After a while, he swam off & came back with a red & white striped bikini top around his neck as if he was wearing it. He then asked the children what it was, as he seemed proud of his find! When none of them answered he asked the parents & a woman told him what it was, to which he answered, "so it’s a totally chick thing?" When everyone chorused yes, he turned bright red & quickly swam off only to return looking really embarrassed! The most impressive thing about Turtle Talk was that despite Crush being animated, and not knowing who was going to answer or what they were going to say, there were no delays in his voice & his expressions matched exactly what he said – very interactive & totally cool!