BAY LAKE, Fla – There will soon be fewer sea friends to see at EPCOT.
Disney World announced on Tuesday that it’s moving forward with infrastructural plans for its The Seas with Nemo & Friends attraction. Due to the changes and the theme park’s commitment to conservation and care for animals, the decision was made to permanently relocate three male dolphins and a manatee to non-Disney locations.
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“As we look to the future of The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT, we are making some changes that require careful thought, prioritizing the wellbeing of these sensitive marine mammals,” Disney said in a statement.
In late October, Disney will be moving the dolphins to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach which is led by a marine mammal expert who formally worked at The Seas and cared for the dolphins.
As for the manatees, Disney will relocate Lou on Wednesday to another manatee rehabilitation center in Florida. In return, EPCOT will receive another manatee to be the companion to Lil Joe.
According to Disney, Lou’s move is being done as part of a broader statewide initiative by the Manatee Rehabilitation Partnership and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services which directs and manages the rehabilitation and conservation of manatees throughout Florida.
“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,” Disney said in a statement.
With the planned changes, Disney will continue to honor previously booked guest reservations for Dolphins in Depth and DiveQuest experiences through Oct. 19. DiveQuest is expected to return in 2025.
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