A Toddler’s Guide to the Seas with Nemo and Friends
Epcot is home to one of my toddler’s favorite rides and attractions - The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Join us as we explore the ride and rate just how tot-friendly it is.
THE RIDE
Once entering the queue, you will soon find yourself transported underwater. Just keep swimming to the front of the line in order to board your pink clamshell ride vehicle. #Tot Tip: In order to obtain the effect of being underwater, most of the line is quite dark. My toddler was nervous the first time we walked through. This was his very first ride and I don’t think he understood what was happening. By our second trip onto the ride, he seemed completely fine with how dark the line was.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a slow, continuous moving ride. Two or three guests can fit into each clamshell vehicle. There is a moving walkway (think conveyor belt) you must step onto and then step into the ride. I get my toddler settled inside first, then I get in and place my bags on the floor at my feet. A small door will slide shut. There are no other seatbelts, lap bars etc.
There is no height requirement, which means that babies of any age can ride as well. Our 10 month old really enjoys all the colors and the songs!
All together, the ride is a little under 4 minutes long. We join Marlin and Dory as they embark on another journey to find Nemo. Along the way, you’ll see all the familiar characters from the movie. There’s beautiful animations and catchy songs. #Tot Tip: This is more or less a dark ride. But two scenes in particular are pretty dark. My toddler covered his eyes the first time he rode this. After riding it again, he became more comfortable with those parts of the ride since he knew what to expect. There was nothing scary that happened, it was just a transition from one scene to the next, but if your little one gets nervous in similar situations, I would definitely recommend telling them to expect it ahead of time. Overall, If your tot is a fan of Finding Nemo like mine, they will absolutely love this ride.
THE AQUARIUM
After the ride, you step out into a 5.7 million gallon saltwater aquarium. It’s home to different varieties of fish, sharks, rays, dolphins and more! There are two floors of tanks, interactive elements and photo ops, as well as a gift shop. My toddler will spend hours walking around the aquarium, and since it’s inside and air conditioned, we definitely don’t mind taking a break from the heat inside.
Located within the aquarium is a live, interactive show called Turtle Talk with Crush. The show is 15 minutes long and allows you the chance to ask Crush any questions you might have! Since it’s improvised, you’ll get a different experience each time you visit. #Tot Tip: Even if you reserve a lightning lane for this ride, you might still end up waiting the full 15 minutes in between shows. We had the misfortune of timing it so we arrived just as the previous show was starting. My toddler lasted about 3 minutes waiting before declaring he wanted to leave.
FREE SCAVENGER HUNT!
Very few phrases at Disney begin with the word free. But in the Seas with Nemo & Friends aquarium, there’s a complimentary, self guided scavenger hunt available. Near the exit to the ride, you’ll see the booklets that are available to any guest.
Follow the clues and help Dory find her friends. It’s a fun and educational activity for your tots! As an added bonus, there are a few pages of Finding Nemo stickers inside the booklet that my toddler was a huge fan of. Once you’ve completed the scavenger hunt, it’s a great souvenir to take home.
FINAL RATING
I’d rate the Seas with Nemo & Friends a 4.5 out of 5 in terms of how tot-friendly it is. Although it’s a great first ride for little ones, there are few times the lack of lighting made my toddler nervous. Let your toddler know what to expect before riding, and this ride will be fun for the whole family!