New Manatees Arrive at The Seas with Nemo & Friends as Disney Continues to Transition into Short-Term Critical Care

Meet Cider and Mino and learn more about Disney's committment to manatee rehabilitation.

Earlier this year, Disney’s manatee exhibit at The Seas with Nemo & Friends was temporarily closed as they relocated their resident manatees to another facility. Now, Disney has shared more information about EPCOT’s new short-term rehabilitation focus with their “sea cow" residents.

What’s Happening:

Disney Experiences has provided an update on the future of their manatee exhibit at EPCOT’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends, including more details on their new short-term care initiative.
Previously, the large aquarium housed long-term resident manatees, where fans were able to see the iconic Lil Joe and his new friend Inigo.
However, both manatees were recently moved to The Gulfarium in part of a rehabilitation effort.

This move was the first step in Disney’s transitioning focus to short-term critical care for their manatee exhibit, which is happening in collaboration with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
As Disney continues to transition into this new role, guests can expect to see new faces at the manatee exhibit, including younger manatees who need care.

This includes Cider and Mino, who have just arrived at The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT is one of several facilities nationwide participating in the MRP, which aims to rehabilitate and release manatees back into the wild.
Manatees face many threats in the wild, including habitat loss and boat injuries, leading to their classification as a federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act.
Over 2,000 manatee deaths were recorded in Florida between 2020 and 2022, with FWS declaring the situation an Unusual Mortality Event (UME).
While mortality rates improved in 2024, an increased number of manatee calves were affected by the loss of natural seagrass.
Disney’s refocus on short-term care is largely due to a growing need for critical care.
As many critical care facilities have grown increasingly overwhelmed, this refocus will be essential to protecting the beloved manatee.
Disney has incredible facilities for animal care at both EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. The aquarium at The Seas with Nemo & Friends is equipped with important features for rehabilitation, including a medical life that allows Disney’s animal health team to draw blood and perform radiographs. Disney’s on-site veterinary hospital at Animal Kingdom also contains a CT machine that is integral for manatee rehabilitation and care.

Disney also allows other MPR partners to use their equipment when needed.
Disney’s commitment to animal welfare at their large aquarium also extends to water quality, which is integral for the health of Walt Disney World’s aquatic friends.
Including divers and chemists, The Seas with Nemo & Friends is committed to the wellbeing of manatees and other sea creatures alike.

What They’re Saying:

Dr. Jen, veterinarian at Walt Disney World: “As strandings increase, critical care facilities are becoming overwhelmed, so by shifting our focus, we open up space at The Seas for more of those urgent cases. This helps relieve pressure on overcrowded facilities, supports the MRP’s efforts, and boosts our contribution to manatee conservation, which is what excites me most about shifting from long-term care to short-term rehabilitation."
Dr. Geoff, Disney’s Animal Health Director: “Our role begins once critical and acute care has been completed. At that point, we may receive a stable manatee that simply needs some time to grow or gain weight before being released, typically during the winter months. In other cases, we provide specialized care and expertise to help the manatee recover. The hope is that no manatee remains with us for too long — usually no more than six to nine months. Our goal is to ensure they are healthy and strong enough for a successful release back into the wild during the winter periods."

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