ALERT: Iconic Backstage Tour Will Permanently CLOSE Next Week in EPCOT

While many closures have been announced for Disney World, one closure is about to hit EPCOT next week.

Spaceship Earth

Just earlier this month, Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy closed permanently to make way for a new Disney Villains stage show coming to Hollywood Studios. The closures of DinoLand U.S.A. and Tom Sawyer Island, along with the Rivers of America, are imminent, as they will soon close to make way for new attractions. Currently, Test Track is closed in EPCOT as it is being reimagined into a third version of the attraction. Soon, another experience at EPCOT will close, but this closure is permanent.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends is home to an impressive 5.7 million gallon saltwater aquarium. Here, you can learn all about sea life and even take a ride with Nemo and all his friends on The Seas with Nemo & Friends.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

It was announced earlier last month that one manatee and three dolphins would be permanently removed from the pavilion.

Manatee Exhibit

Lou, the 1,800-pound manatee, moved to a manatee rehabilitation center in Florida on September 11th of this year. Lil Joe, the other manatee housed in the pavilion, got to meet his new friend, Inigo, shortly after Lou’s relocation.

Hey, Inigo!

While the manatee exhibit is still at EPCOT, Disney World announced in late October that it will relocate three dolphins to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach.

Dolphins in EPCOT

Due to this, the EPCOT Seas Adventures — Dolphins in Depth tour will permanently close. Disney said, “This decision came after a comprehensive evaluation as to what is best for these dolphins as infrastructure work progresses at The Seas.”

©Disney

The backstage tour is a two-hour tour and dolphin encounter, and it will end on October 19th, just one week away. While this tour is not permanently closing, EPCOT Seas Adventures — DiveQuest, a two-hour backstage tour and SCUBA experience in the 5.7-million-gallon saltwater aquarium, will also close on October 19th. According to Disney, DiveQuest will return in 2025. Reservations for both backstage tours will still be honored through October 19th. As of October 20th, the tour will be officially closed.

©Disney

Make sure to make plans to visit EPCOT before the three male dolphins are relocated and to say hello to Inigo, the new manatee!

Lil Joe and Inigo

As always, continue to follow along with Disney Food Blog for all the latest Disney news, tips, and updates!

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