The Seas with Nemo & Friends

The Seas with Nemo & Friends is a large public aquarium at Epcot in Florida holding more than 5.7 million gallons of saltwater. The complex spans multiple levels with viewing areas that let visitors observe underwater life from different angles, walking through tunnels and past wide panels of glass.

The facility opened in 1986 as The Living Seas and ranked among the largest artificial seawater aquariums of its time. The original concept used hydraulic elevators to create a simulated descent to the ocean floor before the venue received a thematic redesign in later years.

The pavilion blends animation with real underwater life through projections that overlay cartoon characters onto the aquarium glass. Visitors watch actual sea creatures while animated figures appear to swim alongside them, making the educational purpose of the facility feel more playful.

The facility is open during all park hours and provides accessible routes to most viewing areas. Mornings and late afternoons tend to be less crowded around the glass panels, giving visitors more room to follow the animals.

The system uses separate water circuits for different marine environments, allowing sharks, dolphins, and tropical fish to live in tanks tailored to their specific needs. This division lets caretakers regulate temperature and salinity for each species without affecting the welfare of other residents.