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Enjoy a Finding Nemo Day in Walt Disney World

Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Credit: Disney

Pixar is well known for creating wonderful animated films that are filled with adventures and characters that Guests fall in love with. Finding Nemo immediately became a huge success upon its release in 2003 where Guests were able to follow along with Marlin and Dory as they searched the oceans to find Nemo. In addition to the main trio, Finding Nemo introduced many other loveable friends like Crush, Squirt, Bruce, Gil, and more, and the film’s popularity led to the 2016 release of Finding Dory.

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The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Credit: Disney

With such success and loveable characters, it is no surprise that Finding Nemo was incorporated into the Walt Disney World Resort with some amazing experiences found at the Disney Parks as well as the Disney Resorts. Guests who are fans of Finding Nemo should definitely plan on checking out the experiences on this list to have the perfect day celebrating the beloved film at the Walt Disney World Resort!

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Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Credit: Disney

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

The best way to begin a Finding Nemo day at the Walt Disney World Resort is by staying at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. This value Disney Resort celebrates the beauty of animation and Guests can enjoy several different themed areas that bring beloved classics to life, including Finding Nemo, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.

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Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Credit: Disney

The Finding Nemo area of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort features massive buildings that have been painted to depict the various depths of the oceans filled with different sea creatures, coral, and even cresting waves on top. Also found throughout the area are huge sculptures of favorite characters including Mr. Ray and Crush as well as coral pieces and jelly fish that make great backdrops for photos.

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Interior Room

Credit: Disney

The rooms in the Finding Nemo section of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort continue the film’s theme with family suites featuring many different blue tones with pops of bright coral colors. Guests are sure to love the comfortable accommodations including a headboard that looks like brightly colored coral, decorations that mimic schools of fish, subtle nautical details, and a shower curtain with Bruce, Dory, and friends.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Credit: Disney

The Seas with Nemo and Friends Attraction

To continue with a Finding Nemo day, Guests should next head to EPCOT where several amazing experiences await them in World Nature. The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a wonderful attraction that brings Guests underneath the surface and has them board clam shells before retelling the story of Marlin and Dory’s adventure to find Nemo.

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Credit: Disney

Guests can enjoy memorable scenes that combine animation, audio animatronics, and special effects to bring the experience to life, including a special moment where Guests enter into the Eastern Australian Current with Nemo, Crush, and Squirt and find themselves surrounded by bubbles and turtles. The attraction ends with a wonderful moment where the characters are animated on glass that connects with the aquariums, so that they look like they are actually swimming with real sea creatures while singing “In the Big Blue World.”

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The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Credit: Disney

The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion

After enjoying the attraction, Guests can then take the opportunity to really explore the massive pavilion of the same name. The Seas with Nemo and Friends features two levels of exhibits and viewing areas where Guests can relax, observe hundreds of sea creatures, and learn more about the oceans. The upper level is home to a very calming and serene observation area where Guests can spot different species including dolphins, turtles, sharks, sting rays, and more.

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The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Credit: Disney

The lower level of The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion features one area that continues the Finding Nemo theme with an interactive exhibit featuring small aquariums, familiar fish, and a massive Bruce who is grinning widely allowing for Guests to actually pose inside of his mouth. With so many wonderful exhibits and viewing areas to check out, Guests should definitely plan on spending lots of time exploring this pavilion.

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Turtle Talk with Crush

Credit: Disney

Turtle Talk with Crush

The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion is also home to a second attraction that brings a favorite character to life through special technology. Turtle Talk with Crush features small and intimate theaters that allow Guests to talk in real time with Crush, the loveable surfer-type turtle from Finding Nemo.

Turtle Talk with Crush

Credit: Disney

Turtle Talk with Crush invites small Guests to sit right up near the screen, and Guests of all ages are given the opportunity to talk to Crush and ask him questions about the ocean. The experience is a unique one in that no show is the same thanks to the live interaction, and it’s a great example of how educational material can be made entertaining in EPCOT.

The Big Blue Pool

Credit: Disney

The Big Blue Pool

After a fun morning exploring all that The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion has to offer, Guests should enjoy a relaxing break and head back to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort to enjoy some pool time. Since Finding Nemo is set in the ocean, it’s no surprise that the main pool at the Disney Resort is themed after the film, and the Big Blue Pool is a totally immersive way to splash around and cool off.

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The Big Blue Pool

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The Big Blue Pool is the largest pool at the Walt Disney World Resort, and it features sculptures of favorite characters and ocean details like coral and jellyfish surrounding a zero-depth entrance, making it great for all Guests. Also found in the area is the Drop Off Pool Bar where Guests can enjoy specialty beverages and small bites, the Schoolyard Sprayground water play area for smaller Guests, and Squirt’s Righteous Reef playground where Guests can enjoy dry playtime.

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Coral Reef Restaurant

Credit: Disney

Coral Reef Restaurant

After a relaxing afternoon splashing around the Big Blue Pool, Guests can end their Finding Nemo day back in EPCOT at The Seas with Nemo and Friends Pavilion. Near the rear of the pavilion is Coral Reef Restaurant, a table service location that features a unique and immersive environment that pairs perfectly with fresh seafood menu items.

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Coral Reef Restaurant

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The interior of Coral Reef Restaurant features several levels of tables that all look down towards massive glass windows that offer direct views into the pavilion’s aquarium tanks, so Guests can enjoy checking out species including turtles, sharks, and more. The dining room itself is also a relaxing atmosphere with blue and gold tones, mosaic dividing walls, calming music and lighting, and subtle ocean touches like shell-shaped light fixtures.

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Shrimp at Coral Reef Restaurant

Credit: Disney

The dinner menu at Coral Reef Restaurant serves up some amazing fresh seafood and American cuisine options with favorite items such as Lobster Bisque, Shrimp Cocktail, Smoked Wild Cioppino, Shrimp and Grits, Oven-roasted Citrus-marinated Half Chicken, 10-oz Show-roasted Prime Rib, and Seared Mahi Mahi. Guests should also be sure to save room for dessert with indulgent options including The Chocolate Wave, Key Lime Tart, and Baileys Almande and Jack Daniel’s Mousse.

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About Caitlin Kane

Caitlin Kane has been visiting Walt Disney World since she was a child and has developed a deep love and appreciation of the Disney Parks with a particular interest in the small details and history that can be found all around. Visiting every chance she gets, Caitlin loves to enjoy the ambiance of the Disney Parks and try something new every time. She can often be found eating and drinking her way through the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, riding the Haunted Mansion, sipping on a Lapu Lapu, pretending Illuminations: Reflections of Earth was still in existence, and enjoying seeing the magic through the eyes of her children. When not in WDW, Caitlin can be found at home in New York dreaming of a ride on Living with the Land and counting down the days until her next trip.