If your family is anything like mine, you rushed to the closest theater to see Finding Dory on opening weekend. We prefer to go to the 11am shows on Sunday morning to save a few bucks (shows before noon are only $6 at our local theater!) and to beat the crowds. The theater was pretty full, but not packed and not anywhere close to being sold out. Surprising, considering that this movie grossed an excess of $136 million – the highest opening for an animated film at the domestic box office (according to USA Today).
Regardless, this isn’t a movie review other than to say we LOVED it. My kids have been asking to watch Finding Nemo and digging out Nemo, Bruce, and Dory toys that they had all but forgotten about. There’s no doubt that the crowds will be a little thicker around the Nemo-themed attractions at Walt Disney World Resort following the huge success of this latest Disney summer smash.
If you’re heading to Walt Disney World anytime soon and want to get up close and personal with Nemo & friends, there are a few can’t-miss attractions. Turtle Talk with Crush, located in Future World at EPCOT, has been updated to include characters from Finding Dory such as old pals Nemo, Marlin, and Squirt, along with new friends from the new movie, Bailey the Beluga, Hank the “septopus”, and a whale shark named Destiny. During this 15 minute Q&A session, guests have a chance to chat with Crush the sea turtle and ask all their burning questions about ocean life.
In the same location, guests have the opportunity to dive into the big blue sea The Seas with Nemo & Friends. Don’t worry – this isn’t a water ride and there’s no risk of getting wet! Guests board a “clamobile” and set off on a fun, low-thrill ride for all ages in search of Nemo. Favorite characters from Finding Nemo can be seen throughout the attraction. Make sure to save some time to enjoy the aquariums full of beautiful sea animals. The gift shop on the way out has a wonderful selection of Nemo-themed merchandise, and I bet there are tons of cute new items featuring the new characters from Finding Dory.
Finally, my favorite Nemo-themed attraction can be found in DinoLand in Animal Kingdom. Finding Nemo: The Musical is a 40 minute Broadway style and quality performance that takes you into Nemo’s world and is a shortened version of the movie. The costumes and characters are as colorful and lovable as they are in the film and as much as I love the show for what it is, one of the best things about it is always getting out of the heat and onto your seat for an hour or so. Be sure to plan ahead and get there early – this attraction is very popular and fills up before showtime.
I know we are looking forward to checking out the updates to Turtle Talk with Crush and seeing all the new merchandise available during our next trip. If you haven’t seen Finding Dory yet, what are you waiting for!?
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Candice was raised in east Tennessee. While in college, her best friend dragged her to a Walt Disney World College Program recruiting session at the University of Tennessee and the rest is Disney history. In the Fall of 1999, Candice became a quick service food hostess for Sunset Ranch Market and Fantasmic at Disney-MGM Studios – or what is now known as Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While soaking up her time as a cast member, she met Ryan, a neighbor and a fellow college programmer who worked as a custodial host at Epcot. Four years later, Candice moved to the Midwest and married that boy from across the hall. They now live in Greenwood, Indiana with their two little boys. The Disney-loving foursome took their first family trip to The Happiest Place on Earth in 2013 and Candice is eagerly planning their return. Candice also works full-time at a community mental health center and enjoys taking photographs and blogging at Mommy in the Midwest.
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