Disney World Confirms Exciting New Addition to EPCOT, Effective Immediately!

There’s a new face swimming around EPCOT, and she’s already been through quite a lot. Walt Disney World has welcomed a young orphaned manatee named Calfuccino to The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion, where she joins fellow manatees Cider and Tanimura in the park’s manatee rehabilitation area. Calfuccino arrives in need of short-term rehabilitative care, and Disney’s animal care experts will be working with her as she continues on the path toward an eventual return to the wild. For EPCOT fans, this is a sweet bit of news. The manatees at The Seas are a favorite stop for guests who want to slow down and take a break from the busier parts of the park. Watching these gentle animals glide through the water is a calm, peaceful moment in the middle of a hectic park day, and now there’s one more manatee to meet. Calfuccino’s story is about more than a cute new resident, though. Her arrival is part of a larger effort to protect Florida’s manatee population, a threatened species that relies on rescue and rehabilitation programs like the one at EPCOT. Here’s everything you need to know about Calfuccino, her journey, and how you can see her during your next visit.

Meet Calfuccino

Calfuccino is a young female manatee who has already been on quite the journey. She was rescued in May 2025 near Naples alongside her mother, Venti, who was suffering from an injury. Even with her own condition, Venti successfully cared for Calfuccino, who was just a calf at the time. That’s a remarkable detail, and it says a lot about how strong the bond between a manatee mother and her calf can be. After the rescue, Calfuccino received critical care at ZooTampa, where she grew significantly. She weighed about 156 pounds when she was rescued, and today she weighs more than 545 pounds. That kind of growth is a great sign of how far she has come since her rescue.

 

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Settling In With Cider and Tanimura

Calfuccino is currently getting used to her new environment at EPCOT alongside Cider and Tanimura, the other manatees in the rehabilitation area at The Seas with Nemo & Friends. While she’s at EPCOT, Calfuccino will receive specialized attention from Disney’s animal care experts. Their goal is to help her reach the health milestones she needs for an eventual return to the wild. Her stay is meant to be short-term, so guests who want to see her should keep that in mind when planning a visit.

Part of a Larger Conservation Effort

Calfuccino’s move to EPCOT is part of a larger partnership between Disney, the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Together, these groups work to support the recovery and protection of manatees, a threatened species. Her arrival marks another chapter in Disney’s long-standing commitment to Florida’s manatee population. The pavilion first opened in 1986 as The Living Seas, and it has served as a critical care and rehabilitation site for decades. Over the years, injured manatees have taken up residence there to rest, recover, and rehabilitate before moving on. For guests, that means visiting the manatees is more than just a nice photo opportunity. You’re getting a look at real conservation work happening right inside a theme park.

Where to See Calfuccino at EPCOT

Guests can see Calfuccino, Cider, and Tanimura at the Manatee Rehabilitation Center inside SeaBase Aquarium, which is part of The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion in the World Nature section of EPCOT. The Manatee Rehabilitation Center is located on both Level 1 and Level 2, so you can get a look at the manatees from more than one angle. SeaBase Aquarium is open to guests of any height, making it an easy stop for the whole family.

More to Explore at SeaBase Aquarium

While you’re visiting the manatees, there’s plenty more to see. SeaBase Aquarium is home to a 5.7-million-gallon habitat, one of the largest man-made ocean environments on the planet. Thousands of sea animals live there, including sea turtles, reef fish, rays, and sharks. Head up to Level 2 for an undersea viewing area with a circular, window-lined room in the middle of the aquarium. Standing inside, you’re almost completely surrounded by marine life. Other highlights at SeaBase Aquarium include:

• • Fish Feedings: On Level 2, guests can watch animal care experts feed and train rays, sea turtles, and fish. Feeding times vary, so ask a cast member at The Seas for details.

• • The Seas with Nemo & Friends: Board a “clamobile” for an undersea adventure based on the animated film Finding Nemo.

• • Bruce’s Shark World: This interactive exhibit inspired by Finding Nemo is on Level 1. Learn about aquatic life, test your undersea knowledge, and pose for a photo inside the toothy grin of Bruce the shark.

For certified scuba divers looking for something extra special, EPCOT Seas Adventures DiveQuest, part of the Enchanting Extras Collection, lets guests swim with more than 2,000 sea animals inside the aquarium.

Why You Should Stop By

The Seas with Nemo & Friends can be an easy pavilion to walk past on a busy EPCOT day, but Calfuccino’s arrival is a great reason to make time for it. Her story, from being rescued with her injured mother near Naples to growing to more than 545 pounds, is the kind of thing that sticks with you, especially for kids learning about wildlife for the first time. If you’re visiting EPCOT soon, stop by the Manatee Rehabilitation Center to welcome Calfuccino to her temporary home. Since she’s only there for short-term care, seeing her now could be your best chance before she continues her journey back to the wild.