Okay, we need to talk about Calfuccino. Yes, that’s her real name, and yes, it’s adorable. This young orphaned manatee just arrived at EPCOT’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends, and she’s officially the newest resident you need to go see.
Calfuccino is at EPCOT for short-term rehabilitative care, and she’s sharing her new space with fellow manatees Cider and Tanimura. So if you’re keeping score, that’s three manatees now hanging out at The Seas.
Her Story Will Get You
Calfuccino has been through a lot for someone so young. She was rescued in May 2025 near Naples along with her mom, Venti, who was injured at the time.
Here’s the part that gets us. Even though Venti was hurt herself, she still took care of Calfuccino, who was just a tiny calf back then. Moms really are something else, even in the manatee world.
After the rescue, Calfuccino received critical care at ZooTampa, and she has grown significantly since then. She weighed about 156 pounds when she was rescued. Now she’s more than 545 pounds. Not so tiny anymore.
Right now, Calfuccino is settling in and getting used to her new surroundings with Cider and Tanimura. Disney’s animal care experts will give her specialized attention to help her reach the health milestones she needs for an eventual return to the wild.
That’s the goal here. She isn’t moving in forever. Her stay is short-term, so if you want to see her, don’t wait too long.
This Is Bigger Than One Manatee
Calfuccino’s move is part of a bigger partnership between Disney, the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They all work together to help protect and recover manatees, which are a threatened species.
And Disney has been doing this for a long time. The pavilion opened back in 1986 as The Living Seas, and it has been a critical care and rehabilitation site for decades. Over the years, plenty of injured manatees have stayed there to rest, recover, and get back to health. Calfuccino is just the latest chapter in that story.
Credit: Dr. Mark Penning, Disney
Where to Find Her
Head to the World Nature section of EPCOT and into SeaBase Aquarium, which is part of The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion. The Manatee Rehabilitation Center is on both Level 1 and Level 2, so you can check out Calfuccino, Cider, and Tanimura from multiple spots.
There’s no height requirement, so everyone in your group can come along.
While You’re There
Don’t just see the manatees and leave, because SeaBase Aquarium has a lot going on. The main habitat holds 5.7 million gallons of water, making it one of the largest man-made ocean environments on the planet. It’s packed with thousands of sea animals, including sea turtles, reef fish, rays, and sharks.
Go up to Level 2 for the circular, window-lined viewing room in the middle of the aquarium. You’re basically surrounded by fish on all sides, and it’s honestly one of the most underrated spots in EPCOT.
Also on Level 2, you can catch fish feedings where animal care experts feed and train rays, sea turtles, and fish. Feeding times change, so ask a cast member at The Seas when the next one is happening.
Credit: Disney
Down on Level 1, Bruce’s Shark World is an interactive Finding Nemo exhibit where you can learn about ocean life, test your knowledge, and snap a photo inside Bruce the shark’s giant toothy grin. You know you want that picture.
And of course, there’s The Seas with Nemo & Friends ride itself, where you hop into a “clamobile” for an undersea adventure based on Finding Nemo.
If you’re a certified scuba diver and want to go all out, EPCOT Seas Adventures DiveQuest, part of the Enchanting Extras Collection, lets you swim with more than 2,000 sea animals inside the aquarium.
Go Say Hi
The Seas is one of those pavilions people tend to rush past, but Calfuccino is a really good reason to stop. She went from a 156-pound rescued calf to a 545-pound manatee on her way back to the wild, and you can see her right now at EPCOT. Just don’t wait too long, because she won’t be there forever.
Erica Lauren is a theme park writer and content creator based in Orlando, Florida, where she enjoys the magic of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. With frequent visits to the parks, she provides an insider's perspective on the attractions. As a dedicated runDisney participant, Erica combines her love for running with her passion for theme parks. When not writing or running through the parks, she’s busy planning her next trip to discover new amusement parks. A thrill ride enthusiast, she believes the best seat is always in the front row of the fastest coaster and has plenty of trip reports to back it up.
