Turtle Talk with Crush at Epcot (An Attraction Guide)

Turtle Talk with Crush is an interactive Epcot attraction. During this live 15-minute chat, children have the opportunity to ask Crush, the sea turtle from Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, a burning question.

Below, we’ll cover Turtle Talk with Crush, including location details, the best time to see a performance, and a few tips for talking to Crush. This attraction is on the first floor of the pavilion. After entering the park’s main entrance, turn right at Spaceship Earth. The Seas Pavilion is the first major building on the right. It sits across the walkway from Journey of Water.

You’ll have two options for entering the pavilion. Most will choose to join the queue for The Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction. The ride drops you off in the center of the pavilion near Turtle Talk with Crush.

Turtle Talk with Crush opened in 2004. It was the first Disney attraction at Walt Disney World to represent Finding Nemo. However, the show has been updated over time. For instance, a few years ago, the show added some of Crush’s new friends from Pixar’s Finding Dory.

This attraction is open daily between 9:40 a.m. and 8:40 p.m. You can check the exact times for the day of your visit in the My Disney Experience app. But these hours are pretty typical. This is an improvisational experience, so it requires a backstage actor to participate in real-time conversation.

Below is a quick reference table with the need-to-know details.

Turtle Talk with Crush	Epcot
Location:	The Seas Pavilion
Disney Height Requirement:	None
Lightning Lane:	Yes, with Multi Pass (Tier 2 Category)
Ride Type:	Interactive Performance
Duration:	15 minutes
Disney Rider Switch:	None
Early Theme Park Entry:	No
Extended Evening Hours:	No
Stroller Parking:	Outside the Seas Pavilion Entrance (Can’t Miss It)
Our Traffic Signal:	Green Light (For anyone with children ages 12 years old and younger.)
Good For:	Everyone
Scare Factor:	Low
Must-Do List:	Medium
Perfect For:	Children with an interest in marine life. Fans of Finding Nemo.
Special Mention:	The longest wait should be for the next show to begin.

Additional Info:

Guests may remain in wheelchairs or ECVs for this attraction. Details for those with mobility issues can be found on Disney’s site. Audio description and assistive listening are available.

Additionally, Turtle Talk with Crush is one of a few attractions that offer sign language-interpreted performances twice per week. The schedule changes weekly. Guests can pick up a copy of the schedule at Guest Relations at any park.

Turtle Talk with Crush Review

Turtle Talk has a standby queue and a Lightning Lane option. We have found that there is little to no benefit to using Lightning Lane for this attraction. A wait time is displayed above the entrance. Since Turtle Talk with Crush lasts 15 minutes, the longest you should have to wait is for the next show to begin. During the peak seasons, you might have to wait through an extra show.

Several educational offerings are available in the show’s waiting area.

Mr. Ray’s Lagoon has several tanks that are worth a second glance.

They are home to baby sharks and sting rays.

A jellyfish tank and several other aquariums are within the theater’s waiting area.

These aquariums are specific to Turtle Talk with Crush and are not available anywhere else in the pavilion.

A few displays provide information about jellyfish.

You can also learn more about Green Sea Turtles.

When you enter the Turtle Talk theater, you’ll see a taped-off section on the floor toward the front. This area is for children. So they can sit close to the screen, which looks like a large aquarium-style window. A few rows of benches are available for parents and other guests. Cast members will encourage children to sit in the front. Parents need to grab a seat nearby on one of the rows.

When the show begins, Crush appears and begins to talk with the audience. Naturally, he focuses on the children and asks questions as he interacts with them. A cast member toward the front assists in carrying a microphone so the children can be heard. Crush uses the amazing technology of the hydrophone to communicate back. It’s pretty impressive to watch. The turtle’s mouth moves in synchronization with the actor’s words.

The room is not usually too crowded. It holds approximately 40 guests per performance, so it’s not intimidating for most. Children also face the screen when they talk to Crush, so they don’t face the audience.

As a parent, I would remind my child to sit still in their dedicated area during the show. I have witnessed a show where a cast member tripped and fell over a child who had gotten behind her while another child was asking questions.

Also, remember that it’s a big deal for kids to talk to a cartoon character. Your children will likely get a huge kick out of it and love this attraction.

Here’s a little background if you want to help your child think of a question before showtime in the event they get called upon. Crush lives on the East Australian Current and will address the audience as land-based dudes and dudettes. He’ll encourage you to ask “turtle-related” questions. You could ask him about his favorite foods, marine biology, or what it’s like to be a turtle!

During the show, some of Crush’s friends swim through the animated undersea environment. For instance, you’ll see Bailey the Beluga whale and Hank the octopus from Pixar’s Finding Dory. Crush’s pals Marlin, Nemo, and Squirt from Pixar’s Finding Nemo also make appearances.

Fun Facts about Turtle Talk with Crush

• This attraction was so popular that it was replicated at Disney’s California Adventure Park, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo DisneySea. Walt Disney Imagineering also installed a version of this attraction at the Orange County Children’s Hospital.
• You can also find a similar version aboard a few Disney Cruise Line ships, like the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy. Who knew such a little attraction could have such a big impact?

Our Spin on Turtle Talk with Crush

We give Turtle Talk with Crush the green light. I would not miss this attraction! It’s too cute. Seriously, parents, where else can you take your children to talk to a cartoon character who actually talks back? I can guarantee they won’t soon forget this attraction. Plus, who doesn’t love to learn about turtles? Unfortunately, we walked past this attraction often when my son was younger. For whatever reason, I thought it probably wasn’t worth the time. Boy, was I wrong! I wish someone had given me the green light to join the queue.

Our Traffic Signals

Green Light: We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. As a result, lines move continuously, and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.

Red Light: We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red-light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, Turtle Talk with Crush is a fun attraction that children enjoy. The Seas Pavilion is an excellent place to visit during the hottest part of the day or if it rains. You could spend a reasonable amount of time in the pavilion, experiencing the attractions and exploring the aquarium.

For more about this park, see our list of EPCOT attractions. For other parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks. If you’re still in the first stages, our How to Plan a Disney World Vacation guide brings together the resources you need to plan your visit. We hope you’ll check back with ResortsGal.com for more on Disney World, or sign up for our newsletter for weekly updates.

In the Comments

Have you ever seen Turtle Talk with Crush? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.