At a Glance
Duration: 25 minutes
Look Out For: a few spooky characters, moments of peril, large puppets, bubbles, and some smoke effects
Opening on June 13, 2022, Finding Nemo: The Big Blue and Beyond is a delightful stage show taking you through the story of Finding Nemo. But how scary is The Big Blue and Beyond? Let’s take a look at the stats:
1. Ride Length
The Big Blue and Beyond has a duration of 25 minutes. As a stage show with live actors and moving set pieces, it can of course, be a bit longer or shorter by a few minutes.
2. Height Requirement and Warnings
The Big Blue and Beyond has no height requirement or official warnings from Disney. This could make it a great option for the whole family – but be sure to check out the Is it Scary section for a few caveats.
3. Ride Vehicles and Restraints
The Big Blue and Beyond indoor theater seats 1,500 people and is often filled to capacity, meaning you’ll need to fill in all available space between you and others around you. There are no ride restraints and the theater seats do not move in any way.
4. How Does The Big Blue and Beyond Work?
The Big Blue and Beyond works like a standard stage show, utilizing live actors, practical set pieces, puppets, and some mild smoke effects. Some of the music and other sound design are piped-in and there is a bit of dancing choreography. At the end of the show, bubbles will rain down on the audience and you can expect to see performers running through the aisles at times during the performance.
5. Is The Big Blue and Beyond Scary?
The Big Blue and Beyond could be a bit scary to some guests. Aside from the intense story elements and villainous characters that you would expect from seeing the movie, it’s actually a pretty tame retelling of the tale. The show skips over large sections of the movie but does include some scary scenes like the shark encounter and an appearance from Darla during the climax.
While certainly condensed and all puppeted by live actors, the shark scene with Bruce, Anchor, and Chum is pretty scary for several reasons. First, the puppets used are really large, needing two actors to control. The character designs are what you would expect from the movie but certainly spooky in their own right. During this scene, the set and sound design grows darker and more menacing and there is even a point where Bruce enters the thrust stage – getting a little up close and personal with the audience. The scene ends with a simulated explosion which could also be a bit alarming to some guests.
Darla’s appearance is startling but very brief. Her very large face comes up on screen (the stage’s backdrop) accompanied by psycho-inspired violin screeches. While certainly spooky and intense, this happens right at the climax and she’s only on screen for about 20 seconds.
If you and your family are totally fine with the slightly intense storyline or characters, the only other thing I’d look out for would be the mild smoke effects (nothing too crazy like It’s Tough to be a Bug), and the large puppets that could feel a bit imposing – especially with actors entering the aisles and thrust stage at times. While it’s certainly aimed at families and fans of the movie (often children,) this attraction still might be worth considering for those especially prone to sensory sensitivity.
6. How High is The Big Blue and Beyond?
The Big Blue and Beyond does not involve heights. As a standard Disney stage show, you and your seat remain on the ground at all times.
7. How Fast is The Big Blue and Beyond?
The Big Blue and Beyond does not go fast. Unlike some Disney shows, there are no 4D effects or moving seats, meaning you will remain stationary for the entire duration.
8. Does The Big Blue and Beyond Have Drops?
The Big Blue and Beyond does not have drops. In fact, there is no movement or thrill ride elements whatsoever on this attraction.
9. Does The Big Blue and Beyond Cause Motion Sickness?
The Big Blue and Beyond should not cause motion sickness for most riders. With its good air flow and lack of any spinning or 4D effects, there is really nothing in this attraction that could cause nausea.
10. Is The Big Blue and Beyond Claustrophobic?
The Big Blue and Beyond should not feel very claustrophobic for most riders. It should be noted, however, that since some actors enter the aisles and thrust stage, there may be limited ways for you to exit. Be sure to see a cast member before the show if you’re concerned about this and alert someone if you need to leave so that you can exit safely.
It’s also worth mentioning that (as with most Disney shows) you may have difficulties getting around the people on either side of you if you’re seated in the middle of a row. To remedy this, try finding a seat on the end of a row or in the back of the theater for easy access.
11. Are There Animatronics on The Big Blue and Beyond?
There are no animatronics on The Big Blue and Beyond. However, it should be noted that there are many fully-costumed characters and large puppets that could be unsettling to some guests. All of these characters can be recognized from the movie but some are still definitely spooky. Their often massive size and dynamic movement is certainly reminiscent of animatronics at times, but for the most part, they’re not meant to be scary.
The Big Blue and Beyond Queue Walkthrough
The queue entrance is located outside near the Dinoland USA area of Animal Kingdom. Once entering the line you’ll simply wind back and forth through an outdoor area until you reach the building. In my experience, you can avoid most of the wait by just arriving close to show-time – as most of the time spent in line is just waiting for the next show to begin. Once inside, a cast member will lead you to your seats and you’ll be able to sit back and relax in the AC.
The Big Blue and Beyond Walkthrough
The show begins with a voiceover welcoming you to the Marine Life Institute where we find our friend, Gill, and his tank-mates. They begin telling the story of Finding Nemo, starting with Marlin and Nemo waking up in the anemone, getting ready to go to school. Just like in the movie, Marlin is blindsided by the class going to the “drop-off” and rushes in just in time to reprimand Nemo, causing a rift in their relationship.
Before they can reconcile, Nemo is captured by the Scooba-diving dentist and Marlin desperately pursues him. He encounters Dory and they set off together to find Nemo. Their search is quickly interrupted, however, when Bruce and his shark buddies appear. This scene is arguably the scariest and most intense of the entire show, so be sure to check out the Is It Scary section for more details.
We then check in with Nemo as he meets his fish tank friends and they devise a plan for escape – which we are told doesn’t pan out. Marlin and Dory are shown to still be on their journey, encountering the silverfish who point them on their way to Sydney. Back at the tank, Nemo worries that his dad couldn’t be brave enough to cross the ocean for him.
We then find Marlin and Dory with Crush and the other turtles in the EAC. They sing a fabulous musical number before we find Nemo back at the tank, being fished out for Darla. This climax can also be pretty intense, so be sure to check out the details in the above sections if you have any concerns. After Darla shakes the bag, Nemo goes belly-up just as Marlin and Dory arrive on the scene. Heartbroken, Marlin heads home alone – but is surprised to find Nemo (very much alive) having planned to be flushed into the ocean all along.
Reunited, we find our main characters back at the reef, getting ready to go back to school. We see Marlin and Nemo exchanging a tearful but trusting goodbye as Nemo heads off with the class and the show comes to an end.
That’s it! Remember, everyone’s riding experience is a little bit different and only you can decide whether to hop on that ride vehicle or not. I just hope this guide helps you be prepared and enjoy every second of your Disney experience!
So what do you think? How scary is The Big Blue and Beyond? Leave a comment to help keep this guide up to date!
For a full visual of the show and queue, be sure to check out this video from 4K WDW:
