Anyone remember real fish in SAB?

[Simba's Mom]

I was reading an old (1992) Disney Magazine last night, and it said there were real fish in the, then new, SAB? Anyone remember this? I've got to admit, I don't-but then I didn't visit SAB until 2002. I love hearing about the WDW past!

 

[magicmouse2]

there were real fish in the, then new, SAB?

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

And I thought that was my Husband tickling my feet in there !

LOL !

 

[Janet2k]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
I was reading an old (1992) Disney Magazine last night, and it said there were real fish in the, then new, SAB...

Wow, Simba's Mom, that is amazing. I just surfed the 'net to find out when the Yacht Club / Beach Club opened and saw that they opened in 1990 (click here). However, I don't know if Stormalong Bay opened at the exact same time, and if it did, was it as it stands now or did only a portion of it open?

I hope someone here on the Dis stayed at the YC/BC way back when and can tell us whether or not the "fish" tale that the Disney Magazine spoke of is accurate.

 

[tnkrbell]

I do not know about the fish but I do no it use to be salt water!!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Yes, it is true. There were fresh water fish in the section of Stromalong Bay which is now the "lazy river". This is why this section is so deep; up to 10' in some sections. The original idea was that this section would be a snorkling lagoon.

However shortly after the resort opened, many of fish were dying. The CM's discovered there was a major problem with keeping the PH levels in an appropirate range (folks were having too many "accidents") The fish were then removed.

 

[Geoff_M]

That's amazing. One would think that state health regulations that require cholrination of public swimming pools would automatically nix that possibility.

 

[freediverdude]

Yes, I do remember actually seeing the fish. I stayed at the Beach Club in the summer of 1991. I was not allowed into SAB during my stay however- that was the period when they were working with it to try to keep the fish or have to take them out. I still have the letter from the Beach Club I received that year, telling me SAB would be closed for swimming during my stay. I do remember going outside and walking around SAB though, and looking down into the water and seeing the small fish in there, and thought it was pretty cool. It looked much different then, the whole area was bare of trees, just a big grassy lot with small seedlings planted. I was in a nice water view room, however, one of the ones at the end of the hallways that face directly out to the lake, and was able to see the then-running Sorcery in the Sky fireworks right from my bed, which helped make up for it.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

As crazy4wdw has already stated.....we stayed there the first week and I do remember the fish!

 

[RayJay]

Don't remember the fish but there were ducks in the spot I believe your talking about.

Last year at 4th of July, at least I think they were ducks.

RayJ

 

[Janet2k]

Do any of you folks have photos of the YC/BC/SAB from back then? I would love to see them if you could post them (hint! hint!).

 

[PatriciaH]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
I was reading an old (1992) Disney Magazine last night, and it said there were real fish in the, then new, SAB? Anyone remember this? I've got to admit, I don't-but then I didn't visit SAB until 2002. I love hearing about the WDW past!

That is so cool! Do you remember what issue/month you were looking at?