bad water in parks?

[MKCP5]

Does anyone know if the water in the fountains at the parks is filtered? My DD is very sensitive to chemicals TIA!

 

[ksoehrlein]

I don't think so. It has a strong sulfur-like taste to it. And FYI, the bottled water sold at the parks is Dasani.

 

[cgcruz]

Orlando area water has the funkiest smell. I don't know what's the deal. This includes Disney.

 

[joanb]

We just can't drink it. It's yuk!

 

[MickeyMinnieMommy]

WDW does have sulfur water, which means that the source of the water (the well or aquifer) passes close to some sulfur deposits. My DH (a Ph.D. in chemistry) says that sulfur can be removed by either passing ozone over it or by adding bleach to the water. Judging by the taste of the water at WDW, I don't think they do either of those things. It could still be filtered, since only certain types of filters will remove sulfur. I have heard rumors that the water at WDW is treated with ammonia; that simply isn't true, since putting ammonia in water would give it a "fishy" taste and it isn't used for water treatment.

I don't know what chemicals your DD is sensitive to (and I'm not sure whether a person can be sensitive to sulfur); my kids and I all have sensitive skin and are fine drinking the tap water at WDW and also bathing in it. DH also drinks it although he complains about the taste. Water costs $2.50 per bottle in WDW, so if you're going to go the bottled route I'd suggest a trip to Wal-mart and picking up a case or two and bringing it with you.

Incidentally, sodas are made with tap water, and so are ice cubes. I think it's just about impossible to get away from the sulfur. If you're still concerned, you could contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

 

[jjan]

Buy a Brita Fill N Go at CVS if you have one or Wal-Mart if yours still has any (they are being discontinued) or even on eBay. They are worth their weight in gold because that water is horrid!

 

[wvjules]

we refilled our water bottles out of the water fountains several times a day and i honestly don't remember it tasting bad. maybe i'm just weird. but dd didn't say anything either.

 

[JoannaOhio]

Buy a Brita Fill N Go at CVS if you have one or Wal-Mart if yours still has any (they are being discontinued) or even on eBay. They are worth their weight in gold because that water is horrid!

I AGREE!!! We used Brita Fill N Go filter bottles during our last trip (and had a Brita filter pitcher in our villa), and it made the Disney water taste just fine. In fact, it had virtually no taste - which is what I like best.

 

[buzzriders]

The water in WDW is horrible!!!!

 

[Pluto4Pres]

Nevermind the chemicals, after the things I'ver read in the "Have you ever had a shock?" thread, I'd never drink out of the fountains. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=364890&page=104&pp=15&highlight=shock

 

[civileng68]

The water in WDW is horrible!!!!

Guys/gals, welcome to Florida in general, not just Disney World.

The soil below the ground is not what it is up north or out of florida. It's sand.

The water in florida in general tastes bad.

 

[Geoff_M]

If you're "bottled water dependent", then the WDW water might be a problem for you. It does contain a number of natural minerals (such as sulfur), and the smell and taste of it is similar to what we called "well water" when I was growing up in Central Indiana. If that bothers you, then you may want to stick with the water that Coke or Pepsi makes.

 

[seashoreCM]

Once water has chemicals (including sulphur) in it, it is not possible to remove the chemicals without adding other chemicals or by distilling. (You remove one element by substituting another element.)

A typical water softener works by substituting sodium and chlorine (its "fuel" is table salt) for other elements such as iron or copper or sulphur or manganese or nitrogen (as oxygen compounds called nitrates and nitrites). Chlorine introduced from salt will not smell and will not kill bacteria.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[bicker]

Guys/gals, welcome to Florida in general, not just Disney World.

Definitely... if you think the Orlando-area is bad, you should taste the water elsewhere in the state.

 

[jeannej]

Guys/gals, welcome to Florida in general, not just Disney World.

The soil below the ground is not what it is up north or out of florida. It's sand.

The water in florida in general tastes bad.

I live in south Florida and the water doesn't taste bad down here. Having grown up in a city west of WDW, I grew up thinking all water tasted as bad as central Florida water does. However, the worst tasting water I have ever had was from my in laws well in southern Wisconsin.

Anyway, if you can't stand the taste of the water at WDW many very good suggestions have been given to solve the problem. And the fountain sodas don't taste bad with the tap water just weird.

jeannej

 

[Leota]

Some folks (like my family) are very sensitive to differences in the water. We get sick from the water in WDW. If your daughter is sensitive, better have her drink bottled water to avoid traveler's tummy.

 

[SQUIGGLE]

I guess having grown up in NJ had its benefits. I think most Florida water tastes OK.

 

[ksoehrlein]

I guess having grown up in NJ had its benefits. I think most Florida water tastes OK.

Where in NJ? I grew up in Central Jersey, and we had a well. I am spoiled for life, as only the best spring water (not that filtered Dasani garbage) can compare with what I grew up on.

 

[rayelias]

I don't think so. It has a strong sulfur-like taste to it. And FYI, the bottled water sold at the parks is Dasani.

My DF, whose father is a plumber, told me that sulfur is actually used TO filter the water.

Regardless, after the posts I've read (on the "Shocking" thread) about the number of people who change their infants (on a bench or table, spreading germs and disease there) will wash their hands and/or their babies' bottoms in the drinking fountains.

I'll stick to bottled water, thank you.

 

[GrumpyandMinnie]

Nevermind the chemicals, after the things I'ver read in the "Have you ever had a shock?" thread, I'd never drink out of the fountains. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=364890&page=104&pp=15&highlight=shock

I searched that thread for an hour and finally found this:

Baby-bottom-washing-fountain

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About 3 years ago, we saw a lady (the "Earth Mother" type) at DAK who was washing her baby's bottom in one of the drinking fountains. I'd say the child was less than a year old. We mentioned it to a CM (just in passing), and he told us that there had been a fountain and pool in front of one of the attractions (maybe Dinosaur?) that they had to close for that reason: people were using it to bathe in!

Maybe some of these folks are from other countries, but give me a break! If I went to another country to visit I would so much NOT want to break any social rules -- plus, I'd do my research ahead of time to learn what was and was not acceptable!

_________________

I think I'd fill a bottle in my room to carry, but now I'm iffy on the water fountains.

By the way, I recommend the "shock" thread above. It's astonishing!