Beach

[jenketeer]

Can someone tell me about the Beach at the fort? Is there hammocks, swimming area can the kids build sand castles and such? Just trying to decide if we would need to leave to go to a big beach on our down day. What else is there to do over at the fort? Thanks

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Hammocks yes, swimming no, build sandcastles sure. There is no swimming at any beach in WDW. Many reasons are giving for the no swimming policy, one of them is because of an ameoba that lives in warm fresh water. If the ameoba gets into the bloodstream(through nose or mouth or open wounds etc)it can cause death, and has twice this year I think(but not at Disney). The Fort has 2 pools, nice bike paths, canoe rentals and daily activities at the Meadows area. Either coast for a beach will be a drive of more than an hour.

 

[des1954]

I've heard the "amoeba" story, too! Now...considering that this weekend is the Triathalon, and part of that is swimming in Bay Lake....hmmmmmmm. There are lakes in Florida infested with the amoeba the OP was referring to, however.

Now...as for me... I wouldn't swim in that lake even if it was allowed!! 36 years of diesel boats, pontoon boats, yachts, water craft, in a man-made lake....eeeeeeeeee-yewwwwww!! Not to mention that there are the inevitable fish, snapping turtles and (yes) alligators --- uh-uh, not me!!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

There used to be swiming at the beaches.

As for the triathalon, the ameoba are not a big issue for a few reasons, healthy adults generally can "fight" the infection, the ameobas live near the bottom, so the major part of the course they are not a problem, the participants don't ingest the water the way a kid playing in the surf would.

 

[ntsammy5]

I'm not even touching this one......

 

[snyderla]

July 1975, my first trip to WDW, we got to swim in the lake. Not anymore. I wouldn't want to now as an adult anyway. But, you can build sand castles, rent water craft, picnic.

 

[mike k.]

Our last trip down in Dec. 06, we were told that it was an ALGAE problem in the water. Never heard of the Amobea story at the Fort but have heard about it in Foreign travel. Where the lake water met the sandline, you could see the greenish tint to the sand for the first couple of inches. After taht it looked fine.
Mike

 

[clkelley]

It's probably a pure liability, cost, and manpower issue. It costs more to keep docks and swimming areas clean, it costs more to provide lifeguards for open swimming areas. It is much easier to keep a swimming pool safe and guarded with less liability.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Here is an article about the ameoba
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/featu...tab0 1_layout

 

[LegoMom3]

Can someone tell me about the Beach at the fort? Is there hammocks, swimming area can the kids build sand castles and such? Just trying to decide if we would need to leave to go to a big beach on our down day. What else is there to do over at the fort? Thanks

As HappyDznyCamper pointed out, you're looking at over an hour's drive to get either coast for a beach. If you're looking for a beach-type day, I'd suggest Typhoon Lagoon! They have thrills if you want that, or you can float the lazy river all around the park, or just sit on a lounge chair in their sand all day! Very nice place to spend a "beach" day.

Other than that Fort Wilderness is a really nice place to just spend a day, too. Lots of bike paths (you can rent one if you don't bring your own), canoes have been mentioned, as well as the pools, and at night there are hay rides and also a sing-along campfire with Chip and Dale followed by a Disney movie!

 

[ynottony99]

 

[ntsammy5]

Here's a slightly different angle

 

[ynottony99]

Here's a slightly different angle

I love this picture!!! Look at how blue the water!!!!!! And it was before they took down the sign on the pier too.

 

[auntie]

People are going to do what they want to do. Perhaps it's just human nature. I guess it follows that if swimming in a man made shallow lake in Fla. is something they want to do, they will justify it somehow. Only a good many guests don't realize the risk they are taking, as they swim in lakes near their homes. Only they aren't man made or in Fla. where the water temps. can easily rise to 80 degrees, creating this dangerous enviornment. I only hope parents have the good sense not to place their children in jeopardy... even on the remote possibility that this could happen, why risk it? Given all the swimming options offered at Disney it really seems to me at least to be a chance I wouldn't take. All too often statistics are quoted..only the reality is that those statistics are usually the son or daughter or brother or sister of a real life person..not a number. I for one would like to see Disney do a better job of enforcing the "no swimming" signs...perhaps by posting exactly what risk you are taking by swimming. Tell guests that the possibility exists that there is an ameoba in the water that could endanger your life or the life of your child. The simple "No Swimming" gives the appearance that there isn't a life guard..which some guests naturally interpert to mean that as long as they are adequately supervising their kids frolicing in the water, they are fine. Of course I don't think Disney is not about to put the reality of the situation on a sign anytime soon. It just doesn't scream..."have fun..your on vacation!". The simple sign covers their butt as far as their liability if ,God forbid, a guest should become ill.

We've been visiting Disney since the late 80's and I do remember a time when you could swim...that doesn't make me want to take a jump in now. I know better. Just because you could..doesn't mean you "should". Time passes and things change, people have been educated on the subject and hopefully we learn from the unfortunate tragedies of others. My heart goes out to the three families who lost their children this past summer, truly heartbreaking.

 

[Colson39]

It was nice when you used to be able to swim in the lake, but I do understand why they had to stop it.

There have already been a few cases this year in other central Florida lakes of people contracting this ameoba from swimming in lakes, so the story is definitely not a hoax. I think Disney just took a very early strike against it and made sure there wouldn't be any issues.

I used to always think there were sharks past the buoy's that marked off the swimming location in the lake, ahh, to be young again