can you go in the water outside the WL off their beach?

[donnamerry]

Just wondering - I saw some photos of the beach behind WL ~ what's it like back there on the beach. I can't believe I stayed there back in '98 and never even went out to the back of the lodge!

 

[Terk-1]

I do not believe you can swim in any of the lakes. Sorry.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Think alligators.

Also, the birds are very numerous there, which makes for high bacteria levels in the water.

 

[Rhonda]

Water Moccasins!

 

[donnamerry]

wow! on second thought I'll stay 'beached'!

 

[drusba]

And Disney does prohibit swimming in the lakes.

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Just ret. from CBR and WL.....3/5-3/11...coming back on boat to W.L. from M.K. late afternoon of 3/10.....my DIL ask about swimming in the lake.....said no u cannot and not a good idea.......looking over to sand area and and playground ....THERE WERE TWO ADULTS in the water......whatever.......

 

[skyhog]

I have swum from the beach at WL as recently as 2000, but I think maybe it is off limits now, it was the last to go... you can thank the most predacious denizen of our time... it feeds voraciously on everyone and ruins so many freedoms... I'm talking about the dreaded"LAWYER"...there is nothing wrong with the water, folks are out there waterskiing and such... have you noticed the depth markings around the pools even say if it is 1 or two inches over four feet... Lawsuits substitute for reason and personal accountability...

 

[skyhog]

I have swum from the beach at WL as recently as 2000, but I think maybe it is off limits now, it was the last to go... you can thank the most predacious denizen of our time... it feeds voraciously on everyone and ruins so many freedoms... I'm talking about the dreaded"LAWYER"...there is nothing wrong with the water, folks are out there waterskiing and such... have you noticed the depth markings around the pools even say if it is one or two inches over four feet... Lawsuits substitute for reason and personal accountability... sad, very sad...

 

[Diz-Me]

There used to be a swimming area along the beach at Fort Wilderness. One time we were in the water and I was sure I saw alligator eyes just above the water line. DH just laughed and said "You're imagining things". That was about 2 minutes before the lifeguard ran down the beach yelling at everyone to get out of the water. We spent the rest of the day sitting on the beach watching the 'alligator hunters' searching the lake! The next time we went back to FW there was no more swimming in the lake.

 

[GeorgeG]

This remonds me of the time some years ago my wife and I were taking a boat out of the CR marina. She mentioned she just wanted to go out and hang her feet in the water and relax. I told her that might not be a good idea. She replied with indignation that this was WDW and they would never allow aligators in their lakes. The CM who was untying the boat just looked up and said "this IS Florida, ma'am."

I also recall a young child being killed by an alligator at the FW beach some years ago.

I'm sure WDW does all it can to keep a handle on alligators, snakes, etc., but like the man said, it IS Florida and pools are the recommended venue for swimming.

 

[Grumpy92]

The main reason you are not allowed to swim in the lakes is this wonderful bacteria that inhabits Bay Lake & 7 Seas Lagoon. For years you could swim in the lakes but like many Fla lakes it was taken over by this bacteria which is very hazardous to humans. Putting your feet in is fine but putting your head underwater can be very dangerous. Still it is great to lay on one of the beaches enjoying the sun and view.

 

[Grumpy92]

The main reason you are not allowed to swim in the lakes is this wonderful bacteria that inhabits Bay Lake & 7 Seas Lagoon. For years you could swim in the lakes but like many Fla lakes it was taken over by this bacteria which is very hazardous to humans. Putting your feet in is fine but putting your head underwater can be very dangerous. Still it is great to lay on one of the beaches enjoying the sun and view. Having worked at FW I can tell you as soon as an alligator was spotted pest control was called to removed to the Disney wilderness preserve. Gators are known for returning to there favorite locations though.

 

[Buddiebo]

This confuses me because I thought you could waterski at WDW resorts? I know that a person waterskiing would be fully in the water, and when they wipe-out, even go under water! So how come a person can waterski there, but not go in the water at the resort beaches? It seems like the waterskier would be at risk for all those terrible things you all mentioned in your posts. Just curious???

 

[skyhog]

Originally posted by Buddiebo
This confuses me because I thought you could waterski at WDW resorts? I know that a person waterskiing would be fully in the water, and when they wipe-out, even go under water! So how come a person can waterski there, but not go in the water at the resort beaches? It seems like the waterskier would be at risk for all those terrible things you all mentioned in your posts. Just curious???

You are so right... all the talk about "natural hazards" is all wrong... there is a brand new area marked off just for water skiers.. and you swallow/ingest all kinds of water when you wipe out... It is just that the beach areas are not contollable to a degree that that can survive an attack by a legal alligator with a a fake client claiming injury ... my god, can you imagine the horror of being attacked by a small mouth bass or even 'gasp', a minnow!!! Remember, the pools are marked off in inches, in inches for god's sake, imagine... a beach where you can't mark depth in the sand...

Ahhhh, once thought only to exist in marine environments, a new species has evolved... legal barracuda's survive and prosper in fresh water...

 

[PlutoPal]

I dont think your allowed to swim off the shores of the WL.