Can you go to the Beash at any resort?

[Karrie Davis]

I am wondering if you are staying at a resort with no beach can you go to another resort for the beach? I know you can pool hp (not SAB though) but what about beaches.....

Thanks!
K

 

[RobDoc]

Beach hopping is not a DVC perk.

However, if you want to walk along the beach at BC, WL, Poly, GF, CBR pr CSR - anyone may visit the resort and walk along the beach. VB and HH also have public beaches that anyone may experience.

Enjoy!

 

[crisi]

You cannot swim at any of the beaches at WDW. Florida lakes contain a parasite that can make you very ill (it can even cause death) and WDW does not allow swimming in their lakes any longer.

 

[Karrie Davis]

OMG! Well, I think the beach thing will have to go, I only wanted to do this because of my 2 year old and I think with that info we will pass.

Thank you both for chiming in Eapecialy letting me know about the water.... I am sure my son would taouch it and I would be freaking out now.

Isnt there sand at Typhoon Lagoon? In the kids area or something..

 

[RobDoc]

Yes, Typhoon Lagoon has a great children's area (as does Blizzard Beach also).

TL also has a sandy area in the main wave pool .

Guests are welcome to enjoy the beach area at BC and GF - they both have lounge chairs right on the beach. There are signs posted about not swimming.

While I have heard the rumors about the mentioned parasite, I'm not sure that is really the case. Disney even allows (encourages) the use of Bay Lake for waterskiing at the CR water center and rental sailboats do occasionally tip over - thus exposing guests to the same issue. I suspect the prohibition of swimming in WDW lakes is more due to liability issues and Disney not wanting to provide lifeguards for those areas. I couldn't find anything about parasites in FL lakes on the FL Dept of Health site just now and swimming is certainly allowed on the many public lakes within a few miles of Disney property. Perhaps someone can provide more information about the supposed swimming limitations on inland waters in FL.

Regardless, there are lots of options for enjoying the beach at WDW from a quiet stroll on the sand to swimming at TL or SAB.

Enjoy!

 

[disney junky]

Yes, Typhoon Lagoon has a great children's area (as does Blizzard Beach also).

TL also has a sandy area in the main wave pool .

Guests are welcome to enjoy the beach area at BC and GF - they both have lounge chairs right on the beach. There are signs posted about not swimming.

While I have heard the rumors about the mentioned parasite, I'm not sure that is really the case. Disney even allows (encourages) the use of Bay Lake for waterskiing at the CR water center and rental sailboats do occasionally tip over - thus exposing guests to the same issue. I suspect the prohibition of swimming in WDW lakes is more due to liability issues and Disney not wanting to provide lifeguards for those areas. I couldn't find anything about parasites in FL lakes on the FL Dept of Health site just now and swimming is certainly allowed on the many public lakes within a few miles of Disney property. Perhaps someone can provide more information about the supposed swimming limitations on inland waters in FL.

Regardless, there are lots of options for enjoying the beach at WDW from a quiet stroll on the sand to swimming at TL or SAB.

Enjoy!

I think it was about ten years ago that Florida banned swimming in lakes because of the parasite mentioned. We were in WDW at the time. I believe it was a combination of extra warm temperatures combined with other circumstances that produced that particular warning. Don't know if or when the ban was lifted. We were at Poly this fathers day and there are signs posted about swimming in the lake. Just beyond the signs was a family swimming in the lake. There was a liftguard facing towards that pool but he certainly could look beyond the pool and see these people, and he obviously wasn't too concerned about them...

 

[Granny]

While I have heard the rumors about the mentioned parasite, I'm not sure that is really the case. Disney even allows (encourages) the use of Bay Lake for waterskiing at the CR water center and rental sailboats do occasionally tip over - thus exposing guests to the same issue. I suspect the prohibition of swimming in WDW lakes is more due to liability issues and Disney not wanting to provide lifeguards for those areas.

I was going to mention the water skiing too. Obviously, Disney wouldn't allow that to take place with a parasite liability hanging over their head. I think you nailed it, Doc.

 

[La2kw]

From CNN.com:

"Florida Boy Dies From Amoeba In Lake

Monday, July 26, 2002

CNN - An unidentified 12-year-old died Friday after being infected with an amoeba while swimming in a Florida lake.
The boy had meningeal encephalitis -- a combination of meningitis and encephalitis, which causes the brain to swell, according to Dr. Jaime Carrizosa, an infectious disease specialist from Florida Hospital in Orlando. Carrizosa had treated the boy.

Dr. Steven Wiersma of the Florida Department of Health in Tallahassee, says the condition is very rare and has a high mortality rate.

The environmental conditions in Florida lakes -- especially in the hot summer months -- are ideal for amoebas to thrive and proliferate, Carrizosa said.

Amoebas enter the body through the nose. From there, they can travel directly to the brain and into the spinal fluid. That causes brain swelling and the increased pressure is often fatal."

"The Volusia County Health Department warns against "swimming in lakes, retention ponds or swimming holes, particularly during the hot summer months."

Carrizosa recommends wearing a nose clip and keeping your head above water when swimming in these areas."

 

[Deb & Bill]

Not to mention a gator or two.

 

[crisi]

I think its probably as safe to swim in the lakes as it is anywhere - even with the 'gators and ameboas. But Disney doesn't allow lake swimming - either due to the parasite, or liability, or due to maintenance issues (it may just be they don't want to keep the beaches up - my parents are on a lake, and its a real pain to keep a swimming beach maintained). I wouldn't panic about dipping a toe in.

(They kept River Country open for years after the initial parasite report as well....so I don't think that is REALLY the reason either - I think they don't want to maintain beaches and if pool hopping is bad, I'd think the Poly beach would be covered with people taking day breaks from the MK if they allowed swimming).

 

[spiceycat]

OMG! Well, I think the beach thing will have to go, I only wanted to do this because of my 2 year old and I think with that info we will pass.

Thank you both for chiming in Eapecialy letting me know about the water.... I am sure my son would taouch it and I would be freaking out now.

Isnt there sand at Typhoon Lagoon? In the kids area or something..

this thing needs a opening to enter the body - so just him putting his foot or hands in - not a problem.'

there is also a bacteria that can make you sick in the florida waters that goes in the ears....

if you are only in the water a minute or two like water skiing - I think when they do the iron man competition don't they make the swimmers wear stuff - like a nose clip and ear plugs????

 

[skelooch]

For what it's worth I was told by a CM that the reason they closed River Country was due to the amount of chemicals they were putting into the water there to keep it save for swimming were getting into Bay Lake and causing problems with the lake.

Again for what it's worth

 

[KristinU]

I've always wondered the "true" reason for the swimming ban since they do the swimming part of the Danskin Triathlon in Bay Lake.

I don't doubt the parasite issue, but I don't necessarily think it is as severe as it is made out to be.