confused about Bay Lake

[ldubberly]

I just read here that they held a large baptism in the lake near the Contemporary and now a triathalon in Bay Lake with 2200 participants. They also permit, skiing, tubing and such in the lake. Am I the only one who is confused as to why they still have the "do not swim" signs at the beaches? Maybe the possibility of getting sick by algea isn't the real reason for the signs? Maybe its just not attractive to see swimmers on the shores? Or are the people who partake in the above activities expendable? (ok, that sounded nasty, but it sounded funny to me )

 

[ftwildernessguy]

To be honest, I think it's more of a combined manpower/liability issue. Swimming in the lake would require hiring more lifeguards. It is also much more difficult to control a swimming area in a lake than a pool, so there is a greater chance of someone drowning.

 

[Billmel]

I'm not sure why they don't allow swimming, but one morning on our recent trip we were taking the boat over to the CR for breakfast at the Concourse, and the boat captain pointed out a very large alligator in the lake. I know it was an alligator because as we got closer we could see its eyes, and then it went below the water. I for one won't be swimming in the lake. I

 

[Disneefun]

Don't know about the baptism, but I do know that for the triathalon, the course is marked off (as in don't swim outside the buoys) and well patrolled for both wildlife and drowners. The tubers, skiers, etc. are under the supervision of sammy duvalls watersports, where the excursions are purchased. If they tried to patrol bay lake for individuals it would be nearly impossible. Additionaly, if someone did get into trouble, even if the lifeguard saw them go down it could be very difficult to find them because the water's not clear. I was a lifeguard once and there are special lake rescue/search techniques but it's still very difficult to rescue someone in a lake. I'm sure disney doesn't want the added liabililty. We are talking about a company who closed the petting zoo and took away the peacocks for liability reasons -- I highly doubt they want to add lake drownings to the list.

 

[auntie]

I've heard about those peacocks..trouble makers the lot of them! They probably fed them to the aligator in Bay Lake!

We had friends who vacationed at Poly and FW many years ago..and they did swim in the water at that time. However...after seeing snakes and snapping turltes..and obviously if there are aligators on the nearby golf courses..I am assuming they would also be in the lakes and canals..I'm staying clear away from Bay Lake.

 

[Rhonda]

However...after seeing snakes and snapping turltes..and obviously if there are aligators on the nearby golf courses..I am assuming they would also be in the lakes and canals..I'm staying clear away from Bay Lake.

And don't forget water snakes! Florida has Cottonmouths that are poisonous, as well as many aggressive non-poisonous water snakes. I wouldn't want to come across one while swimming!

 

[FlaNative]

And don't forget water snakes! Florida has Cottonmouths that are poisonous, as well as many aggressive non-poisonous water snakes. I wouldn't want to come across one while swimming!

And don't forget our State Bird, the Giant Flying Cockroach. They tend to get stuck in your hair. They come out just after dark, but can be active anytime.

 

[Rhonda]

And don't forget our State Bird, the Giant Flying Cockroach. They tend to get stuck in your hair. They come out just after dark, but can be active anytime.

LOL - now there's a way to keep FW to ourselves!! Scare everyone away!

We've lived in FL for 2 years now, and so far I've never had a Giant Flying Cockroach fly in my hair! I can put up with alligators, snakes, lizards, armadillos, and just about everything else -- but I would totally FREAK OUT if a Giant Flying Cockroach got stuck in my hair!!

 

[Sinclare]

I'm sure disney doesn't want the added liabililty. We are talking about a company who closed the petting zoo and took away the peacocks for liability reasons -- I highly doubt they want to add lake drownings to the list.

Hold on.... I knew about the Peacocks (which is a darn shame) but when the heck did they get rid of the petting zoo.? We were there last June and they still had it. That's one of the big selling points for my niece this year is that she can ride the ponys during our stay.

 

[Disneefun]

Hold on.... I knew about the Peacocks (which is a darn shame) but when the heck did they get rid of the petting zoo.? We were there last June and they still had it. That's one of the big selling points for my niece this year is that she can ride the ponys during our stay.

I'm not 100% sure when exactly it was, but it was sometime in the last 8 months to a year, I believe. It happened after all those E Coli infections happened at state fairs and petting zoos around the country. I think Disney just decided it was too much of a liability. You can't force people to wash their hands and when they don't and they contract something, they blame the zoo operator. We were there in Jan., as well as this month, and it's definitely gone. The area is still there and they keep some goats and small ponies in some of the pens, but you can't touch them.

 

[cruisinbeagle]

Hi, I'm new here but have been lurking for awhile. I want to thank everyone for being so helpful! Anyway, back when River Country was open I was wading through the water when all of a sudden a lifeguard ran past me and scooped up a water snake. I didn't quite feel good about being in the water after that!

 

[Billmel]

The petting zoo is gone, they still have a pig, goats, and ponys, and the only thing you can touch is the ponys. We were there May 3-14, and you can still ride the ponys. Our DGD rode the white one, and the charge was $4.00 and we were able to lead her around the area by ourselves. It was the best money we spent, she will be 3 on tuesday and she talks about it all the time. Thats all we hear.

 

[Jesussavedme]

Ewwww! I had this happen to me once too!!!!! YUCK!!!!
I hate Cockroaches!!! Well, palmetto bugs are the ones that fly, I think, and it was awful!!!!

Talk about traumatic!

And the mosquitos are enough to keep me in at night.

And don't forget our State Bird, the Giant Flying Cockroach. They tend to get stuck in your hair. They come out just after dark, but can be active anytime.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

All right people, are you trying to give me a heart attack or what-LOL. I figured the place might have gators, but snakes didn't even cross my mind (sigh). Now I have to worry about flying cockroaches too!

Don't look for me, I'll be the one in my cabin all week-LOL.

My daughter is sitting with me reading, she is excited at the thought of seeing all of this wildlife --I'm sure until it actually happens. If she could see a dolphin in the lake now that would make her happy too bad for her.

 

[reeeoga]

If you go to the Water Parad at night you will see a dolphin: a big one made of lights. It plays music and jumps in the air.


When we went to pack out pop-up last time I had to remove a 4.5 inch toad from the side over the water connection. Mr. Toad did not appear to be ina good mood. I guess it was from loosing his ride in MK

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Ohhh, she'll even like seeing that kind of dolphin.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Many many years ago Bay Lake was the only free swimming at FW(there were no pools then). They had a roped off area to the right of the dock with a lifegaurd and a platform you could swim out to. When they had drought problems they closed the beaches(Polly and CR had them too) because bacteria counts got too high, after that I guess it was just easier to only have pools.

 

[cyberdeb]

Wow, we had a toad too. In fact we shooed him off when we were trying to close our pop up and about a week after we got home to Pennsylvania, we opened the pop up and lo and behold, the toad was still there closed between the top and the box of our pop up. Best of all, he was still alive. We put him in an aquarium and he lived a couple more months.

Debbie

 

[twinklebug]

Bacteria throughout FL is a problem, but the story I've heard is that when Disney underwent it's big expansion with hotels and parks their waste water treatment plant couldn't meet demand and some ... umm ... let's call it by-product ... made it's way into the water table. If this is true, it's dangerous stuff and can cause serous illness, even death.

Disney obviously has upgraded it's systems to meet and exceed the highest demands but there still lurks the potential problems with previous contaminiation.

 

[schmitty]

About the petting zoo. You can still touch the goats and other things there because they still have the antibacterial dispensers. I dunno if your allowed to but I pet acouple and no one told me I couldnt.
I swam in the lake acouple times when I was a little kid but I liked the hammocks and playground they used to have by the lake alot more. Also the playground right next to have little talkie things. You could talk into one end and it would come out another tube on the other side of the playground. They removed that but Im glad they did because I got stiches from running into that thing late at night one time.