filling lake

[bigalpf1]

I know this is a strange question,but when they dug the lake at the Magic Kingdom how did they fill it with water?
Did they dig until they hit water?
Did they dig wells?

 

[Feralpeg]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do know that water is very close to the surface in Florida. That is why nobody here has basements.

 

[eclectics]

Bay Lake was already there. I assume when they dug out the lagoon and connected the two, Bay Lake helped fill it, plus I believe they also re-routed some existing canals into the lagoon. The lagoon isn't very deep but I'm not sure of the exact depth.

 

[Schmeck]

There's sooooo much water down there most of the year that they have to work to get rid of it! Look out the bus windows as you drive around Disney property - it's very swampy, and there's a lot of standing water in the culverts and ditches beside the roads. You could even spot an alligator or two!

 

[Jsmply]

I was actually very curious about this myself and on my last trip to Disney (last month) while riding the boat from ft. wilderness to Magic Kingdom I asked one of the boat captains. He said his grandfather happended to work there back when they were first constructing the lagoon. He says the area over by Ft. Wilderness was natural and always there, but the areas by the Magic Kingdom and the resorts were not.

If I remember correctly, he said they dug that part out (lots of trucks hauling away dirt) and tapped natural springs under the ground. He said it then took 2 years for the lagoon to fill to its normal level we are used to seeing. He also mentioned he had pictures from his grandfather and there are pictures floating around of the lagoon being dug out. I would love to see those!

He also told me how deep it was at different areas, but sadly to say I don't remember. I do know though that he says its pretty consistant in all areas except the shore lines (probably because a lot of it was dug out). It wasn't astronomically deep, but I want to say somewhere around 50 feet in some places?

Hope you all find it as interesting as I did.

God's blessings,

- J

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

I borrowed "Since The World Began / Walt Disney World - The First 25 Years" from my local library and it's a very interesting read on the creation of WDW.

In the book it discusses Seven Seas Lagoon. Before MK was constructed studies of the land were done and it was determined that the land west of Bay Lake (the largest natural body of water on the purchased land) would be perfect for a theme park and a large portion of the land included high ground. But there were areas of low wetland directly adjacent to the high ground. Disney excavated the low land and made Seven Seas Lagoon.

Bay Lake was drained with pumps and the bottom layer was dredged out. The dirt that was excavated was used to raise the MK site (the MK you see is acutally the 2nd and 3rd stories of the buildings). Under the stuff that was dredged out of Bay lake were thousands of tons of pure white sand. This was used to create the beaches around the lagoon.

Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon were filled with water from the surrounding wetland and stocked with fish.

Also, Disney installed wave machines in the lagoon but the wave action caused too much beach erosion so they stopped using them. But, the machines still sit in the lagoon.

Debbie

 

[AJKMOM]

An alligator or two? There are probably 100's on the property. I read that there are at least a million in Florida, since they put them on the endangered species list!

 

[mitros]

You just opened up another question, what did they do with the water they drained from bay lake when they dredged the bottom out? And sadly, you can barely see the remnants of that wave machine any longer.

 

[Schmeck]

An alligator or two? There are probably 100's on the property. I read that there are at least a million in Florida, since they put them on the endangered species list!

Yes, but you don't see hundreds of them on property when you are riding the bus, duh!

 

[eeyoreiscool]

The Seven Seas Lagoon is no more than 12 feet deep at the deepest point and generally averages 9-12 for most of it.

 

[ChrisAlli]

Since The World Began / Walt Disney World - The First 25 Years" from my local library and it's a very interesting read on the creation of WDW.

I own this book and love it, lots of good info!!!!

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

You just opened up another question, what did they do with the water they drained from bay lake when they dredged the bottom out? And sadly, you can barely see the remnants of that wave machine any longer.

That's a good question. I don't recall the book addressing where the water went/was held. Anyone know?

Debbie

 

[WDWNJ]

Where is this wave machine located???

 

[Horizons16]

Where is this wave machine located???

Indeed another great question....

 

[ChrisAlli]

From what the book says, some 55 miles of canals and levees were constructed to control and exchange water levels without depleting the the overall reserve. Water control structures keep the water levels in check by automatically floating open when the water level peaks and then automatically closing when those peaks subside.
So it sounds like they just moved the water around and didn't really get rid of any.

It really is an interesting book with a lot of facts.

 

[ChrisAlli]

I can't find the exact page, but I'm pretty sure the wave machine is at the Poly.

 

[Horizons16]

Does it have photos?

 

[ChrisAlli]

The book has a lot of photos. Some concept drawings, it's neat beacause some things have changed so you can see the way it used to be or also how the plans changed.

 

[Honeibee]

The Wave Machine is on a little tiny island right by the Poly. And yes you can still see it. Especially if you're out there on a Water Mouse. Or Sea Raycer. Or whatever they are called now. (We still call them Water mice!)

 

[Maverick Mike]

Is the Wave Machine out of the water or submerged? I would love to see it sometime?

Exactly where is it? Is it on that island that you see from the beaches of the Poly? That island seems large to me.

That book you speak of is excellent. They had copies of it (hardback) for $3.99 at our local Schnucks (grocery store)! I bought 4 copies, and keep them in my classroom here in St. Louis! The kids love it!

MM