For those of you who go in the water at 7 Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake...

[Miss Inga Depointe]

...even though the sign says to stay out of the water: GET OUT OF THE WATER!

We've always been amazed at the people who will let their kids splash around in there , even with the signs and even when lifeguards come over and tell parents that their kids need to get out of the water (the parents never make them.)

I'm no scientist, but I always figured that if there was a sign, there was a reason for it, and so I figured they knew better than I did.

Well we just spent the weekend with a friend who is an environmental engineer and he told us that while the water won't kill you, it will make you sick, mostly with ear infections and eye infections (sometimes stomach and upper respiratory problems too). So OK maybe you won't die but your vacation that you planned a whole year for might get ruined!

I never got why parents just ignored the warnings: is it that they didn't believe the signs?

 

[DaisyD]

Well the bacteria might not kill you but the gators could! I can't believe how stupid people are either. Last October we were lounging at the Poly beach when some lady let her 5 year old swim in the water. I told the lady that there was no swimming allowed and that there are gators in the water. She didn't believe me. I told her that I have seen them quite a bit on the beach sunbathing themselves and there is no way I'd let my kid go in that water. She rolled her eyes and chuckled. What a fool. Meanwhile a lifeguard came over to us and asked whose kid that was swimming in the lake. She said hers and he said well good, looks like we won't have to feed the gators today as she has done it for them. LOL! She about passed out! She called her DD out of the water as fast as she could. I laughed so hard. She picked up her stuff and left in a huff!

 

[DisneyNutMary]

When I was on the boat from WL to MK last March, one of the CMs on board told us that there are alligators in Bay Lake, but they tend to only come out after the boats stop running at night.... the boats scare them.
Anyway, he said the alligators were one of the main reasons there is no swimming allowed in Bay Lake.

What has me wondering, though, is that the WDW Traithalon swimming portion takes place in Bay Lake. So is the water safe or not? If the triathletes are allowed to swim in the water, sould it really be filled with bacteria, or alligators?

 

[spiceycat]

some don't...

I would also be more than a little worried about the alligators - those things move fast.

disney definitely tries to move the big ones....

also some people remember back to the old days - when you could swim in the seven seas lagoon (back in the 70's and 80's).... some people will ignore change that they don't like.

before that bacteria spread to all the fresh water in Florida.

I think I would have the front desk make them sign a waiver if you get anything from swimming or playing in our lakes - it is not our fault....

 

[Sherri]

I thought at a time you were allowed to swim in the waters at the Grand Floridian. I know things have changed, but how long ago does anyone know? Oh and the no swimming signs would be enough to keep me and my children out of the water. Rules are rules no matter what the reason.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

Our friend told us that kids are more susceptible than adults, so that may have something to do with it, but I'll bet even those triathalon people take a risk of bacteria.

My friend is working for a company that studies bacteria levels at vacation places. He also mentioned bad rashes, kids get these alot from the beaches.

He said the bacteria level is bad at WDW.

 

[lillygator]

We were leaving on a Wishes cruise - 9pm at night a few weeks ago and there were several young children in the water on the beach area at the Poly....DH and I just shook our head. People ignore the signs and then when something happens, its the Gator's fault, not the irresponsible ones right?

 

[tlev]

As a child, I have fond memories of being able to swim in the lagoon in front of the Poly, and was dissapointed on my return, some 20 years later, that you were no longer alowed in the water to swim. However, there is a large area of Bay Lake that is roped off for waterskiing, which you can sign up for at the Contemporary. Why are you alowed to be in the water in this area but not at the resort beaches? Maybe the bacteria levels are only high at the edges of the lake?

 

[spiceycat]

WL is over in Bay Lake - you can't swim there either....

evidently the bacteria (not to mention alligators) need some time to inflect you...

just sking - well hopeflully most of the time won't be spend in the water but above it...

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

ing - well hopeflully most of the time won't be spend in the water but above it...

Yes, exactly! But also, as I said, the risk (according to my friend) is much greater to children.

 

[dkostel]

I live in Chicago and every summer the beaches close, now and again, due to a high "bacteria" count. The bacteria in question in ecoli, and we know where that comes from. I'm always surprised that anyone would swim at our beaches much less let small kids swim there. I guess most people have the "it'll never happen" attitude. Of course it'll never happen - until it does.

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I live in Chicago and every summer the beaches close, now and again, due to a high "bacteria" count. The bacteria in question in ecoli, and we know where that comes from. .

Right! And my friend says that alot of that is from birds and animals!

 

[jeankeri]

My kids were disapointed (sp) when we stayed at the Poly and found out you couldn't swim in the water, but really, gross!! I'm glad I didn't know about the gator part of it or I would have been a wreck when they went tubing at Sammy Duvalls. Glad the boats go pretty quick...

 

[pepe of ohio]

A long time ago, in the early 80's, one of our traditions upon arriving was donning our suits and jumping in the Contemporary Resort lake. Use to lie there and let the small bass come up and nibble. Kids loved it but those days are long gone. Kids have grown up and Disney has shut down lake dipping.

We now carry on our tradition with a jump in the resort pool. Not as fun as lake jumping but alot cleaner and healthier.

 

[LErin26]

I am curious about this, since I am doing the triathlon in September. I had heard from those that did the triathlon in May that the 7 seas lagoon smelled and left a taste in the athletes mouth of diesel fumes!!! Not too thrilled about the swim portion of the race now!

 

[Miss Inga Depointe]

I am curious about this, since I am doing the triathlon in September. I had heard from those that did the triathlon in May that the 7 seas lagoon smelled and left a taste in the athletes mouth of diesel fumes!!! Not too thrilled about the swim portion of the race now!

not to worry! the gators will help you swim faster!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I guess this is part of the reason why river country closed! I remember swimming in the water there. If my memory serves me right, I think there was a net in the water that seperated the swimming pond from the rest of bay lake. Not 100% sure though, since the last time I was at river country was in 1984!!!

 

[jeankeri]

I miss River Country.....

 

[monarchsfan16]

I guess this is part of the reason why river country closed! I remember swimming in the water there. If my memory serves me right, I think there was a net in the water that seperated the swimming pond from the rest of bay lake. Not 100% sure though, since the last time I was at river country was in 1984!!!

According to one of the CM's at WL, River Country closed because it was getting old, and too expensive to keep up. It also wasn't drawing as many people as Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. And they were having a hard time keeping the RC water out of Bay Lake. But it wasn't due to Bay Lake bacteria
As for swimming, we have pictures of my sister and me in the water in 1994 at the Grand Floridian. My mom is a stickler for rules, so there couldn't have been a rule about it at that time, or else we wouldn't have been in the water.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Isn't Bay Lake actually there for run off purposes? I could swear I read that somewhere. If that is true then you would actually be swimming in a sump. Yuck! Does anyone know if that is true or not? At any rate we will stick to the resort pools. Bring on the Chlorine!