I knew this once but can't remember now- why can't you swim in 7 Seas or Bay Lake?

[AJKMOM]

NO!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are no alligators in WDW.

And no sharks either.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there are over a million alligators in Florida, and they are in almost every body of water at WDW.

This topic comes up at the DIS all the time, and I rememeber someone posting that during the triathalon, they set a course of buoys and have boats with CM's to watch for alligators when the swimmers are in the water. Alligators, unless fed by humans, are afraid of them. So, you most likely won't see them unless they come out on a regular basis because they know food is available. Also, Disney has a policy to leave the smaller ones alone.

As far as the bacteria, I read here that it is sort of "sinks" to the bottom of the lakes, so if you get on a boat at a dock and don't touch the bottom of the lake, you probably won't get sick unless you somehow stir up the depths. HOwever, as someone walks into the lake from the shore, they do stir up the bacteria.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Your pediatrician was probably talking about an infection caused by a parasitic amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) that tends to be more common in warm-water lakes. If you get water up your nose, the amoeba can get into your brain and cause a thoroughly horrible form of meningitis that's very difficult to treat, and is usually fatal. Sounds like something out of a horror movie, I know, but it's true. Here's the CDC fact sheet:

http:/www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/naegleria/factsht_naegleria.htm#common

It's rare, but there were two cases in the Orlando area in 2002. I learned about this in parasitology class several years ago, and vowed to never, ever, set foot in a lake in Florida. I cringe every time I see people watching their kids play in the water in a WDW lake, standing right next to that big sign that says 'don't go into the lake'.

This is fact what happened to a young guest at WDW, it was several years ago and there was a large lawsuite brought against Disney. After this case River County and swimming in any lakes where discontinued. While it is very rare, Disney didn't want to risk any more guest to this.

Please remember this isn't a Florida infection this can occur in any lake.

 

[schwaa]

And then there were some CMs that just said, "Yuck! Why would anyone want to swim in there?"

I'm going with this answer.

 

[Dznefreek]

Two words. . . .

Watercraft Traffic.

 

[kapoof]

also just take a look at the water..do you really want to swim in lake water???

 

[jess-sarah]

I maybe naive, but why can't WDW clean up the lake to make it safe for swimming. It always kind of annoyed me that you pay a lot of money for a beach you can't use!

 

[Micca]

I maybe naive, but why can't WDW clean up the lake to make it safe for swimming.

Workers won't go near the lake because of Usula, the sea witch. They don't want to lose their ability to sing.

 

[kt_mom]

I had wondered what happened to River Country. Its too bad they can't or won't do anything about it, I have great memories of River Country as a kid. We always got there right when it opened so we could get good chairs and did a whole day there. It was one of my favorite things!

 

[Lynne M]

I maybe naive, but why can't WDW clean up the lake to make it safe for swimming. It always kind of annoyed me that you pay a lot of money for a beach you can't use!

Every freshwater lake in Florida suffers from the same issues. That's why you really don't see the locals ever go swimming in lakes. You've potentially got alligators, water moccasins, Naegleria, etc., and at WDW you add boat traffic (and boat fuels).

I suppose you could remove all of the above, but then it wouldn't be a freshwater lake anymore. To get rid of the Naegleria, you'd have to dump something in there which would also kill the fish. Which means all those lovely water birds would disappear. Not sure it's even possible to keep the alligators and water moccasins out, they can and do travel on land from one body of water to another. You'd have to get rid of the rental boats, and even the launches that go to the parks would be iffy, you don't want one of the WL-FW-MK boats running over a swimmer.

I do use the beaches at the deluxe resorts. I do my swimming in the pool, and then go sit on one of the lounge chairs on the beach and enjoy the view. I'd much rather look at the lake and the egrets, etc., than swim in it.

 

[anothertrip]

Okay, you know I'm kidding about the alligators, right? I know there are alligators in Florida.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but there are over a million alligators in Florida, and they are in almost every body of water at WDW.

This topic comes up at the DIS all the time, and I rememeber someone posting that during the triathalon, they set a course of buoys and have boats with CM's to watch for alligators when the swimmers are in the water. Alligators, unless fed by humans, are afraid of them. So, you most likely won't see them unless they come out on a regular basis because they know food is available. Also, Disney has a policy to leave the smaller ones alone.

As far as the bacteria, I read here that it is sort of "sinks" to the bottom of the lakes, so if you get on a boat at a dock and don't touch the bottom of the lake, you probably won't get sick unless you somehow stir up the depths. HOwever, as someone walks into the lake from the shore, they do stir up the bacteria.

 

[wyodan]

On the latest Vacation DVD from Disney in the Kids part they show watersports. And show several scened where the kids are all skiing and riding floats behind a boat with several crashes in the lake.

I found it interesting as i had heard the same that there was no swimming in the lake..

 

[bunnyfoo]

On the latest Vacation DVD from Disney in the Kids part they show watersports. And show several scened where the kids are all skiing and riding floats behind a boat with several crashes in the lake.

I found it interesting as i had heard the same that there was no swimming in the lake..

I wondered about that too. I thought that going waterskiing or boating, one would get sprayed with lake water. But maybe the boats don't stir up the bottom of the lakes enough for the bacteria/amoeba to be a problem

 

[bmalonef45]

NO!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are no alligators in WDW.

And no sharks either.

WRONG.

Seen them myself just a few weeks ago. How do you think they would keep them out with all that water? Sorry quoted before I read on. I'd never want to swim with one anyway. Besides with all the nice pools the lakes don't seem to be needed for swimming. Now watersports still seem to be fine probably because they are usually done in th middle of the lake where there are less places for the gators to hide out. Just my thoughts on that.

 

[wedance6]

Yes, I remember both swimming in the lagoon at the Poly in 1980( all there was then was the CR, Poly, and River Country, we had nothin else to keep the kids occupied), and also seeing a baby alligator sunning itself in a remote area of the beach. I recall, sucking up alot of water, if we only knew then what we know now.....however we did all survive. But I definetly think there is more bacteria in waters nowadays from all the pollution in the air.