Is the Seven Seas water safe?

[risingsunmom]

We will be at the Poly in May. Is it safe to let DD 8 and DS 5 in the water? I know there are signs posted about not swimming, but... The kids have seen pictures of the beach and I know if they are playing in the sand its only a matter of time until they are in the water.

Is there really something in the water that is harmful or is it a safety issue from the standpoint of no lifegaurds watching people swim?

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

The water is not safe. There is a water-borne bacteria that is present and it can be fatal.

Not to scare you, but it is a legitimate health concern, not just a no-lifeguards issue.

 

[JoanneNC]

Definitely avoid the water - you will see people in it - but apparently they can't read the strong warnings not to..

 

[vicki_c]

If the kids can't stay out of the water just because they're on the beach, then I highly recommend not taking them to the beaches at WDW.

Here's an article on the problem: Amoebic Encephalitis

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/371092/florida_warns_against_freshwater_swimming.html?cat=5

 

[goofy4tink]

Not to mention snakes and alligators!! I don't even like walking along the sand there!! Not sure what might happen if I had an open cut on my foot or leg and some of that bacteria got in.....not something I want to think about. I just stay away from the beaches...they are pretty but not for swimming.

 

[aprilmommy]

That is really scary! I was considering having DH rent a Sea Raycer w/ 4 yo DS, but now I'm worried if he gets splashed by the water! I'm probably worrying for nothing because it said it lives on the bottom of the lake right?

 

[safetymom]

The amoeba lives in the shallow water of the lakes here in FL. It usually enters through the nose and goes to the brain.

Besides the fact there are snakes and gators in the water I wouldn't go in. There are signs posted that swimming is not allowed in the lake.

 

[risingsunmom]

Ok. I'm sufficiently freaked out.

 

[brergnat]

That is really scary! I was considering having DH rent a Sea Raycer w/ 4 yo DS, but now I'm worried if he gets splashed by the water! I'm probably worrying for nothing because it said it lives on the bottom of the lake right?

I wouldn't worry about the boating. That's perfectly safe. Your son won't be harmed by a splash of water, and even in those mouse boats, you don't really get wet at all. They are a lot of fun, and I highly recommend your DH and son do it!



Don't miss out on BOATING fun because you are afraid of the water...responsible boating is VERY safe at WDW.

 

[a1tinkfans]

We will be at the Poly in May. Is it safe to let DD 8 and DS 5 in the water? I know there are signs posted about not swimming, but... The kids have seen pictures of the beach and I know if they are playing in the sand its only a matter of time until they are in the water.

Is there really something in the water that is harmful or is it a safety issue from the standpoint of no lifegaurds watching people swim?

please DO NOT let your kids in the water, bacterial infections can become fatal!! It is simply not allowed for that very reason.
I know it looks so tempting but if that will become an "issue" for you with stressed out kids wanting to go in and you getting annoyed at the repeated requests, I'd honestly choose to stay elsewhere.
Just one sip, into an ear or mouth or nose and wah la, vacation ruined or worse, serious illness
Have a great trip!!!

 

[a1tinkfans]

The amoeba lives in the shallow water of the lakes here in FL. It usually enters through the nose and goes to the brain.

Besides the fact there are snakes and gators in the water I wouldn't go in. There are signs posted that swimming is not allowed in the lake.

OH, we were able to see a gator MANY years ago on our ride to DTD from POR , up on grass sunning, (looked like a golf area to right side headed downtown!)
We heard Disney took care of it ASAP and in all our visits (and there have been many many visits), never saw anything like that again!
We have rented the sprites and they're FUN!!

 

[ILIKEWDW]

I wouldn't worry about the boating. That's perfectly safe. Your son won't be harmed by a splash of water, and even in those mouse boats, you don't really get wet at all. They are a lot of fun, and I highly recommend your DH and son do it!



Don't miss out on BOATING fun because you are afraid of the water...responsible boating is VERY safe at WDW.

The warning on the website provided above says: any kind of water sports or activity

Isn´t boating on a Sea Raycer included?

 

[adventure_woman]

If they want to play in the sand, you can always stay at the Y&BC. They have sand in their pool area.

 

[ILIKEWDW]

but if that will become an "issue" for you with stressed out kids wanting to go in and you getting annoyed at the repeated requests, I'd honestly choose to stay elsewhere.

I would not get to that extreme point, most children can understand if you explain it as if they were adults, just like we read it in these posts and on the website: "it could be fatal", just talk about it to kids and they will understand as they learn to be careful before crossing a street or by always using the seat belts while on a car.

 

[Baltazar]

Heh, we were at CBR a few years back. When we were on the beach, the water did not look inviting in the slightest. My two kids wouldn't get within 10 feet of it. If I remember correctly, there is a curb between the beach and the water.

We just told them there may be alligators, that was sufficient to keep them away.

I would not mention anything about "fatal", you run the risk of them not even wanting to go on any water rides or any kind of boat.

 

[appleorchard]

There are many, many gators and snakes in every body of Florida water! That alone is enough to keep me out of it. If I'd known that when two of my sons collided their Sea Racers and both ended up in the water back in the 80s(and barred for the rest of our visit from the boats) I would have freaked out even more than I did over my one son losing his glasses at the bottom of Bay Lake!

Until we spent four months in Florida last year, I had no idea how many gators there really are in Florida. Even our little backyard pond had a resident. They're not generally removed until they reach around 4 feet.

To me, the bacteria is just the icing on the cake--even though it's probably way more dangerous than the snakes and gators!

 

[Justsyd2]

The warning on the website provided above says: any kind of water sports or activity

Isn´t boating on a Sea Raycer included?

No. Boating is excluded.

The State Surgeon General Viamonta stated while issuing the news release that, "There is an increased risk of infection by this organism in all freshwater areas throughout Florida, especially during hot summer months, any kind of water sports or activity such as wakeboarding, water skiing, swimming or diving puts the public at a greater risk."

Remember that during the summer months when lakes and ponds become warmer, microscopic amoeba is found on the bottom floors of lakes and ponds.

 

[mrstxcop]

i would think that at 5 & 8 your boys would be able to understand that they cannot play in the water, period --- if not, then don't take them to the beach area, maybe just visit the pools ...

bacterial/staph infections are a very scary and serious thing --- my dh was out of work for 4months this past year all due to a staph infection --- he had the smallest, most minute break in his skin on the bottom of his foot, he didn't even know about it --- he washed the car barefoot in the driveway and got a staph infection --- it landed him in the hospital for 7 days, 2 emergency surgeries, 1 possible partial foot amputation (they amputated bone instead), numerous CT scans and MRI's, crutches, orthopedics boots...it was a complete nightmare...

given what dh contracted from just a neighborhood driveway there is no way i am letting my girls step foot in the beach water...it's just not worth the risk...

 

[AndyMcV]

I understand the reasoning and the threat of getting infected. That would NOT be good. It's just to bad really. We live in an area that are surrounded by freshwater lakes and beaches so it's an automatic need to want to swim in Bay Lake for us. Not that we ever would though, it's just a shame that you can't though.

This is a warning to other parents.... we actually had a wierd thing happen when we stayed at the Dolphin in 2005. We had no idea of the restrictions of swiming in the water at WDW at that time. My DS at the time as 5 and he just waded in the water just over his ankles. This would have been in the lake that is shared by the Boardwalk, YC/BC, SD and Epcot. A staff member came over and told him to hop out of the water as he wasn't allowed to be in it. We never asked why, we just followed the instructions. This was on the day before we were leaving. He developed a really weird red rash for a couple of days that just went away. He is totally fine but now I think back to what could of happened or even what caused the rash. Yikes.

Never again will we go near the water!

 

[Baltazar]

Ok. I'm sufficiently freaked out.