Is This TRUE About WL Pool???

[Kaybee]

At least they are just regular ducks. We have Canadian geese that are craping their brains out in our lake up north and have raised the e coli levels so they had to close the beaches on occasions! You can pretty much be reassured that Disney regularly tests the pool water for any problems and corrects them right away!! I too get upset when I see ducks swimming in the water. I just think where is Elmer Fud when you need him???

 

[Gary M]

I have seen the pool at WL closed down at least three times because of human poop, but never because of ducks. I would think dirty and sweaty human bodies, plus the pee in the pool, would be more of a turn-off than water proof ducks.

 

[juligrl]

In January we stopped over at WL to visit and saw ducks peacefully swimming in the pool near where people were also swimming. It made us laugh since we couldn't decide who belonged there more.

As somebody who grew up swimming (okay bathing) in the river up at my cottage where we have no running water (that's right, we use an outhouse <gasp>), ducks swimming in a pool do not phase me in the least. The water is chemically treated as DHs sensitive eyes will attest to, so relax and enjoy your swim. If it still bothers you that much, just stay out of the pool to leave more room for pool hoppers.

 

[mickeyfan2]

We have Canadian geese that are craping their brains out

 

[gppnj]

I agree with a previous poster. I tihnk we've got a lot more to worry about from babies in diapers on the pools than we do from a few ducks.

 

[Dizneyfan4life]

OP- I think some of the responders to this thread have been a little hard on you. I'm sure that there are a lot of people with concerns over ducks being in the WDW pools for whatever reason. I dont think that there is a whole lot that Disney can do to prevent the ducks from going into the pools but I still feel you have a valid concern.

 

[nhpooh]

Of the ducks in the quiet pool at the Poly in the mornig. Never bothered us to swim in it with them. But us being country folk probably don't know any better. I kept telling my daughter stop filling your water bottle from that cement pond.

Oh is that why our water tastes funny up here Maybe I should tell my DD the same thing next time we need a drink!

 

[goofy4tink]

I don't think anyone has to worry about actually swimming 'with' the ducks. They always hopped out when the humans hit the pools!!! I can't remember one time when I was in the water with the ducks...even the early morning swims.
I have to ask a question for those of you in the know though...my dd had a severe reaction to the water at Ole Man Isle back in '99. Her doctor told us, as did her swim instructor, that she can't swim in overheated chlorinated water..her eyes feel like there are shards of glass in them. So, she always wears goggles now. You have to admit, WDW does heat their pools. But if they aren't using chlorine anymore, why do her eyes still hurt without the goggles?? Just curious. Not to mention the fact that it smells like a Chinese laundry when you walk past the pools the first thing in the morning!!

 

[Squirlz]

If they'd just take down that darn DUCKS ALLOWED sign it wouldn't be a problem.

 

[chyam]

The answers regarding pool hopping ducks are funny. Thank you! For the other, less tolerant among you, (and see, you think *I* am intolerant....well so are you in another way!) no, I HAVEN'T gone swimming in lakes and oceans. I am landlocked as far as oceans go and my vacations are spent at Disney, not the ocean. I have no desire to swim in a lake and there's nothing wrong with that preference. Therefore it makes sense that I would have issues with ducks in a pool that is supposed to be clean and healthy for PEOPLE. Yes, I do think they should do something to keep the ducks out! I remember waaaay back in the mid eighties when the Crystal Palace was always swarming with birds inside....ugh, that was gross, too. So no, I don't want to commune with nature and I was merely wanting to confirm or disprove something that to ME, is a concern. And I agree wholeheartedly about the humans, especially those in diapers, who can leave the pool unsanitary, as well. However, I DO realize I can't expect Disney to keep out the paying guests!! Ducks are another matter....

Sorry to hear that you lead such a sheltered life, do you sanitize the bubble you live in each day? Honestly nature has it's place in our world too and perhaps you need to realize that, everywhere you sit there may have been a dirty diaper upon it before you, someone may have changed their kids diapers on your bedspread.......I for one love the wildlife at the WL and wouldn't want it to change.

 

[Randy K]

I would be far more concerned with getting germs from kids and in some cases adults relieving themselves in a public pool which is common more than from ducks being in there which is not common.

 

[LukenDC]

I have also heard of snakes slithering into the pools. I would much rather share a pool with a duck than a snake.

 

[Katems]

Sorry, but I prefer my ducks to be animatronic or humans in costume (my rodents and other animals, too, for that matter) Aren't we all paying to go to the same place?? The sanitized (figuratively speaking), pixie dusted, make believe world of Disney where everything is fantasy? Vacation to me isn't ducks (or other animals or bugs or what have you). If I wanted that I would go camping, not go to the bubble of Disney and a deluxe hotel.

To those who responded kindly, thank you, I appreciate that. I must say, I am still not happy about the ducks, but am now way more freaked out about the babies!! LOL!!

One amusing thing on this note....back in 1999 we were in the Poly pool and Goofy and Pluto came riding up on shore in a boat and made their way to the pool and jumped in!! So I had two DOGS in my pool then!! But again...they were the nice sanitized Disney costumed sort.... How heavy those costumes must have been afterward!! They hopped out after fifteen minutes and jumped back in the boat and headed to the GF.

 

[jesters]

We stayed at the WL in January and yes, we swam with the ducks. It was mid afternoon, and the pool was relatively crowded. They are obviously used to people. We didn't mind at all. Just careful to stay away from momma duck because she had several ducklings around her.

 

[HeatherPage]

If I wanted that I would go camping, not go to the bubble of Disney and a deluxe hotel.

So, you're saying you'd be okay with it if the ducks were in one of the value's or moderate's pools?

 

[Deb & Bill]

I say we arm the pool staff-life guards to take out those trespassing ducks. It might also resolve the pool hopping problem. Two birds with one shotgun. It would also take the heat off of Mission:Space.

 

[SuBeat]

I have also heard of snakes slithering into the pools. I would much rather share a pool with a duck than a snake.

In June 05, my DH fished this out of the pool at WL....TWICE.
(sorry about the size, first time picture poster here)

It was late evening, no lifeguards on duty, but the towel CM gave him the net. After he caught the fish, he took it down to the lake and freed it. Around 20 minutes later the fish, or a close relative, was back in the pool. We thought it was the strangest thing we had ever seen, but after returning home and telling the story a few times were told of a fish that often does this kind of thing. For those interested, Google "walking catfish."

Oh, and FWIW we love seeing the ducks at the pools. At WL, we'd see them every morning, swimming in the kiddie pool as we walked to the boat dock. This summer, we enjoyed the mama duck and her babies swimming at SAB. The lifeguards worked hard to make sure that they weren't bothered by overly enthusiastic kids and had a little section roped off for them.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I would be far more concerned with getting germs from kids and in some cases adults relieving themselves in a public pool which is common more than from ducks being in there which is not common.

For real.

 

[chyam]

Sorry, but I prefer my ducks to be animatronic or humans in costume (my rodents and other animals, too, for that matter) Aren't we all paying to go to the same place?? The sanitized (figuratively speaking), pixie dusted, make believe world of Disney where everything is fantasy? Vacation to me isn't ducks (or other animals or bugs or what have you). If I wanted that I would go camping, not go to the bubble of Disney and a deluxe hotel.

To those who responded kindly, thank you, I appreciate that. I must say, I am still not happy about the ducks, but am now way more freaked out about the babies!! LOL!!

One amusing thing on this note....back in 1999 we were in the Poly pool and Goofy and Pluto came riding up on shore in a boat and made their way to the pool and jumped in!! So I had two DOGS in my pool then!! But again...they were the nice sanitized Disney costumed sort.... How heavy those costumes must have been afterward!! They hopped out after fifteen minutes and jumped back in the boat and headed to the GF.

You may want to reconsider your choice in hotels......The WL has more wildlife around it than just ducks, there are deer and turkey on the nature trail that leads to the petting zoo at the campground (MORE ANIMALS!!) and I have even seen a raccoon looking in the doorway at the WL.......I guess Disney can not all be fantasy.......but perhaps the wildlife wouldn't freak you out so much at the GF they just maybe a little more civilized over there.......please keep an eye out for the ducks on the Seven Seas lagoon and also at the EPCOT lake they walk on the sidewalks so you wouldn't want to step on something with your sandaled foot. Almost forgot I sure hope you aren't headed this way during the winter, the Snowbirds may do you in, they carry lots of cold germs from the north and percede to infect all of us down here! Isn't wildlife wonderful???

 

[holcomb-mania]

The OP just plain seems to have a problem with ducks. He/she hasn't offered any solution, nor any refutation of a single response. Just hurt feelings ("people who disagree with me = BAD") and continued attacks on ducks.

Health fears are unfounded. An earlier poster was right: just stick to places with indoor pools. Leave the filthy deluxes at Disney to us heathens.


eta: An article in a recent National Geographic about the proliferation of allergies may be due to an environment that is TOO clean. In other words, when our bodies see a new irritant, they view it as a threat, instead of as a normal, harmless thing. The studies indicated that kids on farms (which, FYI, have animals MUCH messier than ducks) have fewer allergy problems, since their systems have been exposed to many environmental irritants. Our pediatrician confirmed this, including the impacts of eating more highly processed foods.