Lagoon Water

[klwdisney]

I know that nowadays you cannot swim in the water at the hotel beaches because the bacteria and alligators will kill you.

BUT... why can you then still rent jet skis and such? You are in that water then aren't you?

Just curious...

 

[grimley1968]

Actually, I don't know that I've seen jet skis for rent. What I've seen are water mice (very small boats) and pontoons.

 

[HillPete]

I was wondering the same thing last night. Apparantly, it's safe enough for the triathalon this Sunday, why not safe enough for regular use??

--H

 

[ruzer28]

I've been wondering about that forever. You can parasail, waterski, and rent waverunners. You get at least a little wet with all these things, and you can potentially fall in and get a lot wet. Aren't these things dangerous in the water that you're not allowed to swim in? I wouldn't want an alligator to come nibble on my foot while I was on a waverunner!

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's thought of this.

 

[kirkharrod]

There's no bacteria or gators... they just don't want to staff lifeguards everywhere, and have to cordon off the swimming areas to keep the water mice (personal watercraft).

People fall out of the water mice all the time. Nobody dies from the water. I caught some beautiful, HEALTHY, largemouth bass from that water.

 

[Tikiman]

There's no bacteria or gators...

I don’t know how much I believe the bacteria thing but I have no proof that there is not but I can tell you that gators in the lake is a FACT and I have photos to prove it. It is rare and they are small (not man eating) but they have been found in the water and even on the beach at night at the Polynesian. With that said I don’t believe the bacteria thing because there are all those activities that you are in the water. As far as the jet ski rental (or more appropriately called watercraft rental) they rent them at the Contemporary. They are new 4 stroke Sea Doo watercraft that seat 3.

My belief is that there is too much boat traffic and no life guards to watch the water along with submerged hazards. Would you want your kid swimming out with all those boats zipping around?

 

[HopperFan]

Lifeguard issue now that there are various hotels with beaches, gators and the infamous bacteria (brain eating kind ) is a problem in Florida lakes. You can go online to various environmental sights and read about it.

http://www.ecofloridamag.com/askeditor_waterborne_illness.htm
http://www.ecofloridamag.com/amoebae.pdf

The bacteria tends to be worse in the shallow areas and closer to the bottom, which would mean that the water by the beaches is probably worse than the middle where some of the water sports are taking place. I am sure those tri-athletes signed off on the standard death clause for the race just all the other sports.

Why chance it when WDW has great pools and two great water parks ?

 

[AJKMOM]

From what I have read, the bacteria is on the bottom of the lake and would get stirrd up by swimmers. If someone falls off the jet ski or waterskis, they are near and can't reach the bottom, which is the worst part.

There are alligators in almost every body of water in Florida.

 

[krafty]

The amoeba lives in the gunk at the bottom of the lake to a max depth of around 5 feet from what I understand. The problem in shallow water is that people stir up the bottom and this gives the amoeba a chance to swim around and get into your system.

Out in the middle of the lake there isn't really any danger from the little critters. Big ones? Maybe.