Speaking of that Whole "Stay Out Of The Lakes"

[UrsulasShadow]

I consider myself a Yankee too... but I'm sort of been below the Mason Dixon line most of my life (Maryland and VA).. I wasn't saying anything against Yankees or saying their dumb. by all means. But many Northerners simply don't "get it", as the gal from Maine stated. They don't believe you. I never understood the people who had the "what are the chances" mentality because I'm the one who always thinks that if there's a 1 in 10,000 chance, it'll happen to me (except for winning the lottery). A day can go from wonderful to tragic in seconds and people need to be aware, and if they're obviously oblivious... they need to be reminded (warned) (scolded). Its one thing for an adult to make a choice to take the risk, but please... not the children.

Not just northerners that don't believe you. There was an earlier thread on this topic, with lifelong Floridians stating that they've swum in the lakes all their lives, and think it's foolish to restrict them.

Stupid and careless knows no geography.

 

[Maleficient]

I'm a Yankee who wouldn't be caught dead in Bay Lake or 7 Seas Lagoon, but I was in Tampa last week for interviews (and managed to spend the weekend at Pop because...well, there were no interviews on Saturday... ; ) ) and there was an IronMan triathalon event going on over the weekend. I SWEAR that I turned on the local news and caught the end of a story about an IronKids event that was held at Fort Wilderness where they biked through the campgrounds - and SWAM IN BAY LAKE. Kids swimming in the lake, young, down to age 7 I think. Maybe I'm crazy but I swear I saw this and saw kids in the water.

Any locals to corroborate my story? I just remember thinking, did I just see that?! We've stayed at the Fort many times and never have I allowed my kids to set foot in the lake!

 

[Mindy5767]

I'm a Yankee who wouldn't be caught dead in Bay Lake or 7 Seas Lagoon, but I was in Tampa last week for interviews (and managed to spend the weekend at Pop because...well, there were no interviews on Saturday... ; ) ) and there was an IronMan triathalon event going on over the weekend. I SWEAR that I turned on the local news and caught the end of a story about an IronKids event that was held at Fort Wilderness where they biked through the campgrounds - and SWAM IN BAY LAKE. Kids swimming in the lake, young, down to age 7 I think. Maybe I'm crazy but I swear I saw this and saw kids in the water.

Any locals to corroborate my story? I just remember thinking, did I just see that?! We've stayed at the Fort many times and never have I allowed my kids to set foot in the lake!

Unbelievable!!! You saw correctly! Here is the link I found on the internet about it! Yipes!!
http://ironman.com/new-events-added-to-2010-ironkids-series

 

[Miss Monorail 1971]

Just want you to know that this "Yankee" stays out of the lakes. I live in northern Indiana and we are surrounded by lakes. My grandpa was a BIG fisher and he took me alot and I would not swim in the lakes here Why?????? Cotton Mouths......Water Mocasins....Leaches......need I say more.....not to mention West Nile carrying mosquitos and tics falling from trees! Who needs gators!

 

[Mindy5767]

Just want you to know that this "Yankee" stays out of the lakes. I live in northern Indiana and we are surrounded by lakes. My grandpa was a BIG fisher and he took me alot and I would not swim in the lakes here Why?????? Cotton Mouths......Water Mocasins....Leaches......need I say more.....not to mention West Nile carrying mosquitos and tics falling from trees! Who needs gators!

My DVC guide was telling me about how they always get in the water to load their boat on and off the trailer and water ski etc etc... I was like ...

 

[eeyorelvr09]

I have lived in NJ for the majority of my life and know to "stay out of the damn lakes." I would have no problem going up to people who are in the waters and telling them the they missed the sign and what is in there. I do agree that Disney gives people a false sense of comfort and think that nothing can happen to them. I'm a sign reader myself, but would not think twice about going in the lakes regardless if I saw a sign or not.

 

[kbelle8995]

When I was a Kid I used to stick my toes in the water of Seven Seas Lagoon but never went swimming in it. Why would I? There were lots of clean pools. I can swim in the seas. I remember at camp I attended (in Florida) that there was an alligator who lived in the lake. But then they used to do canoe tests in it where they would dump you out in the lake. I hated the tip test and avoided it like the plague. So I don't get why people want to swim in the lakes at Disney when there are better and safer alternatives. I'm a lifelong Floridian (born and raised) and I wouldn't go swimming the lakes.

And let me say again let's not ignore the Water Mocassin that Dis filmed in their fishing video. It is an extemely venomous snake.

 

[Maleficient]

Unbelievable!!! You saw correctly! Here is the link I found on the internet about it! Yipes!!
http://ironman.com/new-events-added-to-2010-ironkids-series

Thanks for finding that so I know that I wasn't dreaming in my hotel room standing there with my mouth open staring at what I thought was a bunch of kids going into Bay Lake to swim with numbers on their backs!