Stay out of the damn lakes

[DisneyKingpin]

I'm new to the podcast. What's the backstory on this?

 

[k5jm]

I'm new to the podcast. What's the backstory on this?

Long ago, when the podcast was sent out over Morse Code (CW), Pete and Walter were at the Poly for a review and saw people playing in the lakes. There are signs up that say "Stay out of the lakes." Well, there is a reason for that. Number one, there are all kinds of things that are floating or not floating in the Seven Seas Lagoon. There is underwater pipelines containing all kinds of things. In addition to the wildlife (snakes and alligators and snapping turtles) there are also nasty brain eating amoebas that thrive in the warm waters of Florida. If you happen to snort one up your nose, you can end up in a coma or worse.

Pete came to the conclusion that people should "Stay out of the damn lakes." ...and the tag line was born.

That is my recollection.

Here is the Show...

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.wdwinfo.com/podcast/roundtable102-080608.mp3

I think he followed up with the warning and tag line in this show:

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.wdwinfo.com/podcast/roundtable103-081308.mp3

 

[rteetz]

I'm new to the podcast. What's the backstory on this?

The lakes at WDW have numerous problems. Signs are posted saying don't swim in them and people do still go in. The lakes have a type of amoeba that could be deadly and off course animals such as gators. You shouldn't swim in them. Pete says this of course so people don't go in the lake.

 

[Dian-er]

What K--- said is true. Pete has done a rant on that subject numerous times & he is correct. Alligators can be found in any body of water in Florida. They more around alot. Also, water moccasins (poisonous), the snapping turtles & those brain eating amoebas. That is true not fiction.
For me, if I can't see my feet, I'm not swimming in it.

 

[DisneyKingpin]

Fantastic! Thanks for the explanation. Funny stuff!

 

[DisneyKingpin]

I guess everything at Disney World isn't magical - at least not the lakes.

 

[GAN]

I remember the day when you could swim in the damn lakes.

 

[Claudia Kellenberger]

I think that a long time ago, when people did swim in those lakes, maybe some people got sick and died, BUT DID NOT KNOW WHY. It has to do with the water being warm all year, the amoebas in the water were not known about at that time. Now we know. I remember a time when I saw two women letting their very small children in the water at The Beach Club.
I went right over there and told the women exactly why their children should not be in the water. I'm glad they trusted me and took the kids out of the water.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/feat...t-brain-eating-amoeba-20140602,0,7921451.post

This is one of the reasons you stay out of the lakes here in FL.

 

[Auntie L.]

Good advice - I have enough problems with my brain without having it come in contact with an amoeba!

 

[MiramarQE]

I remember the day when you could swim in the damn lakes.

You still can - as long as you do it safely - on Bay Lake you can waterski or wakeboard (Sammy Duvall's)- but you are in the middle of the lake, away from where the amoeba live (the muck under the very warm water at the shoreline)

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . There are signs up that say "Stay out of the lakes." . . .

One must wonder why Disney SPONSORS-PROMOTES-CHARGES people swimming in the lake during the annual triathlon, then tells folks not to swim in the lake(s). This is also the case for Sammy Duvall Sports.

Is it OK to swim in the lake as long as WDW makes money from it ?!?!?!

 

[Greysword]

This kind of makes me wonder about those new Poly villas that will be over the lake...

 

[rteetz]

This kind of makes me wonder about those new Poly villas that will be over the lake...

That's why they are building plunge pools on the deck you get your own private hot tub sized pool. No jumping into the lake.

 

[GAN]

You still can - as long as you do it safely - on Bay Lake you can waterski or wakeboard (Sammy Duvall's)- but you are in the middle of the lake, away from where the amoeba live (the muck under the very warm water at the shoreline)

Yes. I was was referring to swimming from the shoreline.

 

[SoarinSC]

Isn't the amoebas the big reason River Country was shut down? And wait...they have triathletes swimming in the lakes?? Eeek!

 

[tjevans]

One must wonder why Disney SPONSORS-PROMOTES-CHARGES people swimming in the lake during the annual triathlon, then tells folks not to swim in the lake(s). This is also the case for Sammy Duvall Sports.

Is it OK to swim in the lake as long as WDW makes money from it ?!?!?!

The amoeba that causes the disease lives in the lake bed. It is not normally floating around in the water unless the lakebed is stirred up, such as where small children would be or if you are swimming in water where a lot of people are also wading. It's easier, and better from a liability standpoint, to just ban people from the lakes.

In a triathalon, most of the contestants will not be swimming when the water is that shallow, they will be running (or whatever you call that running-like motion in water). The risk is much lower.

 

[tink 13]

Isn't the amoebas the big reason River Country was shut down? And wait...they have triathletes swimming in the lakes?? Eeek!

This is what I was just wondering! We were always bummed they closed this before we had the chance to go but now I am glad they did.

 

[CMDTA]

This is what I was just wondering! We were always bummed they closed this before we had the chance to go but now I am glad they did.

That's one of the reasons but not the only one. The main issue was a lack of control over the water source.

Anyone who does the triathlon knows they have to sign a big waiver either digitally or physically.

I'd be less concerned about the amoebas and more concerned with the water moccasins. They have a nasty bite.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Anyone who does the triathlon knows they have to sign a big waiver either digitally or physically.

And usually has ear plugs, nose plugs and goggles.