Swimming in Bay Lake???

[maui2k5]

I remember as a kid when we used to stay in Fort Wilderness in the 70's and 80's we used to be able to swim in Bay Lake. Is swimming off limits now? And if so, does anyone know why? Bacteria? Gators? Some other reason such as liability?

 

[jann1033]

Thanks, i remember the same thing, everyone said no so glad i wasn't totally nuts....however i recently asked this and it's NO...due to bacteria and gators

 

[CheshireVal]

More specifically, brain eating amoeba!!!

 

[HeatherPage]

I'd say probably all three (talking about liability too) if someone went under it would be impossible to see them, that water is so dark! I always got nervous when we'd stay at Wilderness Lodge and boarded the boat with my then 2 year old son, he's so quick - so he'd either be in his stroller, being carried by daddy or holding my hand with a death grip on it.

 

[JCTigger]

you can go into the water like ankle deep but i wouldnt go in any farther then that... its because of the pollution in the water because of the boats and such plus gators and bacteria... I remember when i use to swim in the lagoon (we always stayed in the trailers at FW) ahh the memories

 

[civileng68]

That water has so much bacteria in it, it would blow your mind! there's little OR NO current to keep the water really human friendly.

Also, guess what, there ARE alligators in that water.

 

[stinkerbelle]

and how many people do you think choose that lake to be their "final resting place"?

 

[xmelissax]

Has anyone here seen the alligators? I would want to see one,haha. Maybe I'm wierd.

 

[PixieDust742]

Yup, I've seen them! Though they are usually scared of people and like to stay off to the sides in the trees and weeds. But they are there!!

 

[Kim89]

I can say for a fact that they are there also...I've seen a glimpse of one before, and I thought I was nuts, but I asked my mother about gators living in the lake, and she told me that she had something about it before.

 

[xmelissax]

I want to see one while I'm there, from a distance of course. I guess it's a novelty coming from CA where I never see them. Actually,some person had one as a pet and let it go and it's now in a lake right by LA, they're trying to get it out. I haven't seen it though,haha.

 

[Hopefully]

I remember staying at FW in the 80's and swimming in Bay Lake. It was great.
I have read that this same problem (Bacteria and gators) are one of the reasons that River Country was closed. Isn't the water the same as the Lake rather than a true pool?
If the bacteria is as bad as reported, how can they let people water ski on the lake?

 

[bevemjake]

If the bacteria is as bad as reported, how can they let people water ski on the lake?

I always wondered about that. Given what I've read about the water I don't think I'd ski on that lake!

 

[jann1033]

there are gators for sure ..i asked a bus driver once what they did with them he said they move them to part of the parkless land in WDW . i've never seen one there but sure wouldn't want to do any of the small water craft( sprite type boats) or parasailing stuff

 

[Jennygt]

Wow! I have been out on the little boats and I never though about crocs! Now I will have to look when we go to WL in oct! I almost hope I don't see any!

 

[Ted and Holly]

Wow! I have been out on the little boats and I never though about crocs! Now I will have to look when we go to WL in oct! I almost hope I don't see any!

Well, the good news is that you don't have to worry about crocs. But any body of water in Florida can hold a gator. It is much safer to assume that there ARE alligators in a particular pond or lake than to assume there are not.

In areas where guests may come in contact, WDW generally traps gators when they get to be about 4 or so feet long and they relocate them to an undeveloped area of the property.

Most of the time, you will only be able to see the head of the gator above the water. In any or all of the water around WDW, look closer to shore in the lilly pads and reeds for small "logs" that are usually smaller than a foot long. Those are probably gator heads.

If you see one, never attempt to feed or throw anything at them. As you might expect, this can lead to not-so-fun things.

Ted

 

[AJKMOM]

Someone here posted that they went to work after a heavy rainfall, and a small alligator took up residence in a new mud puddle. Alligators used to be hunted to near extinction, and were put on the endangered species list. They have made a remarkable comeback!

I also wondered about water skiing in Bay Lake. If I was going to try it (and I never would), I would make sure my head never went under water, and I didn't have any open sores on my body. Brain eating bacteria scares me more than alligators.