Swimming Rules

[Disneyvacation]

can you swim in the huge lake between wilderness lodge and magic kingdom, and can you swim in the lake at the caribbean beach resort?

 

[DVCJEN]

No--- swimming is prohibited in all of the Lakes/Lagoons.

 

[mickeystoontown]

No swimming in anything other than the pools!

 

[septbaby]

Don't even think about wading, that's not allowed either.

 

[wilde_oscar]

florida has a lake bacteria that um, well you wouldn't enjoy your vacation very much if you got it.

 

[Haley]

Not to mention snakes, alligators....

 

[cart-mom]

I watched them pull out a 4 foot alligator from the lake at CSR a few years back. People were feeding it one night and it got away and when it came back the next night to be fed, they were waiting for it and caught it. The kids and I thought it was a real treat but DH was worried that it could get loose and could have went after the kids.

Definately NO SWIMMING IN THE LAKES.

 

[savannahjean85]

true at disney they will let the alligator remain until they reach a certain length then they will catch them and release them in to the wild. learned this on our backstage train tour were the guide told us to look out when we crossed a waterway.

 

[csaribay]

Swimming and wading in the lakes is prohibited, and I wouldn't recommend stepping foot in them.

If you're interested in seeing the two MK lakes, you can take the boat launches that depart to/from the MK to the Grand Floridian/Polynesian and to the Wilderness Lodge/Fort Wilderness. You can also rent watercraft that can be driven on both lakes.

 

[AJKMOM]

true at disney they will let the alligator remain until they reach a certain length then they will catch them and release them in to the wild. learned this on our backstage train tour were the guide told us to look out when we crossed a waterway.

That is what Disney says, but probably not what Disney actually does. The experts say that an alligator has a really great homing instinct, and most likely would travel back to where it lived before moving. The large alligators are probably either given to a sanctuary like Gatorland, or else euthanized. Now that they aren't endangered, it happens more often than not.

 

[Seahunt]

As a FL Res constantly bombarded by warnings about swimming in warm FL lakes (and with all the news coverage of deaths reported from same ) I was surprised that the Ironman event (swim 1.2 miles, bike 56 miles, run 13.1 miles) that is being held over at Fort Wilderness May 16- 18 has the swim portion in Bay Lake

Hopefully all the competitors will be advised about the amoeba danger in Florida lakes, and will take all precautions!

 

[tmarquez]

I saw on the news that they are advising the people in the Ironman thing to wear noseplugs for the swimming portion. Pretty scary if you ask me, every year you hear about perfectly healthy people losing their lives due to the amoeba.

 

[ironz]

The Ironman 70.3 swim is as safe as any open water swim. In May, the lake is warm, but it hasn't been warm for very long. The amoebas in question get to be an issue when the lake has been warm over an extended period of time. (they had more warnings out for the September triathlon, when the lake had been warm all summer, and that was a stronger concern.)

Also, to get that particular infection, the amoeba must be get up into your nasal passages. Noseplugs help, and I'm sure the race people will recommend them as a precaution. However, the key is to make sure you exhale when your nose/face is in the water. More of a danger with jumping in bodies of water or things like that, where the water gets forced up your nose. This infection doesn't come from just wading in the water, or casual contact. And yes, it is a severe infection, deadly, and tough to diagnose...but I believe there were FIVE deaths in 3 states last year. How many people do you suppose were swimming in lakes last summer? many thousands, if not more.

All that said...WDW doesn't want the general public in the water for a multitude of safety reasons. Besides, the boat traffic is too heavy. For the triathlon, they will have boats there to support the athletes, but the transportation boats will not be running during the race in that area. The athletes are trained for the event. We will also have dozens of lifeguards ON THE WATER. Completely different scenario from Joe Tourist taking a dip.

 

[FLPrincessMom]

I always have to laugh about the Ironman conditions. When my husband did an Ironman in Clermont, the lake had been closed for about 3 weeks before and a couple after due to the bacteria levels but the Ironman swim went on! Years ago Cypress Gardens also did a yearly triathlon which had an alligator in the water with the swimmers that you could actually see! I asked him if that improved his time - being chased by an alligator!!

But I guess the truth is that anyone crazy enough to do an Ironman isn't smart enough to be worried about amoeba, bacteria and alligators!!
(Sorry - just kidding)

 

[ironz]

I always have to laugh about the Ironman conditions. When my husband did an Ironman in Clermont, the lake had been closed for about 3 weeks before and a couple after due to the bacteria levels but the Ironman swim went on! Years ago Cypress Gardens also did a yearly triathlon which had an alligator in the water with the swimmers that you could actually see! I asked him if that improved his time - being chased by an alligator!!

But I guess the truth is that anyone crazy enough to do an Ironman isn't smart enough to be worried about amoeba, bacteria and alligators!!
(Sorry - just kidding)

So I guess your husband isn't smart?
Swimming for an event is different than going out and playing in the water. Most athletes are aware of the risks and training needed. Truthfully, we run WAY more risk every time we get on our bikes.

 

[FLPrincessMom]

That's what I always tell him!!!

 

[mom2girlsn1boy]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who wanted to know this answer. lol, Thanks for asking it

 

[ironz]

That's what I always tell him!!!

heehee!
And I will agree...Ironman is crazy (doesn't mean not smart), but definitely crazy in a way. I've done 5 full IMs...why do I keep signing up for more?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) No swimming in any WDW lake or river.
2) Germs, fertilizer runoff, fuel oil, nasty little critters.

NOTE: Folks during the Ironman last year complained of fuel oil smell and rashes after doing the swim portion of the competition. This was even after using body oil to retard water contact with the skin.

 

[ironz]

1) No swimming in any WDW lake or river.
2) Germs, fertilizer runoff, fuel oil, nasty little critters.

NOTE: Folks during the Ironman last year complained of fuel oil smell and rashes after doing the swim portion of the competition. This was even after using body oil to retard water contact with the skin.

I've done that race 3 times and though there is a fuel oil smell in the water, that is not unique to Bay Lake.
No skin problems here. All I had on my skin was sunscreen.