Bay Lake question

[poohbear6103]

Hi all,
This is kind of a strange question but since all of you are so knowledgable on Disney I thought I would ask.
Does anyone know how deep Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon are? I imagine them to be very deep but always wondered how deep exactly. I tried looking on the Internet and found nothing.

Thanks

 

[General Grizz]

Bay Lake is a 12-ft deep natural lake, and Seven Seas Lagoon is 14 ft.

 

[phlydude]

Seven Seas lagoon has an AVERAGE depth of about 10 feet. Keep in mind that it is shallower closer to shore and deeper in the middle.

As far as Bay Lake, all I know is that it was originally over choked with weeds and algae. They drained it, cleaned 8 feet of sludge and muck from the bottom. Under the muck, they found the white sand that is used on all the beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. They refilled it with clean water and made it swimable (for a short time).

 

[MsSnuzi]

As far as Bay Lake, all I know is that it was originally over choked with weeds and algae. They drained it, cleaned 8 feet of sludge and muck from the bottom. Under the muck, they found the white sand that is used on all the beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. They refilled it with clean water and made it swimable (for a short time).

For a short time? Do they have a problem maintaining it?

 

[phlydude]

There are nasty little beasties that live under the sand in the shallow ends of extremely warm bodies of still water (like those in FL) that can kill. Instances are rare but still, the risk is still there. That and the addition of alligators that made their way back to the lake and the sources of water that drain into the lake have made it a little less than desirable for swimming (not to say that it is entirely bad, it is much better off than it was in 1969 but it is not swim grade). I compare it to the bass fishing lakes and ponds that it's ok to waterski in and fish in but I wouldn't want to swim in it.

 

[Ringo8n24]

Does this mean if you get a deluxe resort with a beach stay in the pool or on the sand and stay out of the natural waters? If so, it kind of defeats one of the perks for staying at a deluxe.

 

[phlydude]

Yes! And there are signs warning you not to go swimming in the water too! You can get in up to your knees if you want but no further (the beastie that kills people gets introduced in respiration of the water (whether in your mouth or up your nose)

 

[poohbear6103]

Thanks everyone for answering my question! See I knew you guys would have the answers for me :wave:

 

[poohbear6103]

Does anyone know what the bottom composition is of these lakes. That whote sand? Are there actually fish or other animals in there?

 

[civileng68]

correct

Yes! And there are signs warning you not to go swimming in the water too! You can get in up to your knees if you want but no further (the beastie that kills people gets introduced in respiration of the water (whether in your mouth or up your nose)

Let me just say this: this post is correct and that bacteria is extremely lethal.

I live here in South Florida and though it is rare, I know someone who died 2 years ago from this same bacteria while at the water. It killed them within one week. It made them very sick and when it got into their lungs they died.

 

[phlydude]

Does anyone know what the bottom composition is of these lakes. That whote sand? Are there actually fish or other animals in there?

I don't know if Bay Lake sitll has white sand at the bottom or if it was all removed to line the shore.

I know that they stocked Bay Lake with fingerling bass in 1970-1971. Since the lagoon and lake are connected by a man-made water bridge, I'm sure the fish have made their way over to the lagoon.

The lagoon however is man-made and will only have a soil bottom. The dirt that was once there was used as the back-fill to the utilidoors under the MK.

As far as the beastie goes, it is an ameoba that gets into your lungs, travels through the blood to your brain and kills you from there. They say blowing your nose hard after swimming is enough to extract the thing, but I know I don't want to take any chances!
Besides that, there are gators in the water!!!!

 

[PhilosophyMagic]

My WDW-obsessed neighbor (we get along well) said that when she stayed at the Grand Floridian, she saw an alligator sitting on the beach! Are there often alligators in the lakes? I'm not knowledgeable about alligators, but why can't WDW stop them from entering the Seven Seas lagoon, with a fence of some kind? I guess cause of the boats, actually. But why can't they fence off the river that flows into Bay Lake from outside WDW?

 

[phlydude]

Gators are natural to FL. They are going to go where they want to go. Can't put a fence in because of the boats travelling to WL and FW. You could remove them but there are others just waiting to take over another gator's territory.

There is actually a gator in the Rivers of America swimming around. It doesn't pose a threat to the guests so they just watch it. If it becomes hostile, they'll move it to somewhere else on property.

 

[mrtoad]

There are nasty little beasties that live under the sand in the shallow ends of extremely warm bodies of still water (like those in FL) that can kill. Instances are rare but still, the risk is still there. That and the addition of alligators that made their way back to the lake and the sources of water that drain into the lake have made it a little less than desirable for swimming (not to say that it is entirely bad, it is much better off than it was in 1969 but it is not swim grade). I compare it to the bass fishing lakes and ponds that it's ok to waterski in and fish in but I wouldn't want to swim in it.

When I was a kid we use to stay at the Polynesian and swim all the time in the Seven Seas Lagoon. When did the stop everyone from swiming? Was the bacteria always there even back then and nobody knew? Also is this why River Country closed do you know?

And you mentioned about the Alligator in the River of the Americas. I know someone who went to WDW in May and they said they were on the bridge by Splash Mountain and it was right next to the flume the logs would float past. They said it was just feet from the riders and just looking up at them. Someone mentioned it to a CM and they said they knew and it did not bother anyone. I just think that is crazy because they don't want to wait until it does something, they should act prior don't you think?

 

[Merlin]

My WDW-obsessed neighbor (we get along well) said that when she stayed at the Grand Floridian, she saw an alligator sitting on the beach! Are there often alligators in the lakes? I'm not knowledgeable about alligators, but why can't WDW stop them from entering the Seven Seas lagoon, with a fence of some kind? I guess cause of the boats, actually. But why can't they fence off the river that flows into Bay Lake from outside WDW?

We've seen gators at Fort Wilderness on occasion. Wildlife is one of the really cool things about WDW.

 

[phlydude]

When I was a kid we use to stay at the Polynesian and swim all the time in the Seven Seas Lagoon. When did the stop everyone from swiming? Was the bacteria always there even back then and nobody knew? Also is this why River Country closed do you know?

And you mentioned about the Alligator in the River of the Americas. I know someone who went to WDW in May and they said they were on the bridge by Splash Mountain and it was right next to the flume the logs would float past. They said it was just feet from the riders and just looking up at them. Someone mentioned it to a CM and they said they knew and it did not bother anyone. I just think that is crazy because they don't want to wait until it does something, they should act prior don't you think?

I remember in 1980 being able to swim there too but I didn't get back until 1999 so I don't know about the dates. Before the sand was put down they cleaned it thoroughly to remove things like this. As time went along, this ameoba was discovered.

River Country closed due to attendance (or lack there-of) as people found Typhoon and Bliz Beach more to their liking.

The gator in Rivers of America is in an area that it cannot get close enough to Splash. There is a divider that keeps the waters seperated because one is chlorinated and one is not.
Here is a nice long thread on the gator in RoA (with pics)

 

[mrtoad]

I remember in 1980 being able to swim there too but I didn't get back until 1999 so I don't know about the dates. Before the sand was put down they cleaned it thoroughly to remove things like this. As time went along, this ameoba was discovered.

River Country closed due to attendance (or lack there-of) as people found Typhoon and Bliz Beach more to their liking.

The gator in Rivers of America is in an area that it cannot get close enough to Splash. There is a divider that keeps the waters seperated because one is chlorinated and one is not.
Here is a nice long thread on the gator in RoA (with pics)

Thanks for the info. I will check out the gator pics. Thanks again.

 

[phlydude]

No problem

 

[Brandylyn]

Seven Seas lagoon has an AVERAGE depth of about 10 feet. Keep in mind that it is shallower closer to shore and deeper in the middle.

As far as Bay Lake, all I know is that it was originally over choked with weeds and algae. They drained it, cleaned 8 feet of sludge and muck from the bottom. Under the muck, they found the white sand that is used on all the beaches around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. They refilled it with clean water and made it swimable (for a short time).

This is an oddly specific question, but how deep would you guess the water in the lagoon is 10 ft from shore?

 

[JoeCamel]

This is an oddly specific question, but how deep would you guess the water in the lagoon is 10 ft from shore?

Last post on this site was

• Jul 26, 2017 by that poster

Good luck