You were lucky that your parents were aware of possible danger, and not letting you or your sister swim in a lake in central Florida. You see, I never heard of anything like that until about 12 or so years ago. Found out when I took a taxi from Daytona down to my hotel at WDW. The driver was great to talk to during the ride.
At one point in the conversation, he was talking about some tourists he saw that were wading in shallow water by a creek, and couldn't understand how stupid they were to do that, with the possibility of gators around. I was embarrassed to tell him that I didn't know that, myself. I explained I came from up North, and knew how to act around moose, bear, snakes, fox, and other critters, but we didn't have any gators. So I think about people who visit WDW from other states or other countries, and might not know about the danger. A sign that says, "No Swimming" may not get the "real" message across. The only thing I know is that I'd never go near their water down there, but more because of the brain-eating amoeba that are sometimes in water in hot areas, and are very dangerous.
This was Caribbean Back back in the late 80s/early 90s and probably a couple other resorts too.
Maybe it has something to do with the girls on the bus?
or just mocking you
