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The old 7 Seas lagoon wave machine?
- Thread starter DonickCo
- Start date
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
the machine stopped operating in the mid 70's. GF had nothing to do with it.
Centrifugeer
New Member
The 7 Sea Lagoon wave machine could create waves, iirc, up to 5 feet, though it was generally run in the 2 - 3 foot range to prevent the waves from overwhelming less experienced swimmers. As has been mentioned, erosion on the beach was a big problem so it was shut down.
The Typhoon Lagoon wave machine is a completely different design. It basically sucks water into large holding tanks and then releases it in computer controlled progressions which allows Disney to control the shape and volume of a wave. The wave at TL can be cranked up as high as 8 feet and can be made to break right to left, left to right, or a center peak.
TL can be rented in the evening for surf parties for @ $1300 for about 175 waves. I've surfed it a couple of times with a group of friends and it's a blast. It's really odd to be facing that big wall about 15 yeards away, then hear something that sounds like the world's largest toilet flushing, then a 6 ft wave rises up at you from nowhere. Makes the heart go pitter-patter the first couple of times. Great fun though.
The Typhoon Lagoon wave machine is a completely different design. It basically sucks water into large holding tanks and then releases it in computer controlled progressions which allows Disney to control the shape and volume of a wave. The wave at TL can be cranked up as high as 8 feet and can be made to break right to left, left to right, or a center peak.
TL can be rented in the evening for surf parties for @ $1300 for about 175 waves. I've surfed it a couple of times with a group of friends and it's a blast. It's really odd to be facing that big wall about 15 yeards away, then hear something that sounds like the world's largest toilet flushing, then a 6 ft wave rises up at you from nowhere. Makes the heart go pitter-patter the first couple of times. Great fun though.
SpongeScott
Well-Known Member
I can.
Cheney.
Vice President Richard Cheney.
Bagheera
New Member
Actually, their plan was to use it for surfers to ride the waves to add to the Polynesian theme. They actually did have some surfers out there in the early days. Once they discovered the erosion problem, they shut it down for good, and the parts have been deteriorating ever since. That was in the days when the water was fairly decent, instead of the primordial soup that it has become....
meowthew
New Member
The wave machine is also mentioned at Widen Your World's page on the Polynesian: http://home.cfl.rr.com/omniluxe/poly.htm
To me, what's more interesting than the wave machine is the mysterious coral reef for "pearl diving" that was supposed to be in the Seven Seas Lagoon by the Poly. It was mentioned in promotional materials just months before WDW opened, and then nothing came of it.
To me, what's more interesting than the wave machine is the mysterious coral reef for "pearl diving" that was supposed to be in the Seven Seas Lagoon by the Poly. It was mentioned in promotional materials just months before WDW opened, and then nothing came of it.
Badger Brent
Active Member
These boards are a great source of history on Disney. I never knew of the wave machine either until this thread. These are the little things you like to pass along to family and friends. Those old pictures are some of my favorite to look at. I hope I spelled everything correctly!!
ArchiDanDisney
Member
Now disney's 7 seas lagoon is contributing to creating new life forms! Freshwater jellyfish...I swear its true!
jmarc63
New Member
Accually the wavemachine is directed more to the east, The waves landed near the cove on the western beach of the Poly, even thou that streach of beach was there in 71, it was isolated at the time since there was no resort built where the GF is.
Also building GF had nothing to do with the removal of the wave machine. the wave machine was stoped in 72 or 73 and the GF was built in 88.
I have always known about the wave machine for the Poly since WDW was opened, As far back as I remember the wave machine was shut down permantly by the 72 or 73 holiday season, I remember taking a sprite with my Dad on several vacations where we would get up close to check it out, it looked pretty scary for a 9 yo + the first time, I was always afraid that it would start up suddenly, so I remember it lasting about a year according to my dad before it was left to be a fish habitate.
STGRhost
Member
Wow...I have heard about the wave machine many times, but I had never seen pictures. Funny, but I somehow always pictured it...i dunno, smaller? Less...obvious? I guess I figured, the way people say it's "still there", I assumed more of it was under water? :lol:
Also, I can remember swimming in the lake when we used to stay at the Poly (late 70s-early 80s). I was shocked when I moved back and you couldn't swim in it anymore...It kinda takes the fun out of the "beach" if you can't go in the water (IMHO)....
Also, I can remember swimming in the lake when we used to stay at the Poly (late 70s-early 80s). I was shocked when I moved back and you couldn't swim in it anymore...It kinda takes the fun out of the "beach" if you can't go in the water (IMHO)....
freaklarm
Member
Ok let see, the water in Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake is not disgusting and is not dirty at all, as a matter of fact in the last water report (October 02) for this lakes the water had some high marks on cleaness. Now, why does it looks "kind of dark...", for those of you who went to the MK in the early years or have seen pictures, you may remember the water to be crystal clear blue water (paradise), well startingin the lates 70s early 80s Disney started to put some non dangerous chemicals to kill to plants that grow at the bottom of the lakes because they where becoming a BIG problem to the boats. While the chemicals did they job they also turned the water in the dark color you see today, but the water is very clean and is still clear, just that the bottom of the lake is now brown. Why they don't let people swim on the beaches?? The do, on certain times of the years, when the temperature is not that high (this is why you never see them open from May till October, the rest of the year they open the beaches on certain weeks, you just have to be lucky to stay there during those weeks. But no the water is not dirty or disgustin, after all, don't we all remember the great River Contry. Well thats all I have to say about this misunderstood and beautiful lakes. Have a Magical Day:wave: