I’ve been seeing a trend, lately, of wedding parties, disneymooners, or trash-the-dress sessions doing things that involve getting into the lakes on Walt Disney World property. Many of these lakes have signs that warn against swimming in the lake, but I feel like many vacationers believe that the warnings are just for gators and other sharp-toothed critters, so dipping in the occasional toe or taking a quick swim is no big deal. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Yes, it’s true that there are gators in the lakes at Walt Disney World. However, just like the occasional gators you see at the resorts, these gators are probably trying to stay about as far from populated areas as they can, so you won’t see gators rushing up the beach to eat the mickey-eared newlyweds standing at the edge of the water. I’m not going to tell you not to worry about gators while you’re in Florida, because you should always be smart about being anywhere near wildlife, but I will tell you that they aren’t your biggest problem when it comes to the lakes.
The biggest problem with Florida lake water is bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Not surprisingly, the water is filled with them. This is, of course, true of many freshwater lakes around the country, but Florida lakes have a special problem that has to do with the state’s climate and it creates conditions that are dangerous, if not deadly.
One of the more notorious of these parasites is a microscopic creature called the naegleria fowleri amoeba. This amoeba lives in water that is warmer than 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so it thrives on the edges of Florida lakes where the water is warm. The amoeba is also more likely to thrive in water that has been stagnant, a condition that occurs in lakes when fresh rainwater isn’t enough to compensate for droughts like the ones Florida has had in recent years.
Here’s a quote from CNN about the amoeba:
The amoeba enters the human body through the nose. It then travels to the brain, where it begins to feed. Symptoms of the amoeba’s rampage begin 1 to 14 days after infection and resemble the flu. At the onset of those symptoms the amoeba victim’s health swiftly declines. At this point, says Dr. Kevin Sherin of the Orange County Health Department who is investigating three deaths this summer in Florida, “It’s progressing very rapidly and then there’s a downhill course for them there. Folks lapse into a coma, there are abnormal movements of the eyes and a terrible cascade of events leading to the actual death of parts of the brain.”
How gross is that? It’s not limited to just putting your face in the water either. Being close enough to the water to inhale any tiny droplets is enough.
People who have visited Walt Disney World for most of their lives may remember when lake swimming was common and encouraged at the resorts. Climate changes and a better understanding of the microscopic dangers in the water have changed this policy and now there is a strict don’t-get-in-the-water policy at most of the lake areas. It’s true that fishing is still allowed, but it’s strictly catch and release. Part of this is because they want the lake to stay stocked, but another big part has to do with Disney not wanting to be responsible for the microscopic organisms you could be ingesting.
The whole brain-eating amoeba isn’t the only thing out there. Here is a short list of the other things that experts warn Florida lake swimmers about:
Cryptosporidiosis: A diarrheal disease caused by a parasite that lives in human and animal intestines. The parasite can survive outside the body for a long time and resist chlorine disinfection. One mouthful of contaminated water can cause infection.
E coli: A strain of bacteria that causes severe diarrhea with bleeding and abdominal cramps. Primarily spread through uncooked meat, it can be contracted by swimming in contaminated water.
Giardiasis: A diarrheal illness caused by a parasite that lives in the intestines of people and animals. One of the most common causes of waterborne disease in the United States, it is contracted by mouth contact with feces-contaminated water.
Hepatitis A: Caused by a virus, this disease may be spread by contact with water contaminated with human feces or by people who did not wash their hands properly. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite and nausea, although children younger than 3 may not have symptoms but can still spread the virus.
Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease that could include high fever, severe headache, chills and vomiting. Untreated, it can cause kidney or liver damage, meningitis and, in rare cases, death. Caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals.
Shigellosis: A bacterial disease that causes diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps and is spread by contact with fecal material.
Swimmer’s itch: A skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to parasites found in birds and mammals that is spread by snails. The parasites are found in salt water and fresh water. Burning and itching symptoms may get worse with more exposure.
Viral gastroenteritis: Watery diarrhea and vomiting caused by a number of viruses, such as Norwalk virus. May be spread by swallowing water contaminated by infected individuals.
Gross, gross, gross. I know that a certain amount of gross is going to come with lake swimming anywhere, or even swimming pool swimming, but the warm climate in Florida and the stagnation of the water due to drought make that water super gross and very dangerous.
Side note: I’ve also had the pleasure of watching two different people get sick into the lakes after partying too hard during my days at the college program. With all those people milling around, I think the stats on people-contributions to the lake have got to be pretty foul.
So, please (for my sake) stay out of the lakes at Walt Disney World. There are lots of things you can do with the amazing swimming pools or the water parks if you’re looking to add a little watery fun to your wedding celebration or honeymoon. Unless you’re actually on fire, there’s nothing that’s so important that you need to get into one of those lakes.
