There are plenty of ways to cool off during a Walt Disney World vacation. Jumping into Seven Seas Lagoon definitely isn’t one of them.
A guest recently drew attention online after being filmed swimming in the massive lagoon near Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. The nighttime incident might look like another bizarre Disney guest story at first, especially since the swimmer eventually climbed safely back onto the dock.
But entering Seven Seas Lagoon carries risks that shouldn’t be brushed aside.
This is still Florida, after all. Disney may create an incredibly controlled vacation environment, but it can’t completely separate its property from the wildlife that naturally calls Central Florida home.
Guest Spotted in the Water Near Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
The video was shared by social media user MomMakingMagic and shows someone swimming near the Polynesian’s dock after dark.
After spending time in the water, the person eventually reaches a ladder, climbs onto the dock, and runs away.
@mommakingmagic3 not me watching someone take a dip in Seven Seas Lagoon 😂 that Lapu Lapu is no joke. sir, the pool is right there 🍍 #lapulapu#sevenseaslagoon#polynesianresort#disneyworld#disneyhumor♬ Originalton – Disney.Parents
The creator joked about the swimmer possibly having enjoyed a Lapu Lapu, a popular drink associated with the Polynesian. She also made a pretty important observation: There was a swimming pool nearby.
That would have been a much better choice.
Disney does not allow guests to simply jump into Seven Seas Lagoon for a swim. Warning signs around Disney’s waterways tell visitors to stay out of the water, and those warnings aren’t there merely to keep people from breaking resort rules.
They exist because Florida waterways can contain wildlife.
There’s a Serious Reason Disney Warns Guests About the Water
Disney World can sometimes make visitors forget exactly where they are.
When you’re looking across Seven Seas Lagoon at Cinderella Castle, watching Disney transportation boats travel past, or walking through the grounds of an expensive resort, the area doesn’t exactly feel like the Florida wilderness.
However, alligators don’t care whether they’re living near a theme park.
Florida is home to a large alligator population, along with snakes and plenty of other wildlife. Nobody should look at an unfamiliar natural body of water in the state and automatically assume it’s safe to enter.
Disney World is no exception.
In fact, Seven Seas Lagoon has already been the site of an unimaginable tragedy.
Seven Seas Lagoon Has a Tragic History
The horrifying incident happened along Seven Seas Lagoon.
Afterward, Disney added additional warnings around its waterways, including signs specifically warning guests about alligators and snakes.
That history makes the recent swimming video considerably more concerning.
The guest in the new video apparently made it out without being harmed. That doesn’t mean the decision was safe. It means the situation had a fortunate ending.
Disney World visitors generally have little reason to worry about alligators when they’re following resort rules and staying away from restricted waterways. Problems can arise when someone decides those boundaries don’t apply to them.
Disney World Is Still Part of Florida
It’s easy to become wrapped up in the Disney bubble.
Everything feels planned. The landscaping is carefully maintained. Transportation runs throughout the property. Cast Members are everywhere, and guests can spend their entire vacation without leaving Disney World.
But the animals living around the resort don’t understand where Disney property begins and ends.
Alligators, snakes, and other wildlife can appear on the property just as they can elsewhere in Florida.
That’s why swimming in Seven Seas Lagoon is such a bad idea.
There are beautiful views of the water from Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and guests can enjoy pools specifically designed for swimming. Seven Seas Lagoon should be enjoyed from dry land or aboard Disney’s authorized watercraft.
The person captured in this video was fortunate enough to climb out and run away.
Considering what has happened at this very lagoon before, that’s not a risk another guest should be eager to repeat.
