For decades, guests at Walt Disney World Resort swam and enjoyed water sports in the picturesque Seven Seas Lagoon, a man-made lake that sits at the heart of the Magic Kingdom Resort area. Today, signs and fences warn visitors to stay away from the water, a stark reminder of the risks hidden beneath its calm surface.
The Seven Seas Lagoon, a centerpiece of the Magic Kingdom Park area, is surrounded by Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Once, the lagoon was an integral part of the Disney experience, offering activities like parasailing, water skiing, surfing, and even swimming. But that all changed after a series of tragic incidents.
The History of Freshwater Swimming at Walt Disney World
When Walt Disney World Resort opened in 1971, the Seven Seas Lagoon was promoted as a recreational haven. Disney advertised its beaches and water activities, immersing guests in the Florida sunshine. Families flocked to the sandy shores to swim, boat, and even watch The Walt Disney World Water Ski Show, where beloved characters like Goofy and Pluto performed stunts on the water.
But as time passed, dangers lurking in the lagoon came to light. While the presence of alligators is often a concern in Florida’s waterways, it wasn’t reptiles that led to the swimming ban—it was something far smaller but no less deadly.
The Brain-Eating Amoeba
As TikToker @themouselets explained in a recent video, Walt Disney World Resort banned swimming in the Seven Seas Lagoon because of the discovery of a dangerous microorganism: Naegleria fowleri, often referred to as the “brain-eating amoeba.”
@themouselets does anyone remember when you could swim in the Magic Kingdom lakes?? #disneyworld #baylake #sevenseaslagoon #disneyfactmas #disneyhistory #polynesianresort #magickingdom
This single-cell organism thrives in warm, fresh water and can cause severe illness or death. The amoeba was responsible for at least one death at Disney’s now-closed River Country Water Park, which used water from Bay Lake, a connected waterway. River Country closed in 2001, and Walt Disney World Resort reinforced its ban on swimming in the lagoon to prioritize guest safety.
A Tragic Turning Point
The Seven Seas Lagoon is perhaps best known for the 2016 tragedy at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa when two-year-old Lane Graves was attacked and killed by an alligator while wading in the shallow water. Though wading had already been prohibited at the time, Walt Disney World Resort responded to the heartbreaking incident by installing more signs and fencing around the lagoon to deter guests from approaching the water.
While the 2016 incident shocked the world, the swimming ban had already existed for years due to the risk of bacterial infections like those caused by Naegleria fowleri.
The Legacy of the Lagoon
While swimming is no longer allowed today, the Seven Seas Lagoon remains a hub of activity for Walt Disney World Resort guests. Visitors can enjoy fishing excursions, fireworks cruises, and scenic boat rides that connect the Magic Kingdom Resort area hotels to the park.
The beaches surrounding the lagoon may look like the perfect spot to cool off, but Disney’s precautions ensure the safety of its guests. As TikToker @themouselets said, “It’s absolutely for guest safety, but it does make me sad to think about what times like this were.”
Would you swim in the Seven Seas Lagoon if Walt Disney World Resort allowed it? Share your opinion with How to Disney in the comments.
