Seven Seas Lagoon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Seven Seas Lagoon |
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Cinderella Castle, as viewed from Seven Seas Lagoon
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 Seven Seas Lagoon
Location in Florida
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| Location | Bay Lake, Florida |
| Coordinates | 28°24′41″N 81°34′57″W / 28.4113°N 81.5824°W |
| Type | Artificial lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Managing agency | Reedy Creek Improvement District (Disney Parks, Experiences and Products) |
| Built | c. mid-to-late 1960s |
| First flooded | c. late 1960s |
| Max. depth | 14 feet (4.3 m) |
| Islands | 3 |
| Settlements | Bay Lake, Florida (see also Bordering resorts) |
The Seven Seas Lagoon is a special lake made by people at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. This area is close to Orlando. The lagoon is located just south of the Magic Kingdom theme park. It acts like a natural space between the park and its parking lot. It also connects to another nearby lake called Bay Lake. The lake is about 14 feet (4.3 m) deep. People mostly use the lagoon for fun boat rides. Three large Disney Transport ferryboats also carry guests between the Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
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Fun Activities on the Lagoon
The Seven Seas Lagoon is a great place for boating activities at the resort. For many years, fishing was not allowed in the lagoon. However, fish were put into the lagoon in 1973, and fishing became allowed in the mid-1990s.
Swimming was once allowed in the lagoon. But now, swimming is not permitted for safety reasons. This is because of the many rental boats and other watercraft. Also, a tiny living thing was found in the water.
The lagoon is also where the Electrical Water Pageant takes place. This is a fun night show with lighted floats on the water. Even though the lagoon was made by people, it is home to many animals. You might see native Florida animals like alligators, lizards, snakes, and turtles living here.
Islands of the Lagoon
There are three islands located in the Seven Seas Lagoon. These islands are Blackbeard Island, Castaway Cay, and Beachcomber Island.
Blackbeard Island
Blackbeard Island is found near the water bridge. This bridge connects the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.
Castaway Cay
The island of Castaway Cay is used for a special purpose. It is the place where fireworks are launched for events and holidays at Magic Kingdom Park. This island shares its name with another island. That island is a private island in the Bahamas used by the Disney Cruise Line.
Beachcomber Island
In the early 1970s, Beachcomber Island had a machine that made artificial waves. This was for surfing! However, it was stopped because of problems like beach erosion. The technology was also tricky, it cost a lot, and it made it hard for boats to move around. The wave machine was out of service for over ten years. It was fixed up in 1985, but it caused more beach erosion. So, it was permanently shut down and removed. Some parts of the machine are still under the water. It would have cost too much to remove everything.
How the Lagoon Was Made
The original plans for Walt Disney World in the 1960s did not include the Seven Seas Lagoon. Walt Disney first imagined a much larger Bay Lake. This big lake would be an open body of water. The area that became the lagoon was planned for different themed resorts. These resorts would have been separated from the Magic Kingdom by golf courses and other attractions.
After Walt Disney passed away, big changes were made to the design of Walt Disney World. The land was very swampy. So, Bay Lake was made bigger, and the lagoon was created. It was made from extra water that was moved when the theme park, resorts, parking lots, and golf courses were built. The new plans included the monorail circling the lagoon. A parking area and transportation center were built on the south shore. This connected the different resorts.
The Seven Seas Lagoon was a big part of the first stage of building Walt Disney World Resort. Over seven million cubic yards of earth were moved to create this man-made lagoon. The earth that was moved was used to cover the underground tunnels, called utilidors, of the Magic Kingdom Park.
The Walt Disney World Water Ski Show
In the 1970s, a fun event called The Walt Disney World Ski Show took place. It was held on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. Shows happened five times every day! The show featured amazing water ski tricks. This included an eight-person pyramid with three levels. There was also a display of flex-wing kite flying high above the water. Skiers even jumped over a five-and-a-half-foot ramp. Different Disney characters, like Dumbo, Goofy, and Pinocchio, were part of the show too.
Safety Changes Around the Lagoon
After an alligator incident in 2016, the beaches and walkways around the Seven Seas Lagoon were updated. Now, the shoreline has sharp, giant rocks. There are also roped-off gates that keep guests away from the water's edge. Signs were also added to warn guests about the wildlife living in the lake.
Resorts Near the Lagoon
Three resorts are located right next to the Seven Seas Lagoon. All of these hotels have their own beaches. These are the only hotels at Walt Disney World that have direct access to the Walt Disney World Monorail System. This means guests can easily take the monorail from these hotels to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
- Disney's Contemporary Resort
- Bay Lake Tower (Disney Vacation Club)
- Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney's Polynesian Resort
Images for kids
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The Richard F. Irvine ferry in the Seven Seas Lagoon
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Admiral Joe Fowler Ferryboat
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