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17-707: The Magic Kingdom Resort Area includes five resorts located along the shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake , near the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort . The area began with the opening of Disney's Contemporary Resort , Disney's Polynesian Resort and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground . The Walt Disney World Monorail System connects Disney's Contemporary Resort , Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa to

34-551: A five and one-half foot ramp. Various characters, such as Dumbo, Goofy, and Pinocchio were in the show. At around 9:15 p.m. on June 14, 2016, a two-year-old boy wading in the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was grabbed and mauled to death by an alligator . His parents tried to intervene, but they were unsuccessful. The boy's intact body was discovered at the bottom of

51-491: A rollerskating dome. Original plans showed the monorail terminating in front of the Magic Kingdom entrance on a linear route with three WEDway People Movers lines connecting guests to the various resorts. This would all change after Walt's death where major changes were made with the design of WDW. Most likely due to the swampy nature of the land, Bay Lake was expanded and the lagoon created from excess water displaced by

68-516: Is located near the water bridge that connects Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The island of Castaway Cay is currently used as the launching point for perimeter fireworks within special events and holidays at Magic Kingdom Park. It also shares the name of the Island accessed by Disney Cruise Line in the Bahamas . Previously the site of an artificial wave machine for surfing in the early 1970s. It

85-762: Is modelled after the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire , and Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California , with red gabled roofs and white walls. Additional design inspiration was taken from the former Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Belleair, Florida . Initially, Walt Disney wanted a Polynesian resort (reflecting Adventureland), the Contemporary Resort to echo Tomorrowland , and other resorts that mirrored

102-517: The Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom. Seven Seas Lagoon The Seven Seas Lagoon is used for boating activities at the resort. Fishing was not allowed in the lagoon until the mid-1990s, some 25 years after Walt Disney World's opening. However, the plan had existed from the start and fish were set free in the lagoon in 1973. Swimming was originally allowed, but has since been prohibited for safety reasons due to

119-794: The Walt Disney World Monorail System , allowing full monorail access from these hotels to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot , and the Transportation and Ticket Center. Disney%27s Grand Floridian Resort %26 Spa Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a Victorian themed hotel and spa located at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The property opened on June 28, 1988, as the Grand Floridian Beach Resort . The name changed to Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa during

136-627: The 'lands' of the Magic Kingdom . Main Street and The Grand Floridian act as analogous reflections. The resort was designed by the Disney company and executed by the architectural firm Wimberly, Allison, Tong & Goo. Along with Disney's Polynesian Village Resort , the Grand Floridian sits on the shores of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon near the Magic Kingdom. The hotel occupies land that had been earmarked for an Asian-themed resort during

153-437: The cost of removal would have been massive. The original c.1966-67 master plan for Walt Disney World never included plans for the Seven Seas Lagoon, Walt Disney had only envisioned an expanded Bay Lake as a large open body of water. What would become the lagoon was originally conceived as home to various themed resorts which were relatively landlocked which would be separated from the Magic Kingdom by golf courses, an ice rink and

170-485: The fall of 1997. The resort contains 867 rooms among six buildings at an average of 400 square feet (37 m ) per room. The Grand Floridian is categorized as a "deluxe" resort. It is also distinguished as Disney's flagship and most opulent resort. The Grand Floridian was inspired by the Victorian-era beach resorts built along Florida 's east coast during the late 19th and early 20th century. Its exterior

187-805: The incident, Disney temporarily removed several references to alligators from various attractions throughout Disney World. After the 2016 alligator attack, the beaches and walkways of the Seven Seas Lagoon received an updated shoreline, which now features sharp, giant rocks and roped-off gates dividing guests from the shoreline of the lagoon. Signs warning guests about the wildlife of the lake were added as well. Disney Transport ferries operating include Admiral Joe Fowler (formerly Magic Kingdom I ), Richard F. Irvine (formerly Magic Kingdom II ) and, since 1976, General Joe Potter (formerly Kingdom Queen ). Other smaller watercraft also operate. Two steam-powered sidewheelers formerly operated, Southern Seas until 1975 and Ports O' Call until 1982. Southern Seas

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204-447: The lagoon at approximately 1:45 p.m. the following afternoon; he was found near where he went missing 12 to 15 yards (11 to 14 m) from the shore in about 6 feet (1.8 m) of water. The medical examiner ruled that the child died of "drowning and traumatic injuries." Reuters reported that the resort would put up signs warning guests about alligators and five of them were earlier killed in the search, to examine their stomachs. Shortly after

221-483: The man-made lagoon. The earth that was moved was used to cover the utilidors of the Magic Kingdom Park. The Walt Disney World Ski Show was an event held at Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake at Walt Disney World Resort in the 1970s. Shows were held five times daily. The show included eight-person, three-tiered pyramid, an exposition of flex-wing kite flying at 300 feet over the water and a series of jumps over

238-584: The operation of the rental boats and the existence of a single-cell amoeba Naegleria fowleri identified in the water that has been credited with several illnesses and at least one death. The lagoon is also the site of the Electrical Water Pageant . The lagoon, despite being man-made, is home to native Florida species such as alligators , lizards , snakes , and turtles . There are three islands on Seven Seas Lagoon: Blackbeard Island, Castaway Cay, and Beachcomber Island. Blackbeard Island

255-458: The theme park, resorts, parking lots, golf courses. The revised plans would see the monorail circle the lagoon with parking and a transportation center built on the South shore connecting the various resorts. Seven Seas Lagoon was a project the first phase of Resort Developments for the creation of Walt Disney World Resort. Earth exceeding seven million cubic yards was relocated for the creation of

272-403: Was later discontinued due to issues such as beach erosion , temperamental technology, cost, and navigational issues for watercraft within the lagoon. The artificial wave machine was more than a decade of being out of service when it was refurbished in 1985. The attempt in 1985 led to more beach erosion and later a permanent shutdown. Remnants of machine are still under the surface of the lagoon, as

289-443: Was replaced in 1977 by Southern Seas II , a slightly larger sidewheeler that was diesel-powered instead of steam-powered, that operated until 1996. All three boats that travel the Seven Seas Lagoon were named after people who were instrumental in the creation of Disneyworld. Three resorts border the Seven Seas Lagoon, all of which have beaches. These hotels are the only hotels on Walt Disney World property that are directly serviced by

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