Naegleria fowleri, the brain-eating amoeba that supposedly shut down River Country, strikes again! From the headline: “Two children and a young man have died this summer from rare infection that lives in water.” One of these was in Florida!
Of course, every year this happens, and every year Disney-bound parents FREAK THE FUCK OUT! “DON’T TOUCH THE WATER!! ANY WATER!!! YOU WILL DIE!!!! DRINK SODA AND GET WILFORD BRIMLEY’S DIABETUS INSTEAD!!!” they tell their kids. Because it’s not like kids have been swimming in lakes with minimal consequences since the dawn of time or anything…. But I digress.
Brain-Eating Amoeba!!!
Supposedly this amoeba was the reason that River Country was shut down and swimming was banned in all WDW lakes. Upon a moment’s examination, this excuse is revealed to be complete and total bullshit. First of all, water sports are still allowed in Bay Lake, including plenty where you could easily get water up your nose (this is how the amoeba enters the brain). Secondly, you’re exponentially more likely to drown in the lazy river at Typhoon Lagoon than you are to die from a brain-eating amoeba, but you don’t see Disney banning swimming altogether.
More than likely, the real reason River Country shut down was the same reason that Discovery Island was closed, namely that a bigger and better version of the park was built, and there was no reason to keep the old rinky-dink version open (Animal Kingdom in the case of Discovery Island, Typhoon Lagoon and then Blizzard Beach for River Country). I’m also of the opinion that the lakes around WDW were getting polluted from the boat traffic, and Disney didn’t feel like spending the money to keep the water clean enough to meet guest satisfaction.
Regardless, it’s best if you can avoid getting warm, murky lake water up your nose. But as a normal human being who doesn’t like the feeling of water up their nose, I’m assuming you already knew that, brain-eating amoeba or not, right?
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