Seven Seas Lagoon is the man-made body of water at Disney World Resort, located between the Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center.
The land in that area was too swampy to develop, so Walt Disney decided to dig it up and turn it into a recreational area. Fun fact: The Magic Kingdom was also built on top of the soil pulled from the area that is now the lagoon.
It opened in 1971, the same time as the Magic Kingdom. Three Disney resorts directly border the lagoon: Disney’s Grand Floridian, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Each can be accessed along the monorail line.
Map of the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Walt Disney World Resort. (Disney)
For many who frequent Disney World, Seven Seas Lagoon is known as a great place for boating, fishing and other recreational activities.
The lagoon was originally constructed for swimming and surfing. An artificial wave machine was installed to simulate real ocean waves, but surfing was discontinued after it was discovered that waves from the machine were causing beach erosion. Swimming was later prohibited over safety concerns, because of boat traffic in the lake and also bacteria in the water. Signs are posted along the beaches warning visitors.
A host of activities are still allowed at the beaches around the lagoon, including boating. Three of the resorts at the Seven Seas Lagoon have marinas. Each offer some type of water craft for rental. During vacation, guests can rent sailboats, ski boats, water skis and more.
Visitors are also allowed to fish at the lagoon. Disney offers dockside fishing as well as fishing excursions.
And of course, many visitors travel between the Magic Kingdom, the Ticket and Transportation Center and the resorts along the Seven Seas Lagoon via ferry boats.