The Sunken Wave Machine

[Tim]

This may be common knowledge to WDW fanatics but I'll post it anyways. There is still a wave machine under the water offshore by the Polynesian Resort that was originally intended to create waves. They were powerful enough to surf on. That power also destroyed the sandy beaches so it had to be turned off permanently.

[DHI]

I think I might have known that but it was burried deep down in my brain. Thanks for posting this!

[disneyfanatic101]

This is true. Lou mentioned this in his 2009 day-by-day calendar.

[dcbush12]

that is a really cool little known fact....that would've been a really neat feature if they could've figured out how to make it work. Was it ever used?

[pburchins]

I remember them showing the Wave Machine on the Mike Douglas Show. The machine itself was located on a island in Bay Lake opposite the beach at Poly. During the show, they had surfers in Bay Lake showing how it worked. The waves were not that big. They stated they were trying to adjust to get 4-5 foot waves.

I guess it would not even work now. Can you even swim in the lakes at WDW ? I know at Yacht you can't or you would not wanted with all the algae and water conditions.

For those of you who are too young to remember Mike Douglas, he was a syndicated talk show host in the 70's and early 80's. In fact, his career began as a singer and Walt hired him to sing as Prince Charming. The Mike Douglas show was the first "Non-Disney Related" show to broadcast from WDW in 1976. Below is an article from the Sarasota Herald Tribune about the show at WDW. I would post the link but I am too new at wdwradio.com to post links. I have 4 more to go though........

[mrwdwfan]

I remember hearing of this. It was back in the late 70s, I believe. Way before my time.

[grimgrinning]

I can confirm its exact location. I have a picture of my mom taken back in the 70's or early 80's and you can still see what's left of it behind her. All that was left at that time was a concrete squarish structure on the shore of the island across from the Polynesian. The shot is taken from the poly's old boat dock.

I just tried to post it but I can't figure it out. It's a jpg, and I shrunk it to 160k. 400x 280. Grrrr...

[Optimus EO]

I never knew this. How cool!

[designbymk]

I remember Lou bringing this point up on a show a while back. I think there was a segment (2 hours likely!!) just on the history of the Polynesian resort. It was very interesting.

grimgrinning, if you can't attach the pic send it to me via email designbymk a t g mail dot com I'll get it posted here. I'd love to see some vintage photos.

[WDW1014]

I'm going to find it while there in a month and take a pic before they completely get rid of it

[jimbo71]

I had forgotten all about this but I remember hearing about it. Would love to see a picture of what is left of it if anyone has one

[BamaJenn]

I just tried to post it but I can't figure it out. It's a jpg, and I shrunk it to 160k. 400x 280. Grrrr...

I'd love to see the shot. You can upload it to Photobucket and link it back to post here!

Found this sonar shot... pretty cool!

disneylake sunken wave machine side+down+broadbandA by Navico, on Flickr

Found this shot of the sea wall on the island from Jim Hill:


So where is the "machine itself" in relation to the seawall on the island? (I'm hatching a plan lol)

[JNota0005DakMC]

could you imagine if one day they just turned it on... would probably scare the pants off alot of guests... and boat operators...

[WDW1014]

i ran out of time to look for it but yea that would be pretty funny