Snakes and gators in the park

[ransam]

I'm just curious about something.

I am sure that being in Florida, snakes and gators are all over the Disney Area. I would assume in the more less populated, wild areas.
At least i hope....lol

But as anyone actually had an experience w/ a Snake or gator in an actual park or resort area (lakes not included).


thanks.

[joonyer]

I have seen a snake or two crossing the road in Fort Wilderness. Haven't ever seen one at a hotel, but I'm sure they are around. WDW was built in what you would basically consider a swamp. Critters are everywhere, but they do a good job keeping human contact with the dangerous and scary ones to a minimum.

[MariMouse]

We have not seen any gators, but have seen snakes--one near Pirates and one at CSR. I think they do a good job of keeping the wild life at bay!

[disneydeb]

... let's not forget bear in the Lake Mary area...

[Ms. Mode]

We saw a gator in one of the ponds outside of the resort once. We were on the bus and the bus driver pointed it out. I believe we were staying at POP that time.

[mermaidmarian]

I've seen plenty of snakes over the years. Closest and most startling encounter(s) were both at the water parks; once at Typhoon Lagoon heading toward the stairs at the Crush-n-Gusher, I practically stepped on a black snake that was about an inch in diameter and another time in a similar setting at Blizzard Beach heading toward the stairs to the Runoff Rapids slides.

No gators.

[Stu29573]

Ok, its time for my Disney gator story! Yea!

Here goes: About ten years ago I was at the Magic Kingdom with my wife early one morning. We caught the first ride of the day on the Liberty Belle (which I recommend, by the way) and as we were peacfully cruising along a gator swam up beside the boat. It was a pretty big one, between three and four feet long. Anyway, there was a couple next to us watching it and the wife said "Is that a real alligator???" The husband laughed and said "Of course not, this is Disney!" They actually thought it was part of the ride!

By the way, I told the CM on the bank about it when we got off and he said that he would call animal control. Apparently they get into the Rivers of America overnight and have to be removed...

[faline]

On one trip, we saw a gator several times hanging around just under the boardwalk by Frontierland - pretty good sized critter as well.

The last time we stayed at Coronado Springs a gator came swimming up to the ouside lounge area and hung around in that general area for a while - probably a regular as folks were feeding him.

On our trip last month, we saw a gator twice - once one swam by by waterway (We were at the Beach Club) behind the bus stop and another day we saw - probably the same one - in a different area of the waterway over by the Beach Club building.

I don't recall seeing any snakes - have seen otters, armadillos, deer, lots of lizards, a huge owl, and a bald eagle.

[Stu29573]

I don't recall seeing any snakes - have seen otters, armadillos, deer, lots of lizards, a huge owl, and a bald eagle.

Us too! And bunnies! We see tons of bunnies! lol

[faline]

Us too! And bunnies! We see tons of bunnies! lol

Forgot about the bunnies - they seemed to be everywhere on our most recent trip!!

[Dulcee]

Many years ago on a trip with my parents we were staying Club level at the Poly. All of a sudden from our room we heard a women screaming, everyone rushes out and there is this snake slithering down the hall.

I kid you not when I tell you a man came running out of a room in his boxers with a gun.

Me, being the little know it all naturalist at the ripe old age of about 10 proceeded to pick it up and inform everyone it was a harmless garter snake. The receptionist women working club level even got me a balloon for saving the floor.

My family still talks about that one a good 16 years later.

[Tygger7]

Our most recent encounter was on our last trip to WL in 2010. We were waiting at the dock for the boat to MK and noticed something moving in the water. When we looked closer, there was a small gator (about 4-6 feet long) swimming about 15 ft.' from the side of the dock, just about 5 ft. from the shore. (And I have a couple of pictures, but can't figure out how to put them in this post.) When the boat arrived, another lady mentioned the gator to the boat captain and he said, "Oh yea, we see 'em all the time." (The captain also said he'd seen deer & large predator cats swimming across to Discovery Island.)

Later that night, we were sitting on the beach at WL watching the electric light parade and a couple was letting their small children (looked to be 3-4 years old) lean over the small edge wall to splash & play in the lake. A gentleman sitting near us politely told the couple that it wasn't safe to let the kids that close to the water, especially in the dark, due to gators. The couple laughed and said, "oh yeah, right...". At that point, I said, "Sir, excuse me but this isn't a joke or exaggeration. We saw a gator over by the boat dock earlier today." And what did the father do/say? "Oh well."

[Mousemates]

1. Gators - we have seen two small gators at WDW, one was from the walkway looking down into lake at Coronado Springs, the other was while paddle boating at Caribbean Beach.

2. Snakes have been a bit more freqeunt though all but one have along the road...but the one that wasn't was inside the park (in some foilage by the sidewalk) at Typhoon Lagoon.

[buzznwoodysmom]

We've seen gators in the lake by Shades of Green. They always seem to have a gator in that lake.

We've also encountered a few snakes. The first time was at CBR, there were several snakes swimming in the lake. We saw them while walking from the pirate room section to Old Port Royal just about every day. They appeared to be water moccasins, although we couldn't be 100% sure since we weren't close enough. I also know of a little boy who was bit by a water moccasin at CBR. He dropped his Buzz Lightyear toy near the landscaping at the bus stop. When he reached down to get it something bit him. His dad then saw the snake and called 911.

We also had a long, black snake in the pool at POR. We had just arrived in WDW. We had dinner at the foodcourt at POR, then went meet my SIL and her family at the pool. My kids were in the pool for a few minutes when we heard shouting about the snake. The CMs got the snake out and everyone continued swimming.

[kakn7294]

We have seen several snakes, the largest being black snake of around 4 ft slithering across the main path into Typhoon Lagoon. The smallest was a tiny baby - a 3 inch garter snake at CSR. There were several small ones - a foot or so, at OKW a few years back. For years now, I have searched high and low for a gator (yes, I want to see one) and finally saw one sunning himself last year in the pond near the alternate entrance to DHS. He was probably between 3 - 4 ft. Last year, I was wading in the lagoon at the Poly after dark one night and scared myself silly at the thought that a gator was going to come nibbling on my toes. I don't want to get THAT close!

[olivegirl]

We have seen many snakes at POP! I especially have seen them on my early morning walks. Also we have seen a small gator in Hourglass Lake at POP. In August my DD and I rented a sea racer in Disney and on the banks of the Lagoon there was about a 4 foot gator resting!!

[egospotter]

Saw a small-ish gator in Animal Kingdom in the river around the tree of life. We had a small debate about whether or not it was supposed to be there - after all it is Animal Kingdom.

[elmjimmlm]

We were staying at ASM and were walking to tge pool after dark and a snake was laying on the sidewalk in front of us...A little girl was ahead of us and almost stepped on it! I can't stand snakes!!!

[tiggerbuddy]

Saw one by the Liberty Belle too !!

We caught the first ride of the day on the Liberty Belle (which I recommend, by the way) and as we were peacfully cruising along a gator swam up beside the boat.

[Dopey's Girl]

While I have never seen one myself, I have to say if my Dad could ever see a gator on Disney property (that wasn't on the Safari or Jungle Cruise), he would agree to far more trips. He's absolutely facinated by those critters!

Lots of snakes though...just about stepped on one coming back from the bus late at night in January. I'm generally not afraid of them, but this one kinda snuck up on me and made me shreek a bit.