Surprise at the Springs!!

[Fitswimmer]

Just got back from a visit to SSR, had a lovely time, the weather was wonderful and the parks were not that packed. However, I did get a bit of a shock at the Springs Wednesday afternoon while waiting for the MGM bus. I was sitting on the bench facing the lake with the water fountain and suddenly, from under the bushes slithers out a SNAKE!!!!! It was going towards the lake, not the bench thank God, but YIKES!!! My Dad and DN went for a closer look (crazy people that they are) and Dad pronounced it as a "harmless" rat snake. HARMLESS!!! :scared1:

I spent the rest of my visit watching the ground carefully. :scared:

[uicbear]

This is one little piece of info that I will not be passing on to the family for our upcoming June trip. My sister freaks out at the little lizards.:rotfl:

[Chuck S]

I've seen a lot of rat snakes at the resorts. They are good snakes.

[starbox]

My best snake-at-Disney moment came at Blizzard Beach. I was sitting on a chair and a hge snake (like 2 feet long) slithered across the path, into the grassy island behind my chair and then UP the tree!!!!!!!!!

I've seen The Jungle Book, but somehow, it did not register before this that snakes went UP trees!!!!:scared1: :scared1:

Luckily, I am not afraid of snakes. Now, if I had been a cockroach or a spider......

[eeyoresnr]

eeeeeeeeeek! good snakes? eeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

[manning]

I heard a lady say she brought a snake with her and wanted to leave him there,but couldn't.......he had the car keys.

[snyderla]

I hate snakes, terrified of them. In my 15 trips to WDW so far, I have never seen one. Lot's of lizards and a few alligators, but no snakes. Thank God! Well, not never technically. When I made my first trip as a child in 1975, we camped at Ft. Wilderness and there was a snake at our campsite. I don't remember it though. Not because I was too young (I was over the age of 10), but probably I blocked out the memory due to the trauma of it! :) My mom reminded me about it last winter when we were looking at our photo album of that trip.
I do not want snakes ruining my WDW Magic! They are sneaky, slithery things, YUCK! Last spring I saw 2 outside the window of my office at work. I immediately called maintenance to remove them because they were near the boiler room door, which was propped open! I work in a nursing home and I don't think the hearts of many of our residents could take that.
Lori

[PamOKW]

Just another reminder ---- don't EVER stick your hand into the bushes in Florida. You just never know what's in there!

[eeyoresnr]

great advice PamOKW! like I said earlier, Snakes? eeeeeeeek!

[Lexxiefern]

Ok, just got an involuntary shiver from reading this!

[Dean]

Just had a lady in FL get bit by a pigmy rattler working in her flower garden. We've had 2 pigmy rattler bites in Wal Mart in town in the garden section the last few years, plus I had one of my teenage pts bit by a rattle snake 2 years ago. So it does happen, one should be careful and look where you're walking.

[jerry557]

Just got back from a visit to SSR, had a lovely time, the weather was wonderful and the parks were not that packed. However, I did get a bit of a shock at the Springs Wednesday afternoon while waiting for the MGM bus. I was sitting on the bench facing the lake with the water fountain and suddenly, from under the bushes slithers out a SNAKE!!!!! It was going towards the lake, not the bench thank God, but YIKES!!! My Dad and DN went for a closer look (crazy people that they are) and Dad pronounced it as a "harmless" rat snake. HARMLESS!!! :scared1:

I spent the rest of my visit watching the ground carefully. :scared:

I dont mean to sound rude, but Welcome to Florida! The state of snakes, alligators, and bugs.

[3DisneyKids]

I dont mean to sound rude, but Welcome to Florida! The state of snakes, alligators, and bugs.

:rotfl2: :lmao: :rotfl:

[Shadeaux]

We saw a snake at BCV this afternoon. If my husband hadn't seen it first and warned me, I'd have stepped on the darn thing.
http://public.fotki.com/shadeaux/disneyworld/may2007/page3.html

[bobbiwoz]

My best snake-at-Disney moment came at Blizzard Beach. I was sitting on a chair and a hge snake (like 2 feet long) slithered across the path, into the grassy island behind my chair and then UP the tree!!!!!!!!!

...

Ditto, but we were at Typhoon Lagoon!

Bobbi

[eeyoresnr]

OMG! I'm going to have nightmares of snakes at WDW now! we are staying at VWL in Dec... I sure hope it's too cold for them then.

[ChickieToo]

Had one on the patio of my first floor BCV studio in April. Just went across the patio and into the grass. Now, I HAAAAATTTTTEEEEE snakes, but will it deter me from having a first floor room again? Absolutely not! It surprised me that I liked being on the first floor so much.

[eeyoresnr]

"Shadeaux" other than the 'snake' eeeeeeeeek! the rest of your pics are awesome!

[sulleyfan]

My last trip, I was in the Grandstand section, I actually had a snake in my room. It visited my first morning, hightailed it into the laundry area when I tried to pick it up with a spatula to send it back outside and was never seen again. It was just a baby garter snake, only about 6-8 inches long and very thin.

[eeyoresnr]

in your room? nope, huh uh, no way... they would have been moving me to a different room

[SandyCA]

I heard a lady say she brought a snake with her and wanted to leave him there,but couldn't.......he had the car keys.

:lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl:

[Cruelladeville]

What is a rat snake???? Is it one of those black snakes?? I saw them over at Fort Wilderness, and it scared me half to death!:scared1:

[ddhoeg]

OMG! I'm going to have nightmares of snakes at WDW now! we are staying at VWL in Dec... I sure hope it's too cold for them then.

Actually, we saw one at VWL last December when we were there out by the geyser. It was curled up on a rock enjoying the sunshine! At least it wasn't swimming in the pool, like I've read in past posts:rolleyes1 !

[JimMIA]

OMG! I'm going to have nightmares of snakes at WDW now! we are staying at VWL in Dec... I sure hope it's too cold for them then.You're actually more likely to see snakes (and alligators) in cold weather than in warm weather. Reptiles are cold-blooded, and therefore they tend to lay out in the sun to warm up in cold weather. In hot weather, the 'gators will be in the water and most snakes will be in the shade or in water.

I know people are afraid of snakes, but it's darn near impossible to get hurt by one. To get bitten, you have to a) step on or within a few inches of the snake, b) disturb it by sticking your hand near it (usually accidentally), or c) try to handle it. So, if you watch where you step and put your hand, and don't pick a snake up, you're not going to get hurt.

Most, but not all, snakes will flee at the first sight of a human. They are very slow, and couldn't catch you if they tried -- which, of course, they wouldn't. Some are faster than others, but even the racers can't approach human walking speed.

Alligators are a completely different story. You need to stay well away from alligators, especially at WDW where some moron has undoubtedly fed them. Fed alligators become aggressive, and they are faster than you are for short distances.

[jarestel]

I've seen a lot of rat snakes at the resorts. They are good snakes.

So I guess the next question is... does the presence of lots of rat snakes mean lots of rats at WDW?

[MinnieGirl33]

Just another reminder ---- don't EVER stick your hand into the bushes in Florida. You just never know what's in there!

Great advice!

While mini golfing at Fantasia Gardens, ball rolled under a rock... thankfully the snake moved before my hand got too close. :scared1:

Needless to say I moved rather quickly in the opposite direction.

[jpolak]

It just amazes me how good those new Disney animatronics have become. I mean those snakes looked real to me.:rotfl:

[JimMIA]

So I guess the next question is... does the presence of lots of rat snakes mean lots of rats at WDW?
No. It's just a name.

[JimMIA]

It just amazes me how good those new Disney animatronics have become. I mean those snakes looked real to me.:rotfl:
You know, you laugh...but those darn Disney imagineers do present some problems for us at Everglades National Park!

We get a LOT of visitors who have been to Disney first and then come down to the Everglades. I can't tell you how many times I've had a visitor stand looking at an alligator for several minutes (in a National Park, fer crying out loud!) and then ask, "That's not a real alligator...is it?"

Or better yet, get WAY too close to an alligator for a photo op, and when we tell them to move away, we get, "That's not a real alligator...is it?"

[jarestel]

No. It's just a name.

Whew! Thanks for that clarification.

[Snookies]

Ditto, but we were at Typhoon Lagoon!

Bobbi

I've seen the rat snakes at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon lagoon too. Freaking out about snakes in Florida could mean that you'll always be freaked out.

Just had a lady in FL get bit by a pigmy rattler working in her flower garden. We've had 2 pigmy rattler bites in Wal Mart in town in the garden section the last few years, plus I had one of my teenage pts bit by a rattle snake 2 years ago. So it does happen, one should be careful and look where you're walking.

When I lived in Phoenix 2 decades ago, jogging at night was problematic because that coil on the sidewalk (particularly if there were undeveloped areas nearby) was usually not a garden hose. The rattle would give them away before you got too close, however.

[JimMIA]

Just had a lady in FL get bit by a pigmy rattler working in her flower garden. We've had 2 pigmy rattler bites in Wal Mart in town in the garden section the last few years, plus I had one of my teenage pts bit by a rattle snake 2 years ago. So it does happen, one should be careful and look where you're walking.Pygmys are one of the snakes that will NOT flee. They stand their ground and will bite if they feel threatened. However, they have an amazing tolerance for people standing right next to them. I've personally witnessed two situations where someone was standing literally within inches and did not get bitten (including a ranger who stood there for a good 10 minutes giving a talk before any of us saw the snake).

You won't be able to identify a pygmy rattlesnake unless you really know what to look for, and their rattles are usually too small to make any noise. Pygmys are common throughout Florida, as are cottonmouths and several species of regular-sized rattlesnakes. Those venomous species are all over the place, but are rarely seen. And we have very few venomous bites for a state with 17 million residents and 80+ million visitors each year.

But watch where you step and reach. And if you see a snake and are not 100% positive you know its species...leave it alone!

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

And if you see a snake and are not 100% positive you know its species...leave it alone!Yeah...if I'm 100% positive of it's species, I leave it alone.

[Fitswimmer]

I dont mean to sound rude, but Welcome to Florida! The state of snakes, alligators, and bugs.

Actually, that's why this event surprised me. I've been going to WDW since 1972 and have been visiting family in Florida 3x a year for the last 9 years- this bugger was the FIRST snake I have ever seen! Seen plenty of lizards, and DN even saw a gator in one of the lakes on the way to AKL for dinner, but Mr Rat Snake was my first experience seeing a snake just out doing it's thing.

I would have completely freaked if I saw one IN the room. I probably wouldn't have slept the whole vacation-even after I changed rooms!

[Starshine]

A couple of years ago DH and I were walking past the BCV pool toward our room one evening when terrified screams errupted from the pool. We thought someone had gotten hurt! :eek: Turns out there was a small rat snake who had decided to take a swim.

**DISCLAIMER, do not try this at home (or WDW or anywhere else for that matter) even if you are familiar with snakes like DH**

A couple of men were getting ready to try and kill it when DH calmly walked over, picked it up and put it over in the bushes. Such screams we never heard in our lives when he was picking it up! :rotfl: It was honestly a bad idea and he's luckily he didn't get bitten (those little ones are quick!) but he was afraid that someone would succeed in killing it so he rushed to the rescue. ;)

[HUFF590]

My DW and I have seen snakes on a couple of walks over to DTD from SSR on the path from CP, and once at the MK on Tom Sawyers Island.

[JimMIA]

A couple of years ago DH and I were walking past the BCV pool toward our room one evening when terrified screams errupted from the pool. We thought someone had gotten hurt! :eek: Turns out there was a small rat snake who had decided to take a swim.Actually I'd be a lot more worried about the ducks we saw swimming in SAB a couple of weeks ago than a snake. Ducks are filthy!

[kimpossible]

I always keep my eyes peeled on the walk from BWV to MGM along the canal. (I am also watching for gators).

[Mtnman44]

That's awesome. snakes are wonderful animals. this means less chance of rodents in that area also. I'm looking to try to get a few to nest in my yard to keep the rodents in nearby fileds away from my house.

[DISNEYWORLDBORN2SHOP]

Last summer I was minding my own busines, floating in the lazy river at Blizzard Beach when I looked over and saw a little snake swimming next to me.:scared1: I paddled away very quickly.

[Disneynut71]

Oh does this bring back memories...

I stayed at SSR in June of 2004. Just after the opening. My DS and I walked over to the pool and on our way back we were just enjoying the area and right next to us was about 4 or 5 snakes. My DS said I must have jumped 5 feet in the air.

He loves snakes so it was no big deal to him but for me it nearly gave me a heart attack!

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

A couple of years ago DH and I were walking past the BCV pool toward our room one evening when terrified screams errupted from the pool. We thought someone had gotten hurt! :eek: Turns out there was a small rat snake who had decided to take a swim.

We had a simliar "snake in the pool" incident in April at the WL.
Lots of screams once people realized that a snake had slithered into the water and everyone trying to scatter to safety (geez, you'd think it was a shark or something with all the commotion). The lifeguard trapped the snake under a life preserver that they carry around but the snake didn't seem to like it very much and was trying to bite his way out from under until a hotel guest calmly picked the snake by the back of the head and walked away with him.

Y'know, I wonder if maybe there's just this one snake at WDW and he's making the round of all the hotels!:laughing:

[Honeymooner04]

I didn't have a snake scare on our recent trip to SSR but I did have a bob cat scare! I went running early on the morning we were checking out and darned if there wasn't a small bob cat walking along the tree line. Scared the dickens out of me!

[Snookies]

Actually, that's why this event surprised me. I've been going to WDW since 1972 and have been visiting family in Florida 3x a year for the last 9 years- this bugger was the FIRST snake I have ever seen! Seen plenty of lizards, and DN even saw a gator in one of the lakes on the way to AKL for dinner, but Mr Rat Snake was my first experience seeing a snake just out doing it's thing.

I would have completely freaked if I saw one IN the room. I probably wouldn't have slept the whole vacation-even after I changed rooms!

The gator in the lake story is reminiscent of an unfortunate incident in a gathering pond near my office. The gathering pond is next to a bayou. Community residents often walk their dogs in and around the pond. You can imagine the rest of the story. Fortunately, the person walking her dog was unharmed.

[TenThousandVolts]

...A couple of men were getting ready to try and kill it when DH calmly walked over, picked it up and put it over in the bushes. Such screams we never heard in our lives when he was picking it up! :rotfl: It was honestly a bad idea and he's luckily he didn't get bitten (those little ones are quick!) but he was afraid that someone would succeed in killing it so he rushed to the rescue. ;)
That is a mighty good man you have! (Actually, sounds a lot like my husband)

[lsutigger2]

My best "snake at WDW" happened at AK. We were walking along one of the paths were you can view the animals. Don't remember which one -:confused3

We heard a scream and turned around and saw a snake going across the path. Then the lady said, "Is that part of the show?" Like Disney had done that on purpose :rotfl: :rotfl: :lmao:

Jim from the Everglades, thanks for the all the info!

[mommym]

I am not ignorant to the fact that Florida is crawling with snakes (pun intended) but right up to the doors and public areas at the resorts? If I saw that snake in Shadeux's picture I would have either dropped dead or run (literally) all the way back to Minnesota. What kind of snake was that? JimMIA, anyone??? It looks like something I imagine in the outback of Australia that would kill you in 2 seconds flat. I don't care if it's harmless. Do the resorts try to do something about snakes on property or is it just a fact of life in Florida? I cannot tell you how much I hate snakes. I have a visceral fight or flight reaction and can do nothing to control it. Believe me, I have tried. I have 2 young sons and I have tried to expose myself to snakes at zoo or reptile shows and learn more about them so as not pass my fear on to them but I cannot get over it. Remember the movie SSSSSSS (or something like that) from the 70's where a human was injected with snake venom and slowly turned into a snake? It involved a circus or some sort where the snakeman was put on display. My mean babysitter made me watch it and I have never recovered. I should be on a therapist's couch right now...:scared: :scared:

[skylynx]

Though until now I never imagined there'd be a thread for "best snake at Disney" reports, but I do have one to share.

Two years ago we were lining up with everyone else to watch Illuminations at Epcot. We were between France and England, on the France side of the bridge, in that area that is sometimes closed off for private parties. I'm happily sitting cross legged on the concrete,pressed up against the iron fence with no heads in front of me to look over and block my view, when this very nice young lady comes up behind me, taps me on the shoulder, and says with utmost decorum "I don't want to worry you, but there's a snake heading your way." I look to my right and see people scattering as a small (less than 2 foot) black snake comes slithering along right towards me. I respectfully scramble backwards to let the little guy proceed. Then, this big brawny guy on my left goes to make a show of how brave he is to pick up the snake. As soon as he lifts the snake it starts gyrating over his hand. He screams (yes,like a little girl) and flings it up in the air. Everyone in the path of its fall now squawks and runs off. Fortunately, the snake survived his launch and slid over the rail into the grass.

[JimMIA]

If I saw that snake in Shadeux's picture I would have either dropped dead or run (literally) all the way back to Minnesota. What kind of snake was that? JimMIA, anyone???Black racer -- non-venomous. Do the resorts try to do something about snakes on property or is it just a fact of life in Florida?It's a fact of life most places if you're in a rural or suburban neighborhood. At least it is in temperate climates. You have to realize that WDW is a bunch of theme parks and resorts scattered thoughout a fairly large wooded landscape with a lot of water. In addition, much of the area is a wildlife sanctuary. That's where you find snakes, and pretty birds, and rodents, and river otter, and bugs, and whitetail deer. They're part of the landscape.

The only solice I can offer you is that you would not have otter and deer without snakes, rodents and bugs. They're all connected.I cannot tell you how much I hate snakes. I have a visceral fight or flight reaction and can do nothing to control it. Believe me, I have tried.You're in good company. Most people dislike snakes, and their feelings about snakes have nothing to do with real facts. It's an emotional, irrational fear...but it's real. You can die from emotional, irrational fear with no basis in fact.

[eeyoresnr]

"JimMIA"
thanks for all your input...it doesn't make me any less frightened of snakes, and I truly believe I would drop dead from fear if I see one up close. but at least now I am aware that they are so numerous at Disney and will be more alert of my surroundings...Thanks!

[Starshine]

That is a mighty good man you have!

:love: He definitely is! We're both huge animal lovers, so I was also thrilled with him for performing the snake rescue. :)