Aligators in Disney Lakes? [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

boltjames

03-19-2002, 09:32 PM

My friend was down here last week and said he spotted two 6 foot gators sunning themselves by one of the water hazards on the Disney operated Palm/Magnolia golf courses.

Question: Have there been reported cases of aligator spottings within Disney's lakes and hotel areas?

I'm staying off the CBR beaches until someone tells me otherwise. I can live with ducks in the pool, but gators? Gulp.

BJ

Tina26

03-19-2002, 10:58 PM

Y'all are not going to believe this but I saw one at Magic Kingdom swimming through the water at the bottom of splash mountain. I was waiting for my dh and two ds on the bridge down at the bottom of the ride and a man comes over to me and points it out. I said "what is that an otter or something?" He said, "nope, a gator". When I looked closer (it was getting dark) I could see it was an alligator swimming right under the bridge where we were standing. He swam out into the little river or stream that lead away from splash mountain.

I couldn't wait to tell my husband when he finally came down from the ride!! Unbelievable! Right there in the middle of all those people!:eek:

Tina

gabylin

03-20-2002, 12:22 AM

Hi there,
When we were there in August my brother and I spotted one on our way to one of the parks. We were on the Disney Bus and as we were passing a golf course we saw it swimming in a man-made lake. I didn't believe it til I saw it!!! But again folks this IS Florida!!!!!!!!

ducklite

03-20-2002, 07:01 AM

They're all over the place. The best place to be guaranteed a look at a gator is the pond by the entrance to Shades of Green. There are a few there all the time, sometimes in the water and all you can see are those yellow eyes, other times sunning themselves on the lawn.

Disney relocates them to non-populated areas on the property when they either get very large or show even the faintest hint of inclination to get near a human, such as in the parks or some of the resort areas.

They had a problem with a large gator who liked to visit River Country. He was relocated many times, each time further back into the property. He kept coming back. Finally they decided for everyones protection that he needed to be moved into a secure area, and kept "captive". I can't recall where he lives now, perhaps in the captive areas on Discovery Island.

Anne

rugrat

03-20-2002, 10:05 AM

Last Aug, we were told by a CM that wading or swimming was not allowed at the beach at WL because of possible alligators. That was a bummer. Do you know if the rule is the same is true for the Poly lagoon (or is it the same lake?) I booked conc. LV for the purpose of having easy access to the beach. I'm not sure it's worth it though if you can't go in the water!

ducklite

03-20-2002, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by rugrat
Last Aug, we were told by a CM that wading or swimming was not allowed at the beach at WL because of possible alligators. That was a bummer. Do you know if the rule is the same is true for the Poly lagoon (or is it the same lake?) I booked conc. LV for the purpose of having easy access to the beach. I'm not sure it's worth it though if you can't go in the water!

You are not allowed to swim in the water at the GF/Poly Beach. If you look at the map, you'll see that it really is the same body of water as the lake at the WL.

Anne

ubetiski

03-20-2002, 10:18 AM

Several years ago we saw at least a half dozen at CBR. I don't recall seeing any others but then again I was never really looking. But trust me...they are all over the place.

Mickymark

03-20-2002, 10:32 AM

When I was there last August I saw one in a ditch that ran in front of one of the resorts. At first i didnt think it was an aligator, then when it moved, there was no mistaking it. Then my brother and my wife saw it too.. It was probably only about three feet long but a 'gator nontheless.

WebmasterPenny

03-20-2002, 10:34 AM

I saw a 'gator on the grass by a small lake right in the middle of CSR a couple of years ago..plain as day! They can be anywhere, so I wouldn't go in any water unless it was a pool or water park.

Penny :)

DawnCt

03-20-2002, 10:40 AM

A few years ago we were water skiing in Bay Lake. The kids were knee boarding. When we finished we had lunch at Narcooses, came out to the marina again and noticed that the ski boat was still there. When we inquired, we were told that an alligator was spotted just after the last party finished skiing, so they had shut down for a while. We were the last party!

Two years ago we were exiting Shades of Green and noticed a big old 8 ft long alligator sunning himself on the grass. We stopped the car along the edge of the drive and just watched. A couple of minutes later a car load of teenage girls pulled up behind us, jumped out and started running to him! I couldn't believe it. I don't know if they thought he was tame or an animatronic figure. Luckily, he slithered back into the water and didn't jump out to greet them.

skoba-nelson

03-20-2002, 11:01 AM

We didn't see any alligators on our recent trip but we enjoyed talking to one of the bus drivers about all the gators, panthers (or is it pumas), deers and everything else he has seen or encountered.

MICOL

03-20-2002, 01:22 PM

I saw two very small gators, about 3 feet long at the Palm/Magnolia golf courses Sunday, One at each. Plus every kind of bird, a lizard and a few snakes. Nothing at all that ever came near you or bothered you. Great Golf courses.

eeyore0062

03-20-2002, 03:31 PM

Yes, there are Alligators in Disney lakes, but you will see them in Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, more than anywhere else. That is why there are no swimming signs posted around all of the WDW waterways. You can never be too careful. WDW has beautiful pools, so you won't need to swim in the lakes.

BoyLovesBuzz

03-20-2002, 03:43 PM

Its Florida!!!!

You have a fair chance of seeing a gator in any body of fresh water that has other aquatic life to dine on. PS are not required :-)

opal

03-20-2002, 04:51 PM

A few years back, we saw one in the body of water on the entryway into the CBR before you get to the Custom House. The Bus driver slowed down and pointed it out everyone on the bus.

w8ting4pooh

03-20-2002, 05:02 PM

I asked my kids if they thought we would see alligators in Alligator Bayou. My 10 year old said "Oh, is that why it's called Alligator By you because there are alligators by you?!" I thought it was so cute. I never thought there really MIGHT be some. yikes.:earseek:

connor69

03-20-2002, 05:21 PM

While we were at DW last October a CM at Magic Kingdom told us that they had recently taken an alligator out of the jungle cruise ride waterway.

kylara

03-20-2002, 05:30 PM

When I was there a couple of years ago with my nieces, we went over to Tom Sawyer Island. At one area where you could feed the ducklings, they was a CM standing there not allowing feeding cause of a gator in the water. They did not want the ducklings brought near the gator in search of food. The CM stated that they were waiting for the trapper to come to catch and relocate the gator. She stated that they usually did not relocate a gator as small as this one (about 4 feet) but to protect the ducklings they would. She also stated that trapped gators were relocated out to Disney's nature and animal preserve down in Kissimmee. She also stated that they usually only relocate gators that are over 8 feet long or are overly aggressive. She seemed to know a lot about the relocation...when asked, she said that she often saw gators relocated from TS Island so they did not disturb the ducklings.

olena

03-20-2002, 06:20 PM

They're all over WDW....but I think they avoid humans. Nows snakes are a little different. They can be sneaky and have been spotted at resorts and in the parks.

8caliace

03-20-2002, 07:28 PM

Each time we have stayed at SOG, one thing we looked forward to each morning was walking to the monorail at the Poly, at counting how many alligators there were each time. Usually we would see at least 1, but sometimes we saw 7-8.

theaslip

03-21-2002, 10:57 AM

I always waterski and wakeboard a few times with at the Sammy Duvall Watersports Centre at the Contemporary.

Last year while getting ready to start up in the water (far side of Bay lake in the "waterski zone" I had a *very* large water mocassin snake pass between me and my waterski (which was attached to my foot).

Later I talked to the driver about it - he said that he sees them all the time. I did not get bitten - but apparently the bite is very painful and causes some swelling.

Anyway - I was always told that swimming was discouraged because of bacteria levels, not gators. The gators are a given, and will avoid people (over age 2-3) at all costs. I've skied very close to them, and they are no bother (in fact they swim away).

ducklite

03-21-2002, 11:20 AM

Yikes! That cured me of EVER wanting to swim, ski or otherwise touch the water in that lake!

Anne

DawnCt

03-21-2002, 01:48 PM

Fresh water in all tropical (Florida) waters should be avoided. There is an ameoba that lives on the bottom of all fresh water lakes in Florida. It can sneak up your nose and cause an ameobic encephalitis. For me, that is the best reason to stick to the pools.

padisneyfan

03-21-2002, 08:04 PM

Years ago when they were doing all the construction past Fort Wilderness area, we were on a bus that had to stop for a really large gator on the road. After much horn honking the gator finally moved. The bus driver called in about the gator to try to get someone out to relocate it. That was the largest one I ever saw on the property. Gators don't bother me, but the snakes do. I've been sitting on patio @ OKW and had them slither across the patio and that is enough for me, back inside I go. I don't take take to analyze what type of snake it is.

boltjames

03-21-2002, 11:00 PM

Today, on the island between the bridges at the CBR, I saw two swarms of lady bugs on the ropes/pillars on the right side of the walkway. Individually, lady bugs can be charming. This was a different story. A menacing swarm.

Any word on this? Are they as dangerous as the gators and snakes? The gekko's are one thing, but lady bugs are quite another. If I inhale one, can I get the "up the nose ameobolic disorder" that one can get by waterskiing with mocassin snakes?

On the same subject, what about those disgusting "live oysters with pearls" I've got to stare at at the food court doorway? Bet they were a contributing factor to the Syrup Rationing Program.

BJ