Alligators on Jungle Cruise?

[YawningDodo]

As a former cast member of the Magic Kingdom, to address the original question: no, there are not typically live alligators in the Jungle River Cruise water (I'm sure they could find their way in there if determined enough, same as someone posted above about a gator getting into the Splash Mountain runoff water, but I'd never heard of it happening). The water around Tom Sawyer Island connects to a canal that goes around the back of the park to connect with the Seven Seas Lagoon, but the Jungle River Cruise is a separate body of water to the best of my knowledge. This is something that came up in conversation with me and a cast member who worked the JRC on a lunch break, as JRC cast members have to go through the ride with a net in the morning to make sure there are no dead animals, which is not an issue in the waters that connect to the lagoon due to gators running natural clean-up (while I heard that Disney did make an effort to remove gators from the park, there's really no way to keep them from returning and their presence was a recurring issue while I was there).

Something worth noting about the gator-infested Magic Kingdom waters: next time you're there, take a good look at the water's edge in Frontierland, etc., and you'll see that the landscaping has vertical cement walls rather than slopes. Gators are good at climbing, but they're not that good at climbing. Same with a lot of the canals around the backs of resorts. The danger is that the cement walls would also make it difficult for a person who fell in the water to get out, but that seems to be less of an issue than limiting alligators' access. One might point fingers at Disney for creating nice beachy slopes in front of certain resorts, but remember that the larger and less isolated of a land area you're talking about (the resorts are typically much more open to the wilds at their backs than the parks), the harder it is to put up any kind of meaningful barrier anyhow.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I'm sure any body of water in central FL is fair game for alligators.

The joke was about crocodiles, not alligators. I also read that the ride CM's were instructed to not make that joke anymore. I *think* one big distinction is that crocodiles are much more aggressive than alligators, also they are found in different parts of the world.

Thete are some crocodiles here in FL, they are American Crocodiles. ...not sure if in the Orlando area but definitely in South FL
http://m.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/american-crocodile/

 

[yulilin3]

Thete are some crocodiles here in FL, they are American Crocodiles. ...not sure if in the Orlando area but definitely in South FL
http://m.myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/american-crocodile/

Actually in the news very recently. They have found Nile crocodiles in the Everglades.

 

[NYUBwayBaby]

Actually in the news very recently. They have found Nile crocodiles in the Everglades.

Yeah, they compared the DNA to those crocs to the ones at AK, zoos, and gator parks trying to figure out where the heck they came from. They're very aggressive.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yeah, they compared the DNA to those crocs to the ones at AK, zoos, and gator parks trying to figure out where the heck they came from. They're very aggressive.

Yeah, I heard that too

 

[warrenz1963]

Isn't there a Tick Tock float that follows the Peter Pan float in the Festival of Fantasy parade?

 

[wilkeliza]

This is the gator that was in the splash run off. He started under the bridge from Tom Sawyer Island and hoped up on the rock barrier by Splash.

 

[nugov2]

Probably none in Jungle Cruise that are real because of the traffic. By the time the test boats go out in the morning all the gators have been scared off or taken care of.

I have seen baby gators in the overflow area of Splash Mountain. A management CM was watching it the entire time to make sure it didn't get close to guests while they waited for the animal control team to come and get it. I've also heard reports of them being in the lagoon around Tom Sawyer but when that does happen they close the entire island and do not run boats out there until the alligator is removed.

It was confirmed yesterday that all removed gators are killed if they are over a certain size as moving a threat gator would just move the threat.

I didn't realize they closed it down. There was a decent size one when we were there last and honestly nobody seemed to care. It was there for a while and cms definitely saw it. Never witnessed any alert others or make it an issue. I just figured they are there all the time. I can't remember paying attention on many of my trips either way but I know I've seen them by Tom Sawyer on several different trips.

 

[wilkeliza]

I didn't realize they closed it down. There was a decent size one when we were there last and honestly nobody seemed to care. It was there for a while and cms definitely saw it. Never witnessed any alert others or make it an issue. I just figured they are there all the time. I can't remember paying attention on many of my trips either way but I know I've seen them by Tom Sawyer on several different trips.

I think they only close it if it is a big aggressive gator and if it has gotten on the dock or not. If it is a little one like pictured they usually let it swim around.

 

[nugov2]

I think they only close it if it is a big aggressive gator and if it has gotten on the dock or not. If it is a little one like pictured they usually let it swim around.

It was probably the size of the picture posted...thats big enough!! I am a freak about alligators and sharks. Used to have a recurring dream as a kid I jumped in our pool and looked down to see alligators and sharks in it. I don't know why as I live far away from either threat, but they are my biggest fear.

 

[CAS239]

Nothing from Peter Pan will be changed, the ride won't be closed for a week, etc.. That would all be crazy.

 

[DonnaL]

We saw a gator sunning itself last November right off the wooden bridge area at the bottom of Splash Mountain. It was also very close to the boarding area for Tom Sawyers Island. There were many people at the railing watching it..........I overheard several people say "that's not a real alligator". It definitely WAS a real alligator.....we saw it moving. I've also read a few articles over the years that the waterway of Splash is checked every morning to be sure there are no stray alligators. Below is the pic of the one we saw in November.

 

[wilkeliza]

We saw a gator sunning itself last November right off the wooden bridge area at the bottom of Splash Mountain. It was also very close to the boarding area for Tom Sawyers Island. There were many people at the railing watching it..........I overheard several people say "that's not a real alligator". It definitely WAS a real alligator.....we saw it moving. I've also read a few articles over the years that the waterway of Splash is checked every morning to be sure there are no stray alligators. Below is the pic of the one we saw in November. View attachment 175927

Mine was in November too. Looks like it may have been the same little thing.

 

[robinb]

I remember the Jungle Cruise joke about keeping an eye on your kids because the gators/crocs do. I'm glad that joke is gone. It's just not funny anymore. I do hope they keep Ole Smiley and Ginger in the rotation. "Ginger Snaps" is also one of our family favorites.

 

[revdon64]

Isn't Louis the gator from Princess and the Frog supposed to be in the new Mickeys Friendship Faire show on the castle stage soon? They gonna leav3 him in?

 

[Easto]

Apparently the drivers on Kilimanjeri safari have a new script when they enter the Nile Crocodile enclosure. No more education about the crocs bite force, swim/run speed, diet, thrashing technique when they catch prey and no jokes about always looking hungry.

I am pretty sure 90% of their script was educational. Good thing they aren't educating their guest about predatory animals anymore.

Up next you'll hear in the Lion enclosure that a lions best friends are a wart hog and meerkat that like to sing duets together.

One would think that Disney would have taken the opportunity to educate their guests about crocs and gators during this time. It's the perfect opportunity to alert (I am sure for now on all guest will have 50,000 warnings now) about gators around the Disney property and to be careful.

 

[Shellyb84]

Apparently the drivers on Kilimanjeri safari have a new script when they enter the Nile Crocodile enclosure. No more education about the crocs bite force, swim/run speed, diet, thrashing technique when they catch prey and no jokes about always looking hungry.

I am pretty sure 90% of their script was educational. Good thing they aren't educating their guest about predatory animals anymore.

Up next you'll hear in the Lion enclosure that a lions best friends are a wart hog and meerkat that like to sing duets together.

One would think that Disney would have taken the opportunity to educate their guests about crocs and gators during this time. It's the perfect opportunity to alert (I am sure for now on all guest will have 50,000 warnings now) about gators around the Disney property and to be careful.

I agree that removing the educational aspect of this at KS is a little extreme. It would be a good opportunity to expand on this part and maybe add things about how gators differ from crocs possibly? I can see why they removed the joke from JC to not be insensitive, but this is unnecessary, IMHO.

 

[disneydeal]

Rode jungle cruise last night late. Was maybe 10 pm kinda scary being it'd do dark and your in water so soon after the tragedy.
They did say.... Keep your hands inside the boat at all times where you can see them or the gators will..... maybe not exact wording but very close to it.

 

[AliceinMaryland]

I'm trying to picture how the gators get into the waters of splash mountain. Can someone describe or post a photo of how they get from Tom Sawyer Island water over to Splash?

 

[yulilin3]

Isn't Louis the gator from Princess and the Frog supposed to be in the new Mickeys Friendship Faire show on the castle stage soon? They gonna leav3 him in?

I'm here at mk right now, ready to live stream, 95% of the people waiting for the show are disney entertainment cm, they're talking and someone said they took Louie out of the show and had to fix the music cause he had dialogue in the show. .. I guess we'll find out for sure at 10:30 am.