alligators

[donpaul]

ok,
i am truly afraid of gaters.
we are staying at bwv this month.
are there any gaters seen here?
i read at bc there is - do they normally out at night or day?
do they like sun?
we want to rent surrey bikes--is this a problem on the walkways between mgm and bwv and between epcot.
ant help?

 

[shelle94]

I would not worry about coming upon a gator. I'm sure WDW has staff on hand that are experts at trapping them and keeping them away from people.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by donpaul
ok,
i am truly afraid of gaters.
we are staying at bwv this month.
are there any gaters seen here?
i read at bc there is - do they normally out at night or day?
do they like sun?
we want to rent surrey bikes--is this a problem on the walkways between mgm and bwv and between epcot.
ant help?

Don't worry. We have stayed at the BWV several times since 1998. Have used the walkways to MGM and EPCOT and walked as well as ridden the surrey bikes around Crescent Lake. Done that in the day and in the evenings/nights. Have never seen any wildlife except for birds, insects and squirrels/gophers. None of those (except the mosquitoes once) really bothered us. You will not see any alligators. (There might be crocdiles at the AK, though. Can't remember. If so, they are definitely in an enclosed area, separated from the people).

The only gator currently reported in the area inhabits the canal in the back of the BCV. That's actually quite a distance from the BWV - maybe as much as a mile. We've walked in that area several times to check out the BCV and never saw even a glimpse of it. As far as I know from DVC members' posts, it is still small and pretty much stays by the BCV canal area. When it reaches a certain size, Disney will relocate it. Unless you actively go look for that particular gator, there is a very, very, very, very, very, very (need I continue? ) small, infinitesimally small, chance that you will see a gator anywhere near the BWV or any of the parks.

Don't spoil your pre-trip excitement by worrying about it. It just isn't going to happen!

 

[doombuggy]

I have never seen a gator anywhere on property (I do not count AK, although I have never seen one there either). I have been there a lot, so don't sweat it! Have a GREAT time!

 

[donpaul]

on another site i read about these gaters.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by donpaul
ok,
i am truly afraid of gaters.
we are staying at bwv this month.
are there any gaters seen here?
i read at bc there is - do they normally out at night or day?
do they like sun?
we want to rent surrey bikes--is this a problem on the walkways between mgm and bwv and between epcot.
ant help?

You cannot ride the bikes between Epcot and BWV, there is a sign telling you where you have to stop. Not sure between MGM and BWV, I have no doubt there will be a sign, however. You can also ask the person in charge of the bikes when you rent.

 

[MOQ3424]

We did see an alligator but not in BWV. It wasn't even on land it was swimming in MK.






AND I DONT KNOW WHY MY TIMER THING SAYS IM AT DISNEY IT USED TO BE RIGHT!!!!!!!

 

[zurgswife]

Been to BWV many times I've never seen a gator...

MOQ....check your computers clock ......I switched mine once and got the date off...but only for me for everybody else it was ok...
Like your clock shows 20days for me...

 

[Safari Steve]

This is a needless fear. We have bees and wasps in FL (and at WDW), but even if you see one, you won't be stung unless you go after it.
Likewise with alligators. You will probably not see any at all. If you do, it will almost certainly be a safe distance away and have absolutely NO interest in you.
Relax, concentrate on something else, enjoy your vacation.

As for the Surrey bikes... They are only allowed on the wide pathway that surrounds Crescent lake.

If you are referring to alligators when you ask "is this a problem," again, no. You will be able to walk to MGM or Epcot if you so desire, and I can almost guarantee that you will not encounter any alligators.

 

[KevinFSU]

We have some pretty good video of one in the lake at Coronado Springs from summer of 2001 (I think, haven't looked at that video lately). Don't know if he's still there or not. He was over by the area where you rent the boats from. He was just floating there right by the wall. So, we got some of the food out of the dispenser and he ate it. The fish were really brave too... they'd swim right up by his mouth and snag a pellet.

 

[copper0426]

We have seen a medium size gator in the MK in frontier land behind the hotdog stand at the walkway bridge from Splash Mountain. We asked a CM and he said they were common in the waterways. We even have pictures to prove it. I will look for the pictures and post them as soon as I find em and figure out how to post a picture. It was so cool, I couldn't believe what we had seen. I thought it would be cool to see it while we were on SM because that is where the water comes from for that little canal. Too Cool.

Diane

 

[CaipiraBob]

I just came back from the BWI and I can tell you there's no reason to concern yourself. It would have to be a very determined, hungry SUPER-GATOR to make it's way into the grounds for feeding.

Now being a resident, I can say that it's common sense to assume any open body of water can have a gator. Especially down here in PBC. Having small children, we simply don't risk exposing them to a potential disaster unless we have some major control over the situtation. Even then we don't take chances.

As for Disney, they probably do have several resident gators, but I imagine the only way they remain in the area is that they are too small to warrant immediate capture.

Even so, while we stayed at the Polynesian and let the kids run on the beach, I was the buffer between them and the water. We didn't let them approach water's edge after dusk. Little things like that.

Personally, I thought it was insane to protect these things and even worse to encourage them to grow in numbers. They've expanded beyond their habitat and are now common in residential areas. Something we've gotten used to.

At any rate, you don't have much to worry about at Disney. If you do become anxious and it begins to make you nervous about your vacation, go make yourself feel better and go slap an environmentalist upside the head. It will be a favor for all of us!

 

[baloo722]

there was a gator in the water between BWV & MGM last week. my whole family saw it. there were boats searching for it as well. freaked my kids out as we walked from MGM to BWV.

 

[Kallison]

As long as you stay out of any unauthorized swimming areas (ponds, basins, lakes, etc.) you will not have a problem. They don't chase you down the sidewalks.

 

[FloridaCat]

If there is a spot of water as big as a bathtub in Florida, there could be a Gator. If you feed them you are breaking the law and endangering someone's life. It is when they lose their fear of man that they become a threat and that is what feeding them does. Look at them, take their picture and leave them alone. Keep pets out of the water, Dogs, as that is prime rib to them

 

[Terry S]

Actually there are 2 alligators at the BCV, one is in the canel in front of the resort and the other is the canel in the back. One is about 5 feet long the other is about 6 feet long. These alligators can come up on land and do come up on the land. I came around the corner of the parking lot and it was there sunning itself up in the grass. As soon as I came around the corner, it quickly scurried down in the water. I have never seen them come out of the water more than a few feet onto the grassy area so I really don't think you will see them on the bike / walking path or anywhere around the resort but the canel areas. The one thing that does worry me about these 2 gators is that people feed them all the time. This is not only against the law, but a very bad thing to do. This is when problems can start. Here is a pic of the one of the gators at BCV. http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=177&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500 I have been to BC and or BCV several times a year for the last 4 years and have seen the gator every trip, my kids love him or her so we look for him.

 

[FloridaCat]

Terry:
Word of caution. they can hit speeds of 30 MPH for short distances and the tail is a lethal weapon.

Any Florida Pest Control on here, please advise.

 

[shelle94]

Wow. It doesn't look like this thread is going to ease the OP's mind.

 

[FloridaCat]

I have lived here for many years and had no problems with them. They are in golf course lakes and any body of water like I mentioned. It's not uncommon for someone to find one in their backyard swimming pool. It's the Tourists that get in trouble with them, getting to close to edge of water or Gator, feeding them and taking pictures. Like any of lifes danger, use your head and you will not have any problems Millions come to our area every year and most never see one.

Knowing Diney I know they take every precation for our safty.