Alligators????

[veruka]

Can anyone tell me if I should be concerned about alligators at WDW? I'm from the west and have never seen one outside of the zoo. Are they around the World? I know this is a silly question, but any input would be really appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[Mr.BsMom]

DH and I did see one (a very tiny one!) in the lake where the jungle cruise is - back in July, 2002... We looked for one last year, but never saw another one. I don't think you need to be concerned at all...!

 

[BambiTamby]

First of all.....

<marquee direction="right">

</marquee>


Second of all......it's Florida.
Alligators and Florida....sorta goes together
like Texas and rattlesnakes!


Really, they are there!
DH sees one every time he plays WDW golf!

Been some gator sightings at the Poly, WL, FW.

Have a nice trip!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Generally speaking, as long as you don't bother them, and stay away from them, you will not have any problems. Provoke them by swinging your golf club at them, and you might get chased. (Yes, I've seen it happen)

 

[BambiTamby]

Generally speaking, as long as you don't bother them, and stay away from them, you will not have any problems. Provoke them by swinging your golf club at them, and you might get chased. (Yes, I've seen it happen)

DH said the same thing!

 

[veruka]

Yikes! I'm staying at the CSR and the Poly!! Does a sighting mean the gator lounging on the beach, or does it mean just swimming in the lagoon? I'm not planning on playing golf...I'm just wondering how cautious I should be with my kids on the shores at these resorts.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[kevind65]

i have seen a couple of small ones over the years...april 2003, saw one at the MK in the lagoon the surounds tom sawyer's island....I think disney does a pretty good job of monitoring the gators around the areas where guest are and when they get too big, they remove them...I don't think you have anything to worry about...

 

[BambiTamby]

Well, on one of the OLD DIS Boards....there was a huge thread about alligator sightings at WDW!

I freaked out like you, too, when I first saw the old alligator thread!!

At WL, though, there was a small one near the place where you rent the boats....on the beach!(Saw that one)
We've been at the Poly 5 times, NEVER seen a gator!

One poster even suggested that THAT is the reason WDW allows no swimming in their lakes!
(Even though, for the record, it's because of the boat traffic!)

Oh, I could go on and on.....

how bout the rumor that the waterpark at FW was closed due to alligators eating thru the nets!
That was after they closed Discovery Island and ALL of the gators were to have supposed to have been moved to the Animal Kingdom, other zoos, etc.

but, hey!
I'm renting water mice for the whole family and we're just gonna have a great time!

 

[hawkrn]

SOG has alligator warning signs on their property and the POR boat driver told us that they have to relocate them from POR every once in a while

 

[floridafam]

Boy, I really wish I hadn't seen this thread. DH has to swim in the water by FW in May and I have been thinking about alligators.

 

[magicmouse2]

My kids would love to see a gator at WDW ! and not in (AK)
I would worry about letting them play near the shores of the lakes though as if my DD saw a gator she would jump on its back like Steve Irwin whilst other DD tried to get a top jaw rope on it
I intend to go to Gatorland this trip. If we see one in the lakes at the BC that will save us the trip and lots of $$$s!!!

 

[Danauk]

I saw an aligator every day on our trip last summer. Our room at the BCV overlooked the canal that runs along the front of the Yacht and Beach club. Every day from our balcony we would see the aligator (I think the cast members there called him Buddy!) and lots of sea turtles and fish. He could not get out of the canal though due to the high sides and the fences, but would rest by the bridge so people walking past could look at him and take photos.

 

[webray]

In Florida...pretty much every body of water has an alligator in it.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Native Floridians love Gators, fried, broiled, stewed,

*A Alligator can run up to 34 MPH on land. They can be fast so best policy is stay away.

magicmouse2
My kids would love to see a gator at WDW ! and not in (AK)
I would worry about letting them play near the shores of the lakes though as if my DD saw a gator she would jump on its back like Steve Irwin whilst other DD tried to get a top jaw rope on it. Hope they don't have a baby brother or sister to use as bait..

 

[Planecrazy4dis]

CRIKEY!!!

 

[ironz]

floridafam...
I'll be watching out, too...supposed to be doing that race, depending on how training is going. My strategy will be to be at least faster in the water than one other swimmer!

 

[StephenKay]

Hi there,

Yes there is one alligator in the canal next to the BCV, except he is not a alligator he is a villagator because he lives at the villas, this is a upper class gator. He is about seven foot long. I always show him to the kids and tell them to behave or else!!!!!!


Regards,

 

[Terry S]

Here is a picture of the one at the Beach Club Villas, he is around 7 feet long as mentioned. http://www.wdwinfo.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=177&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500
He is generally in the canel, but we have seen him sunning himself on the grass to the side of the canel.

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

We were at the BC in May and heard about the one in the canal but never saw him. Would love to have taken his picture for the folks at home!!

 

[The Duchess]

I did see a few on the golf course when we had a golf lesson on our Honeymoon in 1997. The instructor did not seem very concerned!
We've been at YC last two trips and have not seen a gator yet on-site, and I'm always looking because DS was 4 last trip and I DID see the old Alligator Thread back then.
If one chases you, run in a zigzag pattern. It confuses them.