alligators?

[DizMom11]

We recently stayed at PC in the 50's first floor. We were about 5 yards away from the lake. I kept having an awful horror movie image in my head about them 'gators comin up to get my young'ns. Seriously though, does anyone have info on how Disney deals with the close proximity of the lakes to certain resorts in regards to alligators or other wildlife. We are going to the poly in Feb. Thank You!

 

[tinkerb]

I have seen alligators many times......several on the golf courses, and then near the bridge by Splash Mountain in the MK.... I know that everywhere there is a place for water in Florida there might be an alligator, and I have read here on the boards before that Disney tries to remove them, especially the larger ones.... but each of the ones I have seen in MK are pretty small...maybe 1 foot long....

 

[Sammie]

They leave them alone and yes they are at Disney. After they get longer than I think it's 5 feet, they remove them.

 

[DizMom11]

Thank you for the info. At least I know now that it is a possibility to encounter one, especially by a lake at night. I also don't feel so crazy anymore, I thought it was just my wild imagination

 

[dreamflight99]

And so enjoy seeing them in the wild when I'm in Florida...
I took this snap in the wild, on Disney Property! Isn't it something else?

 

[deba]

I almost walked into a large one on the golf course. Foolish me was looking for my golf ball alittle too close to the waters edge. I heard Disney removes them when too many are spotted in an area. I don't know what determines too many. I was told at the club house to run zig-zagging away from them; they can't see anywhere but straight ahead. How comforting

 

[Mickey's Sister]

Great photo Dreamflight99! I've looked for them but was not lucky enough to see one. I'd love to see one in the wild! I did see my first armadillo at Fort Wilderness - yes, I know it's no big deal to Floridians, but we don't have them in PA.

Jessica

 

[JLH]

When we stayed at CBR in 1996, we were walking by the lake and a disney employee was there with a net and a small crowd, trying to coax one out of the water and into a cage or something he had on the beach - caused a stir and we were glad you are not allowed to swim in the lake! Several families were lounging on the sandy beach though.

 

[DizMom11]

Well, there goes my request for a ground floor lagoon view LOL! If you see a panic stricken DM with 3 DK running zig-zag across the poly grounds, that's ME!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Originally posted by DizMom11
Well, there goes my request for a ground floor lagoon view LOL! If you see a panic stricken DM with 3 DK running zig-zag across the poly grounds, that's ME!

This is exactly why I've never stayed in a ground floor room! And due to other kinds of creatures I prefer not to encounter whole in my room! Always request an upper floor - at Poly a third fl to be sure I have a balcony And Tokelua because the rooms are larger! Alhough Figi has great views of the marina!

Have fun zig zagging!!!

You have me laughing right out loud!!!

 

[Cantw8]

Dreamflight, where were you when you took the pic? I didn't know they had armadillos in Florida!!! I thought they were only found in the southwest. Are they nasty?

 

[dixiegirl]

I always hope to catch a glimpse of one on each of our trips and so far have had good luck. All of them were on the small side (less than 2 ft long) and were not in the highly populated areas around WDW. Disney does remove them if they are too big or are in an area where they have a good chance of encountering guests.

PS - and yes, I did read that if you are chased by one to run zig zag cause they cannot maneuver that quickly - not that any of us would need that info!

 

[DVCconvert]

From the Florida State Fish & Wildlife Commission Web Site:

How fast can an alligator run?
We know of no one who has measured the ground speed of alligators. Actually, there is little reason, in regards to population management and basic knowledge of alligators, to research this topic. Alligators are aquatic animals; they hunt and capture prey that is in or immediately adjacent to water. Alligators and other crocodilians will go on land to feed on dead animal carcasses, and they may attempt to prey upon confined or tethered animals. Although alligators are capable of running, they use this gait to flee threatening situations. There is no documented evidence of alligators running after human beings to prey upon them.
Also, there is no basis to the myth that you should run in zig-zag patterns to avoid a charging alligator. If you do find yourself in the extremely unlikely position of avoiding a lunging alligator, you should run in a straight line away from the alligator and it's habitat, which is where the alligator will most likely retreat to. Regardless of how fast alligators can run, you should never approach an alligator that is on land.

Link to Offical Site

 

[Mickey's Sister]

Cantw8, we were in Fort Wilderness when we saw the armadillos. We were walking up the drive to our cabin one night when one ran under my sister's car. We later saw some near one of the pools & my sister caught them on video. I never knew until that point either, that they lived in Florida. My other sister, who lives in Florida, told us after our sighting, that they are all over & you see them lying dead along the roads the way we see groundhogs here in PA!

Jessica

 

[k&a&c'smom]

Every time the alligator issue comes up, I say I've been looking for an alligator at Disney with no luck. Still no luck.

Mickey's Sister - I laughed when I read your post re: armadillos. The first time DH and I went on vacation, we went to see my sister, who lived in Houma, LA. She had mentioned that there were armadillos around her house and we kept trying to spot one. Each day, when we would head out for some sightseeing, my sis would yell "armadillo, armadillo" and point wildly toward her yard. We never did catch a glimpse!! It got to be a big joke, with us accusing of my sister of messing with the northerners!! Funny thing is, the last few years we've started having armadillos move into the southern part of our state, and we've seen a few dead on the side of the road!!

 

[totalia]

You know, its really cute (and amazingly funny) that people don't realize alligators live in Florida. Of course they do. You will also see them all along the southern US coast line.

There really is very little you need to worry about with them. Just don't go playing too close to pools of still water, etc. Alligators sit at the edge under the water waiting for prey to appear and you could find your foot in ones mouth because it didn't realize that your not a bird or other small animal.

Think of them like big snakes. They are everywhere but you really don't see them much. Just think about where you step.

 

[dreamflight99]

I thoroughly enjoy filming these creatures in their natural setting. I use extreme caution, tele-lens, and common sense!

These gators were also filmed on WDW prop (various locales):

Quite large...

Using natural CAMO...

Nice habitat...

A friend of the Gator *(& voracious predator of the insect world!)

As someone posted, you should ALWAYS use caution when ever you are near any body of water in Florida (or many parts of the south). These animals lie just beneath the surface (in wait) near the edge of lakes/ponds, etc. They are lightning FAST, and will also RUSH from behind (if you are crouching near the edge of the water, and unaware of their presence) taking you into deeper water. They drown their victims, (using death roll, holding at the bottom, and other techniques), as they lack the incisors necessary to "tear" etc. Just use common sense. These animals have been around a LOT longer than we have. They are truly amazing to behold, a dinosaur among us. I hope all of you are able to safely see one of these during your visits to WDW. Just be observant, and look for anything breaking the surface of the water. Their "profile" is very distinct, and once you have witnessed it...you are unlikely to ever forget it. Therefore, whenever you are NEAR a body of water in WDW, LOOK FOR GATORS!

Enjoy!!

TTFN...DF99

 

[Rhonna]

Beautiful dragonfly photo!

Here comes Evinrude.....

 

[kpossible]

thanks for letting those of us from the north know how to avoid alligators. Now how do you avoid snakes and fire ants? I just worry about my kids exploring the resorts.

 

[Cantw8]

I think everyone knows that alligators live in Florida....Everglades. I think what amazed me was that ARMADILLOS live in Florida.