Anxiety about Gators

[Arura Tonks]

Taking the boat from MK to Wilderness Lodge for a DR at WCC . . . and afraid of the giant creatures that may be lurking in and near the water. Can someone help ease my anxiety? Do they generally avoid the boats? Anyone ever seen one close to the boats? I want my kids to see Wilderness Lodge, eat, and pin trade there. I have read it's a great place for preteens. They say I am paranoid. I probably am. Anxiety is a very real struggle for me...but I would also like to be prepared if I come face to face with a gator. ...or even a snake ...especially poisonous kinds. I live in an area where there aren't many animals to fear so? Lol

 

[jec6613]

The launches, last time I took them, have enclosed sides. And even the ones which don't have enough freeboard and railing that an alligator can't jump them even from land, and their water jumping is significantly less. Oh, and you're boarding from an elevated dock that's being watched by CMs to deal with critters.

And yes, they do avoid large motorized craft very effectively and also avoid the open water channels they travel in and stick to shallows.

 

[Dis703]

As someone who grew up and was around gators a lot as a kid, in the 20 or so times I've been to Disney now I've never once seen them on property. Yes, they are there, but they aren't regularly visible.

As for snakes just stay out of the water/lakes and bushes and you should be fine. Again they aren't usually just randomly out in the open. Neither creature wants to be around people.

 

[smiths02]

There has only been one gator attack in nearly 40 years of WDW history. This attack did not involve the boats or ferries in any way. Any given year, in the US, fewer than 3 people die from an alligator attack (to put it in perspective, 50 people die a year from lightning)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_alligator_attacks_in_the_United_States

Not to ramp up your anxiety, but more people have died in vehicles or on the monorail on WDW property than from alligator attacks

 

[SaraJR]

Gators aren't out waiting to attack.
I saw a gator in MK by Tom's island (just a young one), even if you see one its not likely to be a big deal

 

[TaraPA]

In my 30+ trips to WDW I have never seen an alligator or a snake. I have a phobia of snakes, and I often have anxiety about seeing them in FL (so I get your issue), but so far so good!

 

[Arura Tonks]

In my 30+ trips to WDW I have never seen an alligator or a snake. I have a phobia of snakes, and I often have anxiety about seeing them in FL (so I get your issue), but so far so good!

Thank you!

 

[Dis703]

There has only been one gator attack in nearly 40 years of WDW history. This attack did not involve the boats or ferries in any way. Any given year, in the US, fewer than 3 people die from an alligator attack.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_alligator_attacks_in_the_United_States

Not to ramp up your anxiety, but more people have died in vehicles or on the monorail on WDW property than from alligator attacks

The one situation on property would also be harder to have happen again because it was in the shallow waters at the edge of a lake (at night which is the worst time of day) and Disney has blocked off these areas all across the property and made it clear to stay out of the water. While it's not impossible for them to leave the water, it's rare and even when they do, attacks on land are extremely rare.

Not sure if it helps to share, but when I grew up in St. Petersburg we had a lake right down the road from our house. No fencing just wide open lake surrounded by walking paths and at any given time at least 5 alligators lived there and were seen in the water and the grass nearby. There was a playground for kids right there and my bus stop was right there maybe 15-20 feet from the water. Our school took field trips to this lake and the kids spread out all around the lake and gators were always visible and sometimes not more than 12-15 feet away. We didn't go any closer to them and they didn't come any closer to us. During the day they aren't typically very active at all.

I don't know if that helps. I have anxiety over things as well. But gators live all over the state and attacks on people are not a common occurrence at all. There are at least 100 more likely dangers like mentioned with cars or vehicles.

 

[acgardne]

Taking the boat from MK to Wilderness Lodge for a DR at WCC . . . and afraid of the giant creatures...They say I am paranoid. I probably am. Anxiety is a very real struggle for me...but I would also like to be prepared if I come face to face with a gator. ...or even a snake ...especially poisonous kinds. I live in an area where there aren't many animals to fear so? Lol

I feel that anxiety struggle and understand your fears. I will say that we rode the boat from Ft. Wilderness to MK and back 3 times last year and once to WL and back and never saw a gator. Never saw one the entire time we were at FW. I did feel safe in the boats, and the captains seemed to be diligent in protecting the boats and their passengers. A good thing to remember is that between the transportation boats and the boats they rent out of the marinas, there is a lot of traffic on that part of the lake, which probably wouldn't make it a favorite spot for gators. We also saw a lot of birds that didn't seem concerned with gators in the least

Try not to let the worry impact your trip. My daughter really enjoyed the boats, and I am sure your kids will too. And if you get totally overcome with worry, remember you can always take a Minnie Van. Enjoy your trip!

 

[JimMIA]

I see alligators and snakes all the time at WDW, but that's probably because I used to work at Everglades National Park and just by habit I tend to look where they are likely to be.

An alligator is not going to bother a boat -- any boat. A boat is way too big for them to mess with.

If you happen to see one at water's edge somewhere, just enjoy it for a few seconds and move on. Keep a distance (15 feet, 5 meters) because if it's at WDW you can be assured that some moron has fed it. Feeding wild animals causes them to associate people with food and reduces their natural fear of people. Both of those are bad things.

Leave the gator alone and it will leave you alone. And stay well away from the edge of lakes at dusk and in the dark.

Same thing with snakes. They are everywhere in Florida, but you probably will not see them and they will not bother you. Leave them alone.

 

[Polydweller]

There has only been one gator attack in nearly 40 years of WDW history. This attack did not involve the boats or ferries in any way. Any given year, in the US, fewer than 3 people die from an alligator attack (to put it in perspective, 50 people die a year from lightning)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_alligator_attacks_in_the_United_States

Not to ramp up your anxiety, but more people have died in vehicles or on the monorail on WDW property than from alligator attacks

Actually there have been two attacks at WDW, one sadly fatal with the 2 yr old boy, and the other over 30 years ago at FW that wasn’t fatal.

Regardless, the OP shouldn’t fret. Disney has taken a lot of steps since the last incident to keep people and gators separate. They will not attack the boats. It’s just not how gators work. They are an opportunistic predator waiting for something of the right size to approach the water edge and then darting out quickly most typically at dawn or dusk.

All that said, the risk is very low and OP you can take the watercraft with complete confidence.

 

[smiths02]

I also have to say that if I were to be attacked by an animal/bitten by a snake, WDW would probably be a pretty good place because medical care is very readily available.

For example, my daughter face planted in the waiting area of Tony's Town Square (waiting for a tour, totally her fault because she tried to do some gymnastics move between the tables). She was fine, but it was concerning as her nose was bleeding, etc. EMTs arrived really, really quickly and offered assistance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Actually there have been two attacks at WDW, one sadly fatal with the 2 yr old boy, and the other over 30 years ago at FW that wasn’t fatal.

And in both instances, the victims were in the water - not on a boat, or a dock, or even on the shore.

 

[RolloTomasi]

The only time I've seen a gator on Disney property was years ago in the Magic Kingdom, chilling on the banks of the river in Frontierland. We stay at Wilderness Lodge usually, and take the boat every time, have taken the ferry many times, the Friendship boats many times, and the boats from POFQ to Disney Springs many times. No alligator sighting on any boat trip. Disney really is very good at getting the off property. Not perfect, sadly, but the odds are way, way , way higher that you won't even see one.

For example, my daughter face planted in the waiting area of Tony's Town Square (waiting for a tour, totally her fault because she tried to do some gymnastics move between the tables). She was fine, but it was concerning as her nose was bleeding, etc. EMTs arrived really, really quickly and offered assistance.

My mom used to tell the story of how a wave at Typhoon Lagoon knocked me down flat on my face when I was about six years old. A lifeguard was there checking on me maybe five seconds after my parents even realized what happened.

 

[goofy4tink]

I’ve seen many alligators while at WDW. I’ve seen snakes. Neither have bothered me. It’s their natural habitat.
Do I worry about it? No. You’ll be fine. Neither species wants a run in with a human. They try to avoid us.

 

[Hopefully]

Taking the boat from MK to Wilderness Lodge for a DR at WCC . . . and afraid of the giant creatures that may be lurking in and near the water. Can someone help ease my anxiety? Do they generally avoid the boats? Anyone ever seen one close to the boats? I want my kids to see Wilderness Lodge, eat, and pin trade there. I have read it's a great place for preteens. They say I am paranoid. I probably am. Anxiety is a very real struggle for me...but I would also like to be prepared if I come face to face with a gator. ...or even a snake ...especially poisonous kinds. I live in an area where there aren't many animals to fear so? Lol

Yes. You are paranoid and your anxiety is clouding your judgement. As others have said clear, you are not at risk. If it really worries you just avoid WL You will be fine.

 

[Best Aunt]

Gators or no gators, when I stayed at Wilderness Lodge I found that the bus service to/from MK was much better than the boat service. Shorter wait and shorter ride.

 

[Arura Tonks]

I see alligators and snakes all the time at WDW, but that's probably because I used to work at Everglades National Park and just by habit I tend to look where they are likely to be.

An alligator is not going to bother a boat -- any boat. A boat is way too big for them to mess with.

If you happen to see one at water's edge somewhere, just enjoy it for a few seconds and move on. Keep a distance (15 feet, 5 meters) because if it's at WDW you can be assured that some moron has fed it. Feeding wild animals causes them to associate people with food and reduces their natural fear of people. Both of those are bad things.

Leave the gator alone and it will leave you alone. And stay well away from the edge of lakes at dusk and in the dark.

Same thing with snakes. They are everywhere in Florida, but you probably will not see them and they will not bother you. Leave them alone.

Thanks so much!!! This is exactly what I needed. The realist approach. And yes... The people feeding gators are the root of my fear! No worries... I would never purposefully set out out to be anywhere near them! And my anxiety got worse not better after a visit to a local aquarium. My goal was to face my fear and ease my mind. Now...the gators were behind glass and a net was set up extremely high...but with most passerbys they were opening their mouths wide like they wanted them for food. Especially the children passing by. It totally freaked me out. I had set out to ease my anxiety, but this made it worse. By the way they were the rare white kind near extinction.

 

[JimMIA]

Thanks so much!!! This is exactly what I needed. The realist approach. And yes... The people feeding gators are the root of my fear! No worries... I would never purposefully set out out to be anywhere near them! And my anxiety got worse not better after a visit to a local aquarium. My goal was to face my fear and ease my mind. Now...the gators were behind glass and a net was set up extremely high...but with most passerbys they were opening their mouths wide like they wanted them for food. Especially the children passing by. It totally freaked me out. I had set out to ease my anxiety, but this made it worse. By the way they were the rare white kind near extinction.

Mouth opening is NOT an aggressive display, lol.

When they sit with their mouths open, they are too hot and are trying to cool off the only way they can. Gators have no sweat glands, so their only way of cooling off is opening their mouths. If that doesn't work, they will go back in the water to cool off.

A good rule of thumb with all wild critters is this: If the animal changes its behavior in any way, you are bothering it. You're too close and you should move away.

With alligators specifically, there are two displays to watch for.

• Tail-swishing is a territorial display and indicates that you are too close.
• Hissing is a very real warning that a) they are upset and b) for whatever reason, they are not going to retreat.
  • You normally get hissing from Moms with babies. Any time you see an alligator less than 3 feet long, there is a Mom very nearby, even if you don't see her. Moms will protect their young -- usually by bluff-charging. I've witnessed literally hundreds of hissings, and several dozen bluff-charges. I've never seen an alligator actually try to attack a human. Other alligators, yes, but not people.

 

[Arura Tonks]

JimMIA Thank you!!! I am feeling better. I just needed some education.