Back from Beach Club & Wilderness Lodge (saw a rat at the pool)

[littlestar]

We just returned from an 8 day trip to Disney. Stayed a week at the Beach Club Villas in a 1 bedroom. Unit was in great condition - very clean. Staff was terrific. Parks were pretty crowded, though. Quite surprised at the crowds for the end of April/first part of May. Recession or not, folks still seem to be going to Disney.

We booked our last night on cash at the Wilderness Lodge (main lodge). I hadn't stayed in the main lodge in a while. The new decor was really great and loved the flat screen TV's. While waiting for check-in to our room, we sat at the villas quiet pool and had a visit from a brown rat. At first it was in some bushes behind my husband's chair. Then it turned up under a table while a man and his kids were eating (at least I think it was the same rat). The mom was in the pool and happened to see it underneath their table around the kids' feet and yelled for them to lift their feet up. It was brown in color. I found a picture of what it looked like online: http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/rats.htm and it looked like the one called "Norway rat" to me. It was brownish in color. It sure wasn't scared of people one bit. Yikes!

 

[disneynutz]

That was a Disney rat. They are trained to add to the wilderness ambiance.

Disney has rodent problems like everyone. If you look for them, you can find bait boxes hidden in the landscaping and service areas. No big deal.

 

[Melrosgirl]

It was Mickey Mouse, of course.

 

[jimmytammy]

Around WL, you will find lots of furry creatures. We have seen rabbits, ducks, squirrels, and even a few deer. With those trees close by, it isnt surprising to see most anything. There are armadillos in that area too. Have seen a few of these on the road near FW.

WDW does a pretty good job of wildlife control. Consider that when Walt bought the land around Bay Lake, it had a good population of Rattlesnakes. I have been in FL. many times and have yet to see one. Wonder what he did with all those snakes?

 

[stevepete]

We just returned from our trip last week too. I didn't think the crowds were that bad . The same experience I did have as you was seeing a rat. We were on a walk way at the BWV and there was one dead in the middle of it. I'm not sure if it was brown but it was huge.

 

[luna99]

While waiting for check-in to our room, we sat at the villas quiet pool and had a visit from a brown rat. It was brown in color. I found a picture of what it looked like online: http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/rats.htm and it looked like the one called "Norway rat" to me.

awwww, how cute! It looks more like a mouse than a big ugly rat.... now, would I want it near my food or swimming in the pool? No.. but if it was just scurring around looking for scraps of food or something... I personally wouldn't mind.

 

[dzorn]

Outside
Around my feet
As long as its not in my room

 

[keishashadow]

That was a Disney rat. They are trained to add to the wilderness ambiance.

Disney has rodent problems like everyone. If you look for them, you can find bait boxes hidden in the landscaping and service areas. No big deal.

OP - i know what u r feeling, last thing u want to see during a vacation

as i've experienced pest issues @ BCV before that weren't dealt with in a timely basis, just wondering if you brought it to mgmts attention and what their specific response was?


Glad to hear that mgmt is in prevent defense & proactively trying to deal with the issue via the bait boxes, not an easy task when ready source of food/water is available

too bad they're not this cute in RL

 

[Inkmahm]

Around WL, you will find lots of furry creatures. We have seen rabbits, ducks, squirrels, and even a few deer. With those trees close by, it isnt surprising to see most anything. There are armadillos in that area too. Have seen a few of these on the road near FW.

WDW does a pretty good job of wildlife control. Consider that when Walt bought the land around Bay Lake, it had a good population of Rattlesnakes. I have been in FL. many times and have yet to see one. Wonder what he did with all those snakes?

When we stayed at VWL in Spring 2007 there was a family getting on the bus one morning and talking to the bus driver about a big alligator that had been there a day or so before. The driver said it happens regularly that the staff has to chase away gators from VWL area. It seems the one they were discussing was a particularly large one though.

Now THAT would scare me if I ran across on on a path.

 

[littlestar]

OP - i know what u r feeling, last thing u want to see during a vacation

as i've experienced pest issues @ BCV before that weren't dealt with in a timely basis, just wondering if you brought it to mgmts attention and what their specific response was?


Glad to hear that mgmt is in prevent defense & proactively trying to deal with the issue via the bait boxes, not an easy task when ready source of food/water is available

too bad they're not this cute in RL

Yes, I told the front desk about it and they took notes and were going to pass the info on to pest control. I was just freaked out by how bold the rat was in broad daylight. It's just creepy to see one under a table with people sitting there. In all my years of sitting at the villas quiet pool, I have never seen a rat. I've seen black snakes in the past, but not this time. Maybe they should move some of the stray Saratoga cats over to VWL.

 

[pilgrimr]

Just to share our animal experiences with the group. Last year we stayed at PORS and we would see rabits and frogs all the time. One night we were walking to our room from the parking lot and saw what looked like a stick on the walkway. But figured out is was a snake after the stick moved away. Like the previous posts, it is too hard to be animal and pest free in a resort in the middle of Florida.

 

[rocketriter]

More food for the crocodiles!

 

[the who #3]

we once came across a racoon on the trail that goes to epcot from the bcv. he was very much at home and not bothered that we were there. the only thing that bothers me about racoons is the possibility of rabies. this racoon did not seem interested in bothering us at all so we left him to go on his way. and we didn't report him even tho he was wearing a mask. natural of course.

we have seen many wild creatures at wdw and find them interesting, after all we pay to go into the animal kingdom park to see the animals.

i don't know if rats bite or not.

 

[salmoneous]

The driver said it happens regularly that the staff has to chase away gators from VWL area.

Well no wonder there are rats. If they kept the gators to eat the rats we wouldn't have these problems.

 

[dgaston]

The black snakes help too.

My rat experience is from a number of years ago. We saw a dead one on the water walkway in Frontierland during an MNSSHP. Guess the bait was working.

 

[Grandbuddy]

Just think of it as a squirrel with a shaved tail, as long as it isn't invading your living space. One of those critters indoors is an altogether different scenario.

On to the raccoons: Before my grandkids came along, I used to feed raccoons on my back porch, and some of them became like pets. They would scratch at the door, and go around to the windows, peering in to find me. Well, like pets, except that I went out of my way not to touch them. When I moved the feeding to the back of the yard, though, one of them would follow so closely at my heels that her nose would bump the back of my ankles, as I stepped. One year, I even had a family of foxes - Mom, Dad, and 4 kits. I stopped feeding the raccoons so that I wouldn't have to worry about them approaching my grandbabies in the yard. So I really don't know if the foxes would have returned. (I live in a neighborhood that backs up to a small patch of woods.)

 

[keishashadow]

Yes, I told the front desk about it and they took notes and were going to pass the info on to pest control. I was just freaked out by how bold the rat was in broad daylight. It's just creepy to see one under a table with people sitting there. In all my years of sitting at the villas quiet pool, I have never seen a rat. I've seen black snakes in the past, but not this time. Maybe they should move some of the stray Saratoga cats over to VWL.

multi-tasking

i think u handled it with great aplomb

hopefully, they'll up their pest control efforts.

 

[jiggerj]

I saw a rat waiting for Illuminations to start. There were lots of people around so it was quite a surprise to see him/her scurry about!

Just this past trip we had a frog on our 3rd floor balcony at the BWV's I have a major frog phobia (childhood thing- trust me- long story! )Im an early riser and sure enough there the little guy was 3 inches from my feet. I am sure I woke many guests that morning!

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

I saw a rat waiting for Illuminations to start.

Glad to here the critters appreciate a good nightime show, too!!!


{sorry - I couldn't resist. Just jesting!!! }

 

[the who #3]

since it all started with a mouse, what would walt say if he heard us talking this way. after all a rat is just a large (somewhat over grown) mouse.