Beware the Seagulls

[minniebeth]

...not because I'm glad that anyone has had seagulls steal their food, but that I'm not the only one!
I almost started this thread topic a few weeks ago when I came back from our Marathon week trip.
It was the Monday following the Marathon weekend we were in Epcot, and it was pretty busy. My DS and I waited on line at Boulangerie Patisserie in France to get our coveted ham and cheese croissant to share that we love. We waited on line a good 30 minutes! while my DH and DD walked to the UK to get a beer and sit by Yorkshire County Fish Shop. We are walking over the bridge between France and the UK, croissant in hand...and I see it coming...right at me...thought for sure it would move as I kept walking, and no! Dive bombed my hand and took the whole ham and cheese croissant in one swoop. So in disbelief, shock and fright I yelled an explitive and had an older lady look at me like "I beg your pardon?!". Lol, I asked her if she saw what just happened, and she said no, but I told her if she just experienced what I did, she would yell too.

Found DH and DD, told them what happened. DS went right back, explained what happened to the nice French guy in the bakery and he said it happens all the time, and gave DS another h&c croissant, this time in a bag.
While we were enjoying our croissant and beer by the YC Fish Shop outside, we saw what I believe was the SAME EXACT bird thief literally attacking a young girl's fish.
Unbelievable!
So I guess the seagulls have pretty "wordly taste", lol.

 

[Texas Rob]

I wonder if they taste like Chicken?

 

[sjs314]

Years ago when Discovery Island was the real "Discovery Island" we stopped to purchase lunch at the stand there, and the CM warned us to be careful the birds would grab the food if given the chance, well as I stood with the tray and handed my DS his hot dog he barely had time to take it and put it onto the picnic table when in swooped this rather large bird and quick as a flash grabed the hotdog and flew off. We were all in disbelief of how quick it happened.

Our last visit we had purchased fish&chips for Yorkshire County Fish Shop in Epcot and not finding a table sat over on a wall near the water, the gulls kept eyeing up but did not attack, but my Ddil was almost in tears for fear they were going to attack us for the food. I laughed it off as did my DH and DS making fun of her but I see now it has become a somewhat serious problem.

 

[kupperman]

OMG! Now I'm afraid when we go in two weeks! The main places I wanted to eat were Yorkshire fish shop and Flame Tree! I'm glad I read it tho cause now I'll be aware. I'm still scared tho...

 

[glammadiva]

I was at MK in Jan, and had never seen the bird situation that bad before and I go at least 2 times a year!!

 

[ahmo]

I love my Yorkshire fish, I'll be sure to protect my fish from the seagulls the next time I'm at Epcot.

 

[kymom99]

OMG! Now I'm afraid when we go in two weeks! The main places I wanted to eat were Yorkshire fish shop and Flame Tree! I'm glad I read it tho cause now I'll be aware. I'm still scared tho...

When we were there in June, we got some fish and there was nowhere to sit. We walked to the back part of the UK pavillion by the hedges that form a maze and sat on a bench. We didn't have any birds bother us back there.

On the topic of feeding birds, there is a lake near us with a walkng path around it. People used to always feed the ducks that lived there, and the walkway would be covered with duck poop. Then they posted signs telling people to stop feeding the birds, and most people seemed to obey them. In a short time, the ducks got the idea and the walkways are no longer covered with poop. If only people could try to understand the reason behind the rules!

 

[mom2rtk]

LOL! I had never looked at it that way!

Did anyone notice if Tippi Hedron was in the park????

 

[sbrinehimer]

We were at Pizza planet in Hollywood Studios in early December and a bird swooped down and took pizza crust right off a plate!!!!!

 

[amzking]

Flame Tree used to serve cornbread with all their meals. I am pretty sure they stopped bc most of the cornbread ended up being fed to the ducks, from what I observed.

 

[katoot]

Last Friday, the 28th, my wife and I were in Frontierland about to go into Country Bear Jamboree. I was trying to finish my Premium Mickey Ice Cream Bar (on the last day of our trip at Disney, and the only time I bought one). I had about three bites left and a gull divebombed me from behind. It's right wing hit the back of my head and I felt its feet on my wrist, but it didn't get my ice cream. It might have touched it, though...but there wasn't much left, so I took a couple more bites. A cast member saw me, and said that it happens a lot (the seagulls attacking, not people being crazy enough to eat the rest of their food).

 

[pjhootch]

The Jurassic Park area of Islands of Adventure (yep, not Disney but I'm posting anyway ) has a food court with a seating area out back. We walked through the doors heading outside towards tables, and all four of us were hit by birds at one time. It was a coordinated attack. They weren't seagulls, don't remember what they were. These birds had a thing for french fries. We sat at a table and ate our remaining food, and watched every single person that came through the doors lose french fries. It was actually pretty amusing since no one was hurt and we must have watched 100 people jump and scream. Half the time people would be so startled they would throw their fries all over the ground when the jumped or ducked.

Feeding the birds is a bad idea, but in my experience they will find a way no matter what.

 

[BriarRosie]

Been there, done that...

On the trip before our last, my wife had bought a churro from a cart in Frontierland. She'd taken exactly one bite, when a seagull swooped in, plucked it from her hands, and flew away. This, after she had already been "targeted" by them for "whitewashing" at least once on each of our trips.

Needless to say, my wife loathes the things.

I am also a victim of the Frontierland churro cart. I was given a replacement churro by the cast member, but the seagull scared the hell out of me! I get really angry when I see people feeding birds. I've been known to snap at them to stop feeding the damn birds.

I was very paranoid while trying to eat something from the Boulangerie back in December, eating at the sitting area in the shop next to it. There were a lot of tiny birds flying all over the place, so I was completely uncomfortable the entire time trying to eat and keep an eye on my food.

 

[Planogirl]

I got hit in the head by a grackle once and I had no food! I thought that maybe my hair looked like straw or something.

 

[MomofKatie]

We have had several run ins with WDW birds:

In 2004, we were watching the 3pm parade in Frontierland. We were standing under a tree near the Country Bears, and I got pooped on, right on the head.

The next year, we were eating lunch at Flame Tree BBQ. DH was the "poopee" this time- luckily, he had a ball cap on.

In '07, we saw a lady get a tray of food at the Refreshment Port near Canada. A seagull swooped down and knocked the whole tray out of her hands- the tray hit the ground, and the gull and about 5 of his friends snatched up the fries and other food. The lady freaked out!

DD got her Mickey bar stolen in January '09. We got it at the ice cream cart near the Splash Mtn bridge- DD had just gotten the wrapper off and taken one bite when, WHAMMO! A huge gull swooped down and grabbed it right out of her hand and flew off with it. DD was so mad- luckily, we were only about 10 feet from the cart. The nice CM gave us another Mickey bar and said it happened all the time.

Didn't see any bird bombings in November, but did see lots of people feeding the ducks and other birds.

 

[clandrum]

I don't understand why Disney does not put that big dome thing up like they do when it rains or gets to hot! That would solve the problem.

My best friend and I stayed at CBR with our 2 kids. Well my BFF was not an early riser so one morning my daughter and I got ready quietly while they slept. My daughter wanted to eat cereal for breakfast so I told her to grab it and we would go outside to one of the tables and eat so we did not wake up my friend and her son. As soon as we sat down 3 ducks started eyeing us and then charging us. My daughter tried to hurry and eat but ended up saying forget it. Well then she realized she forgot her camera and went back up to the room with her cereal in her hand. It took her forever to come back down. I was just about to go look for her when she came down. I asked her what took her so long and she said she went into the bathroom and finished eating her cereal sitting on the toilet. GROSS! I could just imagine her in this dark hotel room sitting on the toilet eating her cereal hiding from the evil ducks. They are trying to take over the world I tell you!

 

[momof2n2]

Flame Tree used to serve cornbread with all their meals. I am pretty sure they stopped bc most of the cornbread ended up being fed to the ducks, from what I observed.

OH - that makes me sad. My kids loved the cornbread!!

 

[anniebean]

My gosh....not only do I need to fear the bedbugs and snakes in the room, but also the birds too? I may need medication before I go back!

 

[n2mm]

Yep, it happens during our January trips every year. We don't see them during our warmer trips, so guessing they fly north. I saw many attacks during my trip last week. And it's no wonder, as I watched people feed them during my 2 week trip. WTH. It's no wonder they fly down and take the food, as they are trained to do it. I hate them. I find myself wishing they would poop on the people feeding them.

 

[katt789]

Ack!
Ok, So I've gotten from this thread that the gulls aren't as bad in the warmer months? Anyone had any problems in May?

Let me tell you, I am straight up terrified of birds, specifically seagulls! I learnt my lesson in Australia when one stole a fry out of my hand & bit me in the process, I was so shaken it was straight back to the hotel with me! Not to mention, that the seagulls are the size of small dogs in Vancouver! Although, I never had any huge problems with them, they lurked, but never stole.