Bird problem at WDW

[chewbacca]

Has WDW done anything about dealing with the aggressive bird problem? I have heard all the horror stories about birds swooping down to steal food from people. I have a serious bird phobia and if that were to happen to me I would probably pass out. When we went to MK loast Oct I could not believe how many there were in Frontier Land. Now I am freaked about pushing my DS in his stroller and having a bird trying to get his snacks.

So if you are at any of the parks and see a woman dive on the ground trying to get away from a bird or just shreaking towards the exit...that would be me!

 

[klj27]

I have many anxieties, but fortunately birds aren't one of them. I have never noticed an extreme amount of birds and they have never bothered us.

 

[joshsmom]

They are VERY aggressive. Unfortunately, people think its fun and cute to feed the birdies, but then they EXPECT you to feed them and when you don't, they get out of sorts!!! We were attacked at Epcot in front of the American Pavilion. It was NOT pretty!! The people next to us had popcorn and they were throwing it out for the birds. We had food as well, and the birds soon tired of the popcorn and came after US! We packed up and headed out of that area!!!

 

[mdhkitten]

I saw the funniest thing at WDW a couple of years ago. We were waiting at Splash Mountain near the stroller area, and someone had left their bag of cheetos on the stroller drink tray. There was a black bird that kept coming back over and over again grabbing those cheetos out of that bag! I'm sure that there weren't any left by the time they got back! I wonder what those poor people thought!

 

[marconat]

I saw the funniest thing at WDW a couple of years ago. We were waiting at Splash Mountain near the stroller area, and someone had left their bag of cheetos on the stroller drink tray. There was a black bird that kept coming back over and over again grabbing those cheetos out of that bag! I'm sure that there weren't any left by the time they got back! I wonder what those poor people thought!

I wonder if it's the same one that I saw, a couple of years ago, I too saw a stroler parked and the black birds were eating the bag of cheetos left in it... ha! it's funny for us but maybe not so funny for the people that got their cheetos stolen ha! But I never got attacked by birds, I guess I was just lucky!

 

[momof4va]

The birds near the Country Bear Jamboree are vicious. We were there last January and watched as a bird attacked a little boy for his hot dog. Swopped in pecked him and stole the hot dog right off of the bun. The birds were completely out of control. You really need to watch it if you are eating while walking throught that area of the park or you will be a victim of a peck and run.

 

[OKW Lover]

Disney has posted signs in various places asking guests not to feed the birds. But this is never enforced. Guests are constantly giving food to the birds so they have come to associate people with food.

 

[CarolA]

The agressive bird problem is due to your fellow guests....

I once asked a guest to quit feeding the birds and got a response like you wouldn't believe. I KNOW why CMs don't ask them too, but if you want the birds to quit cruising DO NOT feed them for the "Cute" photo....

 

[Karnak]

I wonder if Hitchcock ever visited WDW. If so, perhaps that's where he got the idea for his hit movie.

 

[scjo68]

When we went this year, they didn't seem too bad, but in 2004, they were awful. I was walking in Fronteirland with fries, and a seagull swooped down and grabbed a fry from my hand. Thank goodness my DD was not with me. She is very bird phobic, too, and it would have sent her into a fit. Luckily, She and dh were on Splash at the time (I was pregnant,and couldn't ride, so was killing time by stuffing my face). I went into Pecos Bills, trying to get away from birds, but little birds were actually in there, too.

We were on Main Street before the parade that same day, and a seagull grabbed a man's entire ice cream cone. A cast member rushed up to him and said "sir, I saw the bird take your ice cream, let's go get you another one", which I thought was nice.

Right after that, birds were swooping for food (they are smart enough to know where and when people gather for the parade with food). A family sat right next to us eating those huge turkey legs. The birds never came near us for the rest of the parade! I thought it must smell like cooked bird, which they wouldn't find appealing.

 

[sleepyone]

My kids took their cup of grapes from 50's Prime Time out of the restaurant for a snack. Well, we went to see the Muppets and when we came out there were no more grapes in their cup holders. At first I couldn't figure it out but, then I noticed a black bird chasing a rolling grape around the ground. Lesson learned, don't leave food in the stoller cup holder.

 

[Shagley]

Maybe instead of Mickey Ears, Disney needs to make hats with Mickey Scarecrows on top, to keep the birds away

 

[kat3668]

They are still very aggressive if you ask me....
On my Feb 2006 trip I was coming out of Pinnochios village house with some Figaro fries and a seagull divebombed me and hit me in the head and stole fries right out if my hands... I was totally freaked out!

 

[Evil Queen]

I must spend too much time with the seagulls at the beach...I always win. Never attacked, but I can see how some who tuck, run and hide would be...no offense meant.

 

[tkitty]

Just back, and saw no real bird problems. Lots of ducks arount the water areas (grandson loved them)
I did see 2 large white birds fly right up to 2 people who stopped to eat by the front of Country Bear, by the water at TS island. I guess they were bothered because they left to eat elswhere.

 

[jess20k]

The birds near the Country Bear Jamboree are vicious.

I agree with this!!!! There were many times that we practicaly ran through that section to avoid getting attacked!

 

[ReneeLMT]

I really dont think I'll be able to contain myself if my mom gets attacked by a bird. We all have this running joke about the time she was chased by a seagull in the McDonalds parking lot and if it happens again....someone find me the nearest bathroom quick!!

 

[BlindTyldak]

I have never been attacked by birds, even eating sitting in the midst of people who were screaming and being dive bombed as birds stole their food.

The reason why is very simple: the first time they see that you will duck and hide and not do anything, they know they can do it. It's all about establishing YOUR territory, YOUR property, YOUR food. Slam your hand on the table as soon as they land, swoop your head at them like you are going to bite them, smack them away, jab your hand at them with your fingers spread. One or twice and that'll be it, you'll eat undisturbed for the most part, considering a new bird may arrive and you may have to do it again. Noise won't do it, think of how noisy a theme park is and how used to it they are.

This will NOT work for the grackles that dive bomb your head for two weeks out of the year as you walk past "their" very specific spot (which I believe that season would be over by now for Florida), as they are protecting their young who just left the nest.

I can appreciate phobias; mine's leeches . . . I refuse to go in a lake or river PERIOD. but if it helps, aggressive birds respond very well to domineering actions and will tend to leave you alone. Act as confident as possible and don't back down.

 

[paintnolish]

Ar ASMo, we were eating outside. A couple came up to the table next to us, set down their salads, and walked away to fill drinks. While they were gone, some seagulls swooped down and ate from one of the salads. We shooshed them away, but told the woman when she got back. She asked which salad had gotten eaten, we told her, and she switched that one to her husband! She never told him!

 

[mandy200587]

Ar ASMo, we were eating outside. A couple came up to the table next to us, set down their salads, and walked away to fill drinks. While they were gone, some seagulls swooped down and ate from one of the salads. We shooshed them away, but told the woman when she got back. She asked which salad had gotten eaten, we told her, and she switched that one to her husband! She never told him!