Curious, any special precautions needed

[wdw4fun]

With all of the water around these resorts, is there any reason to be concerned about snakes or alligators,etc. I read in one thread where someone saw a snake but I biggest concern is alligators considering it's florida. What about any other bugs?

 

[Feralpeg]

If you stay on the paths and away from the water, you have nothing to worry about. There are alligators possible in any body of water in Florida, but they are not going to come looking for you.

As for snakes, yes they are around. Again, they don't want to be around you. Stay on the paths and you won't have anything to worry about.

There are lots of bugs in Florida. Probably the biggest problem bugs are mosquitos and lovebugs. Don't leave the door to your room open for long periods of time and you probably won't have any bug issues. Please remember that some of the bugs fly. It is possible for them to fly into a room. We have more problem with little frogs getting into the house than bugs.

 

[wdw4fun]

I was hoping you weren't going to say that. Well have there been any reported incidents of attacks. I'm thinking maybe I should stay at an offsite hotel with indoor entries or even Swan/Dolphin. Am I being paranoid? IS this a concern at the parks as well or just around the resorts?

 

[Lizzybee]

We stayed right in Alligator Bayou at POR and all we saw were bunnies, birdies and little lizard/gecko things. Like Feralpeg said, I'm sure you could see snakes or alligators anywhere, but my guess is they avoid the resort areas because there's just too much traffic. I'm skittish about those kind of critters, even the little lizard/gecko things give me slight heebee jeebees, but I wasn't at all uneasy at POR.

 

[DebbieB]

In 20+ Disney trips, I've never seen an alligator or snake, except in exhibits at the Animal Kingdom! Never seen anything bigger than those little lizards, one was sitting right in front of our door one night at OKW earlier this month. I had to scare him away to open the door.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5db35b3127cce91e63d2b741600000026108AZOGTFq4ZtJ

 

[oogieboogie]

I've seen an alligator/crocodile in the water in Bay Lake but never out of the water. I have also seen a snake at POFQ slithering across the sidewalk but once it went in the bushes that was it, couldn't see it anymore.

Those were the only times I ever saw any spooky animals. Most of the time I've seen deer, bunnies, ducks. I'm sure alligators and snakes are there, but they probably don't want to be seen by us humans as much as we don't want to see them.

 

[magicmouse2]

I have never seen an alligator in in any of the resort lakes or waterways but apparently there was one at the Beach Club!
beach club photos from OLP

 

[aubriee]

I've never seen an alligator, thank goodness. I did see a snake last week in the water while I was on the Generation Gap Bridge at POP. He was just swimming along next to the bridge. I saw alot of little gecko/lizards, bunnies, and ducks, too.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

With all of the water around these resorts, is there any reason to be concerned about snakes or alligators,etc. I read in one thread where someone saw a snake but I biggest concern is alligators considering it's florida. What about any other bugs?

I've never seen an alligator or a snake. I have, however, seen some little lizards but they are really harmless and cute.

My biggest concern is bees, because I am allergic, and there tend to be quite a few around the flowering plants. There are also these bugs called lovebugs that I recall seeing in the late summer. I think they are harmless just annoying. I've never even needed bug spray though.

 

[lovethattink]

I've seen 3 snakes and several alligators in all my times at WDW. 1 snake was in the water swimming at MK near Tom Sawyer Island, and I've seen 2 at BB. The alligators were in retention ponds on property. Disney is pretty good at keeping critters away. I always keep my bags zippered at any of the water parks. I have never had any critters in our resort rooms.

 

[eeyoresmountainpals]

We saw a few little snakes that were crossing the paths at the POLY when we were there last October. I am deathly afraid of snakes so for me to say the were little snakes is something! I usually go absolutely nuts but these were small enough that I was okay. All they were trying to do was go from one side of the path to the other. Our boys thought they were neat!

I wouldn't worry too much. (And, yes, we're planning to go back to the POLY even though we saw these.)

 

[Pinnie]

We have seen the gator in the canal at the BCVs over the last 3 years. BUT, since December 04, I haven't seen him/her since. Terry S on the DVC board even posted a pic of him once!

It's Florida and bugs, snakes, lizards and gators come with the territory! Saying that, we haven't had any major run ins..other than some noseeums and skeeters!

pinnie

 

[Deb & Bill]

I've seen a gator in the lagoon surrounding Tom Sawyer's Island. It was over by the bridge that goes over to Big Thunder Mt.

 

[luvdzny]

Quite a few years ago there was a snake swimming in the pool at POFQ (that was back when the resorts was just called Port Orleans.) The lifeguards cleared the pool and 2 CM's came with a special net to get it out. It seemed that no one was too concerned and all the lifeguards knew exactly what to do so I am sure that it had happened before. That was the only time I ever encountered a snake anywhere on Disney property. I think you may be worrying a bit too much as I have never heard of any problems with snake/alligators at Disney.

 

[jarestel]

We've seen gators and snakes at WDW. Fortunately, they don't put human beings at the top of their food chain, so I wouldn't worry about them too much. If you encounter one, just give it some space and all will be well.

 

[Cinderella37]

In all of my trips, I've never seen a snake or an alligator. Admittedly, I'd much rather see an alligator! It's not even something I'm aware of, though. I know WDW usually tries to keep a lid on incidents, but if there had been an alligator attack on property, I'm sure someone would have picked it up sooner or later. I wouldn't worry about it. Hopefully you'll have a reptile free trip!

 

[mla973]

Similar to Deb and Bill, I have also seen a gator (more than once) under the small bridge between Pecos Bill Cafe and Splash Mountain at MK.

As a former cast member, I am told that Disney removes the alligators and transfers them to less public waterways. I have also been on several Disney golf courses and seen tons of birds, bugs and bunnies (even a huge turtle), but never a gator. I did see a small gator once in the lake in downtown Celebration.

I know the thought of seeing one up close isn't exactly pleasant, but I don't think you have much to worry about.

Have a good trip!

 

[BibbityBobbitySue]

We have been to The World many times. Never have seen an alligator. We live in Myrtle Beach and have our own here on the golf course. Have seen geckos and palmetto bugs (roaches). I did step on an armadillo at Fort Wilderness once.

 

[Ronda93]

Am I being paranoid?

Yes. Do not include alligators, snakes or bugs in any part of your trip planning.

 

[momof2inPA]

The only time I've seen a snake in Orlando was at a Downtown Disney hotel with inside room entrances. It was either a coral snake or the one that is harmless, but I couldn't remember the rhyme to tell which was which. When we stayed at Shades of Green, we saw the alligator out everyday as we walked to board the monorail at the Poly. There was a bench next to the alligator's water, and my husband made a joke, "Do you know what the alligator calls it when three people fill up that bench? A Buffet."