Fear of Birds! How not to get in a certain building?

[slavike]

I just book a view room at the poly. I fear Tovalu....I am going to sound like a complete freak...but I don't trust birds...in fact, I have a fear of them. Their beady little eyes always looking around, and those beaks...perfect for poking eyes out. I am a freak, I know. My DH makes fun of me all the time. I was looking at some of the Tovalu pictures on the view thread and that waterfront is a just a happy little bird land. I want to a great view, but a good distance from the winged demons.

I know that you sometimes can get a room request but I also know that you may not get the rooms you want...I just so afraid, that I will wake up with Mr. Stork outside my room. (I am not kidding...Happy Feet...FREAKED ME OUT, I couldn't look at those freaky peguins when they had close ups).

Thanks everyone, and yes I know I am a freak.

 

[Cass]

How do you feel about Donald & Daisy?

 

[fla4fun]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Disney is a bird hater's nightmare. There are tons of birds everywhere. People have hand fed them so much that if you eat outdoors in the theme parks, they will actually take the food out of your hand. The walkway at Epcot between Canada and Future World is constantly bombarded by sea gulls (there's a McDonalds snack location there and a popcorn cart close by). I don't hate birds, but they sometimes get on my nerves walking through that area. If you truly have a bird phobia (and I know there are people who do) I wanted you to know ahead of time so you can plan accordingly. My best piece of advice would be try to avoid areas where the dining is outside whenever possible. Also, keep the sliding door to your room closed and don't eat on your balcony. Sometimes people feed the birds from balconies, so the birds associate people on balconies with food and act accordingly.

 

[slavike]

Their beaks are round, they get off easy. Donald's got some serious anger issues, and Daisy (especially on the new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) is really sassy. All I am saying, if there "unbalanced" natures can be anyway attributed to the attitude of wildlife ducks, we all need to be extremely cautious.

 

[slavike]

I know that birds are everywhere there and they can't be avoided. (I think the worst is over in Frontierland, those storks have no fear and those little birds with orange beaks, are willing to risk it all for french fry). I just want to be able to relax on my balcony, with one 2 feet in front of me. Some of the Tuvalu shots have those storks resting on the lagoon fench. I am assuming they are has friendly (ugh) there as they are at MK.

I don't know if I truly have a phobia, as I am not super paranoid, and for some reason am okay with any birds of pray (except for vultures). However, I have uneasiness when I am near them.

 

[Cass]

You best not stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge with those Ostriches running around.

I actually noticed some annoying seagulls my last trip, they were very brazen and dive bombing people for food. I don't like the gulls at all.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We stayed at the Poly and there were birds all over the place. Are you sure this is the place for you?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hi Slavik,

I can't help you out on the resort choices but I can warn you about the bird situation at Epcot. You will definitely want to watch out for the "winged ones" if you eat anywhere outside. We ate outside at the Electric Umbrella and the birds were, literally, dive bombing for the french fries dropped by other guests. They will also do this at the Backlot Express at MGM Studios.

Just thought you might want to be prepared. Lisa

 

[AnnMarie3]

Since you are bird-sensitive, beware of leaving your balcony door open at the Poly! We had unwelcome feathered visitors to our room on two occasions while staying in Hawaii-lagoon view. We picked up lunch from Captain Cooks to eat in our room. My dad was out on the balcony with the door open. My mom went into bathroom, and when she came out there was a large bird sitting on the table helping himself to her french fries! The second time my five-year old son left the balcony door ajar while my mom was napping. She awoke to another large bird sitting next to her on the bed watching her. I'm sure her screams were heard well across the lake and into the Magic Kingdom! Needless to say, she made sure the door was closed after that.

 

[jwfla422]

Also, BEWARE of the Boardwalk!! Last week I came out of the Sweet shop on the BW with a yummy ice cream cone and there were a few seagulls/sandpipers hanging out around the area.

My dd and I started walking and boy was I surprised when one of those sneaky gulls made a dive for my ice cream!!! He took off the top part of the cone!! If I didn't have a good grip on it he would have taken the whole thing!! I was pretty shocked! He was scoping my cone out from behind me and dive bombed over my head!! VERY SNEAKY!! (thought he might have confused it with a fish??)

I went back to the Sweet shop and the CM did give me a new one and she also told me that it happens on a regular basis, that the birds are very aggresive!! They need to start putting signs up on the BW...
"BEWARE OF THE GULLS..hold on to your ice cream...and your children!!"

If you don't like birds or have a fright for them, you're going to have a tough time at WDW...they're EVERYWHERE!! ALL KINDS!!

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

Do not and I repeat DO NOT go to Casey's for lunch or dinner if you are afraid of birds. The ducks there are unstoppable! They almost ruined our dinner one night because my daughter was so afraid. They are quite aggressive. I feel for you and your phobia. Maybe you should try and get some counceling before you go. Seriously, Florida and birds go hand in hand. Also stay away from AK. Lots of birds on the trails and on the walking asian safari there are peacocks walking around.

Good Luck.

 

[alacazander]

When we stayed at the Poly we had a 1st floor room and they would hear the slider open and it was like a duck call. They would all head over. Plus tons of gross duck poop on the patio. I say go for a higher floor!

 

[kennancat]

I don't have any advice for you, but I do want to say not to feel like a freak. Bird phobia is common - I've seen several posts about it before, even on the cruise board. Google it and you'll see that you're not alone!

 

[Sammie]

Sorry to agree with the other but if this is truly a concern you are going to have a hard time avoiding them at Disney, as they are truly everywhere and agressive due to guests feeding them.

We had birds sitting on our balcony each and every day at the Polynesian and we were not near Tovalu. I don't think a certain building is going to help.

 

[Lynne M]

Just to answer the original question, you can let the room assigner know that you don't want to be in Tuvalu by calling CRO and having them add that as a request.

But, I have to agree with the other posters. The building you're in isn't going to make much of a difference. The larger birds hang around near the water, but Poly is right on a lagoon, so you'll find them at any building. I honestly can't think of a resort at WDW that doesn't have tons of birds around.

 

[pennypooh]

I am about to leave for our first Disney World trip where we stay at the resort, so I'm certainly no expert on their resorts. However....I can't imagine that they wouldn't do everything they could to avoid putting you in an area where the birds congregate if they knew how upset you would be around them. I would suggest calling them and making a note in the request area when you make the reservation telling them flat out "I have a phobia of birds (simpler to explain it that way whether you think that's what you'd call it or not). PLEASE do not put me in a room where the birds will congregate." If you call it a phobia they should understand that you just might "freak out" in that situation and they aren't going to want that. If you feel it is necessary explain that to them. I feel sure if there is a way to avoid it they will. It is a "hospitality" industry they are going to want to avoid that both for your comfort and the other guests who might be upset by someone screaming and slaming their door repeatedly because there is a flock on the balcony. (by the way... I sympathize...I'm the same way about snakes.

 

[slavike]

Again, I have been to disney many times and I understand it's florida and they are EVERYWHERE. And they really don't bother me to the point I start freaking out or anything..In the parks, they never really bother me (I happen to really enjoy Tiki ones, although I could do without Eago), but in/by the room at yuk....I just don't like them.
For me, I guess I was more concerned like someone else posted, that birds would literally come to their patio the minute door opened.
I said I just don't want one at my door in the morning.

Thank you everyone for the concern. And sometime the last week of April, if you hear of a Pregnant women who died while staying at the polyensian from some rare bird incident, you can note the irony.

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

This may sound ridiculous and may not work on the Disney birds, BUT....we live in a rural area and have barn swallows. Barn swallows are nasty tempered. They make nests in barns, obviously, but also in the corners of porches or in your garage if you leave the door open. Then they think it is THEIR porch or garage and fly at your head when you go out there. I am not afraid of birds as a rule...but these things scare me a little.

Anyway, my sister kept getting bombed by them. So she saved the CD's that companies like AOL, Earthlink, etc. send and you throw away. If you hang them, the reflecting light tends to keep the swallows away. So maybe if you bring and hang a couple on your balcony???

It may help keep them away from there, at least.

Good luck! And those Casey's ducks.....one bit my son in September. He was eating french fries in his stroller and it actually jumped and grabbed his hand.

Another by the bus stop grabbed one of his bare toes in Sept, too. They are chubby...I could see how it might be mistaken for a french fry!

I also hate seagulls. Flying rats!

 

[musicmom3]

When we stayed at AKL on the Arusha Savannah, we often left the patio door open because we were in and out of the balcony so much. Well, one day I woke up from a nap and there were two birds in the room. I flushed them out by making large gestures with a pillow...but if you do not like birds, keep your patio door closed!