Ft Wilderness Beach?

[Kidatheart2010]

The gators were there before WDW. The gators will be there after WDW. Its part of the eco system in Florida. They are just as scared of you as you are them. The problem is people have been feeding them. They will lose their fear over time. Don't feed, mess, harass, catch, the gators !!! The fences are a necessary reminder for all that the WDW area "IS" covered with dangerous wild life. If you respect and pay attention it will all work out in time. I feel horrible for the loss that the family had. It was an eye opener for everyone. There is no reason to cancel your trips. No reason not to enjoy it the way you always have. Just embrace the changes and remember what it was like. I hate change... It will all work out in time
That's my 2C worth.

98 Days 22 hours and 37 Min till we are back.

 

[Madonna3]

Sooo, this was from today's local paper...

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/32341150/gator-climbs-fence-of-fort-myers-golf-course

 

[tiggerdad]

The fence is not intended to keep the gators off the beach. It is intended to remind people to stay away from waters edge and prevent sudden attacks from the water.

Yes, gators can climb fences, but not suddenly. It's not as if it's a leopard, just spring over, grab you, and back into the bush in a flash.

 

[Shanti]

Florida native here. Do they not realize alligators have been known to climb six foot chain link fences?

I think this is intended mostly to keep the people from crossing the fence into the most dangerous territory. That way if a person climbs the fence and goes into the water (not even a toddler could wander straight through a mesh fence), that person will be 100% legally to blame if something happens. It's just like they now have fencing around their swimming pools to reduce drowning liability.

The beach still looks lovely, even with the new fence. I've camped at Fort Wilderness before and don't mind it at all. I know change frightens and upsets people, but this is a harmless change.

 

[Madonna3]

It was just a piece of irony

 

[daemom]

We just left from an 11 day stay there. When we first arrived, and for most of our trip, there were always two CM posted on the wooden walkway to the dock to make sure that no one got on any part of the beach. They were there morning, noon and very late at night. They also had stand up signs posted on the sand saying that the beach was closed. The last two or three days that we were there (after they put the fencing up), they allowed people on the beach, but only until dark at that point. People stood on the dock to watch the fireworks and the Electric Light Parade. When we left on Wednesday, they were using only one CM to stand on the walkway in the evening only.

We were at a site with a canal behind us, and one day we came back to find the alligator and snake warning signs posted. We also witnessed someone spraying the canal twice--I'm assuming they were spraying for mosquitoes. They seem to be using the same fencing for Poly and Grand Floridian too. I think the fencing "blends" well.

 

[Maligator]

daemom, how bad were the crowds on the dock for the water parade and fireworks?

 

[daemom]

daemom, how bad were the crowds on the dock for the water parade and fireworks?

Not bad at all--maybe 20 people.

 

[ms_flo]

Has anyone taken any photos of what the beach areas look like since the fence installations? ...

This is by the bike barn on 6/28.

 

[FtW Mike]

Ms Flo thanks for pics. Best I can say is the new fence at least has a feel or themeing in keeping with the FORT

 

[tiggerdad]

Ms Flo thanks for pics. Best I can say is the new fence at least has a feel or themeing in keeping with the FORT

This is true. Seems a bit excessive on the signs in that first pic but I'm not surprised.

Thanks for the pics.

 

[ms_flo]

Happy to oblige. I wish I had taken pics at the boat dock too, but I didn't spend much time waiting around for boats this trip. (Yay!) We had been sitting at the bike barn for quite a while before it occurred to me to take these pictures.

Seems a bit excessive on the signs in that first pic...

Just to clarify, both pictures are of the same spot. I zoomed in for the first one but not the second.

 

[FloridaTeacher]

Thanks Ms Flo. The fence looks nice and I agree it keeps with the Fort theme.

 

[Kidatheart2010]

Thanks for the update. It has a nautical look. Hopefully visitors to the Ft will obey the signs. Thanks again for the pictures Please send more.

89 days and counting.

 

[Maligator]

I hate it. You can tell they did what they could to make it looks as good as possible but it really takes the "Wilderness" out of the place for me.