Holy Water Moccasin Batman!

[jazz0007]

So after reading many threads on the DIS boards about snakes at the resorts...I really really kept my eyes open this time at the POR. I was born in and have lived in Florida many years of my life so I wasn't naive enough to think they weren't there with me on my last trips.....I just never looked for them. Last week while walking with my 5yo son from AB (24) to the lobby we stopped on one of the little bridges to watch the many huge tadpoles. Low and behold what should be swimming right at us and under the bridge.....a water moccasin about 3.5 - 4 ft long!! We watched him for a minute and then went on our way...shopped for awhile and made our way back. There was a big group of people on the bridge watching him on our way back....someone said they had let a CM know and they were sending someone to try and get him. We left before I found out if that really happened. I was very careful to keep my kids out of the landscaping for the rest of our 10 days!! Just got home today and had a wonderful vacation!!

 

[Rosanne]

Okay, what I really need is a fainting icon.

Probably they are fairly common but that doesn't mean I want to see or encounter one. Same thing for brown recluse and black widow spiders. I wish the darn things had signs identifying them.

I hope they caught it and gave it a nice friendly far-away habitat.

 

[Carlyzmom]

YIKES!!! That's scary!! Like my Dad says, the only good snake is a DEAD snake!!!

 

[walkdmc]

What's "AB(24)"?

....so I can stay far far away. TIA!

 

[candielips]

What's "AB(24)"?

....so I can stay far far away. TIA!

I am assuming Alligator Bayou. It is a section at the resort.

 

[DisneyWisher]

We saw a black snake in the plants as we were walking down the ramp for the resort monorail at TTC. It was chasing a lizard. It was still at first and I thought awww some kid lost his fake snake. Then it moved and I let out a startled mini scream AH! My DD27 walked back up to where I was and we saw it chase something (I thought a little mouse) but it was a lizard and the snake caught it. It was less than 12" from the railing. Yikes.

 

[goofy4tink]

What's "AB(24)"?

....so I can stay far far away. TIA!

Alligator Bayou, bldg 24

We saw a black snake in the plants as we were walking down the ramp for the resort monorail at TTC. It was chasing a lizard. It was still at first and I thought awww some kid lost his fake snake. Then it moved and I let out a startled mini scream AH! My DD27 walked back up to where I was and we saw it chase something (I thought a little mouse) but it was a lizard and the snake caught it. It was less than 12" from the railing. Yikes.

Probably a black racer..harmless unless you're a lizard!!!
In any case, it is always a good idea to stay on the sidewalks at WDW. There are critters in that undergrowth...do you really want to find out, first hand, what kind of critters??? Didn't think so. A snake will chomp on your hand if you stick it in that bushy area when searching for something. I know I lost a golf ball while minigolfing at Fantasia Gardens. didn't go around poking into the shrubbery looking for it!!!!

 

[jazz0007]

Yes, I'm sorry....Alligator Bayou building 24. It was a bit of a walk from the front....but a beautiful location and close to the BEST bus stop as it is usually the 1st to and from the parks! We paid for a "water view" this time and were on the 2nd floor looking at a little pool. It was very nice.

 

[Dominus]

Most snakes are harmless. Most snakes in the water aren't cotton mouths either. Banded water snakes are often mistaken for moccasins. The best defense against venomous snake bite is to educate yourself on how to identify snakes. I almost can't believe the ignorance of a statement like "only good snake is a dead snake". I hope you really like rats and all the diseases they bring with an attitude like that. sheesh.

 

[jazz0007]

Dominus....they DO look very much alike!! I just looked up pictures of both. I didn't look carefully enough at its head to tell you which one I saw....but it WAS definately one of the two. Hhmmmmm......

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I'm not saying the only good snake is a dead snake, but my personal approach is to STAY AWAY from all snakes as there is truly only one kind--THE DREADED COPPER HEADED WATER RATTLER (I borrowed that term from Lewis Grizzard).

 

[hoosiergirl7]

From what I know, Water Moccasins (aka Cottonmouth snake) flattens itself a bit in the water. This allows it to swim fast. If it looked flat in the water it likely was one. But you have to remember most if not all snakes swim. Like others have said, just stay away from brush near the ground and you should be fine. I hate snakes and think we'd be so much better off without them but if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. You just have to use common sense!

 

[Dominus]

I'm not saying the only good snake is a dead snake, but my personal approach is to STAY AWAY from all snakes as there is truly only one kind--THE DREADED COPPER HEADED WATER RATTLER (I borrowed that term from Lewis Grizzard).

That's hilarious.

 

[Dominus]

I guess I could go along with the philosophy of "consider all snakes to be venomous and just stay away". Kinda like "all guns are loaded". I'm still more of a fan of knowledge, but I do tell my kids to leave snakes in the wild alone unless I'm there to make a positive id.

 

[disneychic2]

I was blissfully unaware of the snakes in the vicinity of the resorts...why I don't know. I guess I never thought about it. NOW I am thinking about it!! I know snakes are useful and all, but I have a fear of them that is close to a phobia. I didn't even freak out too much when I felt something crawling on my neck while asleep (at OKW) last year, reached up to fling it off and discovered a nearly 3" long black bug...not my favorite wake-up call! Hubby came to my rescue.

If you hear a scream 12/1 thru 12/8, it'll be me seeing a snake at Disney!

 

[buzzmom3]

I was blissfully unaware of the snakes in the vicinity of the resorts...why I don't know. I guess I never thought about it. NOW I am thinking about it!! I know snakes are useful and all, but I have a fear of them that is close to a phobia. I didn't even freak out too much when I felt something crawling on my neck while asleep (at OKW) last year, reached up to fling it off and discovered a nearly 3" long black bug...not my favorite wake-up call! Hubby came to my rescue.

If you hear a scream 12/1 thru 12/8, it'll be me seeing a snake at Disney!

This gave me the shivers! A big black bug crawling on me freaks me out worse than snakes! I've seen snakes at Disney but I always keep my distance. I figure they don't want to be anywhere near me either so I'll be fine.

 

[Kimf]

Yikes a 3 inch long black bug would freak me out more than a snake! I hate bugs!

Now, how about alligators or crocidiles (whichever live in FLA)... I had heard stories that there were also some of them wandering around some of the resorts at times..... that would also probably freak me out more than a snake!

 

[cbiss]

I stayed at POR Sept 25 - Oct 2nd in Arcadian House and was completely paranoid about my DD3 getting bit by a snake. I was on high alert whenever we walked anywhere on the property! (I know I was being a tad irrational) Thankfully, I didn't see a single snake the entire week!

 

[coconutprincess]

I dreaded being in a bottom room at POR just in case, but we kept our door shut. Thankfully, never saw a snake but I can easily see how they are there, and it freaks me out!!!

 

[Nermel9]

Uh, are there more snakes at POR than any other Disney resorts? I'll be there in 9 days and I'm terrified of snakes!! If I see one, poisonous or not, I will be screaming and running the other way!