How do they keep gators out of the water?

[KimWDW]

I was thinking about the water options in the lagoon--waterskiing, swimming, etc and a thought occured to me. Are there gators in that water? If not, how does Disney keep them out?

 

[JPN4265]

I was thinking about the water options in the lagoon--waterskiing, swimming, etc and a thought occured to me. Are there gators in that water? If not, how does Disney keep them out?

They take away their swimming trunks!

 

[carolfoy]

They take away their swimming trunks!

seriously though, I thought you weren't allowed to swim in the lagoon anyway? it's watersports/fishing only

 

[sunnyd11]

I actually asked that question, to one of the boat transportion cm's at our last trip. He said "well, they don't, we have had gators even in bay lake, and one in the water near Caribbean Beach Resort." There was a link to a Disboard members photo, of some pictures of a gator they saw on one of their trips.

Have a Disney Day,
D

 

[alloyd1170]

I read somewhere on the boards that you shouldnt swim in the lakes because of high bacteria levels. When I was little, we used to go to River Country but that has since closed. Its funny though, theres a little beach at CR that almost beckons one to go for a swim.

alison

 

[KimWDW]

I thought people staying at the GF and Contemporary had beaches and could swim? I've never been there. And CBR?

The thought occurred to me last night when I was watching the planning video and Dave was waterskiing and just bobbing in the water. I thought... what's to stop a gator from chomping Dave right now?

 

[Minnie824]

They used to let you swim in the lakes long ago, but now its not allowed. That is a good point though....if you're going water skiing, theres nothing stopping a gator from running into you.

 

[Tissa]

The beaches are just for show you can not swim in any of the lakes you can just rent boats and water ski. I guess the buzzing of the boats keeps them off the water ski people?

 

[tlev]

There is no swimming in any of the lakes at the resorts. There is an area that is kind of roped off in the far corner of Bay Lake where you can go waterskiing and, I think, parasailing. There are always patrol boats in this area, so they probably keep a good look out for gators. You need to sign up at the CR for these activities. Personally, I don't understand why it is alright to be in the water in this one area, but nowhere else.

 

[donnab2005]

There are definately gators in the lakes. We have seen a gator in the lake at the CB and and CS resorts. I don't think there is any way to prevent gators in the water in Florida.

 

[wendy46001]

I've always been told to assume there is a gator in every lake in FL...
and we have seen lots at Disney while renting those little water boats...
The boats ten to keep them at the bottom or on shore...goes under the old theory
of they are more afraid of us....So just hope no one has been silly enough tofeed the gators and everything will be fine...

 

[safetymom]

Just figure they are in every body of water. I have seen them at CSR and CBR also.

 

[pouncingpluto]

I've seen them at SoG, which is right across the street from the Poly.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

You know I'd have to assume that there are gators and snakes and all in any of those bodies of water.

I would assume that some of the noise keeps them from showing up too much.

I'm in South Louisiana- gators are everywhere- (including a swamp on the college I attended- and that one would sun himself in the street from time to time lol) I don't think I have ever heard of someone skiing and getting eaten by aligators.

I do know in some areas they will go after small domesticated animals and things like that- but usually that is in extreme circumstances- or in places where people are stupid enough to "feed" them

I suspect that Disney probably does feed the gators but far away from the humans to keep them predominiately away from the parks. I also suspect that when the gators start to get big they probably trap them and relocate them off the property- so chances are any gators seen are smaller and probably would never attempt to attack a human anyway

Just my opinions here- I don't have proof- but I do know at the college I attended- we had aligators in a small swamp in the middle of the campus- and they'd sometimes decide to walk around and liked to sun themselves on the hot cement of the near by street- on those incidences traffic would get diverted and we'd just walk around the long way- When they aligators would get bigger than like 5-6 feet (or when they started killing too many of the ducks) they'd trap them and relocate them to wilder enviroments

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

See, what you people are forgetting to realize is that this is DISNEYWORLD!

Alligators are like people. When in the real world, people can snap at any minute and bite someones head off. Same for alligators. But once those gators cross through that sign that says "Welcome to Disneyworld" they are just like us, wittle, itty, bitty, gators again! They go in with a whole different attitude, hoping for that one moment they can get a picture taken with their favorite mascot of all time.....Ice Gator, the Blizzard Beach mascot!

 

[Christopher Robin]

I heard that Disney was going to register all Gators at one of the Values, then they wouldn't be allowed to swim anywhere other than the resort pools at which they were registered.

(And, BOY, if they tried to pool hop, about a bajillion people would complain loud enough to make them leave immediately).

(PS. They better shower first, too, because that is a posted rule, right next to the Pool Hopping Verboten language.)

Carpi Disney!

 

[TommyTutone]

See, what you people are forgetting to realize is that this is DISNEYWORLD!

Alligators are like people. When in the real world, people can snap at any minute and bite someones head off. Same for alligators. But once those gators cross through that sign that says "Welcome to Disneyworld" they are just like us, wittle, itty, bitty, gators again! They go in with a whole different attitude, hoping for that one moment they can get a picture taken with their favorite mascot of all time.....Ice Gator, the Blizzard Beach mascot!

Tell that to Captain Hook!

 

[AJKMOM]

Of course, "relocation" is not what actually happens to alligators. I saw a special on Animal Planet that said alligaotrs have a small brain, but a huge homing instinct. If they are moved, they will work their way back to their home. They don't care if it's Bay Lake or Seven Seas Lagoon. Ones over a certain length, or ones that are aggressive toward humans are killed.

Someone posted that Disney has alligator watchers out in full force during the Triathalon, in boats or jet skis like every 10-20 feet or so along the swimming course. Some expert also said, if there is a body of water large enough to hold an alligator, it is safe to assume there is one in it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Yes, there are gatos in WDW lakes.
2) They even have to get them out prior to the Iron Man competitions.
3) They usually don't bother people
. . . they don't like boat noises, so skiing isn't a problem
. . . you can't swim in the lakes, so that is not a problem
. . . they usually stay away from beaches, so sun bathing isn't a problem

 

[helenm29]

How exactly do you "rope off"areas from gators? seems like they swim on top of the water too, so what's to stop them from going over the top of the net?
also, with those little tiny boats you can rent....if you hit a gator, you WILL know it! I always wondered where they went during the day...maybe they are using river country as their own resort? we just need to remember that we are in THEIR teritory, so use common sense not matter how tempting that water looks....I keep trying to remember that! Helen