Just back and saw an alligator in Bay Lake!

[cvjw]

Just back from 13 nights at the World. Lots of crowds, lots of afternoon showers, lots of family fun and an alligator sighting. On a trip from MK to the Poly for dinner late one afternoon, we were on the little pirate boat crossing Bay Lake when our driver points out an alligator in the water not far from our boat. It didn't even move as we went by. It was right by the little island before you get to the Poly. As we were docking, we looked back and you could still see it's head. There were lots of kids playing in the water, not that far from the alligator! My kids loved seeing the Poly during dinner, and are begging for a stay there in Sept, but I will not let them play in the water.

 

[Eljay]

...we were on the little pirate boat crossing Bay Lake when our driver points out an alligator in the water not far from our boat...

Yep, welcome to Florida.

 

[DisGirl819]

Yep. We saw an alligator at CBR last year. Everyone was stading around looking at it and taking pictures. It didn't do anything and it finally swam away. It was right near the pool/bar area.

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

Yep, it's Florida.
That water is so gross I wouldn't have kids play in it anyways.

 

[Nikisha421]

OMG...how did it get ther? obviously I know it swam...but a didnt realize those waters were open...

 

[Hidden Mickey]

Cool to see wildlife like that there. At Port Orleans we saw very different and interesting types of animals because the habitat is so good.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

OMG...how did it get ther? obviously I know it swam...but a didnt realize those waters were open...

Alligators were there long before Disney. There is a lot of undeveloped area between the CR going around clockwise toward FW. Really though, alligators are likely to be in any body of water in FL large enough to sustain them.

 

[Eljay]

OMG...how did it get ther? obviously I know it swam...but a didnt realize those waters were open...

You will find alligators in almost every canal, pond and lake in Florida.
They can walk right out of the water and go from one canal to another.
On a cold night, I once saw an alligator (a big one!) trying to stay warm under the flood lights at a gas station. He was lying right by the pumps. Needless to say, I found another station.

 

[archimedes76]

Confused......Polynesian to Magic Kingdom would be Seven Seas Lagoon not Bay Lake over by Fort Wilderness. Where would kids be swimming in the lake? Seven Seas Lagoon is closed to swimming due to dangerous bacteria in the water.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm going to move this to our trip report board.

 

[MinnieGi]

We've seen gators several trips now all over WDW, welcome to FL is right!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Confused......Polynesian to Magic Kingdom would be Seven Seas Lagoon not Bay Lake over by Fort Wilderness. Where would kids be swimming in the lake? Seven Seas Lagoon is closed to swimming due to dangerous bacteria in the water.

Because the bodies of water are connected people often use one name for both, or don't know there is a difference. Swimming is not allowed in any of the fresh water lakes, ponds, lagoons ect. at Disney, only in the pools.

 

[cvjw]

Swimming may not be allowed in the lake by the Poly, but there were tons of kids out in the lake playing in the water!

 

[Eljay]

Swimming may not be allowed in the lake by the Poly, but there were tons of kids out in the lake playing in the water!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator
Let's hope the gators aren't hungry.