Kids play on the WL beach...what about the gators?

[Jesussavedme]

Every time we stay at WL, my kids always walk along the shore line and splash around there. I never even (naively) considered there would be alligators there. Now I'm half scared to take them to the playground or let them put their feet in the water!!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

The last time we stayed there we saw a gator in the Otter Pond. I never really thought about them near the beach but I suppose anything is possible. I did read though that it's not safe to go in Bay Lake because if all the bacteria in there (meningitis sp? etc.) so we never let the kids near the water. I know that I sound like a hypochondriac but I skeeve that water anyway!

 

[Pixiedust34]

I'd be more worried about the bacteria than the gators (or snakes). The beaches are pretty to look at, but it's safer to play in the resort pools.

 

[Jesussavedme]

Oh nasty, I've never thought of that!
Ok, that settles it, my kids will never set foot in that water again!

Thank you for responding!!!!!

 

[amez]

Last time we were there 1.5 years ago there was a gator swimming around the ferry dock of magic kingdom.

Amy

 

[sara74]

I thought of the gators in April when the kids wanted to play at the CBR beach! Then we checked into WL and there was no way I was letting them near the water! 7 days there and they didn't know that there even was a beach! And this was before the news reports and all the gator attacks. I would be even more concerned given the recent press.

Mouse House Mama - I cracked up reading your post! I thought my family was the only one to use skeeve like you did! DH still gets a funny look when my step mom talks about skeeving something. Like she skeeves raw chicken, for example! You're not from Boston, are you?

 

[Barak's Disney]

Jeesh! I would never have thought about Gators on the beach!!! One more to add to my worry box...

 

[Jesussavedme]

Right - and the kids playground is right there on the beach. SO how tempting is that...they want to atleast go near the water to build sandcastles as I've seen other kids doing.

We won't be doing that anymore, but will still probably let them do the playground.

 

[safetymom]

It's not like there are gators lurking everywhere in FL. You just have to use some common sense. You aren't allowed in the lakes in FL and it isn't because of the gators it is because of a freshwater amoeba.

Keep an eye out but most gators will not bother you. Don't feed them and if you see one get away from it.

 

[OnceUponAStar*]

Every time we stay at WL, my kids always walk along the shore line and splash around there. I never even (naively) considered there would be alligators there. Now I'm half scared to take them to the playground or let them put their feet in the water!!

I've never seen a gator there before, and definately haven't seen a gator at the playground.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you splash in the water when the weather is cooler, you will probably be fine (I mean sticking in a toe or a hand to get a good splash). Swimming is not permitted.

But be advised, they do hold a triathlon on site and people do swim in it for that b/c that's where Disney tells them to swim. So there are times where the bacteria are not an issue. I think there is more than just the bacteria to keep it closed yearround.

As far as any body of water in Florida--yes gators are possible. If the gators are going to be in areas where guests will be, they will try to do something about it.

And to add to the gator panic--they had a gator in the body of water between Frontierland and Tom Sawyer's Island. A CM had to "guard" the gator to prevent guests from feeding the gator (that makes them less fearful of people, so you can't feed them obviously). And Mr. Gator would lurk and then when someone would come for a catch attempt he would go away. He evaded capture for quite a while and was finally caught and released somewhere (but I forget where..maybe AK, but not sure). He was of no danger to guests in that circumstance (had guests fed him and he got brave to try and leave the water to go on splash mountain--then he would have been a danger).

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I thought of the gators in April when the kids wanted to play at the CBR beach! Then we checked into WL and there was no way I was letting them near the water! 7 days there and they didn't know that there even was a beach! And this was before the news reports and all the gator attacks. I would be even more concerned given the recent press.

Mouse House Mama - I cracked up reading your post! I thought my family was the only one to use skeeve like you did! DH still gets a funny look when my step mom talks about skeeving something. Like she skeeves raw chicken, for example! You're not from Boston, are you?

Nope! I'm a New Yawker!!! (and Italian!)

 

[safetymom]

If a gator is less than 4 feet it is relocated. Disney has an animal preserve that they are relocated to. If they are 4 feet or longer they are destroyed.