Official SHADES OF GREEN Information

[gibsontrio]

We used Murry Hill transportation. They are competitive with their pricing , they give you free carseat and boosters , a free stop at the grocery store , and will stop and take your picture. They were very friendly,I'd recommend them

 

[Beccabunny]

Great pic's everyone. Can't wait till October. The picture with the gator in the pond makes me I hate walking next to that pond even more so at night.

We love walking to the Poly for breakfast and to catch the monorail, but after seeing an alligator in the pond last time I'm getting a little nervous. No way would I ever walk there at night. Does anyone know if they ever come up onto the walking paths? Has there ever been a problem with them around the resort?

 

[Minnie Lor]

I've never heard that they have but still it makes me I wouldn't walk it if DH wasn't beside me. We do walk at night ~ many times. We like dinner at Kona followed by Wishes on the beach on our first night. We also use the monorail for MK and sometimes Epcot from the Poly.

Last time we had a room in the new section overlooking another pond. They had signs all over about the gators. We had a patio and I didn't want to sit out there after dark. I'm requesting a room with a balcony this time 'cause we would use it.

 

[gibsontrio]

we saw a medium sized one just strolling along on the golf course (across the street from the path) I never realized they came that much out of the water! I kept my eyes open the rest of the trip

 

[KatRob]

We have seen them across the street also. One day we came by the pond and there were two "babies" on the edge of the pond. I was like, "oh, check out the babies...wait a second, where's the mom?"

Another time, I was looking closely at something above the water line when it dawned on me it was nostrils and eyes looking back. I was like, okay guys just keep moving, pick it up a little.

 

[ntsammy5]

...wait a second, where's the mom?"

It's always a good idea to find the big one first!

 

[Bondfan531]

We have seen them across the street also. One day we came by the pond and there were two "babies" on the edge of the pond. I was like, "oh, check out the babies...wait a second, where's the mom?"

Another time, I was looking closely at something above the water line when it dawned on me it was nostrils and eyes looking back. I was like, okay guys just keep moving, pick it up a little.

yep, where there's babies, there's a mom close by

 

[Minnie Lor]

yep, where there's babies, there's a mom close by

Good point. I don't think that I would've thought of that. I'm surprised that there hasn't been any problems with so many of you seeing a crock. We may start walking down the middle of the street at night. Major

 

[hmdavid]

I have heard the gators are removed once they reach a certain size, but we saw three in March and one was quite long

 

[Disneyfriend]

So in all seriousness . . . why haven't there been any gator attacks?

I'm not from Florida, so help me understand alligators a bit better. Are they shy and attack only when provoked?

Is it only a matter of time before we read some horrifying story about a WDW tourist being attacked/bitten by a gator?

No, this doesn't keep me up at night or anything. I'm just honestly wondering.

Disneyfriend

 

[KatRob]

I really never wondered why we never hear of any problems with the gators at SOG, I just accepted the fact that they are there just like any other Florida critter. And respected their space. I have always watched the pond when using the walkway but have never really seen one close to the walk at all. I did notice when the groundskeepers were out one day that one seemed to be on watch while the other was working with his back to the pond area. And I have seen an orange netting used around that area when they are getting ready for the golf tournament.

For actual information I took this from Wilkipedia:

Alligators are generally timid towards humans and tend to walk or swim away if one approaches. Unfortunately, this has led some people to the practice of approaching alligators and their nests in a way that may provoke the animals into attacking. There are federal laws that prohibit feeding of the alligators in several locations where they can be found; however, some people choose to ignore these. If fed, the alligators will eventually lose their fear of humans and may, in turn, choose to approach human settlements rather than moving away.

 

[Sleepy]

Are you referring to the love bugs?

I have never encountered a love bug (that I know of). I have heard they are a May/Sept insect (or somewhere around those times). This was in July. We only noticed them out where the brick walkway was. They were like tiny gnats.

 

[Sleepy]

We have seen them across the street also. One day we came by the pond and there were two "babies" on the edge of the pond. I was like, "oh, check out the babies...wait a second, where's the mom?"

We were talking to one of the bus drivers about the gators on our last trip. He said the biggest problem with tourists is that they don't understand that even the little gators are dangerous and can cause harm to hands, etc. He said once, he saw a family with a 4 year old girl out by the pond right in front of the hotel. They were actually going to touch the gator. Maybe people don't understand touching the cute gator is just as dangerous as sticking your hand in a fish tank containing a cute pirhanna

 

[Minnie Lor]

We were talking to one of the bus drivers about the gators on our last trip. He said the biggest problem with tourists is that they don't understand that even the little gators are dangerous and can cause harm to hands, etc. He said once, he saw a family with a 4 year old girl out by the pond right in front of the hotel. They were actually going to touch the gator. Maybe people don't understand touching the cute gator is just as dangerous as sticking your hand in a fish tank containing a cute pirhanna

OMG, people are stupid.

 

[KatRob]

OMG, people are stupid.

That is exactly what I thought when I read it.

 

[Disneyfriend]

I really never wondered why we never hear of any problems with the gators at SOG, I just accepted the fact that they are there just like any other Florida critter. And respected their space. I have always watched the pond when using the walkway but have never really seen one close to the walk at all. I did notice when the groundskeepers were out one day that one seemed to be on watch while the other was working with his back to the pond area. And I have seen an orange netting used around that area when they are getting ready for the golf tournament.

For actual information I took this from Wilkipedia:

Alligators are generally timid towards humans and tend to walk or swim away if one approaches. Unfortunately, this has led some people to the practice of approaching alligators and their nests in a way that may provoke the animals into attacking. There are federal laws that prohibit feeding of the alligators in several locations where they can be found; however, some people choose to ignore these. If fed, the alligators will eventually lose their fear of humans and may, in turn, choose to approach human settlements rather than moving away.

I get what you're saying to a certain extent, and believe me, I wasn't planning on provoking the gators to any extent! I have two little babies and am not interested in any near-misses with alligators.

But it seems to me like I often hear of gator attacks in Florida, and I am under the strong impression that not all of those attacks were on foolish people bothering alligators. KWIM? Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like at least some small percentage of these gator attacks are on unsuspecting people who were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

It's not going to change my trip any, except that I'm really thinking twice about walking from SoG to the Poly with my group. Yes, we did it several times last trip and didn't think too much about it. I know gazillions of people do it every year. But . . . if I'm right, isn't it just a matter of time until something really unfortunate happens? Or am I totally mistaken?



Again, just thinking out loud here.

 

[megveg]

Anyone know what they sell for alcohol in the shop? DBF is VERY PICKY about his alcohol (hes crazy lol) and he wanted me to ask the DIS if they knew what alcohol is sold at the store

TIA

 

[hvsteve1]

There's an article on Shades Of Green in today's NY Times that answers many of the questions posted here.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/travel/escapes/16armed.html

 

[hildarumpole]

Anyone know what they sell for alcohol in the shop? DBF is VERY PICKY about his alcohol (hes crazy lol) and he wanted me to ask the DIS if they knew what alcohol is sold at the store

TIA

They sell a variety of beers, wine and wine coolers. Wines are all pretty pricey. Beers available are Miller, Bud, Heineken, Corona. There are others I can't remember, but nothing out of the ordinary. If he's very picky, it's best to pick up what he needs at a liquor or grocery store.

 

[ntsammy5]

Also, Evergreen has some excellent German beers on tap!