Real aligators in Aligator Bayou at POR?

[DawnCt1]

Just came home this afternoon - as far as gators - we saw 3 at Shades of Green - 2 on the pathway that will take you to the Poly.

:

Yup, that's where I saw our big gator.

 

[dreamflight99]

Only one gator in SAB...after a hurricane. Disney rescue animal team apparently "moved" him immediately. Poor little guy, he must have wandered in during all the storm activity.

I've also heard of them in the water areas of the GOLF courses!!
Not worth going in after any lost balls...for sure!!!

I've seen SO many of them over the years...truly amazing. I enjoy seeing them...it's like seeing DINOSAURS! Here's one of the little lizards we came across on WDW property.

 

[bugsy]

Only one gator in SAB...after a hurricane. Disney rescue animal team apparently "moved" him immediately. Poor little guy, he must have wandered in during all the storm activity.

I've also heard of them in the water areas of the GOLF courses!!
Not worth going in after any lost balls...for sure!!!

I've seen SO many of them over the years...truly amazing. I enjoy seeing them...it's like seeing DINOSAURS! Here's one of the little lizards we came across on WDW property.

AAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH

so the "poor little guy" was an isolated incident?????????? we are going in
May...NOT hurricane season...Right????????? So can I swim at SAB and
be assured to leave the pool in the same form as when I arrived??

 

[Samsma]

[Yes, they are everywhere in WDW and Florida. BUT...the water in the sassagoula river seems to be the most freaky when it comes to this subject. The color lends an ominous appearance to an otherwise serene setting, making me leery to venture too close. I am always reminded of the scenes from the discovery channel, which highlight the massive "salties" of Australia as they LUNGE from just beneath the surface to GRAB their prey by the head before disappearing into the blackness!! NO THANKS!! It would be a sure-way to RUIN a VACATION!! [/QUOTE]



If this happened to me, my family might not even make it to the parks that day.

 

[skiwee1]

I've seen one sunbathing on the Poly beach once. I always see them on the banks on the water by the Haunted Mansion.

 

[Feralpeg]

I've lived in Florida for almost a year and I've only seen one alligator. It was shortly after hurricane Francis. I saw it crawl out of a water filled ditch and head into the trees.

Just stay away from the edge of the water and on paths and you won't have any problem. Whenever we hear someone having a problem with an alligator it is because they were down along the edge of a lake, stream, pond, etc. They don't go looking for people.

However, this is alligator mating season and they are more active now.

 

[dreamflight99]

However, this is alligator mating season and they are more active now.

Isn't that the truth! The males become almost completely fearless during this time of year, and lost inhibitions when it comes to approaching humans. During the rest of the year, they much prefer to "ambush" their prey as they come to the water's edge for a drink, or even from behind...rushing them via surprise from the banks and carrying them in their vice-grip jaws into the deeper water to drown them (with a few death rolls near the bottom).

I recall the young boy whom was attacked and killed during the tail end of the 2003 mating season by a bull alligator. The boy had been swimming near these active males all afternoon, taunting them and tossing rocks in their direction. At dusk, they moved in towards the boys...and he was the only one whom failed to leave the water. He met his demise, and the gators received one more "fatal" on their record. Here's a great link on this article and others as well (be sure to click on the photo links at the end of the articles for more astounding alligator pics):

http://www.visionquester.com/adv_ATTACKS_0.html

I've learned a lot about them over time, especially through research. My brother also resides in Melbourne beach (works for NASA), and has offered loads of info. He even worked with his employer on a Gator preservation project on NASA property. He came in contact with numerous, very massive, gators.

Common sense goes a long way when you are in the vicinity/territory of a large predator such as an alligator. I'm watchful near the water's edge, as well as the brush surrounding/near bodies of water. I've seen them all over the state, none so plentiful as while crossing the infamous "alligator alley" last summer as we traveled up from Key West! Now...there's a LOT of BIG GATORS behind those fences!!!

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

We saw a real gator at Coronado Springs last year. We (and others) watched it for a long, long time. DIsney said anytime one is reported, they will *escort* it back to a place where it should be with no guests!

 

[Sammie]

This may be a silly question but since we are talking bodies of water, has anyone every seen one at the 'beaches' at CBR?

Yes bascially at one time or another most bodies of water on the property have been visited. Usually Disney removes them before they have any guest encounter. The times to be wary are very early morning and early evening.

 

[liznboys]

When does mating season end? Just curious... LOL

 

[dreamflight99]

When does mating season end? Just curious... LOL

Mating season extends over the next couple months (from about March through May), depending on weather. After mating season ends, nesting season begins. The females nest from early to mid-June (again-weather dictates much of this), and these nest eggs hatch-out beginning from August to September. Then, the females spend time guarding their hatchlings, and can be fiercely protective (of both nests and babies).

 

[liznboys]

Mating season extends over the next couple months (from about March through May), depending on weather. After mating season ends, nesting season begins. The females nest from early to mid-June (again-weather dictates much of this), and these nest eggs hatch-out beginning from August to September. Then, the females spend time guarding their hatchlings, and can be fiercely protective (of both nests and babies).

Thanks, interesting info.! I guess we'll be in WDW towards the end of the mating season (mid-May). We'll be cautious near the Sassagoula.

 

[Katy]

My son's favorite passtime at the resort was to spend hours standing on the bridge looking down into the water waiting for the gator. There were a lot of kids watching every day. They were safe on the bridge though.

 

[snyderla]

We saw a gator at Coronado Springs, in a pond by one of the bus stops. Our bus driver showed him to us & told us they are all around, and that when they get in common areas they relocate them. He told us about a woman who was taking a photo of her husband near one of the "animatronic" gators at OKW, she kept telling him to get closer & he kept refusing & saying "I think this thing is real!" It was real of course! He also told us children should stay away from waters edges. And he said run in a zig zag if one starts chasing you!
My brother lives near Key Largo and my dad lives in Bonita Beach & we take the Tamiami Trail across and see lots of gators! There was a side road we took once and must have seen nearly 100 alligators in a 10 mile stretch!
I'd much rather see gators than snakes, though! Yikes, I hate snakes! Luckily I've never seen one of those in WDW. (knock on wood)
Lori

 

[arazamataz]

Last three years we have watched Mr./Ms. Gator at BCV. Just got back from Easter break and no sign of him/her. Well I will look again in August.

 

[dreamflight99]

"He said run in a zig zag if one starts chasing you!"

Great advice!! You would be shocked at how FAST these lizards can bolt when they want to!!

I can recall some VERY CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with gators in Florida...in remote canal areas and bayou areas near preserves (in canoes...no less). They are not too timid during mating season, and even during other times can exhibit "territorial" tendencies. Thankfully, not even CLOSE to the endangered Florida CROC we encountered!! He would NOT back down...for anything. Worse than an angry goose!! LOL.

 

[jazznms]

Nastier and maybe living right next to your ground floor room
http://g.msn.com/9SE/1?http://www.f...acb960eaa4e3191&POS=4&CM=WPU&CE=4&CS=AWP&SR=4

 

[*Fantasia*]

And that is why we don't rent boats at WDW. I am just afraid that there might be gators just lurking around and just afraid that they might just jump right at us while we're boating. Or what about snakes in the water...

I was going to rent the boat at POR when we were staying at POFQ, but after thinking about what might be under the water and what if the boat tips and fell in the water. Instead we decided to just rent the individual bikes. And we had fun!

OK... I have been to Disney plenty of times... How come I never seen any CMS check the ponds/lakes to see if there are any gators or snakes there? How do they check to see if they are there? Take the boat and start poking with the long sticks?

 

[Debs1963]

okay, now you guys have me totally freaked out. We are staying at POR mid-may. DD wants to go to the fishing hole with her daddy. Maybe I should rethink? Also have a 4yo DS who is like a magnet to any type of water. How far are the walking paths from the actual river edge? Will the gators actually come and walk up to the walking path? Whats to stop them from going anywhere in the resort-Pool-etc? Will they actually lunge at people who have rented boats? When I am walking around resort at night should I be careful for lurking alligators? I may seem a little hysterical but I'm from Connecticut and am not used to seeing alligators or snakes and am almost phobic about the thought of an encounter.

 

[JJsmama]

We were there a couple weeks ago. There was a CM feeding a gaggle? of new baby ducks on Tom Sawyer Island. He also said there was a gator in that pond (between Tom Sawyer and Thunder Mtn.) Yikes! I was not surprised, but what a surprise it would be to find him on the grounds of the island!!

I'm a South Carolinian and gators are common in the low country, but I still take them very seriously and watch my children very closely in the potential areas.