Running at the Resort - A tad worried about critters...

[KeepCalmAndCarryOn]

This may be silly and perhaps has been asked a million times before, but as we continue to work on planning our next Disney adventure, I am interested in learning more from those who are seasoned runners who get their miles in at Disney World.

I am hoping to get out for my morning run at least a few times over the course of our stay; but here on the coast of New England a 4:30am or 5:00am run may show a deer or fox, but that's really about it... How often, if at all, are there creepy crawly encounters on early morning runs? I know that New Balance has some awesome loops mapped out at Caribbean Beach, the Epcot Resorts and near Magic Kingdom.

I am really, truly, only concerned about snakes. I don't really have to watch for them here - and while I am open to being vigilant, there is a bit of me concerned that in the early hours I may bump into the very thing I've made my life mission to avoid. (That's a slight overstatement, but snakes and I don't jive.) We can also all agree that vacationing in the swaps of Florida doesn't make much sense for a someone with a fear of snakes, but 33 years going strong and I've avoided them... This is just our first trip where I am hoping to take the morning miles and bring them outside.

This also may not be the right place to ask this, and I am aware that seeing or encountering wildlife is really by chance. Just figured I'd ask the question that I've been asking myself... May be the difference between bringing the twinnies in the jogging stroller or logging solo Mama miles.

Thanks in advance for humoring this odd question!

 

[VAfamily1998]

Which resort will you be staying at? All but one of my Disney trips in the past 5 years have involved the Disney races, so most of the time I'm running at Disney, it's on a race course with thousands of other runners. So a snake wouldn't dare approach us

But the ONE trip that was not for a race, we stayed at Coronado Springs. It was late June (so HOT and muggy!) and I went out very early each morning to do loops around the lake--typically about 4 or 5 miles. I didn't run into any wildlife.

 

[KeepCalmAndCarryOn]

I think we are between AKL (which I know doesn't have great outdoor space for running), Caribbean Beach Resort & one of the Epcot resorts. We will be traveling with family and our (will be) one year old twins, so we are all kind of waiting to see what rates look like for next year during April break. (I am a special ed teacher so we are at the mercy of the school schedule).

That is actually SO great to hear. I've had this vision of running around the lake at CBR with the jogging stroller and a massive snake attacking us all... I had similar "joking" fears involving sharks and my first triathlon... My 8th graders have let it be known more than once that my imagination needs to be taken down a notch. Thank you for sharing!!!

 

[VAfamily1998]

I think we are between AKL (which I know doesn't have great outdoor space for running), Caribbean Beach Resort & one of the Epcot resorts. We will be traveling with family and our (will be) one year old twins, so we are all kind of waiting to see what rates look like for next year during April break. (I am a special ed teacher so we are at the mercy of the school schedule).

That is actually SO great to hear. I've had this vision of running around the lake at CBR with the jogging stroller and a massive snake attacking us all... I had similar "joking" fears involving sharks and my first triathlon... My 8th graders have let it be known more than once that my imagination needs to be taken down a notch. Thank you for sharing!!!

You're welcome

If you decide to go with Beach Club, you can run around the boardwalk area. At the last marathon weekend, the half ended up being cancelled. Many of us runners staying at Beach Club/Yacht Club/Boardwalk ended up doing our own "half marathon" running laps around the boardwalk and then down the walking path to Hollywood Studios and back. It was actually a beautiful run--but just be careful on the wooden areas of the boardwalk because they get slippery when wet.

 

[FredtheDuck]

Not in your hotel area, but I did loops around the Contemporary/path to the MK from that hotel in the early morning and saw no critters.

 

[gillep]

You're welcome

If you decide to go with Beach Club, you can run around the boardwalk area. At the last marathon weekend, the half ended up being cancelled. Many of us runners staying at Beach Club/Yacht Club/Boardwalk ended up doing our own "half marathon" running laps around the boardwalk and then down the walking path to Hollywood Studios and back. It was actually a beautiful run--but just be careful on the wooden areas of the boardwalk because they get slippery when wet.

Love running around the boardwalk area, and agree about the wooden areas being slippery, be careful. Between DH and I we have run around AKL/AKV, CSR, CBR, POP, Boardwalk area, and POR and has never encountered anything outside of birds and tons of small lizards. Just be sure to stay on the paths and out of the grass etc. and you should be fine.

 

[kaytieeldr]

we are all kind of waiting to see what rates look like for next year during April break. (I am a special ed teacher so we are at the mercy of the school schedule).

Not what you asked about, but the Dolphin and Swan frequently offer teacher discounts. You may even be able to get 2018 dates now.

 

[loves to dive]

I get up around 5 every morning and walk around whatever resort I'm staying at (used to jog, blew out my knees, can't any more) and the only critters I've ever encountered are bunny rabbits and Disney CMs working. I've stayed at all levels, from value to moderate to deluxe to DVC and all of them have decent running trails except AKL. You basically have to run in the parking lot there. The moderates don't really have trails per se but all are a decent size and you can run around the resort. I, too, love the BW area and tend to go from BW or YC (whichever I'm staying at) and over to Swan/Dolphin, up to HS and back then around whichever I didn't go through Swan or Dolphin and back to either YC or BW and around the BW a full lap and back to where I started from. It's nice and relaxing and there are almost always other people out walking/running and always CMs out working.

 

[Simba's Mom]

You're welcome

If you decide to go with Beach Club, you can run around the boardwalk area. At the last marathon weekend, the half ended up being cancelled. Many of us runners staying at Beach Club/Yacht Club/Boardwalk ended up doing our own "half marathon" running laps around the boardwalk and then down the walking path to Hollywood Studios and back. It was actually a beautiful run--but just be careful on the wooden areas of the boardwalk because they get slippery when wet.

Actually, when we stayed at the BC, the route lobby concierge suggested to DH had him running outside the resort area. He enjoyed waving to the security guard every morning! And he never saw any critters/snakes. The only times we've seen snakes have been late in the day.

 

[Beer Me]

I've run around the epcot resorts, all stars, Coronado and CBR. I've never seen a snake but it wouldn't surprise me (I see them at home sometimes in the woods and sometimes along the road). If you see one go around it and keep moving. There is pretty much zero chance it would cause you any harm.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I had an armadillo cross the sidewalk right in front of me one morning but I thought it was cool lol.

 

[Dis703]

I'm not out and about the area that early but as a former Floridian I don't think you have anything to worry about. For the most part snakes are staying in tall grass areas or in the water. Yes, you'll see them outside that now and then, but it's not a regular occurrence to see them on the sidewalks or anything. And if you did see them they aren't going to bother you. They won't attack you if you are just running by. I have in late hours seen rats scurry across the walkways here and there in Disney but that's all. And again they are also not about to bother anyone.

 

[ColoradoMom12]

I've also done the loops around the CR/MK walkway as well as Epcot area (Boardwalk). When I run, it's always early, early (sometimes before sunrise) morning. I have not encountered any wildlife aside from birds and rabbits. I'm always vigilant about snakes because we have rattlesnakes here (a friend of mine got bitten while running!), but I've never encountered one running anywhere, actually. as someone else suggested, if you do encounter a snake, just go around it (or turn around and go back), and it's extremely unlikely to bother you. My friend who got bitten is visually impaired and stepped on the rattlesnake (thought it was a branch).

 

[LSUfan4444]

This may be silly and perhaps has been asked a million times before, but as we continue to work on planning our next Disney adventure, I am interested in learning more from those who are seasoned runners who get their miles in at Disney World.

I am hoping to get out for my morning run at least a few times over the course of our stay; but here on the coast of New England a 4:30am or 5:00am run may show a deer or fox, but that's really about it... How often, if at all, are there creepy crawly encounters on early morning runs? I know that New Balance has some awesome loops mapped out at Caribbean Beach, the Epcot Resorts and near Magic Kingdom.

I am really, truly, only concerned about snakes. I don't really have to watch for them here - and while I am open to being vigilant, there is a bit of me concerned that in the early hours I may bump into the very thing I've made my life mission to avoid. (That's a slight overstatement, but snakes and I don't jive.) We can also all agree that vacationing in the swaps of Florida doesn't make much sense for a someone with a fear of snakes, but 33 years going strong and I've avoided them... This is just our first trip where I am hoping to take the morning miles and bring them outside.

This also may not be the right place to ask this, and I am aware that seeing or encountering wildlife is really by chance. Just figured I'd ask the question that I've been asking myself... May be the difference between bringing the twinnies in the jogging stroller or logging solo Mama miles.

Thanks in advance for humoring this odd question!

I have never seen any snakes on any of my morning runs while on WDW property but running with jogger would limit alot of the places I like to run.I love this loop but would hate to do it with a jogger...best of luck!!

 

[disneyvoice]

Agree with the others. Small lizards, bunnies, squirrels, birds, and occasionally a cockroach (it's Florida they are everywhere). We have never encountered any snakes on a run or walk. I think once we saw a very small, harmless snake in the river in Liberty Square but it was entertaining, not frightening. The resorts are a great place for a run!

 

[unrequited23]

5:30 am at POR the wildest thing I saw were a handful of bunnies.

 

[KeepCalmAndCarryOn]

You guys are all awesome! Thank you! And thank you also for the running suggestions! I have always taken my vacations to go full vacation mode, but with the twins having joined the party, the runs are a better pick me up than coffee, so know that for my own sanity and mental health, I want to continue even while at Disney. I really appreciate the insight and experiences!

 

[JETSDAD]

I don't run (unless the bus going to the park we are heading to is about to leave) but we were walking along the path at SSR near the water and there was a sign about snakes. I made a joke about it to my daughter and no more than 5 seconds later a very small snake slithered on to the pathway. Not wanting to scare you as it was tiny and we just laughed about it but there is a possibility of seeing them.

 

[LoriWV]

I had a few lovely runs/outings around the Boardwalk area several years ago. I would agree looking out for slick spots. My biggest surprise during our visit was how early the humidity really set in. I thought I was getting out early enough to avoid it but felt like I was moving through Jello. I adapted and did more walking than I planned.

 

[GrumpyGal43]

I am petrified of snakes...I mean PETRIFIED and I remember 8 years ago I was staying at the Coronado and my friend and I were walking from our building one morning to the main building when a long black snake crossed our path...I screamed and froze. My friend however was like just stay calm....he'll move along right past us AND HE DID...right into the lake there...The snake really didn't want anything to do with us, however, I thought I was going to have a heart attack and die...LOL! I'll be back there this October...hope to NOT run into him again