Say it isn't so!

[augusta1]

Michelle, aren't you glad we didn't book at CSR now?????

Um yes but it appears that I have traded it in for water moccasins at CBR!

 

[TagsMissy]

We've never seen a gator or snake that wasn't part of an exibit and believe me I search for gators the moment we hit the road from MCO until we arrive back. hahaha ((Not because I am scared but I want to see one 'free'

 

[TagsMissy]

I have never seen a snake or a gator, but last summer at CR we saw an armadillo when walking from the tower to our room in the garden wing. It was really cool.

We had an armadillo that liked to hang out on the grass just below our room at BLT this last year. I spent quite a long time observing him (or her??) but never took photos; it was always night time.

 

[Polydweller]

We see gators on every trip. Just stay away from them. Snakes won't attack you unless they feel threatened. They want to get away so just give them distance and check before you reach into bushes. Never had a problem and have seen lots of them.

 

[bowbat]

Gators and snakes are just par for the course in Florida. We live in an established neighborhood in a highly developed area, yet we've had otters, racoons, bobcats, armadillos, snakes (just about daily, including one in our kitchen!), and every type of prehistoric-looking bird imaginable in our yard. My husband also had a six-foot gator cross the street in front of him while he was walking our dog one morning. He snapped a photo (from a distance), then got the hell out of there. If you do see something, just leave it alone. And never, ever feed alligators.

Life in the tropics.

 

[scndbaswmn]

Which is why we ALWAYS request an upper level floor.

Guess we should request an upper level room??

 

[LilyWDW]

What is the right attitude when we see gator / snakes? Warn CMs, or don't bother because it's business as usual?

In case of snakes, try to kill them? How?

Is there a website where we can learn about FL snakes? I'm from overseas, so not familiar with american species, don't know which are venom...

Leave them alone. There is no reason to harm or bother the wildlife. Stay away from the edge of the water, out of tall grass, and stay on the pathways. They are not going to bother you unless you bother them.

 

[chimo2u]

OMG!!! I hate snakes....I think this might be the one thing to keep me from renting those searaycers out on the lagoon....would hate to come in contact with whatever species might be lurking in that water if I was to accidentaly capsize !! yikes...

 

[Victoriarose1968]

I love snakes ^_^

We have a 6.5 foot black snake (wild) that lives under our shed outback. He/she's no problem.

The first time I went to Florida (I was 16), I went with some friends. We stayed off WDW in a tiny, hole-in-the walk hotel (don't remember the name).

One late afternoon I deceided to go swimming in the pool. So I mosey on over to the divingboard and get ready to dive in.

To this day I don't know what made me stop and look down but I'm glad I did. There was a big gater in the pool looking back up at me

I stood there and stared at it for a few minutes then calmly walked over to the front desk and told them that there was a gater in the pool.

The guy looks up and says with a sigh, "Again?"

I didn't swim at ALL the whole time I was in Florida!

Now I won't stay anyplace but in a WDW owned hotel ^_^

 

[francie57]

We saw a gator several years ago in the MK also. It was along the walkway by the water for the steamboat. There was CM there watching it. He said they will remove it, tag it and release it elsewhere. He said they do what they can but they find their way into all places. He told us that on the road leaving MK by the exit for the Epcot resorts there have been gators that walk along the roadway going from one water area to another. I found it fasinating to see one and didn't worry about it hurting anyone since they are well aware of watching for gators.

 

[wish*i*was*in*the*vi]

There is a fellow Disboard member whose son was bit by a water moccasin at CBR and spent many days in the hospital. I believe he is fine now and Im pretty sure it was a couple years ago, but it can happen. Ive seen snakes at POP, CBR (just a month ago) and both of those I believe were just harmless snakes but last Sept I was on boat from WL to MK and saw a water moccasin "standing" straight up in the water about 10 feet from the boat! Ive yet to see a gator at WDW but I know they are there! Always be aware of your surroundings, stay away from waters edge, and always stay on the paths away from the brush and bushes and keep your children away from bushes.

Oh my goodness, that poor little boy! Glad that he is okay now. Do you know if Disney covered the medical bills?

 

[cbg1027]

What is the right attitude when we see gator / snakes? Warn CMs, or don't bother because it's business as usual?

In case of snakes, try to kill them? How?

Is there a website where we can learn about FL snakes? I'm from overseas, so not familiar with american species, don't know which are venom...

The right attitude is to walk away and ignore them.

Venomous Snakes are more of a threat than a gator. Gators are practically a non-threat to humans. The reason we really worry about them in FL is that they can be a threat to our pets.

Since you aren't familiar with the snake breeds, if you see one, leave it alone and keep away from it. Do NOT try to kill it.

You don't need to bother learning about the different species...just treat all snakes the same. Be respectful and walk away.

Don't walk in to heavily-wooded areas or off the beaten path. Don't put your hand in to bushes or high grass.

There really should be a sticky on wildlife at WDW!

 

[TGI Racing]

Back in 95 me and the wife stayed at WL for the first time, the package included free Bike and canoe rentals among other things. We rode the bikes to FW and opted to try the Canoes, well the wife decides she is going to be in the back of the canoe with me in the front rendering me mostly along for the ride. Well let me tell you back then there were plenty of snakes and gators to be seen as we did the loop around the grounds. Each time we neared one of the critters, be it a black Racer hanging from a tree limb, a cotton mouth curled up by the shore who even showed his white mouth and several 3 to 5 foot gators my wife who has never been the adventures type is steering the canoe at every one of the before mentioned hazards. Leaving me to paddle like a mad man to avoid possible complications all the while asking her what the heck she is doing. Needles to say I was glad when we made it back to the rental building without incident. So we take the paddles up to the building where I tell the guy what my wife was doing so he asks her why and she replies they are all fake just part of the ride. Well once reality set in she was a little freaked out and never did do the canoes again.
Heck when we go back this September I should see if they still rent out the Canoes.

Cheers,
Rick

 

[scndbaswmn]

One late afternoon I deceided to go swimming in the pool. So I mosey on over to the divingboard and get ready to dive in.

To this day I don't know what made me stop and look down but I'm glad I did. There was a big gater in the pool looking back up at me

I stood there and stared at it for a few minutes then calmly walked over to the front desk and told them that there was a gater in the pool.

The guy looks up and says with a sigh, "Again?"

OMG! I am practically rolling on the floor laughing so hard! That's hilarious (but only because you didn't jump in)! I would hate to imagine what would have or could have happened if you didn't look down before you jumped in!

 

[Victoriarose1968]

OMG! I am practically rolling on the floor laughing so hard! That's hilarious (but only because you didn't jump in)! I would hate to imagine what would have or could have happened if you didn't look down before you jumped in!

I think it's funny now, but then I had the worst case of the heebee jeebees for the whole rest of the week ^_^

I must have stop and searched EVERY single lake, river, pool, pond and mud puddle for gaters. Drove the people I was with CRAZY

 

[augusta1]

I am not sure which is worse to me. Seeing a snake or a gator.
And the part about housekeeping leaving the door open and snakes slithering in? YUCK! EWW!

 

[scndbaswmn]

Was just talking to John about it. I will be telling housekeeping they are not to leave the door open!

 

[augusta1]

Was just talking to John about it. I will be telling housekeeping they are not to leave the door open!

Sure they will tell you ok we won't!
Mother Nature and I aren't really on good terms. Never have been.

 

[tink_lover]

I recall the thread about the boy who got bit. I also remember the thread about the snake in the gv room at contemporary. I have seen neither snake nor gator during our many trips, but think the snake would freak me out more. To the poster who said they saw the water moccasin snake standing up in the water between WL and MK boat ride -

 

[maryj11]

The gator that lives over in the CSR lake the CMs named Glenn. I believe he got too big though and was moved this past year. However, supposedly there is another one over there now. We used to look for Glen every trip. You could usually find him swimming over by the Laguna bar. For some reason people were always dropping food down to him. They also have a bobcat named Bob that hangs out over at the pond across the road from the Ranchos section. We've seen snakes at POP, CSR, and PORS. It's the south, critters are going to be there, there is no way WDW can keep them all out. We were on the DME bus once on our way from the airport to POFQ. The bus stopped first at Saratoga Springs. The driver stopped just before we got to the DME bus stop, to show us an alligator lying beside the pond sunning himself.

I was looking for that gator at CSR last Sept and never did see him lol