snake spottings?!

[hicksnichols]

I never thought about it but Florida is probably a great place to live if I were a snake. I've seen one before at POR and was not pleased. I have a horrible phobia of snakes which started about 10 years ago when I noticed I was snuggling with a copperhead under a quilt on my couch as i studied for graduate school exams. I moved the next week. I haven't been back to POR but I am beginning to realize that it's my favorite resort. . . This week I saw a snake at Wilderness Lodge. I also saw a tiny baby snake at Hollywood Studios. I contemplating not returning to that park but I love Toy Story Mania so.... I'm just wondering if this is a fluke thing that happens to me or has anyone else spotted snakes at WDW? I'm not sure I want to know where. . . Just if I should worry about this for my next trip which is already booked for Caribbean Beach.

 

[Caseheidi]

I see snakes and lizards all the time where ever I go in Florida. I am not sure it is possible for a resort to get rid of them all.

 

[hicksnichols]

I see snakes and lizards all the time where ever I go in Florida. I am not sure it is possible for a resort to get rid of them all.

I agree? Wonder if Florida has any poisonous snakes? I've lived in Va and Ky my whole life so always on the lookout for copperheads... Wonder if anyone has ever gotten bit? I was worried that baby snake would have siblings and a mommy that may slither into a stroller. I had never seen one like it so I don't know if it was poisonous or not.

 

[firecracker725]

I agree? Wonder if Florida has any poisonous snakes? I've lived in Va and Ky my whole life so always on the lookout for copperheads... Wonder if anyone has ever gotten bit? I was worried that baby snake would have siblings and a mommy that may slither into a stroller. I had never seen one like it so I don't know if it was poisonous or not.

Are you being serious?

There have been numerous snake incidents (some venomous) at WDW reported on these boards.

 

[Art 1]

I saw a pygmy rattle snake just last week. Not at Disney. The amount of guests at Disney vs. the amount of snake sightings, let alone poison snakes must be very, very low.

 

[anniemae]

Yes, FL has lots of snakes. Yes they have poisonous snakes. Yes Disney has snakes. It's FL, It is a hot tropical climate where lots of creepy crawlies thrive. There have been many reports of snake sightings at Disney. Most are harmless. You can search it on the boards as some have reported sightings. There is no way for Disney to eradicate snakes on property. But keep in mind, most sightings are of harmless non-poisonous snakes.

 

[diz8297]

I have been to Disney over 35 times. I have seen a snake once.

 

[Disney Ron]

I agree? Wonder if Florida has any poisonous snakes? I've lived in Va and Ky my whole life so always on the lookout for copperheads... Wonder if anyone has ever gotten bit? I was worried that baby snake would have siblings and a mommy that may slither into a stroller. I had never seen one like it so I don't know if it was poisonous or not.

I don't mean to scare you, but there was a post on the DIS a few years ago by a mother who's son was bitten on the hand by a water moccasin. The boy was in the hospital a few days and this incident happened at...wait for it...Caribbean Beach Resort. I believe they were walking down one of the paths at the resort and the boy dropped his toy into the bushes and before the mom could stop him, he stuck his hand into the bushes where the water moccasin was waiting.

We marvel while at Disney about the parents oblivious to the fact that there are deadly snakes on property and allow their children in places that they really shouldn't be.

 

[Minniedap]

Caribbean Beach Resort has always been our favorite moderate resort and it is also the resort where we have seen several snakes (one quite large). I think any resort that is by water, you,re going to have a higher chance of seeing a snake. I'm from Wisconsin and it is very rare to see a snake here. We are always on the lookout for them in Florida.

 

[anniemae]

I don't mean to scare you, but there was a post on the DIS a few years ago by a mother who's son was bitten on the hand by a water moccasin. The boy was in the hospital a few days and this incident happened at...wait for it...Caribbean Beach Resort. I believe they were walking down one of the paths at the resort and the boy dropped his toy into the bushes and before the mom could stop him, he stuck his hand into the bushes where the water moccasin was waiting.

We marvel while at Disney about the parents oblivious to the fact that there are deadly snakes on property and allow their children in places that they really shouldn't be.

LOL! I didn't want to mention this to the OP!! Or the "incident" at the CR with the snake in the valance......

 

[leebee]

Florida is a giant tropical sand bar, so of course there are going to be snakes, some harmless, some quite nasty. I try to follow some general rules that I think will help me avoid "Encounters of the Slithery Kind:" Stay on paved walk-ways, stay away from water, stay on upper floors of hotels, don't wander in bushes or cut across grassy places, remain vigilant. I know, I know... they could be anywhere, but PLEASE don't burst my bubble. It's the only way I can happily go to WDW is to convince myself that I won't see a snake if I follow my rules!

 

[missnic]

There was an article in our local newspaper today about how Florida is the perfect place for invasive species of snakes to thrive. We have the perfect climate for them.
That said.. I've never seen a snake at Disney, after many, many trips. Just stay on the paved areas. Snakes are just as afraid of you as you are of them - they're pretty good about staying out of your way.

On a related note.. anyone know if they found the king cobra that escaped in Orlando last week?

 

[Allison]

Yes, there are snakes in all parts of WDW. It's Florida.

No, you shouldn't worry about it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I don't think I've personally seen any, but I'm sure there are some. (That said, I also expect most of those are harmless.) I agree with watching where you walk, but try not to spend too much time dwelling on it.

 

[minnie mum]

Central Florida has 4 native poisonous snakes: the coral, water moccasin, pygmy rattlesnake, and eastern diamond back ( not counting the cobra that escaped the idiot in Orlando a couple weeks ago.). Plus many nonvenomous ones. WDW is smack in the middle of a huge nature reserve/swamp. So snakes are possible anywhere on property. When sighted and reported, animal control will try to find them and relocate them. But since they serve a purpose in nature, they quite rightly do not attempt to eradicate them.

And yes, if you saw a juvenile snake, siblings were probably around. Female egg laying snakes do not usually sit on a nest and "mother" their offspring. But rattlesnakes, who bear live young, are known to hang around until the offspring shed their first skin.

We've seen snakes quite a few times in different places in WDW. But since we've been going regularly since 1975, I wouldn't describe them as frequent.

 

[Lynne M]

Look at it this way. There are snakes, poisonous and nonpoisonous, in FL. There are snakes, poisonous and nonpoisonous, in Virginia and Kentucky. I don't think there are necessarily more snakes in FL than in Virginia and Kentucky. So yes, like most other parts of the country, there are some snakes on Disney property - it's not a snake-free zone. But it's certainly not overrun by snakes, and the ones that there are not anymore dangerous than the ones you have at home.

Are you likely to see one? No. Is it possible that you might see one? Yes.

 

[hicksnichols]

I guess I was just hoping someone would tell me what I wanted to hear and say "no, poisonous snakes only live in the mountains." I can't say that I feel any better after reading the post about the boy being bitten at CBR. I have been to WDW 4 times and seen snakes on 2 trips. I guess the one that surprised me was the one I saw at HS. It was quite the other morning so I guess that is why it wasn't in hiding. I guess I will go and watch for them while also trying to pretend they are not there so I don't obsess over their existence.

 

[ols386]

I don't mean to scare you, but there was a post on the DIS a few years ago by a mother who's son was bitten on the hand by a water moccasin. The boy was in the hospital a few days and this incident happened at...wait for it...Caribbean Beach Resort. I believe they were walking down one of the paths at the resort and the boy dropped his toy into the bushes and before the mom could stop him, he stuck his hand into the bushes where the water moccasin was waiting.

We marvel while at Disney about the parents oblivious to the fact that there are deadly snakes on property and allow their children in places that they really shouldn't be.

I remember that mother of the boy who was bitten, posted pictures of the boy while he was in the hospital, and his arm was terribly swollen from the snake bite.

 

[indimom]

We've been to Florida for many trips, Disney and otherwise. We've seen a snake one time. It was on Disney property, crossing a path, but quite easy to see out in the open like that, and simple enough to avoid. They don't want to see you any more than you want to see them.
Stick to well lit, wide paths and you should have no trouble avoiding any close encounters.
Have a great trip!

 

[lucas]

Once we saw a snake at the Beach Club. It was in the garden area, right outside of a room.

Just last week we saw a snake at Port Orleans French Quarter. It was by the grassy area where they do the marshmallows and show the movies.