snakes and alligators

[Letsbgoofy]

We're thinking about camping at FW. Camping in my favorite place in the world is something that I have always wanted to do. I have read through hundreds of posts, and I haven't heard any mention of snakes and alligators. I know that there is a canal and a lake, and it's Flroida...no reptiles?

We first started going to WDW in 1995 and we used to waterski and ride the banana raft on the lake; I never thought about snakes and alligators. Now that we are thinking of camping with our dog, I'm a little nervous about what we might encounter.

My friend lives in Tampa. She has a small pond near her that has alligators in it, and she had a cotton mouth in her house a few years ago. I'm from NY; we don't have to worry about things like that!

So...any experiences or words of wisdom?

 

[luckycharm19335]

It's Florida!
You can find snakes and alligators in a puddle.
While there for Thanksgiving one of the boat captains told us about a 13 foot alligator on the beach at the Contemporary. They do move them but they stay on property.
I have personally jumped on top of the picnic table at the sight of a slithering snake at my campsite.
Don't kid yourself. They are there.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Don't kid yourself. They are there.

I'm not kidding myself, that's why I asked! I'm wondering how common they are???

 

[grumpyaggie]

We live in central Texas where snakes are common. Snakes at The Fort are Magical.

 

[2goofycampers]

Of all the times we've stayed at The Fort I have never seen a snake. I have seen a 3-4 foot alligator in the canal.

I've also seen one at CBR. The Fort is no different than any other WDW resort for reptiles.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Snakes at The Fort are Magical

Early one morning I was walking at Caribbean Beach and I saw an armadillo walking down the path towards me. That I would say was magical. Walt Disney himself could not convince me that snakes at WDW are magical!

My concern is for my dog. I know what snakes are, and while I would be scared, I would know to get away from it. We just adopted her a few weeks ago, but I doubt that she has ever seen a snake as she was living on a farm training to be a racer (greyhound).

 

[Letsbgoofy]

The Fort is no different than any other WDW resort for reptiles

I was thinking more that we would be out walking in the woods, not sitting by the pool or at the food court. Good to know that you haven't seen snakes - they concern me more than alligators.

We rode bikes over from the WL one year and saw the horse barn and maybe the Trading Post?, so I'm not really familiar with the campground. I guess I'm picturing it really "wild" when I read about the dog trails. I'll have to look through the threads and see if they are "paths" or actual walkways.

 

[SillyFamily]

We have camped at the fort at least 10x over the years and never seen a snake. On the other hand, we saw one sunning himself at pop next to someones room door. They can be anywhere in florida. Keep your eyes open but dont worry.

 

[2goofycampers]

We have a dog also. Keep to the paths and mowed areas and stay away from shorelines you should be fine.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Thank you for the replies, they have really put my mind at ease.

 

[double r]

Would you be camping in a rv or a tent? I don't think you are allowed pets if you are tent camping.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We are camping in a hybrid trailer - no tents for me! Not with a dog and not in the Florida heat.

 

[North of Mouse]

I'm not kidding myself, that's why I asked! I'm wondering how common they are???

How common? Well, we have been camping regular there since 1972 and personally have only seen one small snake and no alligators!

With so many people about, you occasionally hear of a sighting, but Disney is 'very' good about keeping them at bay - how, I'm not really sure, because, as you say, there is lots of water and it's FL. I 'hate' snakes really bad, LOL, and would never be anywhere for long if I thought I would run into one, but I have absolutely no fear at the Fort!!

Granted, I do not run around out in the woods, basically stay to the paths, but have no fear cutting through woods around the campsites, etc. You don't even 'need' to get off the walkways (not just paths) if you don't want to (I don't, usually).

Just relax and enjoy your trip - you will have a wonderful time!!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Just relax and enjoy your trip - you will have a wonderful time!!

That sounds like good advice from a fellow snake hater Actually, if they are someone's pet I don't mind them, it's out in the wild that they scare me.

It sounds like we will be fine staying on the paths. I'm not sure if we will go for the full hook-up site (1600-1900 I think), or the pet preferred loop (300); I'm going to look at pictures and figure out what sites are not right near water.

 

[rajak73]

I think the bears pretty well keep the snakes in check.

 

[DonnaL]

Haven't heard anything recently, but, I do know in the past many people have stated they have seen both snakes and alligators. We saw a black snake (don't know what kind it was....all I saw was black and about 3 feet long) several years ago slithering across the pathway into the shrubbery on the path from SSR to DTD. I remember when BCV was being built there were many reports of a gator living in the canal near the quiet pool area. Also, a few years back there was a report of a child being bitten by a water moccasin I believe on the grounds of CBR. I remember many posts on the Dis about what happened. The child dropped something which rolled off the paved path near shrubbery I believe and reached to get it. When he did, the snake was under/near the shrub and bit the child several times. I believe the child was hospitalized for several days. So, yes ...snakes and gators are both on property. I know how inquisitive my dog is and I don't think I would trust him not to go nosing around where he shouldn't be.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

I think the bears pretty well keep the snakes in check.

I grew up camping in the Adirondacks - bears are nothing!

 

[North of Mouse]

Haven't heard anything recently, but, I do know in the past many people have stated they have seen both snakes and alligators. We saw a black snake (don't know what kind it was....all I saw was black and about 3 feet long) several years ago slithering across the pathway into the shrubbery on the path from SSR to DTD. I remember when BCV was being built there were many reports of a gator living in the canal near the quiet pool area. Also, a few years back there was a report of a child being bitten by a water moccasin I believe on the grounds of CBR. I remember many posts on the Dis about what happened. The child dropped something which rolled off the paved path near shrubbery I believe and reached to get it. When he did, the snake was under/near the shrub and bit the child several times. I believe the child was hospitalized for several days. So, yes ...snakes and gators are both on property. I know how inquisitive my dog is and I don't think I would trust him not to go nosing around where he shouldn't be.

Amazingly, all the stories that I've looked up about snake 'encounters' have been at the other resorts, not the Fort!! I don't live in fear of seeing one, but I am a very cautious person, even at Disney, and especially at night.

You needn't worry about your dog, having him on a leash will ensure that he only goes where you want him to - doesn't have to be out in the bushes.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

You needn't worry about your dog, having him on a leash will ensure that he only goes where you want him to - doesn't have to be out in the bushes.

Which of course brings up the dog park...that's one place she wouldn't be on a leash. I would hate to not go there because she will need a good run. I have searched all the pictures and it does look like there are some bushes in the park; maybe it's just the angle the pictures were taken at?

I know how inquisitive my dog is and I don't think I would trust him not to go nosing around where he shouldn't be.

I wouldn't trust mine either.

I know this fear is coming from a trip report that I read about a water moc/cotton mouth at the kennel. An owner saw one under the bushes in the play area and the people working there didn't seem to care.

 

[snowmedic]

Up until now, I haven't really given a thought about snakes and gators at the Fort. I do remember reading something about a baby gator in one of the canals last summer. When we where there last fall, snakes and gators where the last thing that was on my mind. We would walk from our site in the 2000 loop, through the meadows group camping area, and cross the bridge into the 900 loop at all hrs. of the day and night to go to the pool or looping.

And just walking around the campground, which I did everyday in the morning to go looping for about 1 1/2 hours, I never seen a snake or gator.