snakes

[blestmom]

I've got a couple of very squeamish daughters here. We are staying in the cabins in December. My girls are worried about snakes at the campground. My boys, however, are delighted with the thought! Does anyone have any experience with snakes in the campground?

 

[campingcorgi]

We're coming up on visit number 20 and the only snake I've ever seen was a dead on that had been hit by a car or bus. Hopefully you'll have the same luck!

 

[John VN]

Funny you should ask.

Wife, son(just back from Afghanistan) and GS were waiting for bus at Outpost bus stop. Sitting on bench opposite from vending machines and son lifts legs up because 3' to 4' black snake comes out from under bench along with field rat chasing it. They get into a little scuffle and then go back into flowers.
This happened on this past Sunday.

john

 

[Rhonda]

But don't worry - that isn't a common occurance! We've been camping at FW for 15 years and I've never seen a snake! Personally, I like snakes, so I'm usually looking for them - with no luck.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I have warned about snakes at FW several times. Although sitings are rare, I have seen at least one every trip over the past 6 years. Florida is home to several species of poisonous snake, so unless you are well schooled in reptile identification, it is best to leave all snakes alone. They provide a valuable service in rodent control, and are usually more interested in getting away from you than in biting you. If you do have a nuisance critter (that does not include those annoying peacocks or the everpresent squirrel), just call the desk. Disney has a qualified crew who can remove and relocate the animal/reptile. They WILL NOT kill the animal.

 

[bianca]

My 15 yo daughter is terribly afraid of snakes. She had the best story during our last trip. She and her girlfriend were walking along the sidewalk in front of the meadows trading post when they saw a snake "standing up" on the sidewalk. My daughter has been to Ft. Wilderness about 20 times now and had up to that point, never encountered a snake at FW. She says to her friend "Hey, some poor little kid dropped one of those rubber snakes" and bends down to pick it up. She got within about 2 ft. of it when it moved. Imagine her surprise ...... she was still hysterical when she got back to our campsite! LOL!

 

[auntie]

Originally posted by ftwildernessguy
Disney has a qualified crew who can remove and relocate the animal/reptile. They WILL NOT kill the animal.

Well, the qualified crew should have been over at the Wilderness Lodge last May when there was a snake in the area around the pool...those poor castmembers at the pool didn't have a clue what they were doing and were scared to death! I kind of thought this sort of thing would be fairly common to the area and wondered myself why they didn't have a "crew" just for snake removal or wildlife...guess they were busy

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I have seen these guys in action and they obviously knew what they were doing. At times, they will only stand by and keep people away until the critter goes away on it's own. If the animal is in an area where it can be hurt or can hurt someone, they will trap it and remove it.

 

[auntie]

It's likely that the crew is readily available to the staff at Fort Wilderness, being as you are likely to encounter more wildlife there.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Not to bum you out--there are snakes ALL OVER Florida. Best thing to do when you see one--leave it alone.

We saw one at PORiverside one time--it lunged after a duck that was messing with it. The whole time sister and I had a debate on whether or not it was a planted animatronic snake . Well it wasn't--funny response from the CM standing nearby when we screamed..."At the WDW Resort, we prefer that you not alarm other guests by screaming"...all in a calm disney voice.

On a positive note--have never seen one at FW.

My advice--stick to walkways and you won't have any problems...I wouldn't go mentioning the armadillos to them, though . Those things freak me out worse than snakes. But I still go to FW

 

[blestmom]

Too funny! I was so afraid of the armadillos last time...I had gone to make a phone call at the pay phone by the pool at Fort Wilderness. As I was walking back to the cabin (very late at night) I heard and saw an armadillo, and I was too afraid to walk by it. I walked back to the pay phone, called my son, and had him come up to the pool to 'escort' me back to the cabin! I'm such a wimp...
Yes, I will just stick to the walkways. I actually got quite accustomed to the little lizards all over, which is a huge accomplishment for me! Fort Wilderness is still my all-time, hands-down favorite place to stay at Disney. I don't want to stay anywhere else.
Deb

 

[Rhonda]

Isn't it funny how different people are? I almost touched an armadillo last time we were at FW - he/she was rooting around in the bushes and wasn't afraid of us at all, so I walked right up to it! I also love snakes and I'm always looking around for them!

But, put a spider near me, and I'll be in the next county before you could count his legs! LOL!

 

[blestmom]

I'm just so glad God blessed me with two brave boys...they are my 'personal bodyguards!' LOL

 

[John VN]

blestmom

Agree that FW is great but have you ever stayed in the Tree House Villas? Truly a unique experience. Glad we had that opportunity and took advantage of it back in 1980.

John

 

[auntie]

I've seen them going across walk way at the WL and also entering the water at the lake. Haven't stayed in one of the campsites yet...looking forward to that in August...but did stay in the cabins..where we did see the armadillos..have never seen anything like them before.

I wonder...not to freak anybody out..but in your camper..say a trailer or motor home...any chance of one sort of finding his way in..say through an unsealed area or anything. I plan to send my husband under the trailer and make sure everything is sealed TIGHT before our visit. Even those little lizards are everywhere...but they don't bother me...my 12 year old loves the things!

 

[VAN]

Our only encounter with a snake at WDW was in Castaway Creek at Typhoon Lagoon several years ago. It just slithered in from the plantlife around the creek, across my daughter's sholder and into the water.

We told the nearest life guard who arranged for it's removal.

 

[blestmom]

Across her shoulder? Oh my!

 

[parmtoo]

We have never seen any snakes on Disney property, and I hope we never do. My mom, sister, both daughters and myself are all terrified! My son however would be thrilled to see a snake at Ft. Wilderness.