Watch for GATORS!

[JeanneLB]

My husband and I are going to POR 8-31 - 9-7 and we are avid walkers. I will certainly be on the look out. Of coarse, you know in FL. where there is water, there are gators, but I thought Disney would be more diligent about the possibility of a 10 ft. gator sighting. Yikes is right! JeanneLB

 

[michelle1]

: Last week we were kayaking at Port Orleans Riverside where we encountered an alligator in the water about 10 feet from our kayak. The alligator opened it's mouth and snapped at us and then proceded to go into the woods or tree area. I believe the tree area would go directly to the area in which people fish or less than 50 feet away from the pool in which children were playing. We reported the alligator to the hotel and they said his name is Elvis and he is about 4 feet long . This was not the alligator we saw. The alligator we saw was atleast 10-12 feet long. Has anyone else seen an alligator at Port Orleans Riverside? I would love more information on the alligator situation at POR and Fl laws regarding alligators. I would like to cation anyone who is walking through POR at night or anyone in Kayaks. I also know that a very small alligator was found in the bathrooms in fantasy land at the Magic Kingdom.

A gator was found in the bathroom? When did this happen?!

 

[skipperkim]

I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one. But I can tell you anyhow I'd rather see than be one. Oh, wait this thread is about gators. I never saw a green gator....

Did they name the gator in Fantasyland Tic-Toc?

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

The first time seeing a gator, they all look huge. We live in Charleston, SC and we have gator problems too. When we go fishing gators just cruise by your boat A 10ft gator is enourmous, if it opened it's mouth all you'd see is teeth! The sound they make is pretty strange, kind of creepy when you are night fishing in the swamps! I have lots of Gator Roundup Pics

 

[jphilhower]

We saw one at Shades of Green resort in the fornt pond along the walkway in 2007. it was near the shore. It looked to be about 6 ft long. I took a lot of photo's which are now my wallpaper on my computer. We didn't see any this year.

 

[Buzz2001]

Got a chance to see the gator at CSR back in 2006. He was caught later that week and moved. Got some good shots of him. He looked like he was waiting to be feed.

 

[Mrs.Prince]

hmmmmm...how very Lake Placid!!

Maybe they should check and make sure a mutated alligator that is over 20 ft is not around.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I think it was about 3 to 5 years can't remember when they took an 11 ft out by the Contempoary. I was ready to get on the mouse boats when somebody told me. I was

 

[kim_d]

We have seen an alligator (or alligators..not sure if it was the same one) a few times at the BCV in the canal area by the bridge to the parking lot by the quiet pool.

 

[Shell54]

I think it was about 3 to 5 years can't remember when they took an 11 ft out by the Contempoary. I was ready to get on the mouse boats when somebody told me. I was

I'd be scared too That's a big one.

 

[Princess Brittany]

We also had seen a baby alligator at the Poly on the boat dock, but the CMs quickly put it back into the water. About the snakes. I saw a snake while driving the Sea Racers (sp??) on Bay Lake right by the WL. It had its head poked out of the water and there was something in its mouth. I did really see what it was doing because I was so freaked out. I told the CMs at the boat dock about the snake and they said they rarely see snakes in the Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake. So, I guess I got a special dream for the year of a million dreams!!

 

[disnut8]

Disney traps gators over 4ft long and relocates elsewhere on property away from guest areas. They do not destroy them.

Fl Law is pretty strick where gators are concerned. In fact, it's a good thing you didn't hit the gator. FL law protects the gator and you could have been in trouble. Per FL law there is a Nuisance Hotline where you can report problem gators. IF they determine the gator is a problem then a licensed trapper will be sent out to relocate the gator. However, just seeing an alligator does not classify it as a nuisance.

Like an earlier poster already stated Floridians have a saying "If there's a puddle...there's a gator!" However, to all of you coming here on vacation do not in anyway let this scare you! Gator attacks are actually very rare when you consider just how many gators are out there and how many people are in our lakes and rivers everyday. I'm sure that wherever you call "home" there are some dangerous animals (snakes, spiders, bears, etc) that share it with you, but I'm pretty sure you all leave your houses everyday. Nature should be respected, but not feared.

Thank you for reaffirming my belief that Disney doesn't destroy ANY animal. Disney World is a nature reserve in itself. And I loved your last two sentences. We live in what is considered the Atlanta metro area and had some bear scat in our backyard a few weeks ago. Never saw the bear but it doesn't prevent us from grilling on the back deck. We also have little scorpions that like to come in the house and we have some snakes in the back yard as well.

BTW - the little scorpions are captured and put back outside alive. Even little lizards that our cats like to play with are put back outside.

 

[mickeyearssarah]

I agree I respect animals and many many many of my friends are vegetarians. I never said I was going to hit the alligator with my ore but it could have happened if I didnt not see him first. I understand this is their home we decided to build a theme park on but I feel as though it is the responsibility of the resort to warn guests about gators or BAN open kayaks, as well as, warning them looking out and the laws that protect them. Such as the story of the man that shot the alligator who was following a woman and child (My grandparents live outside of Ocala and told me the story after I told them about POR) and the man got in trouble. Most people visiting the resorts are not Floridian and may not understand the that the waters at disney world could have gators. I feel as though if someone was to get hurt or get in trouble for defending theirselves againist the gator (due to the laws that have been mentioned) it would be the responsibility of the resort. IF THEY CONTINUE TO NOT POST SIGNS OR WARN THOSE IN AN OPEN KAYAK. Just my personal opinion.

 

[catne]

when we were at POFQ in May 2008, we rode the boat to DTD. The boat captain was giving a little talk about alligators in Disneyworld (the story about the gator in someone's kitchen in Florida had been all over the news that day) Anyway, the captain reiterated the point that alligators are a protected species in Florida, and said it is illegal to kill alligators anywhere in Florida...she said the law is that if the alligator is in danger or people are in danger, the Fish & Wildlife people will remove the alligator to a safer location. She said Disney does not remove the gators...they bring in State Games people to handle it so there is no question of any mistreatment. She did say that you had better be prepared for the possibility of a gator in any open water in Florida, even swimming pools. And also said swimming in any lakes is not a good idea because of the poisonous algae problems.

 

[mickeyearssarah]

here is the link to the some of the stories about gators in the park. Just search "alligators in magic kingdom"
I have to have more posts before I can add pictures or links. As soon as I am able to I will add my picture of the kayak as well as a link to more gator stories here on the dis.

 

[mickeyearssarah]

Did you know that the average alligator is 800 lbs and 13 ft long but they can grow as large as 1000 lbs and 15 ft!

 

[WLfan]

Why would they kill the alligator and not just relocate him/her?

 

[twinklebug]

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock​

Peter Pan: Mr. Crocodile, do you like codfish?
[crocodile nods]
Peter Pan: You *do*?

 

[kyhardy]

Tick

Tock

Tick

Tock​

Peter Pan: Mr. Crocodile, do you like codfish?
[crocodile nods]
Peter Pan: You *do*?

HILARIOUS I was laughing so hard I could hardly catch my breath to type this!

 

[mgilmer]

We have seen an alligator (or alligators..not sure if it was the same one) a few times at the BCV in the canal area by the bridge to the parking lot by the quiet pool.

That would have been Allie. She (he?) was removed and relocated last year or so. Allie got a little to large for the guest's comfort.