Watch out for those seagulls at Epcot they like to steal food

[hezreck]

We have seagulls flying around in the parking lot of our KMart and we are in Ohio. I often wonder why they are there too. No water near us, we live almost 2 hours from Lake Erie and we still have them.

The only experiences I've ever had with seagulls are the few times we've been to a beach. I live in Pennsylvania and just about a month ago we had a snowstorm and my daughter and I saw a flock of them in a parking lot. How did they get so far off track and in a snowstorm? I didn't think they flew that far inland.[/QUOTE]

 

[EEYORERULES]

My friend & I were at Blizzard Beach a few years ago & when she went up to the condiment stand, a small bird came & sat at her seat & stole a fry & flew off. He did it so quickly I didn't even have time to shoo him away. In tomorrow land we have had trouble with seagulls coming & trying to stand on the umbrella while we ate but they never got any of our food. Here in New Brunswick (Canada) my family refers to seagulls as "Beach Chickens"

 

[cocowum]

At the Polynesian it's not seagulls but egrets that are so annoying. They will jump right on to your table. One mom who was alone with 3 little tiny kids got mobbed by this bird and she freaked! She jumped up, tipped over her chair and was about to have a full blown panic attack. My 3 year old ran over and he chased the bird away. I felt so bad for her, some people are just phobic of birds.

Yep, that's me birds freak me out!!! I know I'm nuts but I can't help it. I can't even eat outside (meals) at WDW.

Once my DD and I were eating pizza at a park in Vermont and we were looking out at the lake. Just as I was about to take a bite of my slice, this seagull swooped down and pulled it right out of my hands. OMG I freaked!! grabbed my DD's hand and RAN back to the car!!! That stupid bird had even scratched my hand while stealing my food! It broke the skin and I swore I had some rare bird disease

 

[Juls]

Not only do the birds snatch and grab, but at TL and MK last year my husband and I watched as birds swooped down on parked strollers and perched themselves and went through the whole diaper bag, pulling things out left and right. If they wanted it they flew off and came back for more. Even our yelling at them didnt help. Some lady at MK was feeding them by holding food in her teeth ! I walked by and made sure she heard me say it was disgusting and how it just encourages them.

 

[Tinseltown Trauma]

I have a bird phobia. I automatically avoid outdoor eating venues, but otherwise get by....However, given some of these posts, I'm getting concerned--is it going to be like St. Mark's Square in Venice just to go from Attraction A to Attraction B in the parks?? If so, I need to seriously reconsider going at all; spending all this $ to be on constant bird alert is not a vacation for me, Disney or not.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

TT

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Tinseltown Trauma,

Except for that one time, it wasn't an issue at all. I was able to walk around epcot and not have a problem. Heck I walked around eating a pretzel and didn't have a problem either. It was just that one time and apparently I ran into a seagull that had a craving for a funnel cake and had to have one now.

You'll be fine.

 

[Feralpeg]

We have seagulls flying around in the parking lot of our KMart and we are in Ohio. I often wonder why they are there too. No water near us, we live almost 2 hours from Lake Erie and we still have them.

The only experiences I've ever had with seagulls are the few times we've been to a beach. I live in Pennsylvania and just about a month ago we had a snowstorm and my daughter and I saw a flock of them in a parking lot. How did they get so far off track and in a snowstorm? I didn't think they flew that far inland.

[/QUOTE]

I lived the vast majority of my life in Kansas City. About 3 years ago, we started seeing seagulls. Very odd. I wonder why? Maybe the weather patterns have changed or the development of areas has made them move. They tended to hang out around the garbage bins at the back of McDonalds! Love those fries!

 

[tifandjim]

That's so funny!

The only experiences I've ever had with seagulls are the few times we've been to a beach. I live in Pennsylvania and just about a month ago we had a snowstorm and my daughter and I saw a flock of them in a parking lot. How did they get so far off track and in a snowstorm? I didn't think they flew that far inland.

We live on the VA/TN border, and we see seagulls all the time! We are, at least, a good 7 hours from the coast. Usually, they come when we have a lot of rain. The funny thing is...they are always in the Walmart parking lot!! I guess even the seagulls love Walmart... HAHA!

 

[Tigger24U]

In February, we watch seagulls stand on the roof of Winnie the Pooh ride and dive bomb just about everyone who bought an ice cream cone right next to Pooh. In about a half hour we must have seen 10 people lose their cones. And once the ice cream was on the ground, at least 10 other seagulls would engulf the cone trying to get some.

The people would just kind of sit their in a daze wondering what the heck just happened.

TTFN

 

[Brer_roadrunner]

How is it they're swift enough to pick a hot dog clean out of the bun on the fly, but find it hard to move out of the way of a moving vehicle? And the weird thing is we swerve to avoid hitting them! We'd rather cause an accident then run over a flying rat.... My advice next time you go to WDW bring Alka Seltzer.... Plop, plop, fizz, fizz...................BOOM! Ok leave the Alka Seltzer at home, it's messy and cruel but it will get you the ultimate revenge on those pesky little creeps...

 

[the kabuki]

Oh, you guys are killing me with this thread!! The images going through my mind are just cracking me up (except for the one about the little kids).

Not only do you need to watch out for the seagulls, but beware of....
the flying squirrels
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=764526

 

[bugsy]

Yes....seagulls are scavengers like rats and other rodents. They also known to poop on people. I had one poop in my hair right there near Mexico in World Showcase years ago......

I can so relate! when I was a girl living in San Francisco, the seagulls knew when we were having recess!!!! We'd all be out having our recess fun, then millions of them would fly over the playground and BOMB us!!! I swear I am NOT making this up!!!

 

[kaabost]

Hey, hey, hey! Am I the only one that is going to stand up for those precious little avian darlings? They are just little harmless birds who happen to be smart enough to know where/how they can make an easy living. If a bird steals your food.....big whoop......go and get a free replacement. Hey, think of it as a little free dinner show excitement. Do you guys honestlt think that seagulls are unattractive birds? Look at them......they're cute! Obviously, I am a bird fanatic who is obviously on the lunatic fringe of avian adoration. I guess I am used to sharing food with obstreperous avians while avoiding poop at home...............so at Disney................the seagulls remind me of my little darlings left at home.....especially when they get aggressive about food. Ok, now you can flame away.................I am one of those obnoxious people who share a small portion of my food with the marauding avians at WDW. I know...I'm sorry.........I just can't help it. I see those little faces and I give in. Like I said...........flame away!

 

[Mermaid02]

Hey, hey, hey! Am I the only one that is going to stand up for those precious little avian darlings? They are just little harmless birds who happen to be smart enough to know where/how they can make an easy living. If a bird steals your food.....big whoop......go and get a free replacement. Hey, think of it as a little free dinner show excitement. Do you guys honestlt think that seagulls are unattractive birds? Look at them......they're cute! Obviously, I am a bird fanatic who is obviously on the lunatic fringe of avian adoration. I guess I am used to sharing food with obstreperous avians while avoiding poop at home...............so at Disney................the seagulls remind me of my little darlings left at home.....especially when they get aggressive about food. Ok, now you can flame away.................I am one of those obnoxious people who share a small portion of my food with the marauding avians at WDW. I know...I'm sorry.........I just can't help it. I see those little faces and I give in. Like I said...........flame away!

Rats with wings

 

[katallo]

I'm not sure is kaabost is kidding! No way any of us want birds swooping near our heads!

 

[Kaitysmom]

Being from NE, I love seagulls and their calls. I don't love their behavior at WDW though. They really flock around Fantasyland - noticeable difference on my last trip.

I have had three experiences. Once a few years ago at Mexico in Epcot, I had one swoop down on our table and attempt to steal a churro. I just reacted and grabbed at it - lost about half. Unfortunately it knocked over my Margarita - now that was going too far. Just a couple weeks ago, I got "pooped on" at the Marketplace - yuck! Then when we were at the Poly volcano pool one swooped down and stole a cherry out of my Mai Tai. I was impressed by the skill, didn't even budge my drink. One woman had a duck land on her hotdog. I know, not funny, but still... Those little ducks remind me of my golden retriever - very skilled beggars.

 

[Liz]

danny1649, that was really nice of you to step in and help that family. I'm glad Disney did the right thing by them.

You'd think WDW would be able to do something about the bird problem, but I have no idea what.

 

[kaabost]

Rats with wings

Intelligent little hungry angels.

 

[Ted and Holly]

Intelligent little hungry angels.

...That not everyone loves as much as you.

The behavior of the birds at WDW is due, in part, from the feeding. There is a lot of dropped food, but people encourage the behavior by taking it a step further and feeding the birds. Surely you can see the difference between your pets and wild birds that become pests.

Ever see the indide of the gull? Believe me, you do NOT want anything that was once inside them on you.

What if it was snakes or bugs that were swarming WDW? Would you feel differently?

Ted

 

[monorailsilver]

They dove into our salads from Mexico.

We went to return them & and told the guy at the counter we wanted 2 new salads even though we only saw the seagull touch one-but it was quick & who knows.

The guy gave us a hard time & asked us why we wanted 2 new ones when only one looked like it was touched by the seagulls. Um...birds are dirty & carry many germs, how would we know if the bird decided to add some extra 'spice' to the untouched salad.

The guy finally gave in & gave both of us a new salad.

Since they we cover the salad with napkins before leaving the counter.