What do you make of THIS?

[allmydisneydreams]

I was reading reviews on tripadvisor (yes, I am travel obsessed). Most FW reviews are great - although they are mostly re: the cabins and I am looking more for camping insight. Anyway, I came across this little diddy and just don't even know what to make of it so I thought I'd ask the experts ...

"I can't say anything negitive about the hotel becauce I did not stay there. I camped in Ft. Wilderness for a week. ( 8/3 to 8/8, 2009 ) What I will say is there were 2 RATS TRAPS chained to a tree with-in 10 feet from my camp site. ......Yes , live bait traps. This is not a very clean or sanitary way to rid the area of rodents. My camp site # was 1918. I sent pictures and a letter to Ft Wilderness and have never received a response. Pets and children were close to the bait traps for me to be concerned, yet the Disney staff never contacted me, or removed them during my stay.
I am hoping someone from Disney reads this and contact me by E-mail."

Whatcha think ??????????????????????

 

[des1954]

I have seen rat traps a LOT at the Fort, but I can assure you, there was no live bait in them. The traps are the kind that the rat can get in, but cannot get out. I have never seen a CM removing a trap or setting one, for that matter, and we are at the Fort a lot. For the most part, they are in very obscure locations that would not be a hazard or a curiosity to children or pets (that is - if the pet is properly confined). Just keep in mind that some people will create their own drama in order to get some sort of compensation from Disney.

Also - I've written & e-mailed the Fort on several occasions - both to praise and to complain, and I have always received a response.

I think the O.P. is blowing smoke to try and stir a hornet's nest.

 

[mnsprk]

Also - I've written & e-mailed the Fort on several occasions - both to praise and to complain, and I have always received a response.

DITTO My E-mails have never gone unanswered either.

 

[allmydisneydreams]

I was sort of hoping that you would say that this person was certifiable because, frankly, the idea of rats freaks me out I just don't think of them as woodland type wildlife, ya know? I'm good with frogs, lizards, harmless bugs, well, maybe not "good" per se, but I can handle them. My biggest fear (up until now) was coming across a snake. Yes, I am a wimpy new-to-camping girl, I admit it.

 

[Memph1s]

Those kind of traps are all over WDW. I have seen them in all the parks. I just dont know how they got this past Mickey. All the food stores and even Walmarts down here in Florida use the live traps. While I have never seen Disney tend these things they must because I have never seen or smelled one of these traps with anything in them. Maybe there are so many snakes in the area they never make it to the trap.

 

[AuburnJen92]

I have made good and bad responses to Disney as well and received responses every single time. One time I even received a phone call about it to my cell phone on file on my reservation! (I was impressed!) I agree with Deb, this is a blowhard who is trying to stir up a nest of trouble. This campground was built on a swamp remember people. There are ANIMALS around. Some of these animals can be harmful to humans, so humans trap them and bring them to places where they can no longer be a danger to others and themselves. I am glad they do it. I would be concerned if they didn't. You most likely will not see any critters that you don't want to see unless you go looking for them. Have a great time and don't worry.

 

[Tnbob]

I saw a rat running around DHS last week while I waited with my GS for my wife to come out of the Great Movie ride. The park was past closing time and there weren't many people around so I assume it was his time to play.

 

[allmydisneydreams]

Maybe there are so many snakes in the area they never make it to the trap.

VERY funny

I can't believe they are in DHS ... Maybe it was Ratatouille

OK, I'm slightly freaked out. The only rat I've ever seen was running down the street in NYC, and you sort of expect rats there, no? I had no idea they were so rampant in Orlando.

The thing is that we are planning to tent camp, and of course eat at our site and, sure, we would be careful and lock up food anyway and all that ( I would have thought of racoons, but not rats!) BUT - I have three little boys and they are not the neatest little creatures on the planet. Maybe I'll bring my dustbuster and vacuum the dirt under the picnic table after each meal

Seriously - would you worry about snacking in the tent - we've always done it when cub scout camping and never had any problem. But I have this horrific fear now of the baby dropping unseen cookie crumbs and Ratatouille's icky relatives breaking into my tent at 2 AM

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Just my opinion, but a person has to be kidding them selves if they think that rats/mice, etc. only live around filth (and need to be caught.)

We live out in the country,,we have never had a problem with these vermin in our home,,I have however seen them out in fields,, along creek banks, around barns, etc. Have you ever seen a cat inna field ready to pouch on something ? It's not after a hippo.
Or have you ever seen a rat/mouse cross the road while you were driving ?
Rodents are EVERYWHERE as much as snakes, roaches or any other bug/creepy crawler.
They really are a part of the life we live as any critters, and as with ANY other critters, yes they are more likely to be where there is a lotta filth rather than a clean area, when you see traps, that doesnt mean its filthy, it could mean , preventive measures.

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Seriously - would you worry about snacking in the tent - we've always done it when cub scout camping and never had any problem. But I have this horrific fear now of the baby dropping unseen cookie crumbs and Ratatouille's icky relatives breaking into my tent at 2 AM

I suppose there's a first time for everything, but in all the years we've tent camped in all different kinds of settings, we've never had a rat try to break into our tent. No point in tempting fate, though -- it can't hurt to keep food out of the tent. Mostly to prevent ants, though. Plus, the crumbs get itchy when you're trying to sleep.

I'm sure you'll be fine -- have fun!

 

[Magicbus]

What is live bait?
Was it a large rat trap or a small mouse trap, as in cute little field mouse?
If the Fort uses the traps where the mouse enters and can't get out, I'm sure it was just some kind of food to entice them. Maybe Mickey was out on another binge and they were trying to get him back. He falls off the wagon every once in while. Oops, I wasn't supposed to say that.
And I agree with a PP that with all the large snakes at the Fort, I don't think a few mice are a problem. Do the black bears eat snakes? Hey, maybe it was bear trap.

 

[des1954]

I was sort of hoping that you would say that this person was certifiable because, frankly, the idea of rats freaks me out

Stop freaking. My DH & I have frequently (very frequently) camped at FtW for 36 years, and in all that time I have never seen a rat. I've never seen a raccoon either, & frankly that is a puzzlement to me.

OK, I'm slightly freaked out. The only rat I've ever seen was running down the street in NYC, and you sort of expect rats there, no? I had no idea they were so rampant in Orlando.

The thing is that we are planning to tent camp, and of course eat at our site and, sure, we would be careful and lock up food anyway and all that ( I would have thought of racoons, but not rats!) BUT - I have three little boys and they are not the neatest little creatures on the planet. Maybe I'll bring my dustbuster and vacuum the dirt under the picnic table after each meal

If you are tent camping, be more concerned with keeping the coquina shell out of your tent. I don't want to diss you, but yee-gawds!! Maybe you should book a stay at one of the All-Star resorts and forget about camping. It's cheaper, you can get the dining plan at ASR, you'll be in A/C, in a bed, with bathroom facillities 10 feet away, food court, pool. Then all you'll need to worry about is a rat that is swimming in the sewer system popping out of your toilet in the middle of the night. And, I'm serious about that. It can and does happen anywhere in the world - not just in NYC.

 

[big kahuna1]

[QUOTE="I can't say anything negitive about the hotel becauce I did not stay there. I camped in Ft. Wilderness for a week. ( 8/3 to 8/8, 2009 ) What I will say is there were 2 RATS TRAPS chained to a tree with-in 10 feet from my camp site. ......Yes , live bait traps. This is not a very clean or sanitary way to rid the area of rodents. My camp site # was 1918. I sent pictures and a letter to Ft Wilderness and have never received a response. Pets and children were close to the bait traps for me to be concerned, yet the Disney staff never contacted me, or removed them during my stay.
I am hoping someone from Disney reads this and contact me by E-mail."/QUOTE]


I have one word for this one!

 

[krimi]

I have had the same traps at my house from a bug company. They are black, about half size of a shoe box. I was told they contain a poison that the rats eat and drives them to water..the combination then kills them.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

The person who posted on tripadvisor is not a troll. There are rat bait stations all over the Fort.

This is what they look like:

These are not rat traps.

They are poison stations.

The rats enter and eat the poison, and then go off to die.

Hopefully not in your campsite.

Here is a link that explains how these poison stations work:

Do It Yourself Pest Control

I see these all over the Fort. Usually, they are connected to a small tree with a zip tie.

You can also see these poison stations outside just about every restaurant in the State of Florida.

NBD

TCD

 

[allmydisneydreams]

Thanks, TCD. You are like the voice of reason.

I'm sorry if I am upsetting people. I didn't realize about the whole rat thing, I thought that they were more in urban areas. Yes, I would have expected field mice, possums, raccoons, etc. I've seen all of those in the woods around here the few times we've camped, just never thought of rats as a woodland creature, thats all.

I am definitely not a troll. Just curious and looking for answers.

I honestly thought that the tripadvisor poster was either crazy or just wrong about what they saw.

Of course, in my mind (from their explanation) I was envisioning some metal jaw-type trap that little children were going to get caught in. I know, I know.

Yes, I'm a city girl.

In case you couldn't tell.

Now when we are in Florida I'll be noticing those little black boxes ...

BUT if people have been camping at the fort for three decades and haven't ever seen a rat I really don't think I'll worry too much about it

Thank for the answers, guys.

 

[big kahuna1]

The person who posted on tripadvisor is not a troll. There are rat bait stations all over the Fort.

This is what they look like:

These are not rat traps.

They are poison stations.

The rats enter and eat the poison, and then go off to die.

Hopefully not in your campsite.

Here is a link that explains how these poison stations work:

Do It Yourself Pest Control

I see these all over the Fort. Usually, they are connected to a small tree with a zip tie.

You can also see these poison stations outside just about every restaurant in the State of Florida.

NBD

TCD

TCD,

Yes, they are a TROLL! They are making an issue out of a non-issue to create controversy which is the exact definition of a TROLL. There actually being bait stations at the Fort has nothing to do with it. I still call TROLL!

And yes, I know there are Rat poison stations all over the Fort as I have stayed there too many times to count and have seen them at many of the camp sites I have camped in.

In addition, unless the poster was the one who posted the comment I quoted, I was not referring to you as the TROLL but to the person who posted the comment on Trip Advisor. That is why I put those comments ONLY in quotes and not yours.

 

[allmydisneydreams]

I was just thinking. Maybe people would think I am trolling because I have so few posts. But I just changed my name. It was novdisneydreams and it was driving me crazy because of the November part. We went to Disney in November of 2005, which is when I started posting on disboards. So I have been asking many (stupid?!) questions on the Dis for nearly five years. I am not as new as I look. And trolls annoy me, too.

Although maybe no one was even talking about me I didn't realize you could even be a troll on a review site.

And I was mostly kidding about a rat breaking into my tent.

But heres a true story for you. Last summer my boys decided that they wanted a clubhouse. So we pitched our tent in the backyard. The put chairs in it, and toys, and books, and hung out in there for hours and hours, having a great time. They made sure to zip up when they left, to keep it clean and dry in there. The next morning we discovered that the tent side was ripped open. A huge rip.

Guess who did it? Our chocolate lab, who was an overgrown (two year old) puppy at the time. The boys had left a pack of peanut butter crackers in there, and she broke in to get them! We knew it was her, because she was STILL IN THERE. And the package from the crackers was lying on the ground. And her breath smelled like peanut butter.

Now we love this doggie very, very much. But she is not, at times, all that bright. And she most certainly wasn't hungry, because we feed her well.

The way I see it, this was a recreational tent break-in, by a not so smart pup.

So if SHE could do it. Well, a crafty rat ...
I'm just saying.

But I have learned enough of the rat situation at FW, WDW, and in Florida in general.

I will speak of rats no more.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

The solution is, as all seasoned campers know, to keep critters away, don't leave food lying around your campsite!

 

[Disneylitch]

We live in the country and unfortunately had a field rat get into our motorhome. He ate through the side walls under the back bed, the ducting for the heat, speaker wires, carpeting, etc. He finally ate some formaldyhide base treatment for the toilet. He then made his way to the back of the motorhome again and chewed a hole in the side and got stuck trying to get out. We spent the entire summer fixing the damage that he caused. Since then, we have shined a light inside and outside of the motorhome and sealed up every hole, no matter how small. We have also hung moth cakes in the unit. Knock on wood, we have not seen any mice or field rats this year. Like was said, they are everywhere and The Fort is in the woods.