Wife has Ophidiophobia, places to avoid?

[JZCubed]

So my wife is deathly afraid of snakes and since this is our anniversary trip to WDW, I’d like to know where to avoid so she can have a fun and relaxing time.

I’m not worried about wild snakes roaming the park, but any live areas of the park (like Rafiki’s) or virtual (jungle cruise expectantly) would be good to know so I can at least steer her away from having a bad time. I saw the old thread already but looking for a 2021 update would be helpful.

Thanks in Advance, as the say “Happy wife. Happy life”!

A (big enough) snake crossed our path walking to the Contemporary pool area.

Funny, or maybe not, I have similar phobia of small rodents.

Maybe its safe to assume your otherwise happy wife would know that the snake on Jungle Cruise is not real....like Mickey is not a real rodent.....

But as many have mentioned, you're going to be walking around a resort that has uninvited guests from the animal kingdom.

 

[twincruisers]

We fully expect that wild animals will be roaming around. It's not possible to plan around them so we'll deal with them as they occur. This is just to help in the areas that we do have some control over. But thanks for the input!

 

[MrBellatrixLestrange]

Definitely avoid Pankot Palace.

 

[piglet1979]

I am the same. I do not like a room on the first floor for this reason. I feel like it is too easy for them to get in. When walking on a path at the resorts I have to walk in the middle and away from the plants and such on the side. I am always looking for them. I am ok on the rides with the fake ones. Not my favorite but I am ok with it. The real ones in a cage I just walk quickly and once I am away I shiver and move on. I have never seen one with a cast member but have at out local zoo. I quickly go in the other direction before even knowing what animal it is. Though now with the kids I just stand back and let them go look.

 

[Eastern]

We had a first floor BC room once and found a snake in the bathroom. It was little and they came and got him.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Good lord you would hate my backyard. I literally live in the Everglades.

Orlando is a city built in a swamp so snakes can definitely happen.

 

[RogueX]

My husband hates snakes, he calls them "nope ropes". We have an agreement: he deals with the bugs, I deal with snakes and if we get mice in the house, whoever spots it first has to deal with it.

 

[Turksmom]

"nope ropes"

I am using this forever!

 

[Micca]

Last trip we were driving from Kidani to one of the parks and we saw a snake crossing the highway. It was a substantial size because we saw it from the opposite side of the highway.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

I've seen creatures on Disney property that make my skin crawl and are the things of nightmares. And if they are in a double stroller it's twice the fright!

**lighten up Francis**

 

[GBBTomorrow]

I know this isn't what you asked, but I just wanted to say I feel how difficult and stressful this is for you and your wife and wish you all the best. I've been there. I had a paralyzing phobia of snakes and it really had a big impact on my life.

Like you do too, I'm sure, I knew what the treatment was and didn't want to do it. Incremental exposure? No thanks! Then I moved to South Carolina. On the day we moved in there was a snake in the basement, the yard was full of them, and you couldn't really go anywhere without seeing them. I knew I had to do something or I was going to lose my mind. I went through cognitive behavioral therapy and used incremental exposure. My ultimate goal was to be able to enter the reptile house at the zoo. But I exceeded that! At Rafiki's planet watch, I actually touched a beautiful snake named Muppet, and that moment utterly changed my life. She felt like an old warm basketball. It took me eighteen months, and it was difficult, but I'm so glad I did it. Our brains are truly miraculous things!

I'm not trying to make any hard feelings by sharing my story. I just wanted to share that phobias are the most treatable mental disorder, and to wish you and your wife all the best on the trip. If ever she's ready, I just wanted to share that the treatment really does work.

Also, when at Animal Kingdom, watch for the Wilderness Explorer folks who have Rubbermaid boxes out in the parks. Generally it's spiders or a lizard, but once in a while it can be a snake. Some of the other snake areas, such as the Indy scene in the Great Movie Ride and the Pocohontas and her forest friends show at Animal Kingdom, have gone away, thank goodness.

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[twincruisers]

Thank you for sharing! I'll pass your story along and hope she's up for the therapy!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Where are you staying? I've seen them in the wild on every single trip when staying at the Grand Floridian or Polynesian. In fact we saw at least 5 while walking the GF to MK trail! Most were simply sunning themselves but it would be a living nightmare for your wife.

…FIVE?!!

I knew I loved the boat and monorail for a reason…

 

[GBBTomorrow]

…FIVE?!!

I knew I loved the boat and monorail for a reason…

Your mileage may vary. I've been traveling to WDW very regularly since 1992 and have only ever seen one snake in the wild there, and I'm hyper-aware of them because of a phobia. A fast-moving, large, bright green snake shot out in front of us on Discovery Island at Animal Kingdom once (I nearly broke my daughter's arm!). That's literally the only one I've ever seen, and we walk all over the place. There are snakes, but it's not like you trip over them everywhere you go.

 

[GoofyDad_4427]

I don't think anyone mentioned it yet, but you might want to skip It's Tough to Be a Bug at Animal Kingdom. I don't remember if there are any snakes in it, but there are enough bugs and things slithering around that i would avoid it with a snake phobia.

 

[leebee]

I'm snake-phobic and am hyper-vigilant while at Disney: Only upper level rooms, walk in the middle of the path, NEVER walk on grass or near grass, stay away from water, etc. I don't mean to curse my luck, but we've never seen a snake while at Disney (except in that room on the trail walk near the safari- but I go in one door and straight across the room and out the other door). We've taken over 30 trips, stayed onsite and offsite. Just lucky, I guess.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

Just keep in mind this is Florida and you could encounter snakes anywhere at the parks or resorts.

Exactly this. On our way out of Epcot one night, a security officer stopped us while we were walking. There was a long, black snake crossing the walkway that I almost stepped on.

 

[kappyfamily]

I am the same. I do not like a room on the first floor for this reason. I feel like it is too easy for them to get in. When walking on a path at the resorts I have to walk in the middle and away from the plants and such on the side. I am always looking for them. I am ok on the rides with the fake ones. Not my favorite but I am ok with it. The real ones in a cage I just walk quickly and once I am away I shiver and move on. I have never seen one with a cast member but have at out local zoo. I quickly go in the other direction before even knowing what animal it is. Though now with the kids I just stand back and let them go look.

Have to be honest, this is why I always ask for a room not on the first floor. I remember years ago on the Disboards reading about how someone had a ground floor room and housekeeping had the patio door open to air it out and reset the patio furniture and unknowingly let a snake in their room. Might be a good idea to ask for a higher floor room. Although snakes can climb walls so..... but it makes me feel better at least.

 

[piglet1979]

Have to be honest, this is why I always ask for a room not on the first floor. I remember years ago on the Disboards reading about how someone had a ground floor room and housekeeping had the patio door open to air it out and reset the patio furniture and unknowingly let a snake in their room. Might be a good idea to ask for a higher floor room. Although snakes can climb walls so..... but it makes me feel better at least.

I read that too and that has always made me get a room higher. I know they can climb but feel like it is less likely. Or that is what I tell myself to feel better.

 

[Upatnoon]

Disneyland would be your best bet for no snakes in the wild.

Anyway, while there are many reports here of guests seeing snakes, I think it is pretty unlikely you'll see one. But yes, there is wildlife around Disney.

Visiting during cooler weather increase those odds more.