Wildlife at Flame Tree

[pea&angel]

Has anyone had a problem with the ducks and birds wandering aound Flame Tree? We were eating there and the ducks kept coming to or table, so I told my 5 yr old duaghter not to feed the ducks. A few minutes later she was screaming because a duck pecked her finger. She was not feeding it, but she had her hand hanging down beside her chair. I told her that it probably thought that her finger was a french fry. As much as I tried, I could not get her to sit in her own chair again. I hope she doesn't have a fear of ducks because of this incident. We always loved wlking around our pond and looking at the ducks. Only time will tell.

 

[habg1]

We had problems with the wildlife there as well.

We just had to keep all our fingers in, food on the table and make no eye contact with any bird.

 

[TaraPA]

Ditto. We won't eat there again because of the pesty birds!

 

[Colleen27]

At Flame Tree, at Hurricane Hannahs at the Beach Club, at the World Showcase CS... I hate eating outdoors at Disney, in part because of the spoiled, agressive wildlife. The worst I've ever seen was a little girl in her stroller, eating McDonalds fries at the World Showcase. A squirrel was bold enough to come up to stand on the stroller's footrest to try to steal one off her tray! At HH, the ducks were lurking under the table pecking at my DD's toes while we ate. She ended up sitting cross-legged on the chair just to get rid of them.

I always wonder, when I see people feeding the wildlife at Disney, if they have any idea of the problems they're creating.

 

[catne]

we just always make sure we sit across from a table with a bunch of little kids feeding the birds...then they don't bother us

Sorry! I know, that's not funny if your kids are not feeding the birds & the birds are pecking at your children...but seriously, we have never eaten at Flame Tree without some moron & family deliberately feeding the birds...sometimes right in front of the signs that tell you not to. I even saw a CM walk up to one family and very nicely ask them to stop -- as soon as the CM walked on, the family went right back to tossing food. The mom even said "what's the fun of having all these tame birds if you can't feed them" Some people forget to pack their brains when they go on vacation.

 

[ROEDISNEY]

We had the same problem . But it was do to a family sitting next to us where the kids were feeding them and the parents did nothing. It was so annoying.
I don't think I would go back because of that.

 

[d-r]

We've never eaten there without this being a problem and frankly its getting ridiculous. There are signs posted clearly not to feed any animals, but for some reason some people think it doesn't apply to them. Its not the birds fault - they have just learned the behavior that arrogant folks have taught them. Its annoying, unsanitary and dangerous. I was bitten by a duck as a child and it really did hurt.

Its our favorite CS at AK by far and we've mostly resulted to loudly shooing the birds, and loudly telling are children the reasons it is completely inappropriate to feel them (within about 4 table earshot). On occasion we've gotten a CM to tell families to stop. Its about the only time I really get my feathers ruffled, for lack of a better pun, at Disney enough to be kind of a snot about it. Probably wouldn't be so annoyed except there are signs EVERYWHERE, not to do it!

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

A bird came and took about half of the chocolate chip cookie my dd was eating. We were at AK waiting for the reast of the family to ride KRR. After reading this I'm glad that all the bird took. We also had some super freinedly ducks come by, but they just sat right under her chair.

 

[TDC Nala]

Many of the birds at WDW are quite agressive because a great many guests think it is cute to feed them (even in defiance of posted "please don't feed the birds" signs in many areas) and they have come to expect that they will be fed.

 

[Traveliz]

We have never fed the birds there but they still like to bother us.

I was just sitting there once waiting for my husband to bring the food - so no food even on my table and a duck pecked at my leg.

We were there a couple of weeks ago and the little boy we were with was terrified of the white one with the long red beak - we had to keep shooing it away. None of us were feeding them but they were still circling.

I really like the food and I LOVE the view from the bottom area across from EE but I wish the ducks could be better managed - I am sure its difficult though.

Liz

 

[Toystoryfan32]

Flame Tree is our absolute favorite counter service place to eat....but those birds!!!! Like many of the previous posters we are inevitably always sitting next to a family that feeds the birds. Its a good thing my youngest likes birds. She freaks out when dogs are around so I cant imagine what it would be like if she didnt like birds.

 

[Kathy Z]

We had ducks anxiously wandering around us at Flame Tree and we told our granddaughters why they could not feed them and to also to keep a close eye on their food, particularly the french fries and the one bun. But those wood smoked ribs were the greatest and the shaded seating with a view of EE outweighed the cons for us. DH & I will eat there again in December if it is warm enough to sit outdoors.

The birds surrounding the Volcano Pool at the Poly were more aggressive. They swooped down trying to snatch french fries right off the table while people were eating. I suspect this is because so many people just leave their leftovers (including food, paper products and towels) when they leave the area rather than disposing of their trash and putting their used towel in the proper bins.

I agree it is a people created wildlife problem. You can't blame the wildlife for figuring out the way to an easy meal.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I'm sure I'm going to have someone flame me for this....but when we have problems with ducks we use two methods...

1. Clap or stomp

2. Swing your tray as though you were trying to fan someone.

I do not hit, or even swing AT the birds, I simply wave my tray as though I'm trying to fan something/make a breeze and they go away.

 

[jenjersnap]

A duck pecked my middle DS's leg under the table in January. We were just minding our business, certainly not feeding them. He still talks about it - more than any other aspect of our trip - and insists we will never eat there again.

I have posted about this several times but we've had other wildlife encounters at Flame Tree. A few years ago, a BIG black snake fell out of a tree and, literally, bounced off the table - occupied - next to us and onto the ground. That was, um, very exciting.

 

[Kathy Z]

Oh my, a big black snake dropping down onto an occupied table. Now that would have freaked me! But I still love those ribs, and where we sat we were under a large awning or some sort of roof so I would think the worst that would happen snake wise would be having one slither across the pavement. Thanks to 9th grade biology class I got past my worst fear of snakes.

 

[Toystoryfan32]

A duck pecked my middle DS's leg under the table in January. We were just minding our business, certainly not feeding them. He still talks about it - more than any other aspect of our trip - and insists we will never eat there again.

I have posted about this several times but we've had other wildlife encounters at Flame Tree. A few years ago, a BIG black snake fell out of a tree and, literally, bounced off the table - occupied - next to us and onto the ground. That was, um, very exciting.

I would have freaked out. I am not scared of snakes really but one dropping from a tree near me is a different matter all together.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I always wonder, when I see people feeding the wildlife at Disney, if they have any idea of the problems they're creating.

I wonder that myself.

 

[disnut8]

We must be the only ones to go to Flame Tree because of the birds. We love seeing them and marvel at how safe they feel around humans. Where else would you be able to get that close to an ibis (those are the white ones with the long legs and long beak) or a duck? Quite a few come around to us, we talk to them (they hardly ever answer back), and enjoy our time with them. We do not feed them (although my husband is always tempted) and don't like when other people do.

But the one thing we absolutely do NOT like is when some kid decides it's so funny to chase a bird. While the parents think it's funny or cute. That just torques us to no end.

 

[TDC Nala]

They are lovely until they start pecking on people or stealing food. The reason they know they can get that close is that they've been fed so much in the past.

Wanna get close to some ibis? Try Cantina de San Angel. There's this gang of ibis that walk around the tables waiting for crumbs.