Alligators at resorts

[micknminnie]

I've read somewhere on line that people have seen alligators swimming in the waters at SSR. Does anyone know if this is true?

 

[wdwmagic]

I've seen one at Caribbean Beach and Animal Kingdom, and a snake at Port Orleans.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I've read somewhere on line that people have seen alligators swimming in the waters at SSR. Does anyone know if this is true?

I would assume so. Its Florida, afterall. WDW is a wildlife preserve. Most I've seen at WDW have been in the 2-4 foot long variety.

Keep in mind that there are lots of bodies of water in and around Saratoga Springs.

Nuisance gators, gators that have been fed by people and gator that just get too big (How many Tim Tebow jokes can you make out of that ? :lookaroun ) are removed by Disney and either relocated or eliminated from the eco-system.

The moral? Its a gator, don't touch it.

 

[SnowFire]

I saw a small one at Coronado Springs a few years ago.

We kept trying to find one to show to the kids on our last trip - a trip that included a drive to Key West and back for a wedding. Even with all of that driving we didn't see any.

 

[wedway71]

I grew up in Florida and spent all but the last 3 years of my 38 years there.

It is very hard to keep Gators out of anything.

 

[vonpluto]

Seen in the canal next to the BC bus stop, 9/11/01:

:lookaroun

 

[sbkline]

I saw a small one at Coronado Springs a few years ago.

We kept trying to find one to show to the kids on our last trip - a trip that included a drive to Key West and back for a wedding. Even with all of that driving we didn't see any.

Why not take them to GatorLand? They would see Gators for sure there. Or, if you don't want to pay admission to Gatorland, there is a miniature golf course in Kissimme called Congo River Golf, and they have live gators there, too.

But ya, as others have said, it's Florida, and WDW itself is located on swampland. So, while I have never personally seen a live gator there, no doubt they creep in and there is nothing WDW can do to stop it, with all the different bodies of water all over property.

 

[jaime_1234]

I saw one in the Magic Kingdom, in the water between Frontierland and Tom Sawyer's Island. I don't know how it got in there, but I thought it seemed kind of dangerous - I mean, what was to keep it from going up onto Tom Sawyer's Island? And people were feeding it, which wasn't helping any.

 

[Mickey87]

I haven't seen one yet, but my last trip down we asked one of the workers if it was all right to have our pic taken infront of the little waterfall at Shades of Green. The guy said sure just watch out for gators:lol:.

 

[elisatonks]

I've seen one in the canal connecting OKW and DTD. There was also a post on here recently about one being to near splash mountain.

 

[Lucky]

I've seen a few at POFQ. They seem harmless.

 

[WDW 3]

I've seen one at Shades of Green. We were told they remove them when they reach 4 feet in length. Must be true the Bus Driver said so

 

[Master Yoda]

I've seen a few at POFQ. They seem harmless.

Harmless?????

Throw a beignet in front of those 3 gators and see how harmless they are.:lol:

 

[Lucky]

Harmless?????

Throw a beignet in front of those 3 gators and see how harmless they are.:lol:

Me, waste a beignet? Surely you're kidding.

I'll be there in a couple of days for more.

 

[WelshBatman]

There's a few in the surrounding water around the Magic Kingdom parking lot as well. Be careful when getting in to those cars... heh. There's a couple in the ponds around World Drive as well. However, for the most part, they won't bother you. If you go up to one and offer it food, yeah it will be interested. If try to get up close to a good sized one, you might not come back (or at least come back with all your limbs). Respect the animal and keep your distance.

And if you want to see Gators, check out the drainage canal behind the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales. There's at least a 12 footer out there in addition to several others. But you know, if there's any fresh water in central florida (or all of Florida for that matter) you stand a good chance of having gators.

 

[yankspy]

Here is a video of one at Splash Mountain. If you look at the related videos there seem to be quite few caught on tape.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1ZqrnJkQuQ

 

[Master Yoda]

Just to clear up any confusion....This is nothing unique to WDW. It is a fairly safe assumption that any fresh body of water in the state of Florida has or has had a gator in it.

 

[WelshBatman]

Correct, besides there are bigger threats in the eco-system in Florida at the moment. That's the pythons and boas that have been popping up all over the place. I'd be much more afraid of them than a gator and with Disney controlling as much swamp land in central Florida as they do, it's only a matter of time before they find one.

 

[Mrs. Jobson]

Please tell your friends and family to not feed the animals in the parks. I see people feeding the ducks and birds all the time. I know that it is tempting being all cute and stuff but it is for their own good. They become dependent and can get aggressive. When they do get to this point, well....they get relocated.:dazzle: Not in a good way either. This includes Alligators!

While we are on the subject. On my many 2 week safaris, I've seen people try to feed the animals at Animal Kingdom. I was behind a truck one day in the savanna and watched a family throwing Cheetos off the truck. These animals are fed a strict diet. Please don't feed them!

Ok, I'm off my soap box now.:lookaroun I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

I am off to day dream about going to WDW. Wish I were there! Not much longer though.:sohappy:

 

[JenShelby]

We were in the world in July and we saw one at the Shades of Green on the walking path to the Poly. The rest of the trip we had to carry my neice past this part of the path.