Alligators captured at Disney doubles

[Skibum1970]

I’m not being snarky with the following question, I’m genuinely curious,
Does someone, from any part of the country, realize that snakes, fish, turtles, and so on, are in manmade lakes in their part of the country?

I just don’t know if we need signs at every corner to remind us that a poisonous snake or spider could be around.. or signs on every beach near the ocean. I would hate to see something like that happen due to extremely rare attacks. I just can’t imagine that any adult in America would never have heard of alligators being associated with Florida.. it’s on almost every map, and there’s a little known college football team with the name.

I live in Ohio and people act as if copperheads and rattlesnakes won't cross the Ohio River. While Ohio is a bit north, I don't think that the river would truly stop them. Now, if they are just discriminating against Ohio, well, they can just stay out. Same with bears. Actually, I'm amazed at how ignorant people are of the area that they live in. Maybe they can use the smart phones to take a picture and google what snake just caused their leg to swell up and go necrotic.

Let's not even start on black widow and funnel-web spiders. Or centipedes.

 

[Unplugged]

When I travel for business, I definitely research the countries I'm going to and the general health and safety information as well as wildlife. Do I know what every snake and spider looks like? No. Do I educate myself enough to know that I should avoid the areas that the snakes and spiders populate? Absolutely.

I'm replying to your post as I agree with it, but it's a good segue way into my thought.

I too used to travel a lot on business, but only within the US. I still looked into the regions. People that claim no one looks into anything when they go to Disney is full of rotten beans. Come on folks, everyone checks the weather to know how to pack, do you need sun screen, can you take your swim suit, etc. If you're driving down to Florida, do you check road construction for your route? How about tolls and parking?

It doesn't take much else to get familiar with an area for safety as well. Planning on driving around Orlando or any city on your way down? Check the crime or safety of areas. You don't need an FBI investigation, just a quick check to see what's going on lately, like a few minutes on Google. Check bug and critter season. If you're going to Fort Wilderness, it be pretty lame not to consider mosquitos, right?

As @mikejs78 is saying, and I'm echoing with a little local reasoning for the non-believers, is that your travel is better and families have more fun when you put a little bit of effort into it. Anyone who hops in a plane or car and just takes off these days is fool hearty at best.

 

[MisterPenguin]

If you ever come to the Jersey shore where I live you have to be careful of migrating statenislanders filming mtv shows else you might startle them and get sprayed in the face with tanning lotion.

 

[Dizneykid]

I think the difference is that people assume that the Disney park was conceptualized and constructed to be safe from the dangers you'd find outside of the property. I don't think it's totally ignorant to assume this massive theme park would have methods of excluding dangerous animals from waters they created. Even if it is ignorant, sometimes you have to be safe by doing all you can to inform them because a majority of visitors don't come from gator regions.

 

[rael ramone]

Thoughts:

Moving more gators. Good.

Are the gators back at LWTL? IIRC, the BTST, but not the BR, mentioned that the gators on the ride in the aquaculture greenhouse were harvested for food and other uses... (don't you just love acronyms)...

The bubble - the concept of a 'bubble' isn't unique to $DIS properties. There is a belief of 'safety' in any all-inclusive resort. The Mouse most certainly encourages this. The Magical Express adds a level of separation between the guest and the non-$DIS elements in the Orlando area (with the intent to increase the separation of the guest and their hard earned dollar to their properties).

More specific warning signs - The once 43 square mile resort wasn't 'warning free' as far as declaring the potential inhabitants of the watery regions - though it was pointed out in the press at the time that it was strictly at the Shades of Green property (leased out to the US DoD and not run by $DIS). Having a more descriptive sign in TDO controlled areas was likely not seen as 'MAGICal'... More general signs often have the effect of 'yea I bet the lawyers make them put that stuff up'...

Are we talking about removing native wildlife that is merely exhibiting natural behavior? How much 'natural behavior' of wildlife does one see down in the Swamps? Between squirrels, ducks, other birds, etc., wildlife at WDW does not have the natural fear of man that other creatures would have outside - thanks to being fed by guests. This altering of natural behavior has extended to the predatory wildlife that resides there. There were reports of gators being fed by guests, even immediately AFTER the unfortunate incident at the Floridian that wasn't stopped because to do so was, again, not MAGICal... (I don't know if things have changed in enforcement, but guests who feed predatory wildlife should be escorted off property and banned for life).

The gator that attacked the boy, if it was truly exhibiting 'natural' behavior, would not have been there - not with all those people in the area. That gator's natural behavior was altered by guest actions - and TDO indifference.

Removing 'altered' predatory wildlife from a resort that, even with more specific and more appropriate signage & barriers, still presents a risk at a resort that caters to families that may let their guard down anyway..... that's a good thing...

 

[21stamps]

I’m sorry, but anyone who fails to realize that any resort is not enclosed in an invisible bubble- is an idiot.

Hate to be that harsh, but there’s really no other word to describe that thinking.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Swimming at vintage WDW. I'm still not sure what happened, but sometime, somehow, paradise got lost as the water became infested with bacteria, gators and trashy bungalows. (Can't they just shoot the latter two?)

 

[righttrack]

I think that many tourists view WDW as a "gated community". Think of the concept of going to a resort in Mexico or the Caribbean. Outside the gates there is crime, beggars, con men and other sorts of things people avoid. Inside, paradise. As WDW did some soul-searching post that poor toddler death (can you imagine how his poor family felt?) and are adopting this sort of mentality. They're going to do better to protect you from the outside world of FL if they can. Sure it's an uphill battle, but they're going to do a better job. For me, the signs were enough. I'd never go in the water or near the water given the signage (and I did't before because I knew).

 

[njDizFan]

I guess I am just gleefully ignorant. In NJ (basically a peninsula) there is water everywhere. I spent countless days at beaches, bays, lakes the Delaware River, streams, rivers etc. and just never really thought twice about any dangers that were presented. Sure the occasional shark alert, large surf or jellyfish swarm. I know about insects and snakes but never really gave them a second thought. Us older Gen-Xers where not raised in a place of fear.

Now I know gators exist and they live down south but I would not view them as a threat unless I was in the swamps (especially in Disney where I would have assumed they deal with their wildlife).

Once again I guess this is pure ignorance. And I certainly would not shame the parents for letting the child splash in a foot of water.

 

[21stamps]

I live in Ohio and people act as if copperheads and rattlesnakes won't cross the Ohio River. While Ohio is a bit north, I don't think that the river would truly stop them. Now, if they are just discriminating against Ohio, well, they can just stay out. Same with bears. Actually, I'm amazed at how ignorant people are of the area that they live in. Maybe they can use the smart phones to take a picture and google what snake just caused their leg to swell up and go necrotic.

Let's not even start on black widow and funnel-web spiders. Or centipedes.

Centipedes and millepedes creep me the h^** out!!!

A couple of years ago I did actually take a picture of something and immediately posted to FB to ask what it was. Apparently it was an Alligator Gar. I had never heard of it before.. so creepy looking! Had no idea they were in the Ohio river.. but I don’t think I want to know what’s in the Ohio River ....I can name and swim with about any saltwater fish or mammal..however, freshwater fish scare me.

 

[TeriofTerror]

Swimming at vintage WDW. I'm still not sure what happened, but sometime, somehow, paradise got lost as the water became infested with bacteria, gators and trashy bungalows. (Can't they just shoot the latter two?)

I could be wrong (I often am), but I believe when WDW opened, alligators were an endangered species. Maybe that's why they weren't viewed as a likely issue.
I'm having a hard time arguing with the rest of your statement, however.

 

[Skibum1970]

Centipedes and millepedes creep me the h^** out!!!

A couple of years ago I did actually take a picture of something and immediately posted to FB to ask what it was. Apparently it was an Alligator Gar. I had never heard of it before.. so creepy looking! Had no idea they were in the Ohio river.. but I don’t think I want to know what’s in the Ohio River ....I can name and swim with about any saltwater fish or mammal..however, freshwater fish scare me.

Yeah, alligator gar are funky but basically harmless. Look up a muskellunge/muskie. Those things have teeth but rarely, if ever, bite humans.

I don't know. I have always tried to stay aware of my surroundings. I swim in the ocean and know that sharks and jellyfish are around. FYI, sharks and barracudas give me some fear. I go to the Smoky Mountains and know to watch out for poisonous reptiles and bears. People are just willfully ignorant of the predators around them. Just like trying to pet a bear cub. When they get attacked by the protective mother, they act like it was unknown. I'm not afraid of nature but I know to respect it and to know what is out there.

Also, I am more afraid of scorpions and centipedes than other insects.

 

[21stamps]

Yeah, alligator gar are funky but basically harmless. Look up a muskellunge/muskie. Those things have teeth but rarely, if ever, bite humans.

I don't know. I have always tried to stay aware of my surroundings. I swim in the ocean and know that sharks and jellyfish are around. FYI, sharks and barracudas give me some fear. I go to the Smoky Mountains and know to watch out for poisonous reptiles and bears. People are just willfully ignorant of the predators around them. Just like trying to pet a bear cub. When they get attacked by the protective mother, they act like it was unknown. I'm not afraid of nature but I know to respect it and to know what is out there.

Also, I am more afraid of scorpions and centipedes than other insects.

I just saw one of those for the first time last year!

Funny sequence of events, in less than an hour, on our annual camping trip last summer-

Swimming in the lake and going down the water slide maybe 20ft away from the beach-

My kid swims back to the platform and jumps out yelling “eww I almost ran into a dead turtle!”

We decide to walk back to the campsite and get our volleyball.. See a crazy looking giant snake-fish.. I didn’t know the name, had to phone a friend.. (you’ll have to zoom, it was hard to see in the photos, do you see it?)

Then kiddo almost steps on a small turtle..

At that point I said “Enough nature, let’s just go to the pool”

I love marine life, but these Midwest critters are too creepy for me. I’m a diver.. I adore the ocean, even with all of the scary things in it.. but I won’t do quarry diving in the Midwest. I have no interest in what’s inside.
BUT- I know what snakes are here, I know that when we go camping (something that I just took up 3 years ago) that bears, fox, coyotes, raccoons, etc can be around.. we don’t do primitive camping (yet).. we go to a “RV resort”... but I realize that nature is nature.

You don’t have to be afraid, but it’s irresponsible for anyone to be unaware of whatever part of the country you’re in.

 

[larryz]

I’m a diver.. I adore the ocean, even with all of the scary things in it.. but I won’t do quarry diving in the Midwest. I have no interest in what’s inside.

Ever since getting my c-card, I've had trouble getting into water without a wetsuit on... even swimming pools. I've seen what people do in those, too, and it's worse than being in the ocean, believe me.

 

[JoeCamel]

I could be wrong (I often am), but I believe when WDW opened, alligators were an endangered species. Maybe that's why they weren't viewed as a likely issue.
I'm having a hard time arguing with the rest of your statement, however.

1973 - 1987 they made the list. Didn't take long to snap back tho

 

[JohnD]

Alligators getting captured is bad because....?

 

[Mainahman]

been there longer than you know

 

[21stamps]

Ever since getting my c-card, I've had trouble getting into water without a wetsuit on... even swimming pools. I've seen what people do in those, too, and it's worse than being in the ocean, believe me.

These 2 posts are long, but if you have a chance- read and laugh at me.lol. You may appreciate the story. For some reason I feel a lot more safe in the ocean when wearing a wetsuit. Even night dives, I feel like my headlight gives me power.. but I don’t like jumping off a boat at night without dive gear on.

Onward to the beach at Ft. Zach

I rent 2 chairs
An Umbrella
A raft for T
Snorkeling Gear for both of us.

We had stopped and bought sand buckets and shovels the day before.

We are both looking forward to spend the day relaxing and swimming in the ocean.
There is a restaurant on the beach where we can have lunch.
Plans are- camp out here all day

Time to relax!!! (I think..)

View attachment 197837View attachment 197836View attachment 197835

For those of you who have been to KW, you already know this.. but for those who haven't.. the beaches (on the island itself) are not soft white sand.

Most have a lot of shells. The beach at our hotel wasn't too bad, but I had forgotten how rocky and how many shells were actually at Ft. Zach's Beach.

T was complaining within 1 minute. I couldn't blame him, I could barely walk as well.

So, back in the car and on a hunt for water shoes for us.

You would think they would have been easy to find. Nope, not in T's size.
Couldn't find any on Duval so we headed to New Town.

FIVE stores and 90 minutes later- finally found some!

Now we can go back to our spot and relax!!!
The sun is still shining!!

We get back to our chairs and immediately go in the water.

Finally, I'm in the ocean!!!

I had picked up a water proof case for my phone while we watershoe shopping.. now we are all set to swim, snorkel, take photos..and enjoy this beautiful place.

No joke, not even 2 minutes later..

I see this-
View attachment 197838

No!! The rain is NOT going to hit us yet. We haven't done anything!!! This is our first beach day!!! This morning/afternoon has been planned for 2 months!!

I grab T and hurry back on the beach.. then ask a stranger, in the chairs next to us, to take our photo standing on the rocks.. once we swim out to them. (I swam- I put T on the raft)

First of all, I've done this swim maybe 50 times. Doing the swim with the raft is a little more difficult. I'm a strong swimmer and even I was a little tired. BUT- we're getting there.. I want this photo!! I want my son to remember this!!!

The water here gets very deep maybe 30 ft or so..and then you reach the rocks.

We made it!!! I climb up on a rock while holding T's raft. Grab his hand to pull him on the rock with me.

And then I look down.. CRABS EVERYWHERE!!

I picked the wrong rock!!! I don't want T up here!! I push him down, too quickly, and I completely WIPE OUT.
Not in the water, on the rock!!

Now my legs and hands are bleeding.
Omg I'm going to get attacked by a shark!!!
With T!!!

Forget the rocks.. we need to get back.

Please please please.. don't let a shark see the blood!!!

I swam faster than I probably ever have before. I kept pushing the raft trying to get T to catch a wave and go to shore in front of me.. in case- SHARK.

I can't even imagine the look on my face at that time.

Anyway, here are the photos.
View attachment 197840View attachment 197839

See us out on the rocks?lol. We're the 2 tony dots.lol Never did get both of us to stand long enough for a photo.
Bright side- I didn't get eaten by a shark, so there's that positive.lol

We arrive back to shore and see people pointing and gathering their belongings..

I go up to retrieve my camera from the stranger.. they point to what everyone is looking at.

WATER SPOUT.

A small one, but still- time to go. The pouring rain came not even 30 seconds later.

Snorkeling gear untouched, chairs unused, we're leaving just after we had arrived

View attachment 197841

 

[BD-Anaheim]

Swimming at vintage WDW. I'm still not sure what happened, but sometime, somehow, paradise got lost as the water became infested with bacteria, gators and trashy bungalows. (Can't they just shoot the latter two?)

The Seven Seas Lagoon was a man made lake. Nature eventually took over and won.

It was never that blue though; lakes in FL aren't. The photo is doctored (or as we now say, photoshopped)

 

[The Empress Lilly]

The Seven Seas Lagoon was a man made lake. Nature eventually took over and won.

It was never that blue though; lakes in FL aren't. The photo is doctored (or as we now say, photoshopped)

I think that's just the print. The colours are slightly off.

WDW didn't need to doctor their pictures back then. White sandy beaches, clearer dark blue, slightly greenish water, watersports everywhere.