[dixie]

When we were in MK this August we saw an alligator in the Tom Sawyer Island water. There were many visitors to the park watching it and many CM's too, I took a photo of it as its not often us Brits get to see one up that close!!!! but strangely enough thats the second time we have seen a gator in MK and in exactly the same area. The first one was a couple of years ago, and it was the thread about the turkey legs that reminded me as many guests were throwing the leftovers of the legs to the gator. The CM was not amused as he told DH and I this would encourage the gator to maybe leave the water in search of more food. No doubt WDW 'removed' both gators when the park closed, but I just wondered did any other DC'ers see the gator besides us?

[ddoll]

Ye gads!! I would have removed myself from the area immediately had I seen a gator! They scare the heck out of me. Anyone who feeds a gator has no idea how fast those things can move. What maroons!

[llama]

Gosh - I hope no one fell off the Tom Sawyer Rafts! Lunch! Last year my DD and I waited for a half hour for the boat to OKW. When it finally came, the CM told us they were held up because they were trying to catch an alligator that was on the banks by OKW. It was right beside the patio of one of the suites. That's the closest we've ever been to a gator at WDW.

[rlander]

Come on....that's an animatronic gator.... Everyone knows there are no live animals in WDW, except the mice.

[tigger]

I'm always amazed when I see gators...they are so very cool. Last winter we were in the glades and saw one that had to be easily over 12 feet long. I got with in 20 feet of it.

I'm sure that Disney has to remove gators more often then we will ever now.

(NYC has pigeons FLA has gators)

[dixie]

Jeff..........it was REAL........surely you can tell from my fantastic photography *grin* (Cocodile Hunter, eat your heart out) and LLama, Tom Sawyers Island was closed because of the aftermath of the hurricane, so maybe thats how this REAL alligator got in :) and incidentally, gator number 1 loved the turkey legs :)

[rlander]

Originally Posted by dixie

Jeff..........it was REAL........

Hey Dixie, I was just kidding....

[dixie]

I know your only kidding Jeff, however, admit it your just jealous you didnt see the 'live' act :)

[tigger]

Maybe Tom Sawer Island could have a new stunt show with a gator wrestler

[rlander]

Originally Posted by dixie

I know your only kidding Jeff, however, admit it your just jealous you didnt see the 'live' act :)

You're right, I am jealous. In hopes to wrestle a gator, on my next trip to MK I will buy a turkey leg and dangle it from a fishing rod.

[pwcarlson]

There was one that lived in the waters behind YC/BC. He would hang out under the BCV. Disney routinely moves the gator to other areas of the park when they either become too large for the area or are threatening to the guests. They leave them be as if they are under 4 to 5 feet. We checked for the gator at YC/BC but did not see them maybe he has been moved. In the next few weeks you will see alot of animals in unusual places due to the hurricanes upseting their ususal locations.

[rlander]

Why would Disney take a chance with wild animals running loose? Aligators are notorious for attacking small animals. I question Disney's responsiblity on this issue.

[pwcarlson]

Most of the time these animals are in areas where guest are not supposed to wander. ie the canal behind BCV, and the American River around Tom Sawyer Island. There are barriers between humans and the water that should not be crossed and the animals can't get over. These animals were there way before Disney and will continue to be there. So might as well let them be as long as it is safe for both guests and gators. There was a large black snake (8 feet) one time in with a flock on flamingoes next to the Mexican Pavillion at Epcot. You bet they got that thing out of there quickly. Was not sure if it was going after the flamingoes or would of climbed the wall or trees and mingle with the guests. I would rather watch a gator swiming in the water 20 feet from me than watch that black snake. They ask that you do not feed the wildlife there including the birds. Makes them dependent on humans and more aggressive. Maybe they should put more signs around the park about that.

[tinkerbell]

Dixie I wonder if that was the same gator that was there a couple of years ago .. I remember a small one that was between the wooden walk way and the street that runs past the Country Bears (near that cart where they sell those turkey legs in fact) ..actually it was interesting because there were ducks and birds all around it and it didnt seem hungry enough to try for any of them.

[15 mins to wdw]

Thats not the case, the law requires anything under 5 feet determined to be a nussiance, be relocated. if over 5 feet most of the time the are uthinized(sp?). the one you saw in the area by tom sawyers island I believe was the one they had nicknamed "tick tock" and was removed in early to mid sept. he was a baby when he moved in about 2 to 3 feet and moved in with another one, this one was harder to catch and took about a month after the first was removed. He was also about 5 feet so I don't know what they did with him, but I would guess he is now swimming around in Lake Apoka off disney Property by a long shot.

the thing with the waters around Tom sawyers island is it is connected to the seven seas lagoon and bay lake. so if the aligator strolls in and finds it the may not be sure how to get out and then they get fed and stay.another good place to see a aligator is if you take a ride on the liberty boat, there is a anitmatronic fisherman on a dock, quite common when there is a aligator in that area to see him over there at night.