Alligators in Bay Lake About This Page:

[WDWfun]

Hi everyone,

Last Tuesday while I was waiting for the MK boat at Fort Wilderness, I saw a big alligator swimming in Bay Lake about 20-30 feet from the dock. I was on the phone with my wife when I heard other people yelling and pointing at a black log-shape moving slowly across the water. It swam on top for a couple of minutes until the MK boat approached and caused it to go under. The boat captain said that since they no longer allow swimming in Bay Lake, they don't need to report any sitings. The captain also said that there are three 8-footers in the lake that she sees regularly. I have had a couple of run-ins with snakes in the past while at WDW, but never a gator. I was curious if anyone else has ever seen alligators while at WDW.

Thanks!

[ParkieBrown]

I have not seen any but was told by one of the drivers of boats from POFQ that they are in all the water areas at WDW which still to me is a little unsettling because what is there to prevent them from coming to the shore lines that people walk along.

[disneydeva]

About five years ago I watched an alligator be taken out of the water around Coronado Springs.

[Luvsun]

You have to understand that there is probably a very high possibility that there are alligators in almost every body of water in the state of Florida.
We live in southwest Florida and we have small lakes (or ponds) in our community, as do many communities here, and we have alligators.
That is why there is no swimming in any of the lakes at WDW. Well, that and I am sure the water is not very healthy to swim in!

[Disneyismylife]

We saw a baby one (probably about two feet long) in the water at Animal Kingdom not far from Expedition Everest. We spoke to a cast member about it and he told us that the year before they actually had a six footer come up on land by the bathrooms by Kali River Rapids. Can you imagine?!!! He also said there's a couple of big ones that live in that main water area but mostly only come out at night. I was pretty excited to see one - since it was only a baby!

[Sue M.]

Somewhere there may be a photo of the CSR gator. I remember someone posted it here.
My mom lives in So. Fla and you can pretty much count on gators being in any water way.
I don't know about Bay Lake, but I think in the smaller lakes like CSR or CBR WDW removes them if they are 6' or over.

[cdnmickeyfan]

Wow......I didn't know there were gators at WDW.

[Sue M.]

Originally Posted by cdnmickeyfan

Wow......I didn't know there were gators at WDW.

there are! Won't be long now! Have a great trip, so jealous. I haven't gotten to double digits yet, soon though. Is it Aug yet?

[mechurchlady]

Originally Posted by cdnmickeyfan

Wow......I didn't know there were gators at WDW.

Walt Disney World Wildlife
I can vouch for cockroaches, cats, an armadillo, squirrels, buzzards, lizards, and ducks, herons, egrets, lol.

[Sue M.]

Deer and Wild Turkeys too.

[trixiedixie]

In may 2010 the SSR rooms had warnings about black bears!
So I scrapbooked a cricut made black bear eating a Mickey bar in front of SSR!

[Angileyze1]

Doesn't surprise me at all. My DS did waterskiing on Bay Lake with Sammy Duvalls and everytime he fell you could see the guys in the boat looking around very nervously and I asked about it and their silence told me everything I needed to know and I would holler HURRY UP AND GETUP!!!! It was humorous.

[coffeechef]

Several years back , there was one in the waters along Frontierland. When I pointed it out to a CM, they said that sometimes they do get through the waterways and that it would be removed later after Park closing.

[roaminggnome]

My son is excited hoping that we will see a gator while we are down there. LOL I personally hope we see it at AK in the safari.

[nursemom]

The possibility of alligators is the reason my oldest son will not rent the Sea Raycers. My youngest and I zoom around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon each trip and have not seen a gator but we know they are probably in there!