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A few years ago at night we were the short garden path next to the castle and the bridge going over the water going towards the resturant that has the piano playing alien in it and a rat ran past us. It scared me because it wasn't somthing I was expecting.. Thank goodness there wasn't a snake behind it I would have freaked out then.
Very interesting! I live here near in Cali so I've never been to Orlando, but we do have wildlife flourishing here in our Disney parks. Heck, whenever I see a beautiful mama duck and her children, a small rabbit, heck, even something as small as a snail on it's way, I just have to stop for a second haha. I just love all creatures, so I just kinda break down and geek out in front of the animal like a 4 year old who has never seen one before XD
While staying at Old Key West in June, my daughter and I saw a racer cross the sidewalk in front of us. He was small. It surprised me and we squealed a little, but I knew it wasn't poisonous so I wasn't scared. Good to know they have a job to do!
You forgot about the 50,000 bats that live at Wilderness Lodge! Can you imagine how many mosquitoes get eaten every night by all those bats! They are Awesome!
Do you plan on eating the snakes? I think you meant nonvenomous.
Saw a squirrel last trip. It was a brown one like what I see at home. Funniest thing was it went under my mom's chair at the restaurant just by Star Tours and got closer to us then the squirrels do at my workplace.
As a Florida native and resident the black racer not only keeps rodents at bay, but they are notorious for keeping venomous snakes away too. They are fast, and if they feel threatened they will chase you (hence the "racer" in the name) but totally harmless.
We spotted a snake while queueing for the shark swim in Typhoon Lagoon. At a narro part of the line He popped out of the bushes and waved himself at my daughters shoulder, Her reaction was epic, she Just looked from the snake to the sharks to the snake again,
There are no snakes in our country so we have no experience or knowledge of them.
They also have wild rabbits hopping about and mallard ducks ... and deer small Florida deer they stay in certain areas not sure how many are there now.. but rabbits I've seen there a lot right next to cinderellas castle
snake on Tom Sawyer Island.A number of tourists including my family stood staring at what we thought was a fake snake. It was a snake- but definitely not fake.
I have a cool photo of a dragonfly perched on my daughers finger .. I took the pix at Hollywood studios
I almost caught a snake on tom Sawyer island
I almost caught a snake on tom Sawyer island
We saw a Baby Bunny last summer at Epcot.. My dad caught it, the kids pet it, then we let it go on his way.. Kinda very surprising.
You didn't follow it down the rabbit hole? Or was this one not wearing a pocket watch and running late for a very important date?
believe it or not, that was probably a full grown rabbit. They are affectionately known as "swamp bunnies" and are very common in the area. Small, short-eared, and adorable!
Saw one crawl from under our building at Port Orleans Riverside.
Don't forget the armadillos and all those cute little lizards.
I was standing in the grass at Boardwalk on my cell phone, looked down and watched a 4 foot black snake crawl across both my feet.
Snake. Typhoon lagoon. Lazy river.
I gave a horrific phobia of snakes. Knowing that they are around, I won't be back to WDW or any other properties. I see one and end up having an seizure because of my fear. I always loved WDW, not anymore!
If you don't like snakes then don't come to Florida. Most snakes avoid people they don't like us either. I'm not a fan of the black racer because it can be territorial I prefer the more docile indigo or rat snake, I practically grew up at Disney and go every week during the different festivals and I have never seen a snake not that I would be freaked or anything.
If you won't go somewhere because of snakes you should probably avoid the lower half of the United States and the upper half or the east half or the west half or any part of north america, central america, or south america. Actually, pretty much the only safe place you can go is Hawaii.
You may want to see a psychiatrist.
AWEASOME, thanks for this, as a lover of annoying people with useless yet very cool information you have made my week...
oh so many people are going to be bored by me with this.. i thank you...
they wont...
I have seen snakes multiple times at Epcot. At the entrance and near the entrance to soarin. On the pavement both times.
January of 2011 I actually stepped on a dead rat in one of the dark caves on Tom Sawyer Island at Magic Kingdom. I love Disney and don't hold it against them, after all, it was dead. But I steered clear of Tom Sawyer Island when were there last year!
DLRP uses Falcons to control the seagull population & keep them off the castle, where their droppings are obviously unsightly but it also destroys the forced perspective of the structure!
Disney also employs cats to help the snakes with pests. I've seen them around the backstage areas in the past.
I've been to WDW over 20 times and have never seen a snake. Thank God :) but only Walt knows what's he's doing. Good job looking out for us ♡
Glad to hear some snakes are employed! They are of no threat to humans and do a great job controlling the rodent population. A shame everyone is so terrified of this harmless creature!
Never saw a snake on Disney property all the times I went So glad because they are my biggest fear. Always wondered why but now I know they are there. Now I'll be on the lookout.
Our son found a snake at Pop in February. Very interesting article. I prefer natural pest remedies to chemical. I dislike snakes but I dislike rats even more.
Very informative. This is something I think everyone should know about Disney's extra work to keep their patrons comfortable. How they go above and beyond to do so.
Disneyland also has cats. We saw one for the first time in California Adventure and got a pic!
Don't forget about bats. They eat Mosquitos as well. I was at Epcot at dusk, just under the big geodesic ball, and saw something swooping above. Someone told me it was bats but not to say it loudly, lest some guests freak out.
That is good to know. We had three in our yard swooping around us recently. Swoop on if killing mosquitos!
Now maybe people will stop freaking out about bugs during their visit. Lol. So many reviews on resorts about bugs and I saw a snake. Cracks me up. Bugs can easily get in rooms and it is amazing being swampland how little of a problem it actually is. Many mistake the huge water bugs for roaches too. Hello swampland!!! I guess being from Texas and having six foot snakes, coyotes, and all kinds of bugs including tarantulas in my yard makes me not as scared. And I live in a city of over a million people. I love this info being provided. Thanks.
I also crack up at the "bug" in room comments. Hello, built on swampland! And many waterbugs are mistaken for roaches too. I grew up in the country so bugs don't phase me. And I crack up when people blame resort for bed bugs when they are actually brought to Disney by travlers suitcases. Most don't realize they can be picked up on plane then brought into resort. East Coast had a bad case few years ago thus travelers brought them with them. As for snakes, not a fan but we have so many in San Antonio even in the city. I have learned the good from bad so even though I might jump when I see one. I know they are keeping critters away.
Terrified of snakes. Haven't seen one at WDW but I will be watching for them now.
Disneyland also has cats in their park to help with rodents. We got a pic of one in California Adventure.
I saw a snake thirty years ao on the road in Fort Wilderness! How about the alligator in the water queue at the end of Splash mountain! I still can't believe that one! Look on YouTube!
In Florida it is pretty much a given. If there is water (not salt water) there is a gator. No one should ever let small children or pets run around lose near any water. The gators are surprisingly quick in spite of their size.
We visit WDW about five times a year and have never seen a snake till last summer. We actually saw a large rattle snake swimming across the moat at the castle
I doubt it was a rattle snake you saw. In Florida there are birds known as snake birds(cormorants) that look like a snake slithering through the water.
I doubt it was a rattlesnake it was prob a water moccasin aka cottonmouth ...
My fiancé and I saw a snake in the bushes at Epcot while watching the laser light show! Who knew it was supposed to be there?! Very cool
I, too, spent almost an hour watching the dragonflies flying back and forth over a small patch of fenced grass while they hunted (and found) mosquitoes. Just before a show that took place in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle. And later, saved a very small snake from getting stepped on by another tourist in the Wildlife Kingdom. It was the width and length of a wooden pencil. Just going about its business and trying to avoid all the feet around it.
We actually saw a real snake on that little island at Magic Kingdom. We were so used to fake stuff at WDW, that we stood staring at it debating what it was- until it started to slither away. Surprised the heck out of my family!
You left out the Dragonflies!! Dragonflies are Disney's environmentally friendly mosquito control. Watching from our Fantasmic seats as the graceful flyers scooped up mosquitoes one by one in mid-flight was practically a pre-show in itself.
Part of the 'Behind the Seeds' tour at Living With the Land is being able to release ladybugs into the greenhouse. :)
What a fantastic article!!! I've heard of WDW using certain insects and animals to control pests but never knew which ones. I'm glad I now have those answers...another informative article enjoyed on Theme Park Tourist!!!
Where are the snakes kept?
They are free-range snakes...haha...they are just there...
Seriously?
Oh yes! Saw a snake at Ft. Wilderness Campgroup that was nearly 4 feet long!!!
When I went to high school in Florida I was told there are a 1000 snakes per acre in Florida. Sounds a bit high to me but I know there are a lot. Black racers also eat rattlesnakes, so they are a really good snake.
Saw snake at Tom Sawyer island
Animal Kingdom by Dinosaur is where i usually see them.
Animal Kingdom by Dinosaur is where i usually see them.
Thanks! Slightly shocked by how popular the article has proven to be :-)
Finally, the recognition that ladybugs deserve!