4. Charlotte’s (really, really big) web
Image: John Flannery, Flickr (license)
It’s just not a trip to Florida without nearly walking into a spider the size of your face. While you’d expect to encounter some gargantuan arachnids through a glass barrier at Animal Kingdom, you might not realize that some of the biggest spiders in the US live within sneezing distance of passing guests at Disney World.
We had some chuckles in the past about guests encountering the massive Black and Yellow Argiope spider on Tom Sawyer Island, but the most common uber-spider at Disney is the magnificent Golden Orb Weaver—sometimes misleadingly called the banana spider. These brightly-hued beauties can have a leg span of about 2-3 inches, and their elaborate golden silk webs can stretch as wide as a meter. You can find them in forested locations throughout Disney World, but they seem to especially like weaving rows of Mirkwood-like webs in the stretch of trees along the path leading from the Beach Club Resort to Epcot’s International Gateway.
Image: Katja Schulz, Flickr (license)
While these mega-spiders can look intimidating, the good news is they are generally docile. Unlike wolf or cane spiders, Golden Orb Weavers generally try to avoid humans. Some locals have even reported walking right through webs without the spiders even stirring. Still, if you’re planning on taking a woodland hike out of Fort Wilderness, perhaps keep an eye on where you’re walking so you don’t come literally face to face with one of these gentle giants.
What’s the wackiest local wildlife moment you’ve seen at Disney World?
Comments
While waiting to leave pop resort early in the morning ( 3 am), I noticed bunnies hopping here and there . I told an employee and he confirmed they had a sizable population. I asked if they had to control them. He gave me a mirthful look and said "nope!", making a chomping action with his arms and hands. Lol
Don't forget the deer and wild turkeys roaming the Magnolia and Palm golf courses, who occasionally chase the golfers, and vice-versa.
while at Disneyland
My roommate: "oh look at those ducks, they're scrappin"
Me: "that isn't scrappin...."
XD