Only in Florida would you find an alligator casually hanging out near a resort… while fireworks light up the sky.
Over at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, what started as a peaceful evening turned into a surprise animal encounter when guests spotted a massive gator lounging near the resort’s lake. For most people, that would’ve been shocking enough. But what happened next? It’s straight out of a viral video.
How Do You Catch a Gator? With Marshmallows, Apparently.
In footage now making the rounds online, a professional gator wrangler approaches the scene and begins luring the animal using—you guessed it—marshmallows. The fluffy white treats were tossed into the water to tempt the reptile closer. Believe it or not, marshmallows are a favorite for some alligators in managed situations, and they can be just the thing to get one to come out of hiding.
@curiousgeorganna I am so glad they got him! It was good entertainment from our balcony, but also scary to see a gator on Disney property. This just reminded me to be even more aware of the lakes/ponds on Disney property/FL in general. I was really happy to know they have professionals come and remove the gators and take them away! Thank you gators catchers for keeping us safe! 🙏🏼🙌🤍 #disneyfyp #fyp #gatorindisney #wildernesslodge #disneyworldexperience ♬ Road To Oregon – Charlie Jefferson
But it wasn’t an instant success. The gator didn’t take the bait right away, so the team returned the next evening, this time with a more reliable setup.
Fireworks and a Capture
As Magic Kingdom’s beloved Happily Ever After show lit up the night sky, Disney’s wildlife team finally managed to catch the gator and remove it from the area. Guests nearby were treated to a very unique double feature: fireworks overhead and a gator capture below.
Disney and Florida Wildlife
It’s worth remembering that Walt Disney World sits right in the middle of Florida’s natural habitat. Disney has taken big steps to keep wildlife encounters from getting out of hand, but the occasional visit from a gator or snake still happens. After all, nature doesn’t always follow the rules of a theme park.
In this case, everything ended smoothly—the gator was safely relocated, the guests got a story to tell, and Disney once again proved it knows how to handle a wild situation… even with marshmallows.
I used a chicken leg at Shades of Green to get a gator to come close enough to take his [her] picture. Some of the other guests thought I was nuts, even my wife. But I respect nature and made sure not to tick him or her off [the gator, not my wife].