The birds aggressively hissed and and charged until Perez and his fellow explorers finally left. They came across large abandoned enclosures for animals and humans, and in one corner, a pair of baby vultures. Spiderwebs, “limited lighting, heavily overgrown paths, and disorienting animal noises” led to slow moving by the group. Objects found included old paperwork, photos and preserved snakes. Perez came across cages which housed the animals years before, veterinary facilities and storage areas. We could hear them cawing and cooing in all directions, some sounded almost like people speaking.” We were literally surrounded by what sounded like thousands of birds. “We could hear all sorts of noises in the trees surrounding us. With each human step on a lying branch, whatever was on the island moved away from them. The group saw also that the island had not undergone maintenance since closing, making it difficult to figure out where to go. Progressing through the overgrown paths with small red lights to not attract attention, Perez realized immediately that they were not alone. “Disney seems to like keeping all the lights on even in their abandoned properties in order to give the impression that they are still functional.” Under the cover of night, Perez put his camera equipment in waterproof bags and swam to the island despite rumours of alligator-infested waters. Eerily, passing by Disney’s River Country before dipping into the water, the group saw that all lights were on despite the water park being abandoned. Smuggling equipment into the park, Perez and his company planned to swim to the island at night during a time of infrequent boat traffic. The also abandoned River Country water park, adjacent to the island, supposedly closed down because of Naegleria fowleri bacteria in the water, “which can infect human nervous systems and nearly always results in death.” “I’ve learned a few disturbing facts about the lake and as such would not recommend that anyone attempt to re-trace our footsteps,” wrote Perez.
According to locals, alligators live in the Bay Lake which surrounds the island. “I’ve learned a few disturbing facts about the lake and as such would not recommend that anyone attempt to re-trace our footsteps,” Perez wrote in his 2009 blog entry documenting the trip, which took place some years before the post. Most animals were relocated to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and the ones remaining were the natural inhabitants of Bay Lake.ĭiscovery Island would remain untouched by the public, and its last known visitor would be Shane Perez, a photographer, blogger, and explorer of abandoned spaces. April 4 was its last day to the public, having been open for almost 25 years. With its lack of popularity and previous controversy, it was no big surprise when Discovery Island closed in 1999. The two-month investigation resulted in 16 state and federal charges on bird abuse, which Disney settled by paying $95,000 to avoid going to court.
Over a decade later, in 1989, Discovery Island came under controversy due to rifles being fired at hawks, vultures beat to death, and the destruction of ibis and egret eggs and nests by employees.
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