Witnessed something sad at the happiest place on earth

[anewvance]

We got back last night from a long weekend at Disney, bff and I took just our girls and it was a princess weekend. We were at Epcot on Saturday and went out to World Showcase, we were heading to Italy for the girls to do Kim Possible. So we got in line to take the boat. We were waiting on the dock and heard a splash, looked down and a poor squirrel had fallen into the water. If you know the area and you know that it is all cement walls around that area, absolutely no way for anyone to grab onto something to keep from drowning.

So at the time there is a worker boat at the end of the dock so my 8 year old goes to the end to try to tell them what happened and my bff heads up to the store to tell them. I know it is just a squirrel but he was just breaking our hearts wading in the water with no way to get out. The cm's in the boat smile at Julia give a thumbs up and start moving their boat, we thought to come help but no they go away.

My bff goes first to a food kisosk to tell them what happened and they said sorry we don't have a radio or anything. So she and my 10 year old daughter go running into the store and tell a cm lady there. Instead of calling someone the cm insists on taking the time to walk all the way out to the dock so she can see the squirrel for herself. My bff is telling her what is that going to do? Why can't they call anyone?

Meanwhile the poor squirrel is out there still struggling to stay above water. The cm goes back into the building and two seconds later comes back out, bff asks if she called someone and she said no she didn't know who to call. But I guess she called her friend who sells those balloon balls because she comes RUNNING over. My bff tells her wow you are the first cm who has done anything but mosey on over and she says oh no I'm just here to see.

At this time a custodian comes over with his broom and dustpan thing. Everyone on the dock (at least 50 people) are telling him to try to dangle his broom over so the squirrel can try to climb on. Finally he puts the broom over but the squirrel can't reach. He barely even reaches, everyone is trying to tell him how to do it but he's ignoring everyone.

The squirrel then disappears under the dock and by the time it gets to the other side it had drowned. My 8 year old and bff's 5 year old were crying and so upset. While my bff is trying to console the girls, the custodian tells my bff (in front of the girls) don't worry, the gators will get him. WTH?

At this point the boat has finally come and we are getting ready to get on because there is nothing else we can do, the poor squirrel is still floating in the water and the original CM who did nothing tells us Don't worry we will do whatever we have to do to which my bff responds why? he's already dead!

We found out later that only pest control is allowed to do anything about animals in Disney. But the thing is is that NO ONE even tried to call them. We were having a great day and then our children had to witness a poor squirrel suffer and die. It really did put a damper on our day.

I think what really upset us was the CM lady who insisted on instead of calling someone in the store, had to walk all the way out to the boat dock to see the squirrel for herself like we were lying or something.

Thanks for letting me vent, I know that is all this is at this point is a vent.

[ShannonMB]

How awful. I'm so glad I wasn't there. I'm sorry you guys had to see that. I know it was just a squirrel, but that would have been hard to watch, especially for the girls.

Your girls are darling, BTW.

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

That is a really sad story. I would have been upset too especially if my kids had to witness it. Personally if I were you I would write Disney and let them know. The CM's should have done something to help, if not out of compassion for the animal out of compassion for kids having to witness it struggling and dying at the "happiest place on Earth!".

Compliments, Complaints, and Suggestions
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000

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[Redheaded Sunshine]

How terribly sad for you and your lovely DDs to see that. I'm sorry that you did. If I were you, I would write a letter to Disney, in the hopes of making CMs aware that things like that CAN happen and the appropriate response to have, rather than "The gators will get him."

[princessmom29]

That's a sad story, but I am pretty sure that there would have been nothing anyone could do anyway. By the time they got pest control there it would likely have been too late and odds are the CM's knew that and were trying to minimize the fuss being made to keep from upsetting more guests. It is highly unlikely that anyone would have been able to fish out a frantic squrrel. They just go into panic mode and don't realize anyone is trying to help them. All their attempts to rescue it would have do was cause more people more upset about the ultimately still dead squrrel.

[BayouMickey]

Originally Posted by princessmom29

That's a sad story, but I am pretty sure that there would have been nothing anyone could do anyway. By the time they got pest control there it would likely have been too late and odds are the CM's knew that and were trying to minimize the fuss being made to keep from upsetting more guests. It is highly unlikely that anyone would have been able to fish out a frantic squrrel. They just go into panic mode and don't realize anyone is trying to help them. All their attempts to rescue it would have do was cause more people more upset about the ultimately still dead squrrel.

Yup, and you also have to take into account employee policies regarding handling wild animals (yes this applies to cute fuzzy squirrels). Even if a CM could extract the animal, what if the thing bit the cm out of fear and the cm contracted rabies or something, WDW would be responsible because it happened on the job.

[AmberHeartsDisney]

That is sad I'm glad i didnt see this either.

[anewvance]

Like I said I found out later that there was nothing they could have done. But was still very sad for my girls to witness.

[Gina]

That broke my heart just reading about it.

[BayouMickey]

Originally Posted by anewvance

Like I said I found out later that there was nothing they could have done. But was still very sad for my girls to witness.

no doubt. I bet the cm's felt bad also. it was just one of those unfortunate happenings

[Jennasis]

I agree with the PP's. Even if pest control had been called, by the time they would have even hung up the phone and stood up from their dsesk chair, the squirrel would have already drowned.

It was indeed sad for your kids to watch (circle of life and all that). Reminds me of the time at River Country years ago, a big green snake was hanging on to the side of one of the slides and had a frog sticking out of his mouth. The kids in line were screaming and pointing and crying. Along comes a CM with ne of those poles with a little grabber thing at the end, and he knocks th snake off the slide into the bushes below...still with the frog in it's mouth.

Nothing they can do really. But sad...yes.

[Sleeping Becca]

That is very sad. Sorry you (and your beautiful girls) had to witness that! I understand why though, they are wild animals and do carry disease. Still sad.

[Drusilla]

I'm sorry that your kids had to witness that but thank goodness it was only a squirrel. My kids witnessed a man having a full-fledged heart attack when we were out for dinner one night. Witnessing a person having a medical problem or dying would ruin a day for sure.

[rgf207]

We were in MK 2 years ago and we saw a duck with what seemed to be a 6-pack can plastic ring around it's neck. We told a passing CM and he immediately radiod to their animal care unit who came over almost immediately and assisted the duck. I was very surprised to see how fast their response time was.

I'm really sorry to hear about this story.

[goofyernmost]

Squirrels, being nothing more than fuzzy, fluffy tailed, rats should be able to fend for themselves. I'm pretty sure they can swim and would find it's way to a spot where it could get back on land. I wouldn't obsess about it.

BTW...technically Disneyland is the "happiest place on earth". WDW is the Vacation spot for the world, or something like that.