Alligator dragged 2 year old into 7 seas lagoon

[TLSnell1981]

This is horrifying. My thoughts and prayers for the family and their loved ones.

 

[bcla]

Regarding the bacteria, our 2 older kids & I got stuck on Splash Mountain once at the top in the sun. The ride was stopped for over an hour, & the castmembers kept coming to check on us & bring us water. (The guys in "suits" even came out.) Our log was within stepping distance of the deck walkway - we could step out of the log, put one foot in the water, & then step up onto the walkway. But they wouldn't let us. When I asked, one castmember told me, "Oh no! You wouldn't want to step in the water. It's filthy." Oookay... I understand that. But, isn't that the same water that gets splashed in our faces as we come down the hill?

I'm pretty sure that water is chlorinated. Doesn't mean it's not filthy though.

 

[nugov2]

I remember the very first time we went to Disney and stayed on property with our kids who were toddlers. We were walking around the Polynesian and came to a beach. To a northerner (and I imagine most people), sand, beach chairs, and water mean it is a beach! The kids made a beeline for the water when we saw the sign and stopped them. I remember standing there with DH pondering the reason for the "No Wading, No Swimming" sign. Why have a beach area, especially at a place that is just full of children, if you aren't allowed in the water? At that time, I don't remember seeing a sign with an explanation (Gators/amoebas). They may have had them posted, but the one we were standing in front of did not provide an explanation. My brother was living in FL and we met up with him for dinner a few nights later and he explained why you never want to go in water like that in FL. We now live in FL and our last subdivision had three different lakes/ponds and neighbors, including little kids, would stand at the edge and fish all the time. Some would wade in a bit. Gators are removed from those ponds at least once a year but people still hang out on the edge. Crazy.

This is my viewpoint. They make it like a beach in every way...inviting with sand to play in etc and then post no swimming, that to me is more indicative to the reason being that there are no lifeguards or dirty water. I posted in one of the other threads that I believe there were even times swimming here was permitted and they had Iron Man competitions there (but maybe it was one of their other lagoons) so those who recall that would have even less reason to fear wildlife in there, now that said I am so afraid of alligators and sharks I am hyper vigilant anywhere that has those creatures living anywhere and wouldn't go near that water, nor would let my kids. I do think Disney could have had better warnings in place.

 

[bcla]

I lived on a land-locked area of water in Kissimmee, in a community that bordered Lake Tohokepaliga, and we had a gator in our water. They get in whether land-locked, sealed, whatever you want to call it.

Yup. Alligators aren't fish.

 

[kjetjl]

The first time we visited Disney in 1999, I can tell you for certain, I was not thinking about snakes, brain eating amoebas, alligators....It is the disboards where I first read about a snake bite while someone was reaching into the bushes around the resorts. Mental note, remind the kids not to be messing in the bushes, even when they drop something. It is the disboards where I first read about the amoebas in the lake..never could fully understand why they had sand, lounge chairs, etc. We could never just lounge because it would be natural for our kids to want to wade in the water. Mental note, remind the kids to stay out of the water. We have pictures of a small gator in the water in Frontierland around Tom Sawyer Island. Our kids were fascinated by it. Of course, then alligators crossed my mind and I would warn the kids.....But I have to say, my husband and I were lounging on the beach of the Polynesian in Jan. on an adults only trip. Waiting to watch the fireworks. A few kids were at the edge of the water. It NEVER crossed my mind that an alligator would drag one of them away. I will now, but then, nope. I am not sure if I would have ever known or thought about these things if not for reading info here and our own experience seeing the alligator. My heart breaks for this family. Could Disney have better signage? Sure. But I don't really blame them either. It was a tragic accident! Hopefully, Disney will have better signage and make an effort to let people know about these dangers as a result of this incident. And while, I don't think this is going to have a happy ending, I hope the parents grieve and eventually find some peace. I cannot even imagine what they are going through....

 

[sam_gordon]

This is a tragic situation no doubt.

It it reasonable/possible for Disney to put some kind of underwater netting about 10' out from shore around the beach areas? Something that would prevent gators from easily getting to the beach?

 

[Geoff_M]

It's an artificial lake. It's not sealed per se, but I don't believe that means much with regards to alligators accessing water. Alligators enter swimming pools regularly.

An aquaintance of mine who once lived in Florida told me that he wouldn't let his small dogs outside when he lived there.

Not to mention that most of the WDW property is undeveloped wilderness. If you look at aerial photos of the place you'll see plenty of small lakes, ponds, and canals/drainage ditches.

I haven't seen it referenced, but I believe that part of the issue is the success of past efforts to save Florida's alligator population from being endangered. They once were on the Federal endangered species list, but now a days the population is booming with over a million estimated gators in Florida.

 

[OhMari]

This is my viewpoint. They make it like a beach in every way...inviting with sand to play in etc and then post no swimming, that to me is more indicative to the reason being that there are no lifeguards or dirty water. I posted in one of the other threads that I believe there were even times swimming here was permitted and they had Iron Man competitions there (but maybe it was one of their other lagoons) so those who recall that would have even less reason to fear wildlife in there, now that said I am so afraid of alligators and sharks I am hyper vigilant anywhere that has those creatures living anywhere and wouldn't go near that water, nor would let my kids. I do think Disney could have had better warnings in place.

In 2010, there was a women's Tri-Athlon over at Fort Wilderness. It was held there for about 5 years. It got moved over to an area by ClearWater, where there is a fresh spring Lakes. I did it once for my 50th birthday celebration, it was held in May. The course was 1/2 mile oval. We were told at the time, to pretty much wear a full body swim suit and not to swallow the water. That following winter, when word got out that the event would no longer be held at WDW and moved, people started talking about the water disease. Very little talk of alligator's.

 

[mjkacmom]

 

[frndshpcptn]

I wouldn't equate no swimming with no wading. Swimming means fully in the water - wading is walking along the shallow shoreline.

That said, I also wouldn't get anywhere near the water's edge at night. I have hung out on Disney beaches in the evening over the years - but never close to the water's edge. Something about the dark water in the dark night is particularly scary.

What an awful tragedy for this family. Awful.

 

[JimMIA]

Does anyone have photos of the signs on the beach at the GF?

Also, does anyone know if Disney feeds the gators to keep them well fed and less likelyl to see food elsewhere?

They don't. It's a violation of both Florida and federal law to feed alligators.

 

[JimMIA]

Not to mention that most of the WDW property is undeveloped wilderness. If you look at aerial photos of the place you'll see plenty of small lakes, ponds, and canals/drainage ditches.

I haven't seen it referenced, but I believe that part of the issue is the success of past efforts to save Florida's alligator population from being endangered. They once were on the Federal endangered species list, but now a days the population is booming with over a million estimated gators in Florida.

Correct. They're still protected, primarily because they look similar to the endangered American Crocodile (yes, there is such a thing).

 

[Clifton Tesh]

This is a tragic situation no doubt.

It it reasonable/possible for Disney to put some kind of underwater netting about 10' out from shore around the beach areas? Something that would prevent gators from easily getting to the beach?

You can't really net a gator in. They can just get up on land else where and walk around. Gators are really smart too. They'd figure out other ways around it.

 

[DizBelle]

Maybe I'm an idiot but it wouldn't (and hasn't in past visits) have occurred to me that "no swimming" meant you can't stand on the beach with your feet in the water. I don't even think "Danger:Wildlife" would indicate to me that I can't put my feet in the Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake. And don't get me wrong, I am one who generally obeys signs. I also agree with the poster who said the first thing he thinks of when he see "No swimming" is that there is no lifeguard around.

"No swimming" means "No swimming". I'm not sure why anyone would think otherwise.

 

[okeydokey]

"No swimming" means "No swimming". I'm not sure why anyone would think otherwise.

Yes. If I see a no swimming sign, then I know to stay out of the water.

I live in Florida and I know that there are gators or there could be gators in all bodies of water. I imagine there will be a change in signage in the parks now, with a picture of an alligator on it so that all people regardless of language would know to stay away.

 

[dotfurio]

It never would've occurred to me that no swimming was due to gators, snakes, or brain eating amoeba, especially in a man-made lagoon at a resort. The no swimming signs around my town are at parks and public fountains, and the only real danger is unsupervised drowning. With beach entry I might have been tempted to dip my toes in the water as I was walking along as well. I know Disney doesn't want to frighten people, but maybe the signs need to be a little clearer as to why people need to stay away from the water for those of us not familiar with local dangers.

 

[sam_gordon]

You can't really net a gator in. They can just get up on land else where and walk around. Gators are really smart too. They'd figure out other ways around it.

I'm saying net the gators OUT. I get they can get on land elsewhere and walk around, but is that likely? As others have said, a beach, chairs, and water is inviting to families and I can see how some would be attracted to it. So either keep the humans off the beach, or try to keep the gators off.

FWIW, to me "no swimming" means "don't swim". I would assume (not knowing the history of the lake) the issue was with a sudden drop off, under tow, or other danger that wouldn't affect wading.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Is this an actual sign from the GF?

View attachment 175625

 

[bcla]

Not to mention that most of the WDW property is undeveloped wilderness. If you look at aerial photos of the place you'll see plenty of small lakes, ponds, and canals/drainage ditches.

I haven't seen it referenced, but I believe that part of the issue is the success of past efforts to save Florida's alligator population from being endangered. They once were on the Federal endangered species list, but now a days the population is booming with over a million estimated gators in Florida.

Hunting is certainly allowed now, but was halted when numbers were low. At this point they're just part of the landscape, like deer are in my area.

 

[bcla]

Is this an actual sign from the GF?

Someone posted a photo in this thread from a few years ago.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/man-almost-attacked-by-alligator-in-seven-seas-lagoon.2190532/