Alligator dragged 2 year old into 7 seas lagoon

[longboard55]

We are from California but have been to the GF and Yacht Club many times. Just never occurred to me that there were gators in those lakes. You can not assume anyone from outside the south would know. When I see fresh water I picture Lake Havasu with crystal clear water

 

[FINFAN]

With all due respect to the family, putting this photo here to illustrate gators don't necessarily hang by waters edge. My DD's walk to work each day took her past this guy, more than once...her apartment was about 4 blocks to work (not at WDW, but in Metrowest, about a half hour away) he was active every morning. This is an open green space between her complex and work building. There was a lake about 3 blocks over.

 

[North of Mouse]

Are gators more active at night? I've seen them during the day sunning themselves but wasn't sure if they are more active at night.

Yes, yes, and yes! More dusk and night feeders. Plus, you can't see in the water at night to have any warning of what may be lurking - even very close, until too late.

 

[LisaR]

I think the fact that they have sand along the lake which fakes a real beach, it's gives people the idea that they can wade in the water just like they would a real beach. I wonder if we're going to start seeing fences along the beach to keep people out of the water ? I don't think that will look very good but it could happen.

That father must be just destroyed...the mom too, put the father was right next to him and saw him being grabbed by the alligator.

I don't think there's any chance that they're going to find anything . Does anyone really think they well ?

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.

 

[scrapquitler]

I saw it on my Facebook feed from a news outlet I'm not familiar with, and I honestly didn't believe it was a real story at first. What a sad, scary thing!

That said, I do wonder at all the people who look at a "no swimming" sign and think that's not the same as "stay out of the water". I don't live in gator country. I live in a state that is essentially without venomous snakes or other wildlife that could pose a hazard to swimmers. But when I see a place marked "no swimming" I read that as "not safe to go in the water". Underwater hazards, strong currents, bacterial levels... there are lots of reasons a beach might not be suitable for playing in the water and not all of them take being in deep water or completely submerged to effect a person.

I thought it must be a fake story at first, too.

I equate no swimming with 'stay out of the water.

I wonder if this is going to have any long term effect on the ferry ride across the lake from the TTC to the MK, and the loading procedures for the ferry. It's the same lake. I'm also guessing that the beaches at the Poly and the GF might be off limits for a while now.

 

[anniemae]

I would not be surprised if they put some sort of fence or barricade up to keep people out of the water and away from the waters edge.

 

[FINFAN]

I thought it must be a fake story at first, too.

I equate no swimming with 'stay out of the water.

I wonder if this is going to have any long term effect on the ferry ride across the lake from the TTC to the MK, and the loading procedures for the ferry. It's the same lake. I'm also guessing that the beaches at the Poly and the GF might be off limits for a while now.

Mouseboats, parasailing...I am not really sure what all will be decided as the fine line occurs between humans entering nature's place. A horribly, tragic event...so very sad and heartbreaking.

 

[Wendy31]

I was born and raised in FL. I know all of the "rules" you're supposed to follow when around any body of water(the saying is "If there is water, there are gators."). I wouldn't have been thinking about gators if it were me and my children out there. My kid wouldn't be in the water, not because of gators, but because of the brain eating bacteria. I think it's pretty rare for this gator to come out and just grab a kid. The area seemed pretty open and there were people there. Gators are usually pretty skittish.

In just a handful of comments on this thread there are such wide disparities in what people understand about no swimming signs and gator behavior, yet some people were so quick to point fingers at the father because surely he should have had the complete picture they did and is negligent for not preventing the tragedy.

I agree.

I've been visiting Florida my entire life, & I'm aware of the bacteria, alligators, & snakes. But, just from the different comments on this thread, I can easily see where people who are not familiar w/ Florida & its wildlife would NOT be aware of the various dangers.

We've stayed at Fort Wilderness, the Wilderness Lodge, & the Contemporary several times, & we were always on the lookout for alligators. We were told one lived around the dock at the Wilderness Lodge, &, whenever we were on the dock, we'd occasionally look for him.

However, while I know about alligators, I've never been all that concerned. My primary concern & my reason for keeping my kids out of the water has always been the bacteria - not the alligators.

One night, at Fort Wilderness, our kids played on the beach - not in the water or really all that near the water, but, still, I guess within striking distance if an alligator had decided to come up on land.

I would have thought that the beach would have been too noisy/crowded during the movie & fireworks time, & that any alligators would be far away from the noise.

Also "no swimming" means different things to different people. Some people interpret it to mean "no lifeguard on duty." Some people think it means literally no swimming w/ your whole body in the water - but wading is fine.

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?

Again, our family is aware of the bacteria & other things like alligators lurking in the water, so we stay out of the water. But I could definitely see how a family not as familiar w/ the area could see the "no swimming" sign differently & would not know to be cautious.

I can see Disney changing some of their signage, but I hope they don't put up fences around all the waterways.

My thoughts & prayers are w/ the family. I can't even imagine how horrifying it would have been & how heartbroken they are today.

 

[DizBelle]

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 likely to seek food elsewhere?

 

[msjprincess]

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?

I doubt they're feeding wild animals. The lakes are full of fish.

 

[mnrose]

Exactly! I think we may soon see signs like this on Disney beaches. We should!

It'd be even better if they included pictographs of a snake and a bacteria/amoeba along with the gator. Along with a pictogram of a swimmer in a red circle, crossed out, so that even if you don't speak or read English, you can still get the idea that it's not good to go into the water. I don't think it would have any effect on Disney's bottom line, as people really don't stay at the Grand Floridian in order to swim in the Seven Seas Lagoon. They want to visit the parks!

I'm also dismayed there are still people who haven't heard of Florida's brain-eating amoeba. Or any of the other nasty invisible critters lurking in the water. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-cason-yeager-water-bacteria-death-20150627-story.html This is the sort of info that needs to be shared widely, especially with anyone planning to visit the American south.

For years, I've cringed, every time I see people wading and splashing in the water of the Seven Seas Lagoon, or down by the Yacht Club/Beach Club.

And, not just the American south....we've had a handful of these cases from swimming in northern lakes here in Minnesota. I don't give it too much thought, as they are far and few between, but this can happen virtually anywhere in the states.

 

[FINFAN]

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?

there is a picture of a sign in this report

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/15/us/alligator-attacks-child-disney-florida/

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Is it just lakes and rivers etc gators might be in? What about salt water? Should one be considered on a public beach or Castaway cay?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

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?

Feeding them is a bad idea. It keeps them around and used to people.

 

[Christine]

I remember being at Hilton Head and walking from our condo to the beach. It was about 1/2 mile and it took us through a few other resorts. Behind some of the resorts was a "canal" I guess. One day as I was walking my 4 year old nephew, I happened to look over and see an alligator (about 4 feet long) just sitting in the grass. I got out of there quickly and all sorts of horrible imaginings went through my brain. We weren't all that close, but a little too close for comfort. That was really the first time it occurred to me about alligators and the south.

 

[Jennasis]

According to the HUB all water activities and transport is closed including the ferries.

 

[Lanshark]

It is a heartbreaking tragedy.

People visiting do have an expectation that they are safe from non human predators. Even Disney cannot totally control nature but they do have a responsibility to their guests to clearly warn them of the dangers or block off potentially dangerous areas. Their signage was not sufficient to warn of the dangers.

 

[Magpie]

Here's the picture:

It simply says "No swimming. Please." With a picture of a swimmer crossed out. Nothing about wading.

I do think more comprehensive signage is in order.

 

[bcla]

I too feel very ignorant I am British and thought that the lagoon was a sealed body of water. It did nkt occur to me that gators might be in there! How awful.

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.

 

[TeresaNJ]

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.