Alligator dragged 2 year old into 7 seas lagoon

[pryncess527]

Do you really think that the gator would not have attacked if the child was at the edge of water without touching it? .

It is very possible it would not have attacked on land. They are FAST in the water -- they are not as fast on land (still fast, but not the lightening quickness you see when they launch from the water with their tail.) They like to hunt where they hold the advantage.

Let me also point out the fact that gators rarely attack their prey on land. They lose their advantage of being in the water and sneaking up to its prey which is why beach activities are ok with Disney. It's pretty obvious when a gator is on land and the gator knows that so they choose to hunt from the water. Yes, they can move quickly for short bursts on land but they usually do that if food is scarce because they burn too much energy with not much success while hunting on land.

Or, ditto this.

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

Let me also point out the fact that gators rarely attack their prey on land. They lose their advantage of being in the water and sneaking up to its prey which is why beach activities are ok with Disney. It's pretty obvious when a gator is on land and the gator knows that so they choose to hunt from the water. Yes, they can move quickly for short bursts on land but they usually do that if food is scarce because they burn too much energy with not much success while hunting on land.

I agree they attack more in the water, but if the gator was close to the edge of the water, and they were a foot or so out, still ankle deep or whatever, then the gator still would have been in a perfect position to attack. Also, I thought I had read it happened late at night? (I am not positive in this though, but I thought it said like 11pm?) it might have been hard to see the gator lying in wait in a few inches of water. I still think the signage should have said stay out of the water, not No Swimming like it did. I think most people who don't think about the hidden dangers think Disney doesn't want to be liable if someone drowns. They should have explicitly said beware of gators and other dangers.

 

[mjkacmom]

I am compassionate, but it ticks me off to no end when adults don't follow rules with kids and put them in danger. No swimming means stay out of the water, period. Are you serious in your thinking that if it says no swimming only you think it's ok to still go in the water? Just so you are aware at Disney, stay out of the water.

No, in my mind, it doesn't. When we are down the shore, if we go to the beach at night (or even after the lifeguards leave), there is no swimming allowed. However, they can play in the surf. The danger is drowning, they aren't going to drown in the surf. If they do t want folks in the water at sll, due to risk of being eaten, maybe they should let their guests know, or at least

 

[nanienamou]

Yeah... nevermind... My heart breaks for this family.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I am usually the first one to say dumb *** people when crazy things happen but this is by far no way because of people.
There was no in your face threat of harm. Fall in a geyser because you think you can get closer knowing you shouldn't. Yeah that's someone's fault.
Balancing on one foot leaning at 90 degrees to get a picture hanging off the Grand Canyon that's someone's fault.

Who really thinks most people would truly ever put their babies in danger of something like gators? Do anyone think those parents were like "gosh I wonder if a gator can snap up my 2 year old? Lets see...." This isn't their fault. They were at a upscale resort that has that whole area welcoming with areas to play and tan and enjoy family time. If that baby had been standing right at the edge of the water and not a toe in the water, the damn gator would still have gotten him. I have stood at that same spot at night to take beautiful pictures. It never crossed my mind to think about gators there. There's no fence, no signs and it's OPEN to be enjoyed!

In December we stayed at the Yacht club where they have their own beach area. The beach sandy area is right up to the water and there are movies in that area. I've seen people plant their happy behind content as all get out right near where the water comes to shore. There weren't trying to test the boundaries of the signs or make a point about being a rebel. They were enjoying life and not in fear of being eating by something. We saw a formal wedding reception happen out on the same beach. The groom was carrying the bride around gown and all wade ankle deep in the water with the encouragement of the photographer. Again it wasn't trying to be bad *** awesome or rule breakers it was about enjoying the moment.

There was nothing malicious or even human stupidity about this awful tragedy. Laying blame at the the feet of the people who will live if they can continue on with trying to give their babies a family vacation is ridiculous and unnecessary.

 

[ChrisFL]

I am usually the first one to say dumb *** people when crazy things happen but this is by far no way because of people.
There was no in your face threat of harm. Fall in a geyser because you think you can get closer knowing you shouldn't. Yeah that's someone's fault.
Balancing on one foot leaning at 90 degrees to get a picture hanging off the Grand Canyon that's someone's fault.

Who really thinks most people would truly ever put their babies in danger of something like gators? Do anyone think those parents were like "gosh I wonder if a gator can snap up my 2 year old? Lets see...." This isn't their fault. They were at a upscale resort that has that whole area welcoming with areas to play and tan and enjoy family time. If that baby had been standing right at the edge of the water and not a toe in the water, the damn gator would still have gotten him. I have stood at that same spot at night to take beautiful pictures. It never crossed my mind to think about gators there. There's no fence, no signs and it's OPEN to be enjoyed!

In December we stayed at the Yacht club where they have their own beach area. The beach sandy area is right up to the water and there are movies in that area. I've seen people plant their happy behind content as all get out right near where the water comes to shore. There weren't trying to test the boundaries of the signs or make a point about being a rebel. They were enjoying life and not in fear of being eating by something. We saw a formal wedding reception happen out on the same beach. The groom was carrying the bride around gown and all wade ankle deep in the water with the encouragement of the photographer. Again it wasn't trying to be bad *** awesome or rule breakers it was about enjoying the moment.

There was nothing malicious or even human stupidity about this awful tragedy. Laying blame at the the feet of the people who will live if they can continue on with trying to give their babies a family vacation is ridiculous and unnecessary.

Speaking of the Yacht club...do they still rent those big bicycles that hold 4 people (or more?)...I've seen people pick up a lot of speed on the incline in those things and it looks dangerous!

 

[lovemygoofy]

Speaking of the Yacht club...do they still rent those big bicycles that hold 4 people (or more?)...I've seen people pick up a lot of speed on the incline in those things and it looks dangerous!

The surry bikes (I think that's what they are called) were there at the Boardwalk but since we were usually hitting the margaritas and drinks at the boardwalk..we didn't drink and bike. Looking out for my peeps you know

 

[pocomom]

Scrolled through some old pictures from our trip a few years ago..
There are my kids, not in the water, but there on the edge, building little trails up to their sandcastles while we waited for the fireworks. My son was three. We were obeying the signs, but could this gator have gotten him? Yep. And I would have been sitting there on the sand a few feet away, watching it happen.
The only danger I ever worried about the dozens of nights we did that, was that the kids wouldn't get up in time in the morning.

 

[frndshpcptn]

As a former CM, who worked near the Yacht / Beach club (on the water, even!) - my thought was the signs were to keep people from swallowing or submerging themselves in water that consistently had boats spewing diesel gas from them cruising around. Gross - but not dangerous. Bay Lake I thought was also gross (water-quality wise), and unsafe because you couldn't see the bottom or what was around you - but not ever because I thought a gator would attack.

I've waded in those waters (and yes - washed my feet and ankles afterwards). I'm always the first to defend Disney, but if the danger was even walking in water ankle deep then specific signage needs to be displayed that communicates that. No swimming means no swimming - not "Danger! Stay 5 feet back from the water's edge at all times"

 

[firecracker725]

You are correct. There will still be people not paying attention.

I just don't get it. You are in Florida where there are gators, venomous snakes, snapping turtles, brain eating amoeba, and no swimming signs. But what the heck, let's get in the water.

It's like when people are surprised they see a bear in woods. I didn't expect to see that. Duh, you are in the woods where beats live.

This very well may not have anything to do with anything, but you don't have any children, correct? I think I remember you saying that once, but I could be wrong. I say this because I have three...all little girls.

The oldest is an angel. She's never wandered off or done anything crazy.

My middle daughter is a wild one. She hasn't met a tree she couldn't climb and takes lots of risks. Still, she has a healthy amount of respect (i.e. fear) for the environment and doesn't stray too far.

Two relatively easy, if not spunky, girls.

Oh but the third...whoa, she's something else entirely. She tackled slides built for 6 year olds when she was 18 months and will disappear in a flash. She can Houdini herself out of a 5 point harness before you can count to five. Because of this, I watch her like a hawk. Unfortunately, I have two other children that sometimes require my attention.

Now some Judgy McJudgerson such as yourself might just tell me to put a leash on her or perhaps even insinuate that I shouldn't have had so many children, and you may even have a point on that last one, but oh freaking well. She's here now. We love her fiercely, no matter how many mini heart attacks she's given us in her almost three years in our lives.

It's really easy to judge someone when you've never been in their shoes. It's a lot harder to be graceful and put your judgement aside and send some positive thoughts to the family during this most horrific time in their lives. Too hard for some people, such as yourself, apparently.

 

[ChrisFL]

Back in the early 90's, myself and two younger kids (we were probably about 10 or 12 years old) were at the Poly and we were able to go in the water back then...we took all of the unused beach chairs (the beach was EMPTY) and made and underwater fort with them (no joke)....eventually security came over and very nicely asked us to put them back. We didn't consider any alligators or other wildlife at that time.

 

[Ziggie]

It is very possible it would not have attacked on land. They are FAST in the water -- they are not as fast on land (still fast, but not the lightening quickness you see when they launch from the water with their tail.) They like to hunt where they hold the advantage.

Or, ditto this.

Alligators do attack on land. They usually don't go very far inland but they will snatch prey from the ground. My cousin's home is on a canal-fed lake and she let her dog (Bichon Frise) out to potty and right before her eyes an alligator came and snapped it's jaws down on the dog and took it back into the water. She's still in therapy.

Also, I'm sure most of you have seen this already, but this happened in southern Florida a few weeks ago: http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/06/01/giant-alligator-golf-course-clip-newday.cnn

 

[georgina]

View attachment 175656
No, in my mind, it doesn't. When we are down the shore, if we go to the beach at night (or even after the lifeguards leave), there is no swimming allowed. However, they can play in the surf. The danger is drowning, they aren't going to drown in the surf. If they do t want folks in the water at sll, due to risk of being eaten, maybe they should let their guests know, or at least

Don't know what shore you are referencing, but the danger in the evening at the water's edge is SHARKS. That is one of their prime feeding times.

 

[gemini2727]

When we go to WDW, I'm very paranoid about the water (I hear Pete's voice all the time - Stay out of the damn lake!) Yet, where I'm from, "no swimming" generally is taken to mean that - no actual swimming, due to no lifeguard, rough waters, bacteria count, etc. Wading up to your ankles would be ok...so I could see someone thinking it would be fine to do that.
Staying in Port Orleans, my kids would chase lizards and visit the ducks on the grassy area bordering the Sassagoula River. In hindsight, I guess this was a risky place to be, but that never occured to me...and I worry about everything!

 

[bcla]

Are you implying that a Disney CM smuggled a 4-7 foot alligator on a company boat and dumped it in the water as some kind of joke?

I don't really see how that makes more sense than a natural animal of Florida finding its way into the lake, but alright.

Perhaps the claim is that maybe someone dropped a baby gator into the water as a joke, thinking it wouldn't likely survive. I doubt that's the most likely explanation though. Gators are common in Florida and need no help establishing themselves where there's fresh water.

Anyone watch Leave it to Beaver? I remember one of their first episodes, where Beaver gets an alligator mail order that he saw advertised in a comic book. He hid it from his parents in a toilet tank, but later gives it to an alligator farm. I though maybe they thought about flushing it down the toilet or tossing it in a lake.

 

[bcla]

Alligators do attack on land. They usually don't go very far inland but they will snatch prey from the ground. My cousin's home is on a canal-fed lake and she let her dog (Bichon Frise) out to potty and right before her eyes an alligator came and snapped it's jaws down on the dog and took it back into the water. She's still in therapy.

Also, I'm sure most of you have seen this already, but this happened in southern Florida a few weeks ago: http://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2016/06/01/giant-alligator-golf-course-clip-newday.cnn

Happy Gilmore. While the movie is being flip about it, the dangers are real.

 

[mnrose]

I'll just toss my perspective in here. When I see a "no swimming" sign, I do NOT think "no wading." Not at all. Such signs are relatively common in Minnesota and generally mean "don't swim"....could be for a variety of reasons...unsafe (unsanitary) water, no lifeguard, tricky drop off, swimmer's itch present, etc. It DOES NOT MEAN don't get in the water at all. If that is what it meant, signs say "don't go in the water" (or similar). Not don't "swim." Now, I fully get that in places like Florida, local custom may give it a different interpretation because of snakes and gators, but Disney (especially) has guests from all over the US, and (indeed) the world. I think signs should be MUCH clearer to make sure there is no misunderstanding..."DO NOT GO IN THE WATER." Hard to misinterpret that. I'll bet anything signs are changed following this terrible tragedy.

I feel nothing but compassion for these parents. I can't imagine a more horrific thing to happen in front of you. And, I'm more than willing to bet that MANY, MANY other small children have done exactly what this child/parents did with no repercussions. Indeed, as TaxGuy's photo showed, other kids were doing it the same night in the same place. Just tragic.

 

[ChrisFL]

Did anyone post this guy yet? This was from the video at a Florida golf course a few weeks ago

 

[MPB82]

I'm suprised at how many people here never thought there would be gators at Disney.

And for all those saying how dare people say what were the parents thinking, you know who is also saying that right now? Those parents. The guilt they feel is probably overwhelming. But guilt aft we tragedy and replaying "what ifs" is a common occurrence.

It's awful but I don't put blame on this it was a tragic accident. They didn't let their kid run around the AK safari they were in a beach after dark going to watch fireworks like thousands have done before and many will probably do again.

 

[Kitty 34]

I feel soooooo bad for that family and that poor little boy. I would feel even worse if they ever happened upon this thread and the judgmental comments made by some here.

Why do we need to be so judgmental??? I'm sure those parents will live with the what ifs and could've beens the rest of their lives. That poor dad will probably have scratch mark scars to help him relive those horrendous moments the rest of his days. May they find peace some how........some day.