Alligator Incident Discussion/Fence being built at Grand Floridian?

[_auroraborealis_]

And then, there are the invasive snakes...

 

[Spoiledraf]

I think Disney missed the boat on their level of safety on the beaches. They should have had better worded signage because they DO KNOW that alligators and poisonous snakes are in those lakes. But no swimming is a little less threatening and better for guest relations. I and my family know of the dangers as well and yet my grand kids have walked the same waters edge in the evening with little fear despite knowing the possiblities. I don't think the gator came to shore to hunt and attack this poor little boy. I think he was just sitting close to shore in the dark where he was invisable to the child and his parents and the boy stepped on him and it was a reaction strike to what he thought was an attack on him. He was found intact. One bite. No attempt to consume for food. Just a horrible accident.
I always thought a rope line would be a good idea. More accurate signage may have avoided it as well. Both together should do the trick. If that doesn't stop you, at that point it's no longer Disneys fault. It's your own stupidity.
But as it happened, I think the mouse is going to be liable.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

We were invited to build sandcastles on the beach every night. How could anyone think it wasn't safe? This little three rope fence won't stop an alligator.

The fence is meant to stop people from going into the water. They tried signs that said, "no swimming." But people assumed that it meant no lap swims. So they needed to get more aggressive.

And you can build sandcastles on the beach. Just not in the water or at the water's edge. And no, your children do not need the dirty, nasty swamp water to build a sandcastle. And if they think they do, maybe the fence will stop them from retrieving it.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I think Disney missed the boat on their level of safety on the beaches. They should have had better worded signage because they DO KNOW that alligators and poisonous snakes are in those lakes. But no swimming is a little less threatening and better for guest relations. I and my family know of the dangers as well and yet my grand kids have walked the same waters edge in the evening with little fear despite knowing the possiblities. I don't think the gator came to shore to hunt and attack this poor little boy. I think he was just sitting close to shore in the dark where he was invisable to the child and his parents and the boy stepped on him and it was a reaction strike to what he thought was an attack on him. He was found intact. One bite. No attempt to consume for food. Just a horrible accident.
I always thought a rope line would be a good idea. More accurate signage may have avoided it as well. Both together should do the trick. If that doesn't stop you, at that point it's no longer Disneys fault. It's your own stupidity.
But as it happened, I think the mouse is going to be liable.

It doesn't matter what Disney does, Disney will be liable. Same as a person slipping in the grocery store. Someone is on your property, you are liable for pretty much anything that happens to them.

But I don't believe the gator was being proactive in that he thought he was being attacked.

Splashing in the water means "food" to the gator. It means prey. So the gator attacked. Once the child was still, the gator left him with plans to eat later.

 

[boltjames]

More accurate signage may have avoided it as well. Both together should do the trick. If that doesn't stop you, at that point it's no longer Disneys fault. It's your own stupidity. But as it happened, I think the mouse is going to be liable.

Exactly. As of today any parent whose child suffers the same fate can blame themselves; not so last week.

 

[GPC0321]

I think Disney missed the boat on their level of safety on the beaches. They should have had better worded signage because they DO KNOW that alligators and poisonous snakes are in those lakes. But no swimming is a little less threatening and better for guest relations. I and my family know of the dangers as well and yet my grand kids have walked the same waters edge in the evening with little fear despite knowing the possiblities. I don't think the gator came to shore to hunt and attack this poor little boy. I think he was just sitting close to shore in the dark where he was invisable to the child and his parents and the boy stepped on him and it was a reaction strike to what he thought was an attack on him. He was found intact. One bite. No attempt to consume for food. Just a horrible accident.
I always thought a rope line would be a good idea. More accurate signage may have avoided it as well. Both together should do the trick. If that doesn't stop you, at that point it's no longer Disneys fault. It's your own stupidity.
But as it happened, I think the mouse is going to be liable.

Well...except that the gator took the little boy down into the lake, wrestling him away from his father. And gators don't eat their prey for a few days because they have to wait for it to decompose somewhat as they can't really chew.
So, I don't think the gator was just defending itself. It saw a small creature splashing and wading at the edge of its habitat the way a water bird might, and it did what came natural to it. The fact that it resisted the father's assault and continued to take the child into the lake kind of proves that it was determined not just to protect itself, but to take what it was hunting.

Horrifying. HORRIFYING. But nature can be brutal. When we were at Animal Kingdom on Easter Sunday, a bunny rabbit had gotten into the meerkat enclosure. We didn't realize this until we noticed all the meerkats getting excited about something and coming to check it out. The CM in attendance was near me and when I said, "They see the bunny," he said, "This isn't good." I had no idea that meerkats would attack a rabbit, so when I looked at the CM with wide eyes and said, "It isn't?" He shook his head and said, "It's going to be pretty brutal." He looked dismayed because there were a lot of small children there, and the scene that was unfolding was nothing he could stop. There was no way for the rabbit to escape easily, I don't know how it had gotten in there. We left immediately, as I didn't feel like watching a bunny get attacked by a mob of meerkats on Easter morning. Hopefully he found a way to escape.

Point is. Animals are animals. And as horrible as it is for us to think that gator purposely attacked and took that baby, it is what it is.

 

[Spoiledraf]

Well...except that the gator took the little boy down into the lake, wrestling him away from his father. And gators don't eat their prey for a few days because they have to wait for it to decompose somewhat as they can't really chew.
So, I don't think the gator was just defending itself. It saw a small creature splashing and wading at the edge of its habitat the way a water bird might, and it did what came natural to it. The fact that it resisted the father's assault and continued to take the child into the lake kind of proves that it was determined not just to protect itself, but to take what it was hunting.

Horrifying. HORRIFYING. But nature can be brutal. When we were at Animal Kingdom on Easter Sunday, a bunny rabbit had gotten into the meerkat enclosure. We didn't realize this until we noticed all the meerkats getting excited about something and coming to check it out. The CM in attendance was near me and when I said, "They see the bunny," he said, "This isn't good." I had no idea that meerkats would attack a rabbit, so when I looked at the CM with wide eyes and said, "It isn't?" He shook his head and said, "It's going to be pretty brutal." He looked dismayed because there were a lot of small children there, and the scene that was unfolding was nothing he could stop. There was no way for the rabbit to escape easily, I don't know how it had gotten in there. We left immediately, as I didn't feel like watching a bunny get attacked by a mob of meerkats on Easter morning. Hopefully he found a way to escape.

Point is. Animals are animals. And as horrible as it is for us to think that gator purposely attacked and took that baby, it is what it is.

 

[richkaryn]

The first part might be true, but I doubt Disney is going to lose any revenue because of this. Sure, some people may stop going, but plenty of people still will.



There is no place, home or on vacation that is "perfectly safe". That is the scary assumption that people make - that because a lot of money is being spent to stay at WDW, that you are somehow safe from animals, criminal activity etc. I would like to know what exactly Disney has kept from anyone. Have they ever declared the waters to be alligator free? As far as I have seen, the risk of alligator attack at WDW is minimal given it has happened twice in the last 25 years or so.

It is very scary that people would assume high price vacation = safety. To me if I see a "no swimming" sign, that tells me through common sense that I'm not wanted in the water at all.....wading, dipping toes, etc. That and I also consider it common sense that there is potential for gators anywhere in Florida....but that's just me.

 

[Spoiledraf]

Interesting. Didn't know that about gator feeding habits. Makes sense I guess. I glad the parents got an intact son to take home to lay to rest.

 

[smurfz]

Im not from florida, or America.. But Ireland where in terms of animals we don't exactly have much to worry about. But I know there are gators. Cm have told us before about gators in the Lakes.. The magical bus has even pointed it out on occasion as has the airlines information videos... I've also stayed at the hyatt and yes they have signs that say alligators but we also went kayaking and I asked before hand but isn't there gators what if I fall in... The general response was that it was a very small risk.. as others have said the biggest risk is night time because that's when gators are looking for food.

 

[boltjames]

And then, there are the invasive snakes...

Once we get past the shock and the blame we're left with a Disney World that is tainted. It used to be the one place I could take my kids and not worry about their safety. Now in the course of a few days I find out the place is teeming with threatening reptiles and walking at night along waterways is a major hazard, letting my young teens ride their own water sprites on Bay Lake is a hazard, alligators stalking, snakes in shrubs, it's changed how I look at the place forever.

Signs and fences just aren't enough. Disney has to develop and announce a comprehensive plan to rid the property of these pests. Turns out we were under the illusion that Disney did this already all these years; now they actually have to.

 

[Jennasis]

Once we get past the shock and the blame we're left with a Disney World that is tainted. It used to be the one place I could take my kids and not worry about their safety. Now in the course of a few days I find out the place is teeming with threatening reptiles and walking at night along waterways is a major hazard, letting my young teens ride their own water sprites on Bay Lake is a hazard, alligators stalking, snakes in shrubs, it's changed how I look at the place forever.

Signs and fences just aren't enough. Disney has to develop and announce a comprehensive plan to rid the property of these pests. Turns out we were under the illusion that Disney did this already all these years; now they actually have to.

No, they don't.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It is impossible to remove all wildlife from any place in florida. There are gators and snakes on the grounds of every retirement community.

You need to be realistic. Only way we remove all snakes and gators is to glass the state.

 

[fbb]

Retaining walls will not deter them.

Yep. Any kind of wall or fence at the waterline is just for human awareness. There will always be gators on either side of such a wall.

 

[amg35]

I have vacationed here for over twenty years and alligators were never on my radar. We even spent nearly half of those years in the campground. Snakes are everywhere in the Wilderness resort. So many, in fact, that I won't stay there anymore. Now alligators, and you all are telling me it's just something I'm supposed to accept and get over. Well, I'll just take my money elsewhere, thank you!

I'm not picking on you, but the amount of people who will actually stop going to Disney over this is so miniscule Disney won't even notice. That's why my train of thought is that for the rest of us, that fence and signs are enough.
Don't cancel water activities, bring back the lounge chairs, have evening activities on beach, continue to allow people to watch fireworks, water parade and just plain enjoy the view. With the fence and signs, it is now up to individuals how comfortable they are with certain activities.

 

[Missymoe4]

Exactly. As of today any parent whose child suffers the same fate can blame themselves; not so last week.

I do think the parents do have a hand in this tragedy, as difficult as it is to admit.

 

[Missymoe4]

... It used to be the one place I could take my kids and not worry about their safety.

Herein lies the problem! You should NEVER let your guard down if you love your kid. Their safety is YOUR priority, NOT Disney's or any other place for that matter.

Maybe this is the city girl in me talking....

Do you realize how many horrible things are out there? From human predators to nature.

This is what bugs me most: parents who let their kids run and not worry about the repercussions. No where is safe. It is your job to protect your loved ones and use common sense.

 

[Shanti]

I thought the dangers of alligators in Florida waterways was common knowledge. I learned about it in school.

The dangers of Florida waterways are routinely taught to people who attend school in Florida.

The dangers of Florida waterways are not routinely taught to people who attend school in Nebraska, New Jersey, Canada, Britain, Australia, Argentina, and many other places around the world where WDW guests come from.

That's why explicit signage is needed.

 

[Lynne M]

There's a difference between having potentially dangerous creatures on the property, and there being a high risk of injury or death from those creatures. I think that's what's being missed by some.

WDW has been open for 45 years. In those 45 years, there have been many thousand alligators roaming the property, along with many millions of guests. Guests and alligators have been in much closer contact that they are in most of FL, since Disney's been running beach events, and having guests view fireworks from the beaches, and sitting in lounge chairs on the beaches, for all of that 45 years. For the first several years, the beaches were open for wading, swimming, etc. To this day, guests water ski in the lakes, and there are even endurance events that have people swimming in the lakes.

In that half-century, there has been exactly ONE fatal alligator encounter. One. In nearly 50 years.

To me, that means that the risk of being injured or killed by an alligator on Disney property is astoundingly low. I probably have a better chance of hitting the Powerball than having an alligator bite me at WDW.

Alligators do not chase people down the beaches, snatch people from waterside walkways, or grab guests from their lounge chairs and carry them off. They hang out in the waterways, having a very satisfying diet of birds, fish, snakes, and small mammals, and would much prefer to avoid humans altogether. We are not their preferred prey. But if a human wanders into a lake late at night...well, as we have seen, bad things can happen.

Just because it's possible for something to happen, doesn't mean it's likely for that thing to happen. We have all learned why it's not good to go in the lakes and waterways in FL. That doesn't mean that the entire property is a deathtrap.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Maybe instead of marring the landscape with unsightly barriers and signs that people have to interpret to decide what they mean , Disney could fit Magic Bands with shock technology and an invisible fence to keep guests away from where they don't belong.