Alligator Incident Discussion/Fence being built at Grand Floridian?

[Guyton dis lover]

When idiots feed gators and change their natural fear and avoidance of humans, there is no where for Disney to take them that they will not come back. So Yes they kill them.

I learned many years ago a fed gator is a dead gator.

 

[GPC0321]

I promise you Disney doesn't want the what-ifs for parents who choose to take an informed risk. The possibility of a PR disaster like this one at the Happiest Place on Earth is not a price they want to pay.

Additionally, if it becomes widely known that you have to buy a bunch of 3 dollar water bottles and cart them down to the beach to make sand castles, no one is going to want to make them anyway. Problem solved.

So, you don't think Disney will re-open the beaches? Because if they do, the kids are going to want to play in the sand while the parents relax on loungers or hammocks. Kids can play in the sand without having a sandcastle building contest. But in the case of the GF, they can go get sand from the pool. Or maybe Disney could install some spigots (or are there any?) like they have at real beaches where you can wash sand off before heading back to the pool or room. Kids could fill buckets with water from the spigots. Seems like a totally doable thing.

From the looks of where the fences are placed, and the expanse of the "beach" area, I don't think there is much risk with people hanging out on the sand on the proper side of the fence. It's not like there are alligators sunbathing on the beaches among the lounge chairs.

But we'll see. They may close the beaches down permanently. I doubt it though. And as long as there are sandy areas to hang out, kids will want shovels and pails to play with.

 

[javaman]

I just read a FB post that a fence is being set up right at this moment. Anyone there to confirm this?

I saw this earlier today.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/fence-under-construction-at-disneys-grand-floridian-resort/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+disney-updates+(Disney+Updates+-+wdwinfo.com)

 

[Sammie]

So, you don't think Disney will re-open the beaches? Because if they do, the kids are going to want to play in the sand while the parents relax on loungers or hammocks. Kids can play in the sand without having a sandcastle building contest. But in the case of the GF, they can go get sand from the pool. Or maybe Disney could install some spigots (or are there any?) like they have at real beaches where you can wash sand off before heading back to the pool or room. Kids could fill buckets with water from the spigots. Seems like a totally doable thing.

From the looks of where the fences are placed, and the expanse of the "beach" area, I don't think there is much risk with people hanging out on the sand on the proper side of the fence. It's not like there are alligators sunbathing on the beaches among the lounge chairs.

But we'll see. They may close the beaches down permanently. I doubt it though. And as long as there are sandy areas to hang out, kids will want shovels and pails to play with.

I don't think they will close them, but it is quite possible they will remove the sand and make it into landscape only.

 

[KBinCO]

Disney encouraged people to enjoy the water by having beaches and events and sand castle building. Sure. But still, all people embraced the risks of being outside. The resorts and parks were built on swamps. Everyone knows gators and bugs are native to the area. It is completely ignorant to think Disney has any control to keep these things from happening. There is going to be a false sense of security now that there is less of a risk of this happening now than before. In the next 45 years another freak unlikely alligator event could happen again. That's the risk of being in FL.

Disney encourages swimming in the ocean at castaway cay and in Hawaii. Is it on Disney to remove natural wildlife from these waters? Would everyone say Disney was responsible for shark attacks? Disney encourages kids to go on cruise ships... But there are dangers of viruses! Kids going overboard!

Disney creates these magical places but they all come with risks. It's risks we take when we drive and fly to their destinations. And when we choose to leave our homes in general. Some people hate being outside because of bugs and wildlife. When you go outside, you enjoy life but also insert yourself into the food chain.

The only thing that surprised me about this attack is that people honestly thought Disney could and did remove all dangers from existing.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

It's not like there are alligators sunbathing on the beaches among the lounge chairs.

But we'll see. They may close the beaches down permanently. I doubt it though. And as long as there are sandy areas to hang out, kids will want shovels and pails to play with.

I don't have the link right now but I read an article where in April there was a family staying at Grand Floridian who were warned by another family as they were headed down to the beach area that there was an 8 foot alligator just hanging out on the sand at the beach. When you consider the potential aggressiveness of alligators emboldened by being fed by the bungalows, I'm just not sure what is going to happen.

 

[GPC0321]

Unfortunately, there's a reason why some states, including Florida I believe, make it so you are supposed to have gating or fencing around a permanent pool. It's because homeowners are liable if someone gets in there and drowns, even if they don't have permission to be there. It's just one of those things in the law, it happened on your property and wasn't easily foreseeable so you're held liable as the property owner, just like if someone trips on your steps. Homeowners insurance is supposed to cover it though, if you have enough.

Yep. Swimming pools are an "attractive nuisance". I have horses on my property, and they are considered and "attractive nuisance" too. So if someone trespasses on my property and gets hurt by one of my horses, technically it's considered MY fault. Which is why I have 5 foot high electric fencing around my property and a gate across my driveway.

 

[Donald Duck888]

I learned many years ago a fed gator is a dead gator.

We have that same saying up here about bears, a fed bear is a dead bear.

 

[javaman]

I'm sure the current fence will be a temporary/short-term solution. They'll need to figure out the right safety-aesthetic balance for a fence, as well as any other mitigation things, like maybe lining the shores near guest-trafficked areas with gravel or something that gators would avoid. That’ll take months.

There are hidden barriers in the Kilimanjaro safari, maybe they could come up with something similar along the beaches?

 

[Don_Air]

I am pretty sure everyone is saying the same thing over and over, and not reading this thread at all.

 

[tink'smom2B]

This new fence isn't much of a deterrent. It may be a reminder to keep people off the beach, but I'm very concerned about what can come out of the water onto the beach. These little poles and a few ropes are not going to stop a gator from coming up on the beach. And, I have heard reports of people seeing alligators on the Poly beach! Maybe people who live in Florida can find all this acceptable but I can't wait to go home

 

[conandrob240]

Disney encouraged people to enjoy the water by having beaches and events and sand castle building. Sure. But still, all people embraced the risks of being outside. The resorts and parks were built on swamps. Everyone knows gators and bugs are native to the area. It is completely ignorant to think Disney has any control to keep these things from happening. There is going to be a false sense of security now that there is less of a risk of this happening now than before. In the next 45 years another freak unlikely alligator event could happen again. That's the risk of being in FL.

Disney encourages swimming in the ocean at castaway cay and in Hawaii. Is it on Disney to remove natural wildlife from these waters? Would everyone say Disney was responsible for shark attacks? Disney encourages kids to go on cruise ships... But there are dangers of viruses! Kids going overboard!

Disney creates these magical places but they all come with risks. It's risks we take when we drive and fly to their destinations. And when we choose to leave our homes in general. Some people hate being outside because of bugs and wildlife. When you go outside, you enjoy life but also insert yourself into the food chain.

The only thing that surprised me about this attack is that people honestly thought Disney could and did remove all dangers from existing.

There's a barrier in the ocean on Castaway Cay to keep out sharks. The barbs from sting rays there have been removed. So, yes, there is a precedent for Disney removing dangerous animals. At castaway, there are also signs warning against what can harm you there such as jellyfish.

If they can't keep the lagoons & lakes at WDW free of dangerous creatures, then there absolutely should be more of an alert to their presence than "No swimming". Any reasonable person knows this and I'll bet you anything Disney wishes it had done more.

 

[javaman]

alligator as viewed from our balcony at DWL 2010. they are everywhere. I'm kind of surprised I have never heard of any alligator attacks happening before now.

 

[NYUBwayBaby]

This new fence isn't much of a deterrent. It may be a reminder to keep people off the beach, but I'm very concerned about what can come out of the water onto the beach. These little poles and a few ropes are not going to stop a gator from coming up on the beach. And, I have heard reports of people seeing alligators on the Poly beach! Maybe people who live in Florida can find all this acceptable but I can't wait to go home

NOTHING will keep a gator off a beach. They are tanks. Covered in scaly armor.
It's to keep people away from the water so they don't splash around and get mistaken for something the gator can eat. I get that people who don't live in the south don't get it. I do. I didn't live in the south until about six months ago. But if you don't like the idea that there's a minuscule chance of a gator encounter then don't go to GA, FL, LA, MS, AL. Period.

 

[GPC0321]

I don't think they will close them, but it is quite possible they will remove the sand and make it into landscape only.

But, would that be the same as closing them then? I mean, if it's landscaping that still provides a place to relax near the lagoon (just not TOO near the lagoon), then aren't the dangers the same? Maybe even worse, since landscaping with foliage and such is prime snake territory. If gators are going to come up onto land, they won't care if it's sand or landscaped areas. They get into swimming pools. They get into the middle of Magic Kingdom.

I'm just not sure when people will be satisfied that "enough" has been done to reduce the risk of a run-in with wildlife on the property? Some people's ideas that Disney can somehow eradicate the entire gator and snake population from the property (a place the size of San Francisco) and keep them away is just completely unrealistic. I can only assume folks with these ideas have very little knowledge about wild animals in general.

 

[Guyton dis lover]

We have that same saying up here about bears, a fed bear is a dead bear.

We got those to. The Black bear in Georgia has been in our states mountains for years and there have been bear attacks in North Georgia. Now the bears are making a come back in south Georgia and I know Flordia has Black bears and the Flordia als has the Flordia panther. One was killed by a hunter in Georgia 600 miles out of its range several years ago. But one thing is for sure is that the Disney and Flordia Wildlife folks will be aggresive on these matters from now on.

 

[Guyton dis lover]

NOTHING will keep a gator off a beach. They are tanks. Covered in scaly armor.
It's to keep people away from the water so they don't splash around and get mistaken for something the gator can eat. I get that people who don't live in the south don't get it. I do. I didn't live in the south until about six months ago. But if you don't like the idea that there's a minuscule chance of a gator encounter then don't go to GA, FL, LA, MS, AL. Period.

This is fact.

 

[NYUBwayBaby]

alligator as viewed from our balcony at DWL 2010. they are everywhere. I'm kind of surprised I have never heard of any alligator attacks happening before now.View attachment 176181

Gator attacks are super, super rare. I currently live in a town that sells shot glasses that say "More gators than people!" and we had an attack about a month ago. The girl is alright- just some cuts. People have lived here for generations and they are shocked. But then again no one feeds them here. You see them, you avoid them, you let them be and they move on. That's even the state's advice. Unless it's super close to your house or approaches you then let it be and it'll go away in a few days.

 

[Sammie]

But, would that be the same as closing them then? I mean, if it's landscaping that still provides a place to relax near the lagoon (just not TOO near the lagoon), then aren't the dangers the same? Maybe even worse, since landscaping with foliage and such is prime snake territory. If gators are going to come up onto land, they won't care if it's sand or landscaped areas. They get into swimming pools. They get into the middle of Magic Kingdom.

I'm just not sure when people will be satisfied that "enough" has been done to reduce the risk of a run-in with wildlife on the property? Some people's ideas that Disney can somehow eradicate the entire gator and snake population from the property (a place the size of San Francisco) and keep them away is just completely unrealistic. I can only assume folks with these ideas have very little knowledge about wild animals in general.

Of course it is unrealistic. There are dangers at Disney World, real and man-made. The little boy that was hit by a Disney bus was an accident. It was no less horrible than this but we don't want to take away all the bikes and all the buses to try and prevent another "accident".

If they remove the sand it would simply be a move to keep people with kids from playing near the water in the sand. I don't have any idea what their plans will be. I think signs are enough.

 

[DLgal]

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.

There is literally NO place on Earth that you don't have to worry about your safety. There are hazards everywhere. You do realize Disney isn't actually "magical", right? It is outdoors...of COURSE there is a bunch of dangerous wildlife! How could there not be?

Your safety is YOUR responsibility, no one else's.