Alligator Signs ... inside Magic Kingdom! :(

[KAT4DISNEY]

- Description of crocodiles removed from narration for Kilimanjaro Safari

And they are just ignoring them as driving past? Much of the removals I'd say is over reaction although somewhat understandable for the climate we now live in but removal of mentioning them on the safari? That is just stupidity. It's more along the lines of if we remove all references to gators and crocodiles then hopefully everyone will forget about the tragedy.

 

[ParkHoppers]

And they are just ignoring them as driving past? Much of the removals I'd say is over reaction although somewhat understandable for the climate we now live in but removal of mentioning them on the safari? That is just stupidity. It's more along the lines of if we remove all references to gators and crocodiles then hopefully everyone will forget about the tragedy.

Agreed. I am all for the new gator signs near water. Not sure Disney had a choice on that one but other than the JC joke the rest is an over reaction IMO.

 

[jcjen519]

Are they planning to remove the alligators at the French Quarter pool? Isn't there a gator in one of the paintings in the stretch room of the Haunted Mansion? I haven't seen anything about removing those.

I wouldn't want to see them or Tic Toc croc or any cartoon type gators or crocs removed.

I don't see how keeping cartoon characters around is disrespectful to the child or his family. A cartoon character hasn't killed anybody.

What's next? Removing the Country Bear Jamboree because people are attacked by bears? Maybe we should take out the Tomorrowland Speedway because so many people are killed in auto accidents.

If a child is killed at wdw by a bear then I would not take issue with Disney removing scenes where a bear is attempting to attack or eat someone.

It's not about INSISTING it be done. It's about Disney deciding to do it and my understanding why. I have trouble understanding why one would not rather err on the side of being respectful when a child has died. Even if it's somewhat of an overreaction i think the intent is a good one. I don't see much value in insisting tic toc crock stick around.

I sincerely hope that there won't be any more instances like this. The big deal is a dead child not a silly fake croc.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

I see removing the crocs/gators as no different than retiring Monorails Pink & Purple, and asking Starbucks to remove the mug that accidentally featured Monorail Purple in the design. It's done out of respect for the deceased (someone who died on Disney property) & is a kind gesture in their memory.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Should they also remove all things related to Space at WDW?
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-woman-died-space-mountain-20151023-post.html
http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/14/news/fortune500/disney_death/index.htm
http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/14/news/fortune500/disney_death/index.htm
This is interesting..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Walt_Disney_World
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Walt_Disney_World
You are more likely to die on the rides than being killed by a gator. What happened recently was very tragic and should have never happened.

 

[jcjen519]

Should they also remove all things related to Space at WDW?
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-woman-died-space-mountain-20151023-post.html
http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/14/news/fortune500/disney_death/index.htm
This is interesting..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Walt_Disney_World
You are more likely to die on the rides than being killed by a gator. What happened recently was very tragic and should have never happened.

If a human being dies on an attraction and Disney decides to shut it down I would not be bothered by that.

If Disney has to shut down multiple attractions due to deaths caused by the attraction or remove fake animals because of deaths caused by a real version of that animal on their property my concern is not the rides but why the human death toll has climbed so high at an amusement park.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I see removing the crocs/gators as no different than retiring Monorails Pink & Purple, and asking Starbucks to remove the mug that accidentally featured Monorail Purple in the design. It's done out of respect for the deceased (someone who died on Disney property) & is a kind gesture in their memory.

I see what you're saying, but a fictional character did not do anything. A cartoon croc had nothing to do, clearly, with the tragic event with an alligator. I don't see how removing a depiction of a cartoon character from a parade respects the loss or somehow is done in their memory. My two cents is that it is a gross overreaction to the tragic event.

 

[bryanb]

Good points on both sides of this discussion. The irony is that the media and Internet is what's actually drawing more attention to crocs/gators being removed. Disney's not putting out some grand gesture and trying to show off its sensitivity and humility on this topic.

In the old days, before everything was discussed in excruciating detail, I'm sure these things happened very quietly and only the most diehard parks fans would even blink. For the rest of the guests, they might think in hindsight, wasn't there a plastic alligator in that bayou scene back there last time... and just think, huh.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

If a human being dies on an attraction and Disney decides to shut it down I would not be bothered by that.

If Disney has to shut down multiple attractions due to deaths caused by the attraction or remove fake animals because of deaths caused by a real version of that animal on their property my concern is not the rides but why the human death toll has climbed so high at an amusement park.

My point is....most of the incidents including the 2 deaths and the death of the little boy were caused by HUMAN error. The ride did not kill either one but deaths occurred due to health problems. People feed the wildlife at WDW, including the gators. There are signs warning people now. Taking out fictional Crocs and Gators will not stop people from doing stupid things and getting killed or injured...imho. Will UF people be told to change if they wear a Gator shirt?

 

[flatlandcycle]

I see removing the crocs/gators as no different than retiring Monorails Pink & Purple, and asking Starbucks to remove the mug that accidentally featured Monorail Purple in the design. It's done out of respect for the deceased (someone who died on Disney property) & is a kind gesture in their memory.

I know, Retire I-4, I-75, and I-95 in the memory of all the families killed on their way to Disney. While you're at it retire all jet service to MCO. This is typical Disney over reaction. We, civilians, will never be able to ride with the pilot. Q. How do you retire a color of monorail? a. Breakout the paint sprayer or vinyl stickers. Isn't "Our thoughts and and prayers go out to the family," enough?

 

[jcjen519]

My point is....most of the incidents including the 2 deaths and the death of the little boy were caused by HUMAN error. The ride did not kill either one but deaths occurred due to health problems. People feed the wildlife at WDW, including the gators. There are signs warning people now. Taking out fictional Crocs and Gators will not stop people from doing stupid things and getting killed or injured...imho. Will UF people be told to change if they wear a Gator shirt?

Disney decided to do this and I think it is approriate. A child died. I didn't call them up and ask them to do it, I wouldn't be freaking out if they didn't do it. I am saying I think it's fine.

I think the overreaction here is on the part of people so upset over the loss of tic toc crock. We aren't even talking about Mickey Mouse or Peter Pan himself. if you think it's too much to remove the silly plastic or animatronic crock out of respect when a child is killed I don't know what to say. The loss of a sweet two year old child is worth freaking out over, the loss of a silly toy croc is not.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

I see what you're saying, but a fictional character did not do anything. A cartoon croc had nothing to do, clearly, with the tragic event with an alligator. I don't see how removing a depiction of a cartoon character from a parade respects the loss or somehow is done in their memory. My two cents is that it is a gross overreaction to the tragic event.

I see your point as well. Either way Disney decided to go, I think there would be arguments for & against it - the only one I really would strongly argue for removal of is the Jungle Cruise joke.

I know, Retire I-4, I-75, and I-95 in the memory of all the families killed on their way to Disney. While you're at it retire all jet service to MCO. This is typical Disney over reaction. We, civilians, will never be able to ride with the pilot. Q. How do you retire a color of monorail? a. Breakout the paint sprayer or vinyl stickers. Isn't "Our thoughts and and prayers go out to the family," enough?

I do see overreaction presented here, but not on Disney's part.

 

[DrunkJam]

is it often that people die at Disney world in a manner that is joked about in the parks? I think a small child being killed at the gf is major and I think responding in a major way is appropriate.

I'm not waging a campaign to force wdw to do this. As I've stated, if they are in fact removing the gator stuff, I believe it to be an appropriate response to what happened.

I see what you are saying, but, Disney did not put the CROCODILE in Peter Pan. It's a hugely important part of the story, and is, in fact a danger to one of the people in the story.

I am happy with the signs, and the other measures, but to change the literary representations is really not necessary or appropriate

 

[Accident]

I was at MK yesterday and there is almost no signs.. they are basically where there isn't an existing barrier at the waters edge (near btmr in the smoking section, the dock for tom sawyers island)... I had to actually go out of my way to find them..

 

[flatlandcycle]

I would be much happier if there was a memorial near the site of the attack, and Disney stops allowing the feeding of gators. Removing Disney folklore about crocodilians is silly. Were we lead astray by the friendly alligator, Louis? We should ban trumpets, because, we all know alligators play trumpets.

 

[MariMama]

In addition to the deletion of jokes in JC, it was confirmed in the days following the incident:
- Tick Tock croc removed from parades
- Description of crocodiles removed from narration for Kilimanjaro Safari
- less than 24 hours before the new Castle Stage show debuted, Louis was edited out of the show and his CM friends were assigned to other roles.

We were in WDW from June 15-23 with CM friends and we noted the alligator/crocodile pictures in the Hangar Bar drink menu book - not noting that it was alarming just that Disney hadn't removed everything alligator related. In the past couple of days, a new food menu for the Hangar bar is in place and the drink menu book has been removed from the venue.

I'm not sure if World of Disney has removed a crocodile window display that was prominently displayed.

Considering all that has been removed, I do hope the signs are noticeable to guests.

Ridiculous.

 

[Jennasis]

Anybody know if Blizzard Beach is still featuring Ice Gator as its mascot?

 

[GPC0321]

I don't consider myself easily offended, and in fact get weary of all the people who ARE "offended" by every little thing, but I still look at that picture of Tic Toc in the parade and think, "Ehhh...not good right now." I don't know how to explain it, but in my gut it seems a bit off-putting to see a huge cartoon crocodile rolling down Main Street for everyone's entertainment right now. I understand the logical arguments for keeping him included, but it doesn't change my emotional reaction to seeing a big cartoon crocodile with a toothy grin being a focal point in a parade just across the lagoon from where a child was killed by an alligator. It just doesn't set well with me for whatever reason, and I doubt I'm alone. And like I said, I don't get "offended" easily at all.

Not mentioning the crocodiles on the Kilimanjaro Safari is just foolish though.

As for comparing the alligator attack to car wrecks, drowning, etc., the major difference is, of course, that people (including young children) get killed from car wrecks and drowning much more frequently. It's something we are all aware of and while tragic, we're used to it. Fatal alligator attacks are much more rare in general than car wrecks or drownings, and unprecedented at Walt Disney World. This is something Disney has never had to deal with. And it is different when it's a drowning or vehicle accident (be it bus, monorail, or car) versus a wild animal purposely snatching a child and dragging it to its death. It's different because it creates a stronger emotional response in us. Had this child been hit by a car or had he drowned in a resort or water park pool, people would still feel terrible, but there wouldn't be the fear and shock that come along with the alligator attack. It produces a completely different emotional response in us, and Disney is in the business of creating and shaping our emotional responses to things while we're on vacation there. This is why they're removing Tic Toc from the parade and Louis from the castle show, IMO. Because they realize the heightened emotional reaction of the public to the gator attack vs. drowning, getting hit by a bus, or a vehicle wreck.

 

[WEDWDW]

I don't consider myself easily offended, and in fact get weary of all the people who ARE "offended" by every little thing, but I still look at that picture of Tic Toc in the parade and think, "Ehhh...not good right now." I don't know how to explain it, but in my gut it seems a bit off-putting to see a huge cartoon crocodile rolling down Main Street for everyone's entertainment right now. I understand the logical arguments for keeping him included, but it doesn't change my emotional reaction to seeing a big cartoon crocodile with a toothy grin being a focal point in a parade just across the lagoon from where a child was killed by an alligator. It just doesn't set well with me for whatever reason, and I doubt I'm alone. And like I said, I don't get "offended" easily at all.

Not mentioning the crocodiles on the Kilimanjaro Safari is just foolish though.

As for comparing the alligator attack to car wrecks, drowning, etc., the major difference is, of course, that people (including young children) get killed from car wrecks and drowning much more frequently. It's something we are all aware of and while tragic, we're used to it. Fatal alligator attacks are much more rare in general than car wrecks or drownings, and unprecedented at Walt Disney World. This is something Disney has never had to deal with. And it is different when it's a drowning or vehicle accident (be it bus, monorail, or car) versus a wild animal purposely snatching a child and dragging it to its death. It's different because it creates a stronger emotional response in us. Had this child been hit by a car or had he drowned in a resort or water park pool, people would still feel terrible, but there wouldn't be the fear and shock that come along with the alligator attack. It produces a completely different emotional response in us, and Disney is in the business of creating and shaping our emotional responses to things while we're on vacation there. This is why they're removing Tic Toc from the parade and Louis from the castle show, IMO. Because they realize the heightened emotional reaction of the public to the gator attack vs. drowning, getting hit by a bus, or a vehicle wreck.

You've articulated precisely why this situation is different.

 

[declansdad]

I see removing the crocs/gators as no different than retiring Monorails Pink & Purple, and asking Starbucks to remove the mug that accidentally featured Monorail Purple in the design. It's done out of respect for the deceased (someone who died on Disney property) & is a kind gesture in their memory.

Should they stop selling Disney Crocs?