Alligator Signs ... inside Magic Kingdom! :(

[Uncleromulus]

Lane Graves was wading in a few inches of water about 1 foot from the shoreline. He was found in 6 feet of water, approximately 45 feet from the shore. Whether or not, he was in the water..doesn't matter. The gator could've/would've snatched him at the edge of the water. He didn't draw a line in the sand. It was mating season and feeding time..terrible combination. Now add family events provided on a "beach", under these conditions with no warning of the potential danger. Disney was very irresponsible. IMO

There were a few thousand gators in Florida in the 1970s. Now...estimated 1,300,000+ The likelihood of more accidents increase with rise in numbers of gators and people.

IT matters a great deal that he was in the water--and at dark. The movement in the water attracted the gator--as possible prey. If that child had actually been on the beach, it is very likely there would have been no attack and we would not be having this conversation.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We'll have to agree to disagree. If I were to visit WDW in the near future, I would find Tic Toc in the parade to be a bit tasteless considering what had happened and I would question Disney's decision to leave him as part of the parade. Ditto for the other removals so far. At the very least, I wouldn't blame Disney for erring to the side of sensitivity during this time. It doesn't seem like an overreaction given the nature of the tragedy to me. It's not every day that children get attacked and killed by wild animals right in the middle of Walt Disney World, so I think it's probably wise for Disney to be extra vigilant about how they appear so soon after the event.

Anyway, we all have different levels of sensitivity to various things, and that's really all anyone can say. What's "ridiculous" to you seems appropriate to me. *shrug*

I'm always fine with agreeing to disagree!!

Do you think they should ever be put back?

 

[jcjen519]

Okay, by that logic let us take the guns out of Toy Story Mania. Kid got shot, in Florida, at a gun range this week.

Lets just completely take out Mission Space because we've lost not one but two shuttle missions, one of them in Florida.

Wipe China off the map of EPCOT due to their human rights violations.

And how far back are we going to go? When is it no longer "too soon"? Should there be a "Germany" in EPCOT?

There is an entire section of WDW that is aligator-centric. It's called "Aligator Bayou" in Port Orleans-Riverside. Is Disney going to have to go through and UN-refurbish all of the theming and work they did?

It is a tragedy and I agree with the signs. But there are a million aligators in Florida and trying to wipe out all mention of them is not feasible nor is it a necessary tribute to the child.

Stacy

This child was killed at Disney world not just "in Florida". That makes a difference to me. This was a horrific thing that happened on the beach of disney's flagship resort. I dont know what Disney is going to redo based on the events but I wouldn't find re theming inappropriate. I'm also not banging the door down demanding it. My primary concern is the kid that died and nothing Disney does is too much imo

How Disney responds to any given situation is their choice and in this particular situation I believe it to be appropriate.

 

[MariMama]

Lane Graves was wading in a few inches of water about 1 foot from the shoreline. He was found in 6 feet of water, approximately 45 feet from the shore. Whether or not, he was in the water..doesn't matter. The gator could've/would've snatched him at the edge of the water. He didn't draw a line in the sand. It was mating season and feeding time..terrible combination. Now add family events provided on a "beach", under these conditions with no warning of the potential danger. Disney was very irresponsible. IMO

There were a few thousand gators in Florida in the 1970s. Now...estimated 1,300,000+ The likelihood of more accidents increase with rise in numbers of gators and people.

Every report I read said he was in about a foot of water, not inches. The splashing is what attracted the alligator.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Dropping in to remind everyone to remain on the topics of signage and affected onstage "show" within the theme parks and the resort at large.

Rehashing the events of June 14th is not necessary within this thread. There are still threads on the Community Board if you'd like to discuss the details of the tragic incident:
Second gator

Do you think they should ever be put back?

The rumor, at the time Louis was officially removed from the Castle Stage show, was he may appear in the show after the Summer season ends.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I read he was a foot OFF the shore..but 4-6 inches or 12 inches or at the edge...really doesn't matter or change anything.

The signs are necessary, do not detract from the resorts or parks and were long overdue. IMO.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

If we are comparing apples to apples, CM was killed by the moving wall in the Carousel of Progress, and a CM was killed by a Monorail. Both CM's were someone's son's. Did Disney remove all monorails? No, they retired thst color and stopped allowing "guests" in the front. Did they remove the moving walls at CoP? No, they did nothing at all. Yes, it is the same thing, a death is a death. Age doesn't matter, the CM's were still son's, just like Lane. God rest all their souls and prayers for the families. ..not to mention the CM killed at the Petty driving experience. That was tsken down, but not due to the death, it wasn't generating enough revenue and was scheduled for demolition already.

 

[sgtdisney]

If we are comparing apples to apples, CM was killed by the moving wall in the Carousel of Progress, and a CM was killed by a Monorail. Both CM's were someone's son's. Did Disney remove all monorails? No, they retired thst color and stopped allowing "guests" in the front. Did they remove the moving walls at CoP? No, they did nothing at all. Yes, it is the same thing, a death is a death. Age doesn't matter, the CM's were still son's, just like Lane. God rest all their souls and prayers for the families. ..not to mention the CM killed at the Petty driving experience. That was tsken down, but not due to the death, it wasn't generating enough revenue and was scheduled for demolition already.

There was a cast member (a young lady) who died in America Sings (former Carousel of Progress) at DL and they did make a number of changes to the ride, immediately. Breakaway walls, and lights to warn cast members that were close to the stationary and rotating walls. Just wanted to mention that.

I am on the side that removing every reference to a Alligator is overkill, if it's permanent. The jokes being removed for JC is justified as it's making fun of a similar situation. Of course those were Crocodiles, not Alligators, but I guess that subtle distinction is lost.. No doubt, this situation is fresh in everyone's memory. For good, of for bad, it will become a more distant memory and the wounds won't be as fresh. People have died all over Disney property for one reason or another. Most of the Roller Coasters (the older ones) have had at least one death. Even the TTA has had a death or two. Sadly, it happens. Alligators kill people, so do Sharks, Stingrays, Gorilla's, Bears, etc., but all have had prominent roles in Disney films. I can see Disney removing some, temporarily out of respect. But any permanent removal as a result of this tragedy is just overkill. I think Disney is trying to cover their bases now, and show how respectful they are being toward the family pre-emptively before the big lawsuit hits. Sorry, but that's just my opinion.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Because the thread is no longer on topic and a link to the Community Board thread has been posted: closing.