Alligator Signs ... inside Magic Kingdom! :(

[AngiTN]

Well you're going to have to deal with it - even if it prevents ONE person from getting hurt I'm all for it. Your hyperbole about other signage isn't appropriate. I personally am happy that more guests are now aware, and are instructed to NOT feed these things.

Just who needs a sign to tell them it's a bad idea to feed any wild animal, especially alligators? What happened to common sense?
So in this case, seeing how anyone smart enough to breathe knows you shouldn't feed an alligator, it would be fair to compare putting up signs that warn bees sting and water is wet.

 

[Evoga]

I remember one year staying at Caribbean Beach Resort and the children were looking at the little turtles and a kind lady told us to be careful as they were snapping turtles and could have your finger off. I would never have know that coming from the UK. Also the children were intrigued by the snake we found in Fort Wilderness one year along with an armadillo at night.

I also find the signs hypocritical at the Polynesian and Beach Club outside dining area to not feed the wildlife when they built a massive theme park in the swamp and changed their habitat.

 

[AngiTN]

For me, it's not that it makes it any less magical, I coukd honesy care less if there are sugns are not. It's the larger issue of society's shift to lack of responsibility for individual choices and decisions. If we have to warn people about every single little thing they could ever possibly encounter in life, then when exactly do they ever start to think for themselves?

Yes, exactly where my mind goes. Like I said above, who on earth thinks it's smart to feed an alligator? Or a squirrel for goodness sakes
People aren't thinking and that is the problem

 

[HatboxHaint]

We shouldn't forget. I hope you didn't mean we should.

Do you go to WDW to commemorate other people's personal tragedies? What happened was terrible. Safety precautions should be taken. Disney should have either taken more control of the wildlife or erected signs previous to the attack. I am completely understanding of signs by the lakes outside the parks, those are maintained as natural bodies of water and I can avoid those easily if I want, but signs inside a completely controlled environment (or should be) like the most visited park on earth is a bit overkill. It diminished my desire to spend an un-Godly amount of money on a vacation to a place that is supposed to be an escape from reality if I'm going to be constantly reminded that a child was recently drowned by an alligator in the near vicinity every time I glance towards a body of water and there's a big red sign.

 

[AngiTN]

I also find the signs hypocritical at the Polynesian and Beach Club outside dining area to not feed the wildlife when they built a massive theme park in the swamp and changed their habitat.

So you think because they built Disney on a swamp the wildlife should be fed by guests? Not getting that rationale at all.
Not debating whether or not Disney should have used swamp land, that's over and done with.
But it's not hypocritical to say not to feed them.
Even if someone doesn't know the turtles or snakes can bite they ought to know that you don't feed wild animals human food. Even if they can't harm you the food harms them.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I remember one year staying at Caribbean Beach Resort and the children were looking at the little turtles and a kind lady told us to be careful as they were snapping turtles and could have your finger off. I would never have know that coming from the UK. Also the children were intrigued by the snake we found in Fort Wilderness one year along with an armadillo at night.

I also find the signs hypocritical at the Polynesian and Beach Club outside dining area to not feed the wildlife when they built a massive theme park in the swamp and changed their habitat.

All of FL was built basically on swamp. You also do not have to have swamp for wildlife. Squirrels, bunnies, bears etc....they are not swamp wildlife but still wildlife

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Just who needs a sign to tell them it's a bad idea to feed any wild animal, especially alligators? What happened to common sense?
So in this case, seeing how anyone smart enough to breathe knows you shouldn't feed an alligator, it would be fair to compare putting up signs that warn bees sting and water is wet.

"Common sense" is NOT so common...you think it's bad in a Disney park, the Big Apple is 10xtimes worse.

 

[DVCcurious]

Well, add drowning signs, because WAY more children die from drowning that alligators. I think also ;
6. Watch your step signs painted along all the curbs.

Where were these last April? I did a serious face plant in the hub tripping over a curb.

10. and of course ...Do not discharge firearms inside park.

How am I supposed to protect myself from the gators if I can't blow them away?

 

[DVCcurious]

And a "Do Not Mention Alligator Signs on Disboards" sign, to try to prevent the endless arguing that this topic engenders.

The first rule of disboards is you do not talk about alligators
The second rule of disboards is YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT ALLIGATORS

and the final rule: if it's your first visit to disboards you have to post

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Just who needs a sign to tell them it's a bad idea to feed any wild animal, especially alligators? What happened to common sense?
So in this case, seeing how anyone smart enough to breathe knows you shouldn't feed an alligator, it would be fair to compare putting up signs that warn bees sting and water is wet.

SHOULD be common sense -- obviously it wasn't per CM reports that people were feeding gators.

Unlike feeding birds, that's 1) dangerous, 2) illegal in FL.

Since Disney knew this was going on, and given that it is both dangerous and illegal, posted signs stating that seem overdue to me. Glad they have them now.

 

[AngiTN]

"Common sense" is NOT so common...you think it's bad in a Disney park, the Big Apple is 10xtimes worse.

Yes indeed. It's not just Disney and it's not just Big Apple. It's rampant everywhere. An epidemic.
And I am not going to blame a sign such as this, it's not that simple at all but constantly giving people an out for not thinking for themselves is not helping things any at all.
Maybe it's time to punish those who do feed the animals. No idea what that punishment should be but signs are posted, they are ignored and nothing happens. Other than the life of some animals are shortened. A diet of french fries isn't good for anyone, ducks included.

 

[AngiTN]

SHOULD be common sense -- obviously it wasn't per CM reports that people were feeding gators.

Unlike feeding birds, that's 1) dangerous, 2) illegal in FL.

Since Disney knew this was going on, and given that it is both dangerous and illegal, posted signs stating that seem overdue to me. Glad they have them now.

Of course those who fed them know it was dangerous. They didn't care
My point is, putting up those signs won't stop it

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Of course those who fed them know it was dangerous. They didn't care
My point is, putting up those signs won't stop it

I don't want to get into that whole debate again, but the signs clearly serve multiple purposes.
-- Some didn't know there were gators in those waters. Now with the signs they do.
-- Now CMs have signs to point to about feeding gators -- maybe that will help them enforce rules not to do so -- give them a tool.

I hope Disney gets strict about enforcement. Eject people who feed them.

And just because a sign won't keep EVERYONE from doing something, obviously doesn't mean we should have no signs

 

[lindsmom]

To lighten up the discussion - another example of lawyers determining what needs a sign - this was posted on the jellyfish ride in Seaworld - the area for the little children. The "cars" glide up and down slowly. But apparently at some time there was an issue warranting the top line in the sign:

 

[yulilin3]

Just borrowed from the other 10 threads about alligators at Disney

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Just who needs a sign to tell them it's a bad idea to feed any wild animal, especially alligators? What happened to common sense?

.

I suggest you acquaint yourself with the many youtube videos and guest stories describing people doing exactly this. "Just who needs a sign?" A lot of people, apparently.

 

[Klayfish]

Haven't had time to read the whole thread, but yes, we have seen these signs all throughout the park during our trip here. My wife and I just shook our heads at them.

People are dumb. They ignore rules, don't pay attention or think the rules don't apply to them. Lawyers exist to tell them it's someone else's responsibility to protect them from themselves.

 

[plumsiren]

"Common sense" is NOT so common...you think it's bad in a Disney park, the Big Apple is 10xtimes worse.

For the love of god how do tourists not know that you shouldn't stop in the middle of the sidewalk when there are approximately a thousand people behind you?!?! Gaaaah!

 

[mousefan73]

I think these signs miss out on the opportunity to educate guests, esoecially kids. Besides warning signs they could have signage educating and explaining the WHY. Especially by the bridges or Tom Sawyer Island were people hang and might take time to reaf. Maybe have a cute sign ( POR Bayou cartoon alligator) explain to kid AND adults on how gators are native here and WE are guests. The reasons why not to feed. Expkain they are scared and avoid humans unless fed etccc.

 

[mousefan73]

Yes indeed. It's not just Disney and it's not just Big Apple. It's rampant everywhere. An epidemic.
And I am not going to blame a sign such as this, it's not that simple at all but constantly giving people an out for not thinking for themselves is not helping things any at all.
Maybe it's time to punish those who do feed the animals. No idea what that punishment should be but signs are posted, they are ignored and nothing happens. Other than the life of some animals are shortened. A diet of french fries isn't good for anyone, ducks included.

Same issue with bears. Keep human food away they wont come