Changes made to resorts to make guests safer?

[Huff]

Either way, I think it's good they're taking extra measures to ensure it NEVER happens again.

You cannot protect people from themselves. The new fences will not keep everyone from the water. There were warning signs and no swimming signs that people ignored. Some will ignore the new fences as well as they are only a couple feet high. Putting up higher fences or walls will be even more distracting.

 

[mousehockey37]

You cannot protect people from themselves. The new fences will not keep everyone from the water. There were warning signs and no swimming signs that people ignored. Some will ignore the new fences as well as they are only a couple feet high. Putting up higher fences or walls will be even more distracting.

Just like putting up more screening check points isn't going to stop anyone who really wants to get into the parks with something and inflict damage.

 

[dansdad]

Well this is predictably going sideways.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...
The problem with people and animals, is the people. It's cute to want to feed the birds. ...

And how many people have been attacked by the birds at the MK (and other locations) because too many people think it's fun to get a photo of their kid feeding the birds.

 

[mousehockey37]

And how many people have been attacked by the birds at the MK (and other locations) because too many people think it's fun to get a photo of their kid feeding the birds.

My DGF and I sat outside of Cosmic Rays for a meal the one day and the birds just literally sit on top of you for fries and/or whatever else people just leave at their table because you know, it's Disney's job to clean up after them when they leave all their trays and trash and just walk away when they're done. We tried to kinda shoo the bird(s) and squirrels away, but they have no fear of people. Heck, the squirrel was climbing over peoples feet and bags as it navigated the outside dining area.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Research, and I'm not saying sit down and write a Doctoral thesis. It's pretty common knowledge that Gators inhabit Florida swamp land.

The problem with people and animals, is the people. It's cute to want to feed the birds. But then fish eat what the birds don't get, other bigger animals that eat those fish and birds follow them, etc... There are reasons that signs are posted saying to NOT feed the animals.

What was completely wrong was for Disney to go killing off a bunch of gators they found in the lagoon after that. Because someone let their kid thrash around in the water at dusk (thereby making it seem to a predatory animal that they were an injured meal), and the gator did its animal thing, a bunch of other gators died for no reason other than they were just in the lake. Also, a bunch of other knee jerk reactions were instituted in the parks as well (besides the fences and signs).

I so agree with this. It actually makes me angry when sitting out by the Plaza or Casey's in MK and I see SO many people feeding animals even though there are signs explicitly asking them not to. It is not safe to feed the animals - not for the animals nor for the humans.

OP, as others have said, along with the signs that were already there, WDW has put up a lot of fencing to further discourage people from ignoring the signs and going in the water. Of course, no one can stop people from ignoring the fencing as well. Just like people ignore the no flash photography rule and the hands and legs (or how about your whole body) staying inside a ride vehicle rule. If you stick to swimming in your resort pool and not going into bodies of water you aren't supposed to be in, you will be fine.

 

[darrengs]

Disney didn't "bring them down to the beach" for the movie event. That was held in a grassy area adjacent to the beach...

When we stayed at the Yacht Club 4 years ago, the movies were indeed on the beach. They even had chairs only a few feet from the water. I don't have any pictures myself, but google "disney movies on the beach", and there are many pictures of it.

 

[sbd78]

Research, and I'm not saying sit down and write a Doctoral thesis. It's pretty common knowledge that Gators inhabit Florida swamp land.

O.K., but it's one thing to research wildlife when camping in the smoky mountains and quite another to research wildlife for your stay at the Grand Floridian. Most people haven't been to Disney 40+ times and had the opportunity to see gators in busy places on property like many of the posters on this forum have. It is well known now because this tragedy occurred.

Also, I've never considered Bay Lake to be "swam land."

 

[sbd78]

When we stayed at the Yacht Club 4 years ago, the movies were indeed on the beach. They even had chairs only a few feet from the water. I don't have any pictures myself, but google "disney movies on the beach", and there are many pictures of it.

I'm not sure why Disney built beaches on a gator infested lake? Like I said earlier, an inviting beach doesn't exactly scream, "Danger!"

 

[mousehockey37]

O.K., but it's one thing to research wildlife when camping in the smoky mountains and quite another to research wildlife for your stay at the Grand Floridian. Most people haven't been to Disney 40+ times and had the opportunity to see gators in busy places on property like many of the posters on this forum have. It is well known now because this tragedy occurred.

It's well known that gators live in Florida and the waters in it. So ignorance doesn't get a pass here. This ranks up there with people who go to a country that the native language is something other than English and they come back surprised or upset that they couldn't talk to anyone and had a bad trip.

I'm not sure why Disney built beaches on a gator infested lake? Like I said earlier, an inviting beach doesn't exactly scream, "Danger!"

Let's go dig up Walt and ask him. He'll probably tell you he got a good deal on the land at the time.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Research, and I'm not saying sit down and write a Doctoral thesis. It's pretty common knowledge that Gators inhabit Florida swamp land.

The problem with people and animals, is the people. It's cute to want to feed the birds. But then fish eat what the birds don't get, other bigger animals that eat those fish and birds follow them, etc... There are reasons that signs are posted saying to NOT feed the animals.

I totally agree with you up to this point.

But then, you go on with:

What was completely wrong was for Disney to go killing off a bunch of gators they found in the lagoon after that. Because someone let their kid thrash around in the water at dusk (thereby making it seem to a predatory animal that they were an injured meal), and the gator did its animal thing, a bunch of other gators died for no reason other than they were just in the lake. Also, a bunch of other knee jerk reactions were instituted in the parks as well (besides the fences and signs).

The alligators living in Seven Seas lagoon had to be destroyed because all of them could have lost their fear of humans. The people feeding them from the decks of their over-water huts doomed them.

Disney had no choice but to take them out; it would have been negligent to allow them to live. They’re hardly endangered animals now. A little culling was called for in this situation.

I hope their pelts were used to make nice shoes and pocketbook, but I hope even more that this tragedy educated people on the dangers of feeding wildlife. It did for me and my family.

 

[mousehockey37]

The alligators living in Seven Seas lagoon had to be destroyed because all of them could have lost their fear of humans. The people feeding them from the decks of their over-water huts doomed them.

Disney had no choice but to take them out; it would have negligent to allow to live. They’re hardly endangered animals now. A little culling was called for in this situation.

I hope their pelts were used to make nice shoes and pocketbook, but I hope even more that this tragedy educated people on the dangers of feeding wildlife. It did for me and my family.

Who's fault is it that the gators lost that fear? I'll give you a hint, it's not the gators.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Who's fault is it that the gators lost that fear? I'll give you a hint, it's not the gators.

They were doomed by the people feeding them from the DVC huts.

I’ve seen video of people calling the gators to swim over for watermelon. They are not stupid animals; they’ll work for food, but at that point, their fear of humans is gone.

Every gator in the Seven Seas lagoon could have reached that point. Hopefully, people have stopped feeding them.

 

[mousehockey37]

They were doomed by the people feeding them from the DVC huts.

I’ve seen video of people calling the gators to swim over for watermelon. They are not stupid animals; they’ll work for food, but at that point, their fear of humans is gone.

Every gator in the Seven Seas lagoon could have reached that point. Hopefully, people have stopped feeding them.

Anyway, idiots are going to be idiots. Disney is a place where there's countless "I paid a lot of money to come here, so I'll do what I want" guests. So long as there's even 1 person that does it, these encounters will be a persistent threat.

Again, I've not been to Disney 40+ times, and knew well before I ever stepped foot in the state of Florida that gators and snakes are everywhere there.

 

[sbd78]

It's well known that gators live in Florida and the waters in it. So ignorance doesn't get a pass here. This ranks up there with people who go to a country that the native language is something other than English and they come back surprised or upset that they couldn't talk to anyone and had a bad trip.

It is well known gators live in Florida. It was not well known that they live in a busy lake surrounded by theme parks and hotels, until this happened.

Let's go dig up Walt and ask him. He'll probably tell you he got a good deal on the land at the time.

What in the world does Walt getting a good deal on the land have to do with the decision to build beaches on the gator infested lakes? And then show movies on said beaches? At dusk, which people have pointed out is feeding time for wild animals?

 

[maxiesmom]

When we stayed at the Yacht Club 4 years ago, the movies were indeed on the beach. They even had chairs only a few feet from the water. I don't have any pictures myself, but google "disney movies on the beach", and there are many pictures of it.

On the beach is not in the water. Huge difference.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is well known gators live in Florida. It was not well known that they live in a busy lake surrounded by theme parks and hotels, until this happened.

Sure it was.

 

[mousehockey37]

What in the world does Walt getting a good deal on the land have to do with the decision to build beaches on the gator infested lakes?

 

[maxiesmom]

If you want to vacation someplace and be sure to avoid wildlife, don't leave your hotel room. Which really isn't a foolproof way to avoid wildlife, as all sorts of creepy crawlies can get in your room. And has been stated before, gators can climb. Point is, you can't avoid wildlife unless you never leave your house. Heck yesterday in the city of Grand Rapids they had the DNR out to go get a wild bear! They captured it, took it a couple hours north, and let it free.

You can't avoid wildlife, so the best you can do is educate yourself on what is in the area you will be visiting. I wouldn't go to Pigeon Forge and say "What idiot decided to put a theme park here, where there are bears all around?" Know what is around, be aware, and be smart. And don't ignore posted warning signs.

 

[sbd78]

Sure it was.

By who? You? So your sample size of 1 means it was well known? I talked to quite a few people who didn't know back when it happened.