Child falls 3 stories at akl into the giraffe area

[disney david]

A 6 year old girl reaching for something on her balcony falls three stories to the savannah. A responding security tells police he found her with a bloody fare head and her father standing over her. He enter the savannah to save his child she was air lifted and is doing better. Thankfully the animals was not their I am sure Disney got them out once it was reported. Disney their helping the family though this which is good. Let hope for a speedy recovery for the girl.

http://m.wesh.com/news/child-falls-...gn=wesh&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=dlvr.it

 

[WDW Crawl]

Hopefully there is a speedy recovery. Keep an eye on your kids and make sure they know some rules about balconies and ledges before something like this happens again, because it probably could have been prevented.

 

[disney david]

Hopefully there is a speedy recovery. Keep an eye on your kids and make sure they know some rules about balconies and ledges before something like this happens again, because it probably could have been prevented.

Yes and thankfully it was the giraffe because they like to stay near their home if it was other animals might have been out more. Also thankfully Disney has cameras because I am sure they saw it and went into action.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Holy Cow. That poor child.

I hope she'll be ok.

 

[gretchenohar@hotmail]

The worst nightmare ever for parents/guardians!
Sending prayers for the little girl & her family.
Agree with PP re: "rules" and making sure kids aren't ever on balconies alone. Of course, we don't know the whole scenario, and we all know how quick a child can manage to do something dangerous in spite of the most watchful adults. Please keep us posted if you hear anything else.

 

[SamSam]

Hope she's okay. How terrifying for her! Watch your kids, as others have said...go over the rules with them, no climbing, etc.

 

[FloridaDreaming]

Definitely scary! 3 stories? Wow! Hope she will be okay.

 

[steve76]

How awful for the family involved. Hope they are OK.

Disney's cameras cover the balconies, so they should be able to see exactly what happened.

If I recall correctly, at AKL there is a "buffer" zone between the buildings and the savanna. The "invisible" wire fences prevent the animals getting right up to the rooms. Therefore the child wouldn't have fallen into the area occupied by the animals.

 

[disney david]

How awful for the family involved. Hope they are OK.

Disney's cameras cover the balconies, so they should be able to see exactly what happened.

If I recall correctly, at AKL there is a "buffer" zone between the buildings and the savanna. The "invisible" wire fences prevent the animals getting right up to the rooms. Therefore the child wouldn't have fallen into the area occupied by the animals.

Your right but a panicking parent might not know that right away. Even if they can't get to you just them being in their at that moment can be make it more scary for the father.

 

[connie1042]

Our granddaughter fell off a dock this weekend into the water. We knew it was going to happen and we were watching her. We told her she was going to fall in, if she kept leaning over. She was never in any danger, and she fell in only a foot of water. She is 5 and tall. But when it happened, it happened fast. We heard her fall, but were not looking right at her at the time. Stuff like that happens so fast. I love balconies, but there needs to be some protection for the kids. I am glad she is going to be okay.

 

[disney david]

Our granddaughter fell off a dock this weekend into the water. We knew it was going to happen and we were watching her. We told her she was going to fall in, if she kept leaning over. She was never in any danger, and she fell in only a foot of water. She is 5 and tall. But when it happened, it happened fast. We heard her fall, but were not looking right at her at the time. Stuff like that happens so fast. I love balconies, but there needs to be some protection for the kids. I am glad she is going to be okay.

What Build plexiglass around all the balcony we don't know what she could of been reaching for is their anything near them. Was she trying to touch a giraffe I know this is accident and nothing takes away how much he parents love her and her father could of been right their and still not been able to stop it. But it still the parent Responsibilty to make sure their kids are not climbing on the balcony or doing anything other then standing their and looking at the animals. For all we know her father could of been holding her up so she could look over the railing and she the animals and leaned out to far and went over. I just don't know saying Disney should do more is the answer because I am sure if Disney came up with something it might make some people not happy. Because maybe they instal nets that look like you in a safari but make it hard to take pics or they install something that dose not look as nice.

I am sure Disney will be looking at this because I bet they never thought about this happening.

 

[wiigirl]

Hope she is ok....

 

[ShesAPirate]

But it still the parent's responsibility to make sure their kids are not climbing on the balcony or doing anything other than standing their and looking at the animals.

 

[lugnut33]

I don't know how a 6 year old could get through the balcony bars at AKL, those things would be way smaller than her head. She must have climbed up on the chair and was reaching over the bars. Hopefully she will be OK. That's a pretty long fall.

And yeah, there's no way she fell into the animal area, there's about 20 feet of from the building to the invisible fence line. Matter of fact, there is a road for service vehicles that runs between the rooms and the fence.

 

[Cherinva]

this story really bothers me.....please don't flame me but I have to wonder where were her parents during this time and why wasn't she being watched? I feel so badly for the little girl and I hope she heals quickly.

 

[WDW Crawl]

What Build plexiglass around all the balcony we don't know what she could of been reaching for is their anything near them. Was she trying to touch a giraffe I know this is accident and nothing takes away how much he parents love her and her father could of been right their and still not been able to stop it. But it still the parent Responsibilty to make sure their kids are not climbing on the balcony or doing anything other then standing their and looking at the animals. For all we know her father could of been holding her up so she could look over the railing and she the animals and leaned out to far and went over. I just don't know saying Disney should do more is the answer because I am sure if Disney came up with something it might make some people not happy. Because maybe they instal nets that look like you in a safari but make it hard to take pics or they install something that dose not look as nice.

I am sure Disney will be looking at this because I bet they never thought about this happening.

I'm really with you on this. That resort and view is one of my favorites, & the balconies are fine as they are. Disney doesn't need to create anything further because of this (nets, plexi, bars, etc) and it really is a matter of parents/children/boundaries/choices/etc.

Every instance like this should be something to analyze and ask "where did it go south?" But not everything requires an overhaul on Disney's part.

Children (& adults for that matter) want to touch the animals, but there has to be some personal responsibility on guests too. If the balcony broke, or an animal climbed up and uppercut a guest... Then there would be a reason to look at design again.

 

[TiggerificTigger]

My DH and I arrived at AKL right after this happened. It was really scary just being around. Hopes, thoughts, and prayers for her and her family!

 

[figment3258]

prayers to the girl and her family its scary i think sometimes parents think nothing bad can happen while at disney and everyone lets their guard down i know i always have to make sure im on my game with my girls kids can go crazy on vacation just like at home

 

[SamSam]

prayers to the girl and her family its scary i think sometimes parents think nothing bad can happen while at disney and everyone lets their guard down i know i always have to make sure im on my game with my girls kids can go crazy on vacation just like at home

You simply cannot watch a child/children every minute of every day (not sure that's so good for them anyway), so things will happen.

Please just don't blame Disney for this. The balcony's are very secure, the railings are safe...no child could ever stick thier head through the bars ( I know because I had 2 1/2 year old twin grandsons there who tried). Disney cannot and should not be held responsible for anyone climbing up on the railings, or using chairs/etc. to do so.

I am terribly sorry for the family, I just don't want Disney blamed for something that they aren't responsible for.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Yikes, how awful. I am not really sure that the hotel that it happened at matters though. Falling off a balcony at ANY resort is awful and scary. And as a mom of a 2 year old I know how quickly awful things can happen. They are tricky little buggers and turning your head for one second, bad things can happen. Remember the podcast when Julie and Corey lost Finley on the balcony (I think it was even at the AKL too!).

I hope she is okay and I will be thinking of them.