Disney will post Alligator warning signs and fences

[Eoghann]

The new signs won't hurt, but I don't think they'll help that much either. People don't read signs.

And good luck stopping people from feeding them (illegal or not). Yes, Disney should do what they can to discourage it, but they can't stop it.

 

[nkosiek]

It's interesting now reading some of this and there is a convergence of the minds about the following, "People keep breaking the rules/law and Disney doesn't do anything about it." Perhaps the biggest change could be Disney actually enforcing their own rules and the laws that also need monitoring. Forget about John and Tammy and how upset they'll be when you kick them off property. Put it in your materials and actually enforce it. I think people will get the message pretty quickly when it goes public how people are being removed from property/parks. Sure, they'll take a temporary hit but the reality they'll create a better atmosphere for everyone...and if the information given to people mentions "No refunds/no money back" I imagine they'll also still keep a good chunk of change.

 

[ELSA711]

It's interesting now reading some of this and there is a convergence of the minds about the following, "People keep breaking the rules/law and Disney doesn't do anything about it." Perhaps the biggest change could be Disney actually enforcing their own rules and the laws that also need monitoring. Forget about John and Tammy and how upset they'll be when you kick them off property. Put it in your materials and actually enforce it. I think people will get the message pretty quickly when it goes public how people are being removed from property/parks. Sure, they'll take a temporary hit but the reality they'll create a better atmosphere for everyone...and if the information given to people mentions "No refunds/no money back" I imagine they'll also still keep a good chunk of change.

Maybe, I just keep thinking about being in security line in November and 7 people in front of me had selfie sticks confiscated. That rule was in place long before November wasn't it and all 7 people acted 'dumb' with the 'oh I didn't know'. Maybe they didn't but I don't know.
As for the alligator signs going up, I'm glad. So terrible that it took this to do it but I am glad. I guess I didn't realize how many people were not aware. It makes my heart hurt that it came to this.

 

[LittleDreamer]

I think the key phrase from the article was: "This includes the number, placement and wording of our signage and warnings." I think Disney is in the mindset to minimize interpretations of the warning signs; which we have seen even on this board was a problem. To some "No Swimming" meant don't enter the water, while others took it as only no swimming. So I think we will see a lot more signs around bodies of water and they will now say "Do not enter or near water," with some smaller text about dangerous natural wildlife.

 

[Nancyg56]

Do you not have children? It really is hard to miss the beach at the GF. You don't need signs of encouragement-the youngest kids can't read-they see water, sand, bucket, and that's what they do. Sand boxes are the same thing-kids going to fill up water and build stuff.

I have kids. I have a granddaughter. I said stay out of the water. She stayed out of the water. There was no discussion.

I have no idea why people insist that they let their kids break a rule because it looks inviting to do so. As a single parent if I took that stand with my children I would have lost all control when they were teens. I watch two little girls now. No means no. Do not pester me, it will not go well. They do not. They believe the consequence will be worse than not getting their way.


I am not criticizing these parents who lost that baby. I have no idea if they even saw the sign. I am saying that if it is posted to stay out of the water, there are no excuses why the rule does not apply.

The new signs won't hurt, but I don't think they'll help that much either. People don't read signs.

And good luck stopping people from feeding them (illegal or not). Yes, Disney should do what they can to discourage it, but they can't stop it.

Agreed. I have told people that children should stay outbid the wTer. Nope.

 

[dreiwhit]

As a father, i'm really torn up about the death of the little boy at Disney.

Keep in mind that Gators can leap quite a few feet to attack. It wasn't necessary for the little boy even to be in the water to have been attacked. The boy, or even an adult, could have been standing near the water and not in the water and have still been attacked.

Saying "don't go in the water" isn't a solution when Gators are around. You have to stay away from the bank.

 

[Eoghann]

Saying "don't go in the water" isn't a solution when Gators are around. You have to stay away from the bank.

This is why I think if I was Disney I would simply eliminate the beaches. Build up a barrier at the lakefront and convert them to a sandy play area.

It wouldn't dramatically decrease the risks, because those risks are phenomenally low if you look at the historical record around WDW, but it would eliminate any claims or perception that they are encouraging reckless behavior.

 

[rteetz]

I am curious... do you think they will allow water activities to resume such as tubing, water skiing etc?

They don't do tubing. They do water skiing on Bay lake. No water activities except for sea raycers and pontoon boats are able to be rented on seven seas lagoon.

 

[carmelhp]

Hopefully they get signs up for the snakes and spiders which are even more deadly as well. I can personally say alligators would cross my mind, a brown recluse which is much more likely would not.

The range of the brown recluse doesn't include Florida.

 

[LSLS]

The range of the brown recluse doesn't include Florida.

I should include black widows in that as they are really the ones you are most likely to encounter around Disney, but that is not it's only range. A man died just south-west of Lakeland a couple years ago from a brown recluse bite. A bio professor who studied spiders (wasn't a biologist, had a friend who was that told me about this) at my old school in Tampa found them a few times around campus while I was there (we were warned to keep an eye out for them and what to look for). I know they are found more in Texas, but they are found in Florida despite what that map shows as habitat.

 

[mshanson3121]

They don't do tubing. They do water skiing on Bay lake. No water activities except for sea raycers and pontoon boats are able to be rented on seven seas lagoon.

Yes, they do. It's right on the Sammy Duvall website: http://sammyduvall.com/watersports/
We were going to do it when we went last summer.

 

[rteetz]

Yes, they do. It's right on the Sammy Duvall website: http://sammyduvall.com/watersports/
We were going to do it when we went last summer.

Interesting. I've never heard of them doing tubing. Either way all of the Sammy Duvall stuff is done in Bay Lake.

 

[fairy oma]

I am all for having new signs. My biggest concern is that regardless of how specific the signage is, explaining what danger lies ahead, there are still going to be people who disregard a mere sign.

For Disney to really prevent anything - they have to make it fool proof, as in making some kind of barrier, perhaps extending the rocky barrier that is down by the villas and wedding pavilion. If they lined the shore with large rocks people shouldn't get in the water, and they have signs posted that say don't climb on the rocks, but even then if someone is determined to do something - no amount of signage will stop them.

I absolutely agree with you but even if Disney did put up a rocky barrier of large rocks then that might become a haven for venomous snakes...here we go again. We as consumers need to be more aware of our surroundings whether it be at a resort, the ocean or the local park

 

[fairy oma]

It is mating season for the alligators and guests did report hearing the gators growling a few nights ago; perhaps there could have been a nest nearby. The sea grass that grows along that stretch of beach is a perfect area for alligators to lurk as well as snakes. I grew up in the Midwest and we were taught that snakes and snapping turtles liked that type of vegetation.

 

[ParkHoppers]

IMO the no swimming signs were not clear enough on WHY you shouldn't be swimming. Frankly gator warning signs didn't seem to go well with the Happiest Place on Earth motto IMO. No swimming doesn't clarify putting your feet in six inches of water. As a nature person I also know that gators will come a distance up on to land to pursue a small animal it is trying to catch. No swimming is not clear enough for ALL visitors to Disney. If we don't think that the no swimming signs on these beaches instead of the more direct gator signs was on purpose to help with the good feeling vibe of Disney I don't know what to tell you folks.

 

[Madonna3]

They have the beach, they sell the toys to play on the beach, they advertise the beach as a feature and they have hammocks ON the beach - how much more do you really want? A great big welcome sign? They have been passively, if not actively, encouraging the usage of the beach.

 

[kellyjeanie]

This is why I think if I was Disney I would simply eliminate the beaches. Build up a barrier at the lakefront and convert them to a sandy play area.

It wouldn't dramatically decrease the risks, because those risks are phenomenally low if you look at the historical record around WDW, but it would eliminate any claims or perception that they are encouraging reckless behavior.

The risks are phenomenally low! But the parents should have known! Because it was so obviously dangerous! But not dangerous enough to put up signs, apparently! Because the parents should have known! /sarcasm

 

[moobar25]

New signs are great - if only people would look at them, read them and follow them. There's lots of discussion as to how Disney should enforce this and enforce that. How about some self-accountability for our own actions?

*If a sign says don't feed the birds - it means just that. It doesn't mean that i'm excused from it, it only applies to others, or if I only give them one piece then its ok.
*If the rule is no selfie sticks - it means just that. It doesn't mean I can sneak one in my bag and then play dumb if caught.

Rules and signs are there for a reason so why not follow them. Just because no one is there to see you break these rules doesn't mean you didn't break them. Why put all the responsibility of enforcement on Disney? Why can't we be responsible for our own actions?
Oh yeah - its just too damn hard.

 

[dlavender]

New signs are great - if only people would look at them, read them and follow them. There's lots of discussion as to how Disney should enforce this and enforce that. How about some self-accountability for our own actions?

*If a sign says don't feed the birds - it means just that. It doesn't mean that i'm excused from it, it only applies to others, or if I only give them one piece then its ok.
*If the rule is no selfie sticks - it means just that. It doesn't mean I can sneak one in my bag and then play dumb if caught.

Rules and signs are there for a reason so why not follow them. Just because no one is there to see you break these rules doesn't mean you didn't break them. Why put all the responsibility of enforcement on Disney? Why can't we be responsible for our own actions?
Oh yeah - its just too damn hard.

What part of "no swimming" means stay completely out of the water due to dangerous animals?

Weird that you left that out of your example, isn't it?

 

[minnie mum]

I am all for having new signs. My biggest concern is that regardless of how specific the signage is, explaining what danger lies ahead, there are still going to be people who disregard a mere sign.

For Disney to really prevent anything - they have to make it fool proof, as in making some kind of barrier, perhaps extending the rocky barrier that is down by the villas and wedding pavilion. If they lined the shore with large rocks people shouldn't get in the water, and they have signs posted that say don't climb on the rocks, but even then if someone is determined to do something - no amount of signage will stop them.

And at what point does personal responsibility kick in? You can't make the world idiot proof, no matter how hard you try. I'm going to assume that the average adult at WDW knows how to read. If they consciously decide to disregard the new signs, then anything untoward is on them. Maybe Disney needs to borrow Pete's favorite phrase and have those signs read STAY OUT OF THE DAMN LAKES.

No, signs won't stop someone determined to disregard them. Neither will ropes, rocks, or fences.