Disney World removes gators from shows and rides

[nd5056]

Only the boy's family may get a traumatic reaction and I just don't see them coming to Disney for vacation anytime soon, if ever.

Perhaps we should rewrite the whole world History and bleach out everything that has happened trying not to offend anyone.....

But personally I think we're on a self destruct mission anyway, the world is just to dangerous and traumatic place be. We'll live like in the Matrix movie, just the "good" dreams allowed.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

So after the West Virginia flooding, are they going to remove the "backside of water" joke too? You know, It might offend somebody!

LOL. Overrreaction to Disney's overreaction. Just another day on the DIS.

 

[bcla]

I seem to recall that afterthe Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, Universal Studios temporarily shut down their earthquake scene on their backlot tour.

 

[RedAngie]

Well, I hope they never remove this. It's one of my favorite sights in all of WDW and DL.

 

[VACamm]

Changing a couple of scripts on JC and KS is fine. But the rest of it is ridiculous. Catering to the over reactors who go into hysterics at the drop of a hat. And some are taking it to extremes - wanting the statuary removed from the POFQ pool area (because cartoony jazz playing gators are just So realistic) I also saw someone calling for the renaming if Alligator Bayou. Puhleeeez. People need to get a grip.

I agree with this ENTIRE post.

 

[nd5056]

Just a thought, the "other" reason to remove them might be that Disney got tired of all the frantic "Gator spotted in Park" emergency calls...

 

[kevgraub]

LOL. Overrreaction to Disney's overreaction. Just another day on the DIS.

That was exactly my thought.

Is Disney overreacting? Maybe. But when it comes to a situation like this I suppose it is better to overreact than be underreact and be labeled unsensitive.

Are people overreacting about Disney's overreacting? Absolutely. The only way the changes that Disney is (allegedly) making will affect anyone's enjoyment of the parks is if people want it to affect their enjoyment of the parks. These are extremely minor changes in the grand scheme of things.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

That was exactly my thought.

Is Disney overreacting? Maybe. But when it comes to a situation like this I suppose it is better to overreact than be underreact and be labeled unsensitive.

Are people overreacting about Disney's overreacting? Absolutely. The only way the changes that Disney is (allegedly) making will affect anyone's enjoyment of the parks is if people want it to affect their enjoyment of the parks. These are extremely minor changes in the grand scheme of things.

I could not agree more. I'm glad they are erring on the side of sensitivity. The joke on the Jungle Cruise is a total no-brainer, given that this event happened on the grounds. What is hilarious to me is people suddenly acting like their vacations are ruined because apparently the gator references are absolutely essential to the Walt Disney World theme park experience. I wouldn't have even noticed most of these if I had not read about them.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Did somebody mention the Daily Mail? Until it comes from a different source I would ignore.

 

[JJZMgailey]

I've been thinking a lot about the changes that have been made in the Parks and how much everyone is flipping their lids about them. I really think they have a lot more to do with the fact that kids around the world may have overheard their parents (or any adults, really) talking about the tragedy or overheard the news on TV in the other room discussing the incident.

The last thing anyone needs when they're on vacation at Disney is for their child to see an alligator or crocodile, real or fake, at a Disney Park and lose their minds being scared. Can you imagine if a young child who knew of this story saw the crocodile up on the stage show in front of the Castle or anywhere else where they've been removed? I think it was a smart move - for now, anyway.

 

[Planogirl]

I must have missed someone saying their vacation was ruined but some of this does seem silly. I don't think that this has gone too far for now but if more is done then Disney would be going way over the top.

 

[mefordis]

Possibly Disney is giving the family lifetime free vacations and they don't want them to be reminded of the incident while they are there?

 

[BrianL]

I think it's ALL an overreaction and that includes the fences. This is not said to make light of what happened, but only to recognize that all the signs and fences in the world can't make anything 100% safe. It was a freak accident, and it was tragic.

Removing cartoon alligators because someone might be sensitive is just pointless. Many Disney anthropomorphic animals are based on potentially dangerous creatures, and someone may have know someone who ran afoul of one of them at one time. A Bear? A Wolf? A Dog? They have all caused harm to humans in the past. The hysterics over this incident are just mind-blowing.

Also, crocodiles =/= alligators, just for the record. Poor Tic Toc! And, yes, Tic Toc Croc is integral to the story of Peter Pan and he must be included in the ride for it to feel complete.

 

[msjprincess]

So after the West Virginia flooding, are they going to remove the "backside of water" joke too? You know, It might offend somebody!

Not even close to being the same thing.

 

[rajak73]

LOL. Overrreaction to Disney's overreaction. Just another day on the DIS.

Just as much overreaction as taking out a stupid alligator joke! Now that the alligator joke is gone and all other references to alligators, we can all just sit down and sing Kumbaya

 

[Disney Doll]

I think the issue is less a lack of alligators ruining anyone's vacation and more how far do we as a society go with regard to super sensitivity?

I can see taking the joke out of the Jungle Cruise about watching your children. That hits a bit close to home. I can see not drawing an inordinate amount of attention to the crocs in the AK safari ride. They're there. We're on a bridge going over them. No need to comment about their ability to kill anyone etc.

But that's pretty much where I feel it should stop. Cartoon alligators in rides are not necessary to remove. No one in their right mind thinks that Tic Toc Croc is real and is going to eat them and if you're kid does think that, then they're not ready to ride the ride, so don't take them on it.

The fences...the pictures I've seen of them don't really make them seem like they'd stop an alligator from coming onto the beach if it really had a mind to nor would they stop a kid from going under them. Disney had to make a show of doing SOMETHING in response, until they figure out their permanent solution. My guess is that your going to see some pretty significant "vegetation" appear at the edge of all "beaches" on property which will hide a fence.

But even that, if you're not watching your kid or you're the type who thinks the rules are for everyone but you, isn't going to stop someone from getting to the water if they really want to.

 

[Kim&Chris]

In 2016, every single thing is offensive somehow, to someone. I understand what Disney is doing. Sad times we live in.

 

[GPC0321]

Just as much overreaction as taking out a stupid alligator joke! Now that the alligator joke is gone and all other references to alligators, we can all just sit down and sing Kumbaya

The crocodile joke on JC referred to them "watching your children" I believe. That hits pretty close to home when a child was just killed by a gator on the property a few weeks ago. Not funny.
I thought "backside of water" was in reference to going behind the waterfall? In no way would I equate that with flooding.

 

[BrianL]

The fences...the pictures I've seen of them don't really make them seem like they'd stop an alligator from coming onto the beach if it really had a mind to nor would they stop a kid from going under them.

I doubt they could even construct a fence that would keep an alligator off the beach. They can climb and will go where they want to. It would work better to keep the humans out of the water, but there is still the potential for a gator to come over it. There is no 100% solution to separate the guests from nature.

 

[GPC0321]

Changing a couple of scripts on JC and KS is fine. But the rest of it is ridiculous. Catering to the over reactors who go into hysterics at the drop of a hat. And some are taking it to extremes - wanting the statuary removed from the POFQ pool area (because cartoony jazz playing gators are just So realistic) I also saw someone calling for the renaming if Alligator Bayou. Puhleeeez. People need to get a grip.

I asked about Alligator Bayou on another thread (twice I think) because I wondered if it had come up as a possible issue. I hope my posts weren't interpreted as "calling for the renaming of Alligator Bayou" as I would definitely not be in that camp. I can see the JC joke and maybe even pulling Tic Toc Croc out of the parade temporarily, but that's about it. I haven't seen the new castle show that featured Louis, so I cannot comment on that, but I love Louis as a character and would have liked to see him in that show.

I don't know. I'm sort of on the fence about this. On the one hand, I can see people thinking it's overkill. On the other, I can understand not wanting to romanticize and trivialize crocs and gators right now by representing them as "funny" which both Tic Toc and Louis are.

I don't envy Disney. No matter what they choose to do, they'll never please everyone on this issue.