Florida Wildlife at WDW

[DizDaD7]

We were away at the beach when this horrible accident occurred at the Grand Floridian. I can't imagine what the parents must have gone through witnessing this happen to their child.

Living here in Orlando (Dr. Phillips to be exact) and Florida for the majority of my life. Alligators, along with other dangerous wildlife are just part of the deal. You learn to treat them and the chance of them with respect and all is usually good to go.

We have four alligators living in one of the ponds here at our condo complex. I see them every day and no one has ever (to this point) been injured by one of them. We have lived in this complex for two years and have seen them nearly every day we have lived here.

Two or three alligators actually live in the Magic Kingdom. CM's even named one of them Ernestein actually they see her so much. She lives near Splash Mountain & Tom Sawyer Island. We use to see her nearly every time we went to Magic actually.

Here's a shot of her on a recent trip to Magic swimming along like no one's business

And another one of her just relaxing on one of the banks around the river. You can even see the paddle boat going by

Has anyone seen her on their recent trips to Magic? Not sure since they know she is there if they have removed her due to this incident or not.

Not last summer but on our trip in 2014 Nov. my son & I saw a 3 or 4 ft'er while walking across that bridge to Tom Sawyer island from the main island.... Never once did I think this was bizarre....It's their habitat...

 

[Lavitz]

Nvm

 

[Tomh]

I would go so far as to say the majority of people taking jabs at the parents have done similar things to put their child at risk, and just have been fortunate enough not to have something happen. Is it too far of a stretch to assume that some of those criticizing the parents on this board have done one or more of the following.

- Have a high risk pet, like a pit bull, at the child's home

I've owned pit bulls. I've never seen one bite, or otherwise harm a child. I do not agree with the categorization of pit bulls as high risk.

 

[Luckybee]

I've owned pit bulls. I've never seen one bite, or otherwise harm a child. I do not agree with the categorization of pit bulls as high risk.

And just as Disney obviously didn't see the risk doesn't mean it wasn't there

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/apr/23/pit-bull-kills-newborn-baby-in-bed

 

[Tomh]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/359723/Family-distraught-as-dog-kills-baby-with-single-bite
and this one a Jack Russel Terrier
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-dismembers-month-old-baby-father-slept.html
and this one, a golden retriever

You can TRAIN / TEACH any animal to be vicious. There is nothing inherent in Pit Bull's that makes them violent, unlike some breeds where inbreeding causes brain pressure that makes them unexpectedly vicious. Pit Bulls are what you teach them to be.

This is nothing but fear mongering.

 

[Delirium]

I've owned pit bulls. I've never seen one bite, or otherwise harm a child. I do not agree with the categorization of pit bulls as high risk.

There have been 11 confirmed, and a few more unconfirmed, Pit Bull deaths in the U.S. this year (see link below) compared to only 1 alligator death.

http://www.dogsbite.org/dog-bite-statistics-fatalities-2016.php

 

[Tomh]

Right, because there are a ton of idiots who train those animals to be vicious. Get one as a pup, train it yourself, and then tell me that it is the ANIMAL that is the problem.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

There are signs and announcements all over Disney that tell us to to keep our hands and arms inside the ride at all times, keep our seatbelt fastened to until the ride comes to a complete stop!!

But to say that a sign stating beware of alligators shouldn't be needed because everyone knows alligators are in Florida and lions are in Africa, an so on, is not reasonable.

It is reasonable that a guest should be able to be in a public access area at the resort without being attacked. If Disney cannot guarantee this (which they never can) they have a responsibility to warn guest. Disney did not put up signs warning about alligators because it would instill fear in their guest (which they should) but that would not be magical - ie bad for business. Disney is neglectful in this death and anyone who has fed an alligator in the wild at Disney or anywhere else is responsible for that child's death.

There are not any signs warning that a meteor could fall out of the sky and hit you or an alien invasion could happen at any time and kill you either.

More realistic perhaps, there are not signs that a terrorist could bomb the hotel, a plane could crash into it, you could be stung by a mosquito carrying zika, a car could hit you as you walk along the road, etc.

If those things happen, is Disney responsible? Is it reasonable for Disney to put up millions of signs for every thing that COULD happen and would anyone read them all? Much less would anyone really want all those signs?

Have you ever slipped and tripped outside and stumbled? Ever been stung by a bee? Ever had an accident ANYWHERE? Was there a sign warning you of impending bees outside of the walmart parking lot or the curb at the grocery? Were they responsible to tell you these things?

 

[OKW Lover]

that's why people put fences around their pools in Florida.

Not exactly. It's for insurance purposes to prevent drowning accidents.

We put a cage (not just a fence) around our pool to keep the bugs away.

 

[luvsJack]

There are not any signs warning that a meteor could fall out of the sky and hit you or an alien invasion could happen at any time and kill you either.

More realistic perhaps, there are not signs that a terrorist could bomb the hotel, a plane could crash into it, you could be stung by a mosquito carrying zika, a car could hit you as you walk along the road, etc.

If those things happen, is Disney responsible? Is it reasonable for Disney to put up millions of signs for every thing that COULD happen and would anyone read them all? Much less would anyone really want all those signs?

Have you ever slipped and tripped outside and stumbled? Ever been stung by a bee? Ever had an accident ANYWHERE? Was there a sign warning you of impending bees outside of the walmart parking lot or the curb at the grocery? Were they responsible to tell you these things?

Of course they are not responsible for those things. Some of the things people are comparing this too are really a bit ridiculous.

 

[dfb]

There are not any signs warning that a meteor could fall out of the sky and hit you or an alien invasion could happen at any time and kill you either.

More realistic perhaps, there are not signs that a terrorist could bomb the hotel, a plane could crash into it, you could be stung by a mosquito carrying zika, a car could hit you as you walk along the road, etc.

If those things happen, is Disney responsible? Is it reasonable for Disney to put up millions of signs for every thing that COULD happen and would anyone read them all? Much less would anyone really want all those signs?

Have you ever slipped and tripped outside and stumbled? Ever been stung by a bee? Ever had an accident ANYWHERE? Was there a sign warning you of impending bees outside of the walmart parking lot or the curb at the grocery? Were they responsible to tell you these things?

If you own property in Florida or anywhere. You invite guest to your home for a back yard barbeque. You know you have gators in the lake that touches your back yard. Your guest have access to the water in your back yard. In the past you or other guest have fed the gators from your back yard. Would you not warn them about the alligators??? Especially out of state guest!!

Present your argument in the court of law pertaining to the recent attack and you'll be laughed out of the court.

 

[luvsJack]

Snakes can be pretty much anywhere. There have been numerous reports on the DIS of snake sightings at WDW.

If WDW has to warn us about every possible act of nature via wildlife, then the signs would be everywhere.

Florida is home to brown recluse spiders and black widows, 6 types of venomous snake (another site said 5 in the WDW area), and wild boars! Yes, wild boars live on WDW property.

[Sure enough, there's multiple tours you can pay- right near WDW- to take you boar hunting! or gator hunting, "in the swamps of Kissimmee from an airboat", if you prefer. You can also hunt coyote. You don't have to go far from WDW.]

What about rabies? May 26, 2016- rabid deer found in Sarasota, FL. Another one was issued for Pasco in April, and Tampa in Feb (these are a bit from WDW, but still - that's 3 in FL this spring so far)

What about the armadillos? They harbor leprosy, and are fairly common in the WDW area they are also very hard to keep out, because they burrow under fences and climb over them. I think WDW must have removed many of them, because a few years ago we saw them all over WDW, but more recently we haven't seen them.

Armadillos are pretty much everywhere here in the south. Unless you plan to catch one or eat it, you are safe from leprosy. They aren't easy to catch. Not sure how they taste, not something I ever wanted to try. Did know boys in high school that liked to catch them. No one ever caught anything. Not that big of a danger to people.

Wild boars don't like people. They are extremely unlikely to ever come around the resorts. We have them here. People go boar hunting (in the woods) and yet other people don't even realize that they live around here so seeing them isn't common.

Coyote we have here also. I can sit on my porch at night and hear them and yet I have only ever seen one. It used to hang out at the pond behind our daycare center. Why? Because we put scraps out there and it was eating. Once the food source went away, he moved on. If people start feeding the coyotes around WDW, maybe they will need a sign for them too but until then, not likely to come visiting the resorts.

What too many are refusing to see is that the problem was not that there are alligators in Florida or in WDW. The problem was/is the alligators were being fed by guests and associated people with food. Rather than staying away, they came up to the shore. Not something they usually do (since this is the first fatal attack ever in WDW, that is pretty clear). This wasn't just a "Disney can't control the wildlife" situation. Of course they can't. But there is more too it than that. If they are unable to control the wildlife (and they are) and pretty much unable to control the guests that feed them (which they are, also) then warning signs are necessary.

 

[W.E.D.]

Can't remember if it was this thread or the other, but I guess I have to eat my words. They are actually putting a fence up. Didn't think I'd ever see it.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

If you own property in Florida or anywhere. You invite guest to your home for a back yard barbeque. You know you have gators in the lake that touches your back yard. Your guest have access to the water in your back yard. In the past you or other guest have fed the gators from your back yard. Would you not warn them about the alligators??? Especially out of state guest!!

Present your argument in the court of law pertaining to the recent attack and you'll be laughed out of the court.

I have bees in my back yard. Someone comes over to my house for a BBQ and gets stung by a bee. They are allergic. Am I responsible? I would easily compare that to a court. And I would win.

As for the courts - this has already been discussed at length. Predictions are that they will sue. Prediction is that Disney would win if they fought it. Prediction is that Disney will probably offer a reasonable out of court settlement to avoid the PR being any worse. They would likely take it because their lawyer if he has any sense would tell them to since they otherwise won't see a dime. Disney just doesn't have the liability.

the putting up the fences is more PR and concern for public safety than anything else, but as many lawyers have quickly pointed out is not an admission of guilt nor a sign of one.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Can't remember if it was this thread or the other, but I guess I have to eat my words. They are actually putting a fence up. Didn't think I'd ever see it.

Keep in mind that putting up a fence is not admission of guilt.

 

[perkinsrose]

I've owned pit bulls. I've never seen one bite, or otherwise harm a child. I do not agree with the categorization of pit bulls as high risk.

While could be considered separate from high risk/vicious or otherwise, it is fairly widely understood that pit bulls and other terriers have a "high prey drive".

 

[W.E.D.]

Keep in mind that putting up a fence is not admission of guilt.

Oh no. I figured the same folks who complained there was no boat service while they searched for the poor child would demand their money back for an obstructed view of Seven Seas Lagoon.

 

[dfb]

I have bees in my back yard. Someone comes over to my house for a BBQ and gets stung by a bee. They are allergic. Am I responsible? I would easily compare that to a court. And I would win.

As for the courts - this has already been discussed at length. Predictions are that they will sue. Prediction is that Disney would win if they fought it. Prediction is that Disney will probably offer a reasonable out of court settlement to avoid the PR being any worse. They would likely take it because their lawyer if he has any sense would tell them to since they otherwise won't see a dime. Disney just doesn't have the liability.

the putting up the fences is more PR and concern for public safety than anything else, but as many lawyers have quickly pointed out is not an admission of guilt nor a sign of one.

I would say you may or may not have known they were allergic to bees. I don't know if that would have reduced your liability in court?? Everyone is allergic to Gator bites though! No comparison!!

Anytime you invite someone into your domain that has a specific element of risk to your guest you could be liable for anything that happens to them. Neglected/busted handrail on stairs, gopher hole in your backyard, an attack dog in your yard, a serial killer in your basement, etc. If you don't provide adequate safety and warning to your guest you can be liable!! That's why you have liability insurance! That's why insurance companies review your property. If you have certain risk they will ask you to remove. If you don't your insurance premium will go up or cancelled.

Based on your previous comments you couldn't win in a kangaroo court!!

In the case of this attack, it will never make it to the courts. Not because Disney has any leverage over the family but because Disney will do anything!!! Anything they can to try to appease the family. Signs, fences, money, etc. Nothing is going to make it better for this family but Disney will try.

I don't think Disney is an evil place or company, maybe?? They simply misjudged the risk to their guest.

 

[seashell996]

I was wondering are a lot of people canceling their trips

 

[Luckybee]

I have bees in my back yard. Someone comes over to my house for a BBQ and gets stung by a bee. They are allergic. Am I responsible? I would easily compare that to a court. And I would win.

As for the courts - this has already been discussed at length. Predictions are that they will sue. Prediction is that Disney would win if they fought it. Prediction is that Disney will probably offer a reasonable out of court settlement to avoid the PR being any worse. They would likely take it because their lawyer if he has any sense would tell them to since they otherwise won't see a dime. Disney just doesn't have the liability.

the putting up the fences is more PR and concern for public safety than anything else, but as many lawyers have quickly pointed out is not an admission of guilt nor a sign of one.

All I can say is you've been reading predictions from the wrong sources or from those who have little understanding of liability issues.

You're right about one thing though and as I said in the "resorts thread" this clearly wont go to court. Liability is so clear cut (at least for the majority issue although there may be a proportion of contributory negligence) that the insurers for Disney will be offering a substantial settlement quickly.