Florida Wildlife at WDW

[Bay_Lake_Tower]

Apparently Disney now disagrees with you and realizes it has at least some responsibility to educate their guests from all over the world about a potential threat -- however slim:


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...ator-attack-signs-warning-20160616-story.html

"Walt Disney World plans to put up signs warning visitors of alligators following an attack that killed a young boy Tuesday, a source with knowledge of the situation has told the Orlando Sentinel
...
Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying "we are conducting a swift and thorough review of all of our processes and protocols. This includes the number, placement and wording of our signage and warnings."


And of course all discussion here -- and more -- was on the closed thread.

Yes, I'm not sure anyone is surprised Disney changed their signage. That much was obviously coming. I'm not sure that really proves anything.

 

[Bay_Lake_Tower]

I'm not a green peace/sierra club kind of guy. If you have to choose between the alligators and people, I choose people. I know Florida has alligator protection laws Disney has to follow, but lets make some exceptions when it comes to alligators in public areas. Move them, shoot them, what ever. No one can now deny that they are a clear danger to people. Wandering into the water at a resort beach should not be a death sentence.
p.s. I know I'm the only one that feels this way.

I don't have a bleeding heart for animals either, but I also know there's no realistic way Disney can actually clear their property of alligators. They do move them. They do euthanize them. WDW is not in a dome, alligators can get in just the same as you and I.

The bigger problem is stupid people who don't have the common sense not to feed alligators. I wish they could be the ones who the inevitable suit will be filed against.

 

[NYDisGuy]

The bigger problem is stupid people who don't have the common sense not to feed alligators. I wish they could be the ones who the inevitable suit will be filed against.

This is the main issue right here. Just like birds, salamanders, squirrels and every other wild animal that runs up to you because they are fed, gators are not an exception. Whether intentional or not, it poses a danger because they see WDW as a MAJOR food source and to them the gullible humans are allowing it.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

This is the main issue right here. Just like birds, salamanders, squirrels and every other wild animal that runs up to you because they are fed, gators are not an exception. Whether intentional or not, it poses a danger because they see WDW as a MAJOR food source and to them the gullible humans are allowing it.

Yes. Surprising that people need to be told not to feed alligators, but there we are. Signage that makes that clear and even indicates a penalty seem in order. Particularly if articles quoting CMs reporting this activity to management are accurate. Can't believe they didn't post signs like this when/if they heard of this re alligators.

They won't prevent EVERYBODY from doing it -- but then if caught doing so they should be ejected.

 

[Bay_Lake_Tower]

Yes. Surprising that people need to be told not to feed alligators, but there we are. Signage that makes that clear and even indicates a penalty seem in order. Particularly if articles quoting CMs reporting this activity to management are accurate. Can't believe they didn't post signs like this when/if they heard of this re alligators.

They won't prevent EVERYBODY from doing it -- but then if caught doing so they should be ejected.

Lol at the thought of Disney actually following through on a posted rule and ejecting a guest.

 

[Easto]

They need to hand out Florida wild life pamphlets at the check-in desks at the hotels and the front gates of the parks for all the people who had no idea Florida has animals.

I hope they have signs around the garbage that there may be yellow jacket wasps and you may get stung. That's a larger risk than getting attacked by a gator.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Lol at the thought of Disney actually following through on a posted rule and ejecting a guest.

You can laugh.

I would hope that if someone is FEEDING ALLIGATORS that they would take it that seriously after this tragedy.

It's not like feeding pigeons.

If they don't take this that seriously, I'll lose a great deal of respect for Disney.

 

[Bay_Lake_Tower]

You can laugh.

I would hope that if someone is FEEDING ALLIGATORS that they would take it that seriously after this tragedy.

It's not like feeding pigeons.

If they don't take this that seriously, I'll lose a great deal of respect for Disney.

Disney does not like to ruffle guest feathers. I would have hoped they saw the danger in guests feeding alligators before a 2 year old boy got tragically killed by one, but clearly not.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I hope they have signs around the garbage that there may be yellow jacket wasps and you may get stung. That's a larger risk than getting attacked by a gator.

People know that about bees and CAN SEE THEM around the trash.

Especially at 9pm, people aren't SEEING alligators in their little lakes. And for those who don't know, the sign will tell them.

These false equivalencies between bees and things like mosquitos and lightning to this threat (however small) re gators are just silly.

And Disney seems to realize the difference NOW. Odd to me that some on here do not.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Disney does not like to ruffle guest feathers. I would have hoped they saw the danger in guests feeding alligators before a 2 year old boy got tragically killed by one, but clearly not.

I think "feathers are ruffled" now, no? They'd "ruffle" mine AGAIN if they don't eject people who ignore "NO FEEDING ALLIGATORS" signs.

I would have hoped to see these signs before as well. But now they CLEARLY KNOW BETTER. They had better DO BETTER or they will suffer in the eyes of consumers -- something they shouldn't be willing to risk.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

As an aside, I can tell you this: we are staying in the Poly bungalows in Nov.

If I see ANYONE feeding ANY wildlife from their little decks I can promise you that I will:

1. TAKE PHOTOS,
2. REPORT THEM ASAP, and
3. FOLLOW UP with management to find out what the consequences were.

I guess we'll see how that goes, if the situation arises. Hope it doesn't -- particularly after they post real warning signs unlike what's there now.

 

[drew64]

As an aside, I can tell you this: we are staying in the Poly bungalows in Nov.

If I see ANYONE feeding ANY wildlife from their little decks I can promise you that I will:

1. TAKE PHOTOS,
2. REPORT THEM ASAP, and
3. FOLLOW UP with management to find out what the consequences were.

I guess we'll see how that goes, if the situation arises. Hope it doesn't -- particularly after they post real warning signs unlike what's there now.

Neither Disney nor any other company has any obligation to tell you how they choose to handle a situation. Honestly, it is really not your business

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I think there is a little bit of a difference between going out of doors and not expecting some danger from anything from wildlife to flora and fauna than going to a MANmade resort that is the Happiest Place on Earth with HUGE safety standards. Sure though - this incident is a good reminder to consider that in the future.

Sorry, but this is absolutely false. The grounds of WDW are not manmade. There are large tracks of undeveloped land and wooded areas.

Critters live in undeveloped areas.

They also live quite readily in rather developed areas. See this season's Nature episode on the coywolf: a coyote wolf hybrid. These large animals readily live in urbanized areas. They actually thrive in urban areas. They readily live in the tiny green area of a highway cloverleaf.

Last winter, we visited a Ft. Wilderness. A CM was quick to tell us that all kinds of critters live there.

I've personally seen all kinds of animals all over property: deer, gators, armadillos, rabbits, snakes (WDW and US), squirrels, ducks, cormorants, herons, lizards, many other birds, a great many insects, etc.

 

[Bay_Lake_Tower]

I think "feathers are ruffled" now, no? They'd "ruffle" mine AGAIN if they don't eject people who ignore "NO FEEDING ALLIGATORS" signs.

I would have hoped to see these signs before as well. But now they CLEARLY KNOW BETTER. They had better DO BETTER or they will suffer in the eyes of consumers -- something they shouldn't be willing to risk.

What I mean to say is Disney doesn't like telling people no, and they really don't like following through on that no.

The reality is, people are selfish and stupid. They'll forget this incident, they'll justify how it won't happen to them, they'll keep on doing them and throw the amount of $$$ spent around if Disney tries to stop something. We've seen that behaviour regarding so many things at WDW before, you have more faith in people (and Disney) than I do to think that will change.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Some of the posters here, just wow. There seems to be a stunning lack of knowledge about biology.

The world is full of food webs and ecosystems. There are herbivores on the bottom, and carnivores on the top. Call it the Circle of Life! Carnivores eat herbivores.

Like it or not, WDW offers animals of all kinds, an easy banquet.

The same elements that draw humans: ample water and ample food, ALSO draws just about everything else that lives in the Florida ecosystem.

Where there is grass, rodents and insects, there's probably something that EATS grass, rodents, and insects.

A sign asking folks not to hand gators food isn't going to change that. Every day, thousands of people thoughtlessly drop food everywhere at WDW. Where there are ants and roaches, there will be lizards, and so it goes.

Truly, we should all be glad the ecosystem is as robust as it is. Animals that eat trash and rodents are some of our best friends.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Last night I opened an old WDW guide book I have.

Unsurprisingly, it contained a critter warning. It says right there in black and white: gators, snakes aggressive birds, coyotes, and other critters live on WDW property.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Neither Disney nor any other company has any obligation to tell you how they choose to handle a situation. Honestly, it is really not your business

I never said they had an obligation. Of course they don't!!

However, my safety IS my business. If they have customers endangering me and my family, I want Disney management to know that I expect them to address it.

I can't MAKE DISNEY do anything. But I think I SHOULD inform them of my expectations of them as their customer.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

A sign asking folks not to hand gators food isn't going to change that.

I'm sure that's why many companies post them.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

I never said they had an obligation. Of course they don't!!

However, my safety IS my business. If they have customers endangering me and my family, I want Disney management to know that I expect them to address it.

I can't MAKE DISNEY do anything. But I think I SHOULD inform them of my expectations of them as their customer.

Walt Disney World Guest Relations P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Walt Disney World Guest Communications PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040


wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

Robert A. Iger Chief Executive Officer
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873


Bob Chapek
Chairman
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873

Karl L. Holz
President New Vacation Operations and Disney Cruise Line
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Mr. George Kalogridis
President, Walt Disney World Resort
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000

 

[SaintsManiac]

There are too many people like the ones we saw at Epcot feeding the birds near Mexico while standing right next to the sign that said DO NOT FEED BIRDS.