Gator grabs 2 year old at Grand Floridian?

[dlavender]

I would not expect that at all. At Disney I would take "No swimming" to mean just that and not include getting ones feet wet up to the ankles. If they want to be clear, they need a sign more along the lines of this:

Exactly....

They know there is a specific risk, yet they don't warn anyone. At least in a meaningful way. An asterisk at the bottom of a brochure is not meaningful. A sign like that above, or one that says alligators present, stay away from water, would be the right thing to do.

 

[Belledisney]

This is really so sad and I can't imagine what that poor family must be going through. I can't believe though that if you see a no swimming sign now a days it really need to be that detailed that you shouldn't get in at all. When I even land in Florida (mainly for cruises) I watch out for alligators though because they terrify me completely because I never grew up around that type of thing and I only saw the crazy TV stories. I only went to DW for the first time this year but that lake did freak me out personally I wouldn't get near it. I really think that this is such a freak accident but people really need some more common sense. Disney can't save you from everything! My heart goes out to that poor family.

 

[mcjaco]

Bet there's snapping turtles in there too that could take off a couple of toes and fingers. Better get them all removed too.

 

[Tigger's ally]

The shooting didn't happen on their property.

The sad truth is that I figure one day it will. And there will be this same discussion on what Disney could have done and why they didn't do more. All things that are impossible to predict. I read all the time about families that are in horrific car accidents coming to Disney World where people lose their lives. Why do the car companies let this happen? Why do the highway safety committee's let it happen. Why do law enforcement people let them happen? Fact is we all know when we get in a car that it is a possibility. We all should know that when you go to Florida there is always a possibility of a gator being in any water. Yes, the signs should change and they will. Whole thing just sucks because to most of us the place is indeed the happiest place on earth and to this one family it will forever be the saddest. Everybody needs to stop pointing fingers and learn a lesson, live the lesson and take precautions on their next trip. I know I will be taking my new granddaughter who will be 15 months next May. You can be sure I will be watching her with resolve and care!

 

[rteetz]

The shooting didn't happen on their property.

It involved a CM though. They were silent and I dont Expect much different now.

 

[cgh]

I thought I read a spokesman say that they were devastated. (and I forget what else). As for signage, I do think they need a sign about alligators. Though we wouldn't go near the water. (I think because I heard of gators and snakes) if something said no swimming I would think that would mean don't go swimming. Perhaps because of boats? (which is typical at boating places).

I wish people wouldn't bash the parents. (I haven't read all in here so don't know, but have heard it elsewhere). They will be tortured the rest of their lives with could have should have would have and if only. I can not imagine that personal hell. I can not imagine having my child, who was happily playing by my side being ripped away and I was powerless to stop it. To happen at Disney is just salt in the wounds. That poor family. I'm keeping them in my prayers.

Just now, nap time for my 2 year old little boy who will be arriving at the Grand Floridian 2 months from today, I rocked him and rocked him and kissed him and hugged him so grateful that I have him. Such a horrible tragedy.

 

[rteetz]

I thought I read a spokesman say that they were devastated. (and I forget what else). As for signage, I do think they need a sign about alligators. Though we wouldn't go near the water. (I think because I heard of gators and snakes) if something said no swimming I would think that would mean don't go swimming. Perhaps because of boats? (which is typical at boating places).

I wish people wouldn't bash the parents. (I haven't read all in here so don't know, but have heard it elsewhere). They will be tortured the rest of their lives with could have should have would have and if only. I can not imagine that personal hell. I can not imagine having my child, who was happily playing by my side being ripped away and I was powerless to stop it. To happen at Disney is just salt in the wounds. That poor family. I'm keeping them in my prayers.

Just now, nap time for my 2 year old little boy who will be arriving at the Grand Floridian 2 months from today, I rocked him and rocked him and kissed him and hugged him so grateful that I have him. Such a horrible tragedy.

Yes a spokesperson spoke at the initial news conference at 1 am.

 

[Corsetopia]

I have a two year old son and this is completely heartbreaking. I can't even fathom what that family is going through right now. My deepest condolences to them.

As for this thread, the replies about how these parents should have had 'common sense' and placing the blame on people is sickening. Disney absolutely needs signs warning of alligator activity! I am from the Southwest, US (dry, barren desert wasteland) and you all might call me 'stupid' or 'lacking in common sense' but I view the beaches at Poly and GF as beautiful 'beaches', and honestly, the last thought in my mind was ever alligators when walking along the beaches.

I'm not a native Floridian, and Disney is marketed to the entire US, not to mention people from all over the world residing in different climates and topography travel to see WDW. The signs need to be there. -- and you people on your high horses who say parents should know better - bless you, I really hope you open your eyes and have a little compassion for these people who just lost their baby, and I hope tragedy of this magnitude never happens to you.

 

[mikepizzo]

AGAIN. Notice of prior condition. One or two incidents in 40 years is not enough via legal precedent.




Legally, no. I'd like to see some of the pamphelts of Info folders from a room in any of these resorts. I bet there's language on maps, Info guides, etc. Trust me. There's always liability waivers on everything. Look at your next parking garage ticket next time you go to Disney. Guarantee they absolve themselves on anything on those.



This. Having wildlife control measures already in place, is also a strong legal defense.

I'm quoting you because you have legal knowledge and I have a legal question. I do apologize in advance if this is an ignorant question.

Is saying the words, "I'm sorry" or even just, "sorry", an admission of guilt? Typically when an entity makes a statement after a tragedy the statement is along the lines of "...our condolences go out to the family...", or "...we are heartbroken for their loss...", but I'm not sure if I've ever seen, specficically the word "sorry" in a statement.

Again, I just want to be clear for others reading this post that it is strictly a question with no other motive behind it. People tend to take a statement/inncoent question and run with it...

 

[XXRAINMANX]

This is one of those situations that no one ever wants to hear about, and it plain sucks. However, why are we blaming Disney for this unfortunate situation? Yes, they could have had better signage, the parents could have kept their kid out of the water as well. Disney does actively try to keep gators away from customers, and they've done an amazing job for 45 years, let's put that in perspective that's over ONE BILLION guests in and around water ways at Disney since it opened at this is the 1st time this has happened. YET, everyone blaming Disney says that they aren't doing enough to prevent this from happening? Even if they had signage indicating gators could be in the immediate area it might not have saved this child. If the parents didn't read English they wouldn't have understood the dangers. So people might not know what a gator is or what it looks like and saying wild animals are in the area wouldn't help in that situation either.

To compare it to a completely out of context situation it's like driving down the road and getting a broken windshield from a Rock in the road. You weren't expecting it, you might have been traveling to close to the car in front of you, you might not have been. When you 1st read through the safety manual in drivers Ed it told you safe following distances, but that doesn't mean the situation couldn't still occur. It's just something at happens for no other reason than random events happened to coincide with other random events.

 

[Disco]

Ghah, Awful. They used to allow swimming in the lake didn't they? I wonder if the gator controls have changed since then?

 

[poison ivy]

This is one of those situations that no one ever wants to hear about, and it plain sucks. However, why are we blaming Disney for this unfortunate situation? .

why am I putting Disney at fault? Simple. they invited their guests to a movie night on the beach with full knowledge of a predatory animal lurking in the adjacent waters and did nothing to insure the safety of their guests who attended.

 

[dlavender]

This is one of those situations that no one ever wants to hear about, and it plain sucks. However, why are we blaming Disney for this unfortunate situation? Yes, they could have had better signage, the parents could have kept their kid out of the water as well. Disney does actively try to keep gators away from customers, and they've done an amazing job for 45 years, let's put that in perspective that's over ONE BILLION guests in and around water ways at Disney since it opened at this is the 1st time this has happened. YET, everyone blaming Disney says that they aren't doing enough to prevent this from happening? Even if they had signage indicating gators could be in the immediate area it might not have saved this child. If the parents didn't read English they wouldn't have understood the dangers. So people might not know what a gator is or what it looks like and saying wild animals are in the area wouldn't help in that situation either.

To compare it to a completely out of context situation it's like driving down the road and getting a broken windshield from a Rock in the road. You weren't expecting it, you might have been traveling to close to the car in front of you, you might not have been. When you 1st read through the safety manual in drivers Ed it told you safe following distances, but that doesn't mean the situation couldn't still occur. It's just something at happens for no other reason than random events happened to coincide with other random events.

Pretty sure you don't need to know English to understand the below signage (which is the beauty of signs)

 

[rteetz]

why am I putting Disney at fault? Simple. they invited their guests to a movie night on the beach with full knowledge of a predatory animal lurking in the adjacent waters and did nothing to insure the safety of their guests who attended.

We don't know that Disney knew an alligator was right there. If they did I'm sure this would've never happened.

 

[dlavender]

It's just something at happens for no other reason than random events happened to coincide with other random events.

Is it random when you have a paid team of people to take gators out of the lake daily? Is it random when you know gators are in the pond, and you know you have beaches on the pond, and you know you have people on those beaches? Random would be a rhinoceros pummeling down the beach......

ETA: Knowing these facts, seems more of inevitable than random...Hence the need for the signs.

 

[XXRAINMANX]

why am I putting Disney at fault? Simple. they invited their guests to a movie night on the beach with full knowledge of a predatory animal lurking in the adjacent waters and did nothing to insure the safety of their guests who attended.

And those parents knew they were going to a place where wild animals live. That family also might have used a road or plane to get to Disney both of which have a higher probability of death than this lake with a predatory animal lurking in it.

 

[umichigan10]

Honestly both parties are negligent to their own extent. I frankly don't care about the legal ramifications in a lawsuit because it won't bring this kid back. I'm not a parent or anything but its just a somber idea to ponder I can't even imagine.

I like what pp said about putting rocks on the shoreline, improving signage. No a rock probably won't stop a gator, but it'll deter even the most ignorant moron (maybe) who would ignore the signs that hey, it looks like we can't go in the water

 

[poison ivy]

We don't know that Disney knew an alligator was right there. If they did I'm sure this would've never happened.

of course they have no way of knowing exactly where an alligator may be hiding. they know they're in Bay lake. They didn't warn the guests on the beach. that's enough.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

I cannot begin to imagine the horror. To lose your child is beyond terrible. To lose them in such a horrific way in front of your eyes. Then to have it happen at Disney World our - and their - special place of joy for the family. I can only use my imagination to vaguely understand their horrific grief. I pray for them all. I pray for those doing the recovery, that isn't a pleasant job. May they be successful soon for everyone's sake.

 

[poison ivy]

And those parents knew they were going to a place where wild animals live. That family also might have used a road or plane to get to Disney both of which have a higher probability of death than this lake with a predatory animal lurking in it.

None of that matters. Disney didn't warn them of this potential hazard. They have an obligation to insure guest safety.