Gator grabs 2 year old at Grand Floridian?

[DISNEY1975]

i am confused. i didn't even know they had water skiing and wakeboarding. with the whole amoeba danger, wouldn't that be very dangerous if you fell in? and the alligators? . how do these companies offer these activities if people are not supposed to be in the water? i thought all fresh water swimming was not allowed? very confused here.

The wakeboarding and parasailing is directly behind the Contemporary in Bay Lake. It is run by a company "Sammy Duvall", but their "office" is poolside at the Contemporary. We have done both the wakeboarding and parasailing. I didnt post a parasailing picture because techincally we were in the air, not the water, but my daughter was 6 when she went and the company did not warn us. Only AFTER our 2 hours IN the water, my son asked the captain if he had ever seen any gators. He said "Oh, yes, they are everywhere! YIKES!!! We laughed about it, but never thought anything serious other than we were never doing it again! I have also heard many others on the ferries asking the captins about the gators and they are very open about it. I never felt unsafe on a ferry though.

 

[closetmickey]

Even if you have a sign that says don't go near the shoreline that isn't going to stop everyone. Some unfortunately still will do it. Just like some still unfortunately swim in the lakes.

But then it will be their responsibility. Disney would have done their part.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I've missed a ton of comments because ... I had real life to tend to, so maybe this have been said. The fact that the boy drown, and was pretty close to shore ... I don't know, it makes me feel worse. I believe the dad did everything he could to save his son, do NOT get me wrong, but I think if I were in his shoes I wouldn't be able to shut the part of my brain down that was telling me, "why didn't you stay in the water looking, the gator dropped him and you could have saved him," etc.
Again, I 100% believe that the dad fought with every ounce of fight he had, but it's "normal" to have those hind-sight doubts.
Those parents and the siblings are so on my mind and heart.

I thought the same thing until someone clarified it was many yards, not feet. And they claim "Off shore" of the shore of what? There is a lot of shore there. I dont even want to know which shore it was. I couldnt bare to hear the GF shore.

 

[Maleffiecent41]

They were wadding in approximately one to 2 feet of water per intial press conference, a foot of water is roughly chest deep on a toddler to me that classifies as swimming.

 

[2009CAN]

I thought the same thing until someone clarified it was many yards, not feet. And they claim "Off shore" of the shore of what? There is a lot of shore there. I dont even want to know which shore it was. I couldnt bare to hear the GF shore.

thank you! That does help.
I need to stop reading. I've been a mess. Like many here, I have a house full of little people and as the other commenters have said, the "going home with an empty car seat" has haunted me all day. God bless and heal this family.

 

[rteetz]

They were wadding in approximately one to 2 feet of water per intial press conference, a foot of water is roughly chest deep on a toddler to me that classifies as swimming.

I watched the press conference and then reading reports later. The child was in 3 inches or so of water. If it's true the child was in one foot of water that could be classified as swimming and no swimming is posted on the signs Disney would be covered then.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I have never been to the beach at the grand floridian but I have been to the beach at the carribean beach resort and fort wilderness and I can say for sure that they need better signage to stay out of the water. Either there is very minimal signage or no signage. I wouldn't be surprised if they put ropes across the waterline at every beach on property

They encourage people to go to the beaches. There are lounge chairs and hammocks, they have "Movies under the stars", smores making, they pipe in music to sit on the beach to watch Wishes across the lagoon, the Electric Light Parade nightly etc..etc..etc....

I believe just as this happened at the shoreline, it could happen 10 feet away. Disney should not have beach activities at night, or anytime, with alligators just a few feet away period. And signs should be posted "Danger: Alligators" to keep people off the beach.

 

[rteetz]

I thought the same thing until someone clarified it was many yards, not feet. And they claim "Off shore" of the shore of what? There is a lot of shore there. I dont even want to know which shore it was. I couldnt bare to hear the GF shore.

The news conference said 10-15 feet from the place the attack happened.

 

[Mac30188]

I watched the press conference and then reading reports later. The child was in 3 inches or so of water. If it's true the child was in one foot of water that could be classified as swimming and no swimming is posted on the signs Disney would be covered then.

There seems to be inconsistency on what 1 foot represents. I have seen both ways.

1 foot from shore, probably is about 3 inches.
1 foot deep water is a little further in

Based on it being a toddler, my gut inclination is 1 foot from shore is more likely.

 

[rteetz]

They encourage people to go to the beaches. There are lounge chairs and hammocks, they have "Movies under the stars", smores making, they pipe in music to sit on the beach to watch Wishes across the lagoon, the Electric Light Parade nightly etc..etc..etc....

I believe just as this happened at the shoreline, it could happen 10 feet away. Disney should not have beach activities at night, or anytime, with alligators just a few feet away period. And signs should be posted "Danger: Alligators" to keep people off the beach.

Alligators do not attack that far off shore. Alligators attack in water and on the shore line.

 

[DISNEY1975]

thank you! That does help.
I need to stop reading. I've been a mess. Like many here, I have a house full of little people and as the other commenters have said, the "going home with an empty car seat" has haunted me all day. God bless and heal this family.

It is gutting. I am glad they found the boy so the family can get that tiny bit of closure and begin their long grieving process. This is absolutely the worst nightmare for any family. On vacation, without their usual support network, then have to face it all over again when they get home. Tons and Tons of my prayers are with this family to someday find peace.

 

[Aurora0427]

We have been to Disney many times, most trips we've stayed around Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake. Every trip we see kids playing by the waters edge, and every trip it gives me the creeps because I knew there were gators in that water.

I have a friend from Chicago and she said it would never occur to her there would be gators in those waters. She says it definitely makes sense, knowing what she knows now, but being from Chicago she said it just didn't cross her mind.

The entire situation is seriously one of the most tragic events I've ever heard about- probably because I have small children, and it happened at one of my most favorite places, a beach I was on just last October. This feels very very personal, and my heart is broken for those parents.

 

[rteetz]

There seems to be inconsistency on what 1 foot represents. I have seen both ways.

1 foot from shore, probably is about 3 inches.
1 foot deep water is a little further in

Based on it being a toddler, my gut inclination is 1 foot from shore is more likely.

I would agree.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Alligators do not attack that far off shore. Alligators attack in water and on the shore line.

April 5, 2016

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/terrified-brit-family-chased-alligator-8197003

 

[Maleffiecent41]

Toddlers can drown in as little as three inches of water and either way it goes it is sad reminder that we can never be too careful when it comes to the safety of our children.

 

[umichigan10]

April 5, 2016

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/terrified-brit-family-chased-alligator-8197003

Fwiw that story is just cropping up now and doesn't have any substantiated evidence behind it. I've heard the phrase "fluff" piece floating around

 

[ThreeBoyMama]

I don't get what there's not to get about not knowing. Many people in this and other threads have said they didn't know about the alligators.

I have to be honest...I grew up in California, and we live in Wisconsin. Gators are not something I have on my radar. I like to think that I would be more vigilant at night, but on our first trip my oldest son and I were goofing around on the strip of beach behind BLT and gators never even crossed my mind. Granted, it was bright and sunny and 4:00 in the afternoon, but it honestly never even occurred to me that there might be gators in that water even though I of course know that they are prominent in Florida. I think gators, I think swamp...and I mean like swamp that LOOKS like swamp, not swampland turned into beautiful Disney resort property. I realize that Floridians and others accustomed to gators will think this is stupidly naïve, but I also think it's fair to assume that a family from Nebraska would not consider gators to be an identifiable risk on the beach of a luxury Disney resort where a sponsored activity was being held.

Anyway, regardless, this is unspeakably tragic and I haven't been able to think about much else all day. My heart just absolutely breaks for this poor family.

 

[rteetz]

April 5, 2016

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/terrified-brit-family-chased-alligator-8197003

Someone brought this up before. This is more of an attention piece. The mirror is the only place reporting this and there really isn't evidence of it actually happening.

 

[Cardsfan60]

337 alligator attacks in Florida since 1948. 17 fatal attacks. Only 1 attack a Disney. I think it is qualified as rare in every since.
My kids and I will still go to the movies under the stars. Signs do not deter everyone from doing what they shouldn't. And for Disney to have the foresight to place beware of gator signs all along the beaches so they couldn't possibly be missed is asking a lot. That said signs should now be posted about the possibility that gators could be present on or near the shore.

 

[ELSA711]

Do we know he drown?
Was that confirmed?