The alligator population in Florida has tripled in the last 30 years. 40 years ago they were almost extinct and were placed on the endangered species list. Just to keep the record straight. WDW wasn't built on entirely on swampland and the alligators there now aren't reclaiming their ancestral home. If I'm guessing, I'm guessing the population density of alligators there has rarely, if ever, been higher because the predators that eat their young have all but vanished.
That said, and as much as i stand by my kill them all stance, I think there are a couple of misconceptions going on here. The first is that more signage would have made any difference. Unless the sign said that splashing attracts alligators, no one would assume that a warning about the dangers of alligators would include wading. The entire event is inconceivable to a parent, and almost to that extent for Disney. It's not a natural jump to make, and if someone is going to let their kid wade, then a sign telling there are alligators in the water is unlikely to dissuade them unless it gives a specific reason. if you're talking about more signage, all you're really suggesting is that Disney do more to limit its liability, and that's not high on my list of priorities.
The second misconception is that this is a major problem, and enough of a problem for Disney to change their landscape. it's not. It's a tragedy, and its regrettable, but it's the definition of a fluke occurrence. Alligators are lazy, stupid creatures and they, for the most part, like easier prey than even small kids. They don't like sandy beaches because sand is hard to get out from under scales and its harder to hide on sand than in weeds. And one big enough to get a child is usually big enough for WDW's team to find and remove (or, hopefully, kill). They aren't smart enough to hunt or stalk; they exist purely on instinct. So the fears of people in deep water being attacked by them aren't necessarily valid, because the only time alligators are in deep water is going from one feeding spot to another -- they stick to shore because that's where the food is. And I'm pretty sure the boat operators keep people away from the weeds and the shallows, so the stupid alligators wouldn't see a swimmer in deep water as food. Plus, they stay away from noise. The only time I've ever heard of an alligator attacking in deep water was them pursuing a dog from the beach, and the dog was being listed into a rowboat. And even then the thing left once the dog was out of the water.
And, as much as I dislike them, even I have to admit that an alligator attacking a person is beyond rare. So making adjustments based on their actual behavior and history isn't a reasonable response.
They are scary and scary looking, their presence is enough to discourage people from using lakes and fresh waterways, and that sucks. There are too many of them and that sucks. But the actual danger they represent to humans is minuscule. Anything short of mass exterminations won't do anything to affect the situation; anything else is just propaganda and window dressing. The idea of signs and seawalls and even getting rid of beaches or beach-related events is just so people think WDW is doing something, even if that something has little to do with the actual situation.
