Gator grabs 2 year old at Grand Floridian?

[lockedoutlogic]

I think people want or maybe even need to believe it would have made a difference. Makes it easier to handle if you are able to blame something or someone, you know?

I agree...it's human to say "what could we have done?"

It's also a wrong in this case.
Anybody who knows where that beach is knows a sign wouldn't be seen there at night...it just wouldn't.

 

[Frank4202]

Just terrible. The place that's supposed to be the "most Magical place on earth" has just become a hell for this family. From having fun and creating memories to spending your days sobbing and heat break in seconds.

 

[maxiesmom]

How many ways are the reporters going to ask to try and get someone to say Disney is to blame?

 

[Delgado]

I disagree. Again, you are outdoors, not indoors in a highly controlled environment. If they have to warn of any type of harm that may happen outdoors in Florida, the list would be extensive. Gators, snakes, lightening, hail, cougars, amoebas, traffic accidents, and on and on.

They are just saying on CNN that studies show that people don't read most of the information they are given. Signs included.

Guys people are upset the signs weren't there! The study showing people don't read them who cares! Disney didn't do their part, they go above and beyond every where else. This is the problem. No one is saying disney could have 100% prevent it. Give people the choice, don't keep them in the dark.

Thank god that family will have a body. Just thank god. My heart is so sad. Seriously, I'll say it again, thank god they have a body.

 

[rteetz]

The family is distraught but somewhat relieved the body was found.

 

[jayfo]

Those reporters are something else! "What was the parent's reaction to the news?........" Seriously.....WTH do you think their reaction was? Jeeze!!!

 

[rteetz]

Child was found in what is estimated to be 10-15 feet away from the spot the attack took place. In around 6 feet of water.

 

[rteetz]

Those reporters are something else! "What was the parent's reaction to the news?........" Seriously.....WTH do you think their reaction was? Jeeze!!!

Unfortunately that is the media.

 

[Delgado]

Thank God they found him, i know this is not the outcome anyone wanted, but at least the parents can have closure.

My God this family, someone made a comment earlier that this family would be going home with an empty car seat, that hit me like a hammer for some reason, I nearly lost it at my desk. I feel so bad for this family.

Hug your kids a little tighter tonight.

Your comment just made me cry. Going home with an empty car seat gave me chills

 

[Angeliki19]

Those reporters are something else! "What was the parent's reaction to the news?........" Seriously.....WTH do you think their reaction was? Jeeze!!!

What about the one that asked if what the 2 year old was doing was "permissable" (or something like that)? Were they actually insinuating that the 2 year old was partially to blame???

 

[VictoriaT]

FYI on the Telegraph UK news article, there is a photo of a sign at a small lagoon about being a Natural wildlife habitat where the credits says it is at the Grand Floridian http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...sney-world-in-florida-after-boy-dragged-into/


There are some signs, just not everywhere.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Your comment just made me cry. Going home with an empty car seat gave me chills

I know...someone else posted it earlier, its what got me too.....its just...i mean, I have two of them in my car right now. I'm about to go get my kids...i don't know why that was it...but it was.

 

[Lhargus]

That's a heatbreaking final twist.

He drown...in a situation he was not old enough to survive.

And the animal was not a ravenous monster like in an 70's disaster movie...

It attacked because a instinct tripped...and another instinct - fear - caused it to leave the boy and retreat to where its internal mechanisms could calm down.

Just awful...now Disney should really investigate elimination human contact with the waterways...it's probably time.

Alligators frequently stash their food underwater to come back and feed later.

 

[cruisingtwins]

And that would likely be the case here as well...

This myth that people don't tune these out...and inhibitions are not LOWER at WDW than in nearly all other places...is just wrong.

An alligator sign likely wouldn't prevent this.

It's possible...

But I can't get over the lack of judgement here. You don't have to be a Florida wildlife expert to stay out of the water at night.

And of course...the fact that expectations are too high because of the label. A 2 year old being bored at an outdoor movie at 9 pm? Gee...just like home, right?

Now I'm placing blame to defend a simple reasonable reality here...and I don't want to.

At worst...this was a no fault mishap. But we can't have no fault anymore, can we? So the wheel spins.

I just don't see the lack of judgement. How are people supposed to know there were gators in the lakes if no one tells them or there are any signs about it. I have let my kids waddled in multiple resorts had I seen a sign with picture of a gator I would have not let them anywhere near the beach.

I would like to see some kind of barrier between the sand and the water a rocky shore a fence or something like that.

 

[whiporee]

They keep population control on fish, snakes, turtles, frogs, insects, etc. Do we want them in the suburbs? Probably not. But any science class teaches you the importance of apex predators.

I don't think that's true. I think apex predators have more regulators than alligators do in Florida, and most apexes are not prolific breeders, so they don't fit into this category, not in the suburbs. In addition, the abundance of alligators thin out large-mouth bass, which are a popular sport fish in Florida. As for the smaller reptiles, there are other predators that are getting edged out by the abundance of alligators.

They did get rid of the Muscovy ducks, which were mean and nasty. But I don't think it was a good trade off.

I know the correct thing to say is to let gators be gators, but at some point any species grows beyond it's feasible limit. In addition, the naturalization of suburban Florida lakes gives then nesting places in areas near people. You can argue that we were wrong to invade and transform their landscape, but the fact is we did, and now nature has to adjust to us, not the other way around. I understand it's not fair or right, but it is the only real option. Florida needs to aggressively cull the number of alligators in suburban areas, because without predators to limit them, the ranks will continue to explode.

 

[Delgado]

They are crazy, TRYING TO INSINUATE A TWO YEAR OLD WAS TO BLAME. DANG REPORTERS. This just solidified what I thought. They stated the two year old was doing what a two year old was expected to do. Then the expert says the alligator didn't do anything out of the normal. TELL ME NOW DISNEY COULDN'T HAVE FORSEEN THE ACCIDENT.

 

[Frank4202]

Child was found in what is estimated to be 10-15 feet away from the spot the attack took place. In around 6 feet of water.

This makes it even worse in my opinion. I understand it was night when the accident occurred, but you would think they'd have someone thoroughly checking close to where it happened. Shouldn't take 18hrs to find a body in 6ft deep water 15ft from where he was last seen.

 

[sheetz]

Guys people are upset the signs weren't there! The study showing people don't read them who cares! Disney didn't do their part, they go above and beyond every where else. This is the problem. No one is saying disney could have 100% prevent it. Give people the choice, don't keep them in the dark.
.

I'm curious about warning signage in other areas around Florida. Is "No Swimming" standard signage for similar public areas or are they usually more explicit with regards to possible dangers? Is signage regulated in any way?

 

[rteetz]

This makes it even worse in my opinion. I understand it was night when the accident occurred, but you would think they'd have someone thoroughly checking close to where it happened. Shouldn't take 18hrs to find a body in 6ft deep water 15ft from where he was last seen.

I don't believe divers went in until this morning.

 

[umichigan10]

I don't think that's true. I think apex predators have more regulators than alligators do in Florida, and most apexes are not prolific breeders, so they don't fit into this category, not in the suburbs. In addition, the abundance of alligators thin out large-mouth bass, which are a popular sport fish in Florida. As for the smaller reptiles, there are other predators that are getting edged out by the abundance of alligators.

They did get rid of the Muscovy ducks, which were mean and nasty. But I don't think it was a good trade off.

I know the correct thing to say is to let gators be gators, but at some point any species grows beyond it's feasible limit. In addition, the naturalization of suburban Florida lakes gives then nesting places in areas near people. You can argue that we were wrong to invade and transform their landscape, but the fact is we did, and now nature has to adjust to us, not the other way around. I understand it's not fair or right, but it is the only real option. Florida needs to aggressively cull the number of alligators in suburban areas, because without predators to limit them, the ranks will continue to explode.

If it is such a big issue population wise then yeah by all means expand hunting season to cut the population down. But don't hunt them to extinction