Gator grabs 2 year old at Grand Floridian?

[rteetz]

I know very little about alligators. I wouldn't have let my kids in the water, but is that relevant? Would a gator have come a foot out of the water to drag a small child in?

I think the answer is, yes. And if that is the case, there really shouldn't be entertainment on the beaches, or hammocks, or anything that encourages being near the water, if Disney isn't going to be able to prevent this type of tragedy.

Gators don't come far out of the water to get their prey as far as I know. Entertainment on the beaches usually isn't within 2-3 feet of the water but usually closer to the walkways of the resort. Hammocks are also not that close to the water. It's very unlikely a gator would go all the way to a hammock to attack a person.

 

[VictoriaT]

IIRC, that sign ( or one identical to it), is on the SOG property. And since it also doesn't specifically warn against swimming, wading, of playing in the water, or near it, and isn't in at least a a dozen different languages and braille, it wouldn't satisfy the people screaming for more detailed signage.

Thanks for clarifying, I wasn't sure exactly where it was located. I was thinking that canal on the far side.

 

[umichigan10]

People likening Disney to the mayor in jaws is a bit of a stretch.

Yeah, were they a bit naive to have nighttime beach activities, signs not talking about gators, hell even a fence cordoning it off apparently. Yeah.

But so were the parents to an extent, going into a body of water at night with little or no visibility. Legally yes Disney has a higher burden of responsibility, but I really feel its no ones fault ultimately. Just a tragic, awful event I hope no one ever has to endure.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It's silly...but the the reason that there are no beware of wildlife signs is likely very similar to the mayors reasoning in Jaws

And honestly this isn't limited to WDW at all.

When I started having my house built on our lot our soon-to-be neighbor is the one that told us about copperhead snakes (see my post a couple of pages back). There is no way the developer would ever have a sign or notification in their model row, their website, or said by their representatives that says "hey btw this is copperhead snake territory...."not when our neighborhood is planned for 700 homes ranging from price-wise mid-300s to over 600s with an elementary school within the neighborhood, a middle school a few streets away and a brand new high school being built also a few streets away. Copperheads, while usually not fatal, can be to young children and are not something extremely safety-minded families with young children would want to think about when purchasing/building a home in a desirable area.

Though I apologize if my statement makes no sense in comparison to yours. Sometimes I don't read into the comment the right way lol

 

[mshanson3121]

I know very little about alligators. I wouldn't have let my kids in the water, but is that relevant? Would a gator have come a foot out of the water to drag a small child in?

I think the answer is, yes. And if that is the case, there really shouldn't be entertainment on the beaches, or hammocks, or anything that encourages being near the water, if Disney isn't going to be able to prevent this type of tragedy.

That's what my husband said. We were just talking about it. He agreed with everyone else - they will never be able to prevent alligators getting into the water. But they can prevent putting guests near those waters. There should not be any entertainment in the beach areas, and I was very promptly informed that we will never attend any. This is the second confirmed attack (granted first fatal), with other reported encounters where guests were approached by alligators near the water area. It does not matter if there is only a physical attack once every 30 years (and those numbers will climb as the population continues to rise, and Disney continues to encroach on their territory, and clueless guests continue to feed them) - the risk always exists, and Disney should be doing everything possible to minimize that risk. One death is one too many, especially when it could have very likely been avoided.

 

[Delgado]

Gators don't come far out of the water to get their prey as far as I know. Entertainment on the beaches usually isn't within 2-3 feet of the water but usually closer to the walkways of the resort. Hammocks are also not that close to the water. It's very unlikely a gator would go all the way to a hammock to attack a person.

Disagree.

 

[circus4u]

There are signs to not go swimming. There's a difference. And I agree, it won't stop everyone. But it would the majority. And, I also agree it was an accident - however, it was an accident that may have been able to be prevented, and we all know that legally, if they decide to sue, Disney is going to be liable, because they didn't have proper precautions in place.

As far as one of the other comments that Disney has been doing a great job since this is the first incident. Yes and no. A) You have to look at increasing population. The gator population was much lower in the past years of the park and the risk was much lower. The population has really exploded over the last decade. B) Disney's population has also been exploding. More people = more risk. Also, more people = more feeding = more alligators. C) The fact that anything hasn't happened previously, aside from the fact that there was reduced risk, is largely just luck. They've been capturing/trapping them yes, which is very important, and I think they've done a good job, but as others have mentioned - they'll never capture them all, as evidenced by the fact that people see them in the park and resorts. And because of that, they need to be doing public education/awareness - which they haven't been.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/15/opini...ty-alligator-attack-danny-cevallos/index.html

 

[circus4u]

Disagree.

Disney alligator attack may have been a perfect storm
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/15/healt...y-have-been-the-perfect-storm-trnd/index.html

 

[mrs moon]

Being from the uk and knowing nothing about alligators you assume that Disney (the place for families with children) is a safe place to be & that if you want to see alligators then there is another fee paying park for that.....Why would they allow families to be on the beach at dusk knowing they have alligators in the water!!!!! POOR,POOR FAMILY!!!!

 

[closetmickey]

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.

i just can't agree with this comment. I am a west coaster. We know about the dangers of the ocean. I also know that I can go in the water up to my ankles at night. With others around of course, but I feel no danger. I would have had no idea at the man made lake at the Grand Floridian. Especially knowing how Disney works to control all aspects of their environment. I didn't when I allowed my daughters to do so a few years back at the Poly. I understand your point that blame may not have a place here. But please stop insulting my and the intelligence of many.

 

[Delgado]

Disney alligator attack may have been a perfect storm
http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/15/healt...y-have-been-the-perfect-storm-trnd/index.html

Which reitterates they attack at night, why was a movie by the beach

 

[closetmickey]

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.

I don't know why but it feels even worse that he was so darn close all along.

 

[rteetz]

Disagree.

As the CNN article states alligators don't go after prey that are more distant than the shoreline. Unfortunately the child was on the shore line. Alligators eat small animals which is likely what the gator thought the child was. If alligators were going to leave the water and attack people in hammocks this would occur more often.

 

[rteetz]

Which reitterates they attack at night, why was a movie by the beach

You missed the part that they don't attack things that are on land but on the shoreline.

The movies have always been on the beach and this has never been a problem before. Unfortunately it sometimes takes events like this to take notice of this.

 

[rteetz]

Being from the uk and knowing nothing about alligators you assume that Disney (the place for families with children) is a safe place to be & that if you want to see alligators then there is another fee paying park for that.....Why would they allow families to be on the beach at dusk knowing they have alligators in the water!!!!! POOR,POOR FAMILY!!!!

Again this isn't common. It's very rare. You have a better chance of dying from a bee sting. Alligators are in pretty much all bodies of water in Florida. Disney also has a team that monitors the lakes and removes alligators. It's near impossible to remove every single one though.

 

[RafikiTiki21]

Which reitterates they attack at night, why was a movie by the beach

The movies at the Grand Floridian are on the interior lawn among rooms and Narcoossees, not next to or near the beach.

 

[FreeDiningFanatic]

As the CNN article states alligators don't go after prey that are more distant than the shoreline. Unfortunately the child was on the shore line. Alligators eat small animals which is likely what the gator thought the child was. If alligators were going to leave the water and attack people in hammocks this would occur more often.

I think the point is, yes, there is a no swimming sign. There isn't a sign that says don't go near the shoreline.

What is a reasonable distance? 2 feet, 10, 20?

As a PP said, Disney does so much to control their environment and your experience, from piping in the smell of popcorn on Main Street to making their beaches look like tropical getaways.

I just think that this poor family should have been better informed if there were dangers in Disney's very controlled environment.

 

[rteetz]

I think the point is, yes, there is a no swimming sign. There isn't a sign that says don't go near the shoreline.

What is a reasonable distance? 2 feet, 10, 20?

As a PP said, Disney does so much to control their environment and your experience, from piping in the smell of popcorn on Main Street to making their beaches look like tropical getaways.

I just think that this poor family should have been better informed if there were dangers in Disney's very controlled environment.

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.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I thought the same thing. The central theme of greed cannot be ignored. I brought it up, but it confused some people. They thought my life philosophy was now based on that movie.

You are probably going to get the same response in 3,2,1........

Huh?? Disney is good, but not good enough to eliminate aligators from the Florida swamps.

MG

 

[rileyz]

I go to WDW every year. We stand on the beach at Wilderness Lodge and walk the canals between DHS and Boardwalk. I have always thought of snakes more than gators because I was under the impression they were small as larger ones were removed. Very scary and probably naive on my part.