Gator Tragedy

[ruthies12]

My littlest was 2 on our last trip. she's 3 now and getting really ticked at me because I've been hugging and kissing her over and over since I read about this yesterday morning.

 

[Madonna3]

Your post... Particularly the last portion... Thank you for the beautiful imagery to replace something so awful.

I won't cancel our trip - but I know I'll think of him and whisper a prayer on those waters.

You are so welcome.

Okay, that brought tears to my eyes. But it also made me smile. Hmm, happy thoughts... I hope his last day on the earth was full of joyous moments.

It was not my intention to cause more pain, but glad it also brought relief. I too, hope his last day was the best ever.

Well said Pookasaurus.

Thank you for finding comfort in my words.

That is beautiful. This incident has really shaken me. There are no words and there is no blame. It could have been one of my kids. During our last trip to FW we watched the fireworks from the marina beach one night and the kids played at the water's edge. At the time I was more concerned about them getting filthy than anything. And I'm aware of gators, but I just let my guard down and frankly didn't associate them with Bay Lake. I always keep an eye on the canals when we're walking around the Fort, more out of curiosity than anything. Needless to say there will be no contact with water that isn't a pool in the future.

Thank you. It's how I truly feel and I couldn't agree with you more about how my behaviors will change at Disney around the natural beaches. We're headed to the Fort in July for the 4th and I had invited people to the cabin so we could go to the beach and watch the Fireworks. I have a feeling we'll be all the way at the back now - in the parking lot!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I would think Disney does not put up "Alligators in Water" signs because they think it would be a negative notion, where "No Swimming" is just neutral.

Besides, the bacteria and chemicals in the water are a far worse hazard to health than gators.

 

[ms_flo]

... Okay, that brought tears to my eyes. But it also made me smile. ...

... It was not my intention to cause more pain...

You didn't cause more pain. Tears can be beautiful! After my beloved MIL died, I realized that I was constantly apologizing for crying over the situation... & then I had an epiphany My tears were evidence of how precious our earthly relationship had been. That relationship was NOT something that warranted any kind of apology! I don't apologize for crying anymore. Now I count tears like that as evidence of being richly blessed. ...and sometimes those blessings come in the form of people who help me on my journey; even though I've never even met them!

 

[amcc]

My children have played at the water's edge just like that baby, at night waiting for the fireworks even. I'm a Floridian and it NEVER occurred to me that he could be snatched by a gator but they will never be allowed to play there again. My heart goes out to the parents and family of the child.

Last spring break at the Fort, my friend and I were walking her dog along that wide grassy area behind Loop 300. Another camper approached us to warn us that earlier in the week a gator had grabbed a dog at the edge of the canal. I don't know if it was true but we had no reason to doubt her. At the same time, our older kids fished off the banks and we thought nothing of it.

Thinking about all the gator warnings being tossed around especially about staying away from uncleared banks and water edges after dark, I don't think it's a great idea to watch fireworks back there again. It meets all the criteria for a gator habitat.

 

[bjschil]

My children have played at the water's edge just like that baby, at night waiting for the fireworks even. I'm a Floridian and it NEVER occurred to me that he could be snatched by a gator but they will never be allowed to play there again. My heart goes out to the parents and family of the child.

Last spring break at the Fort, my friend and I were walking her dog along that wide grassy area behind Loop 300. Another camper approached us to warn us that earlier in the week a gator had grabbed a dog at the edge of the canal. I don't know if it was true but we had no reason to doubt her. At the same time, our older kids fished off the banks and we thought nothing of it.

Thinking about all the gator warnings being tossed around especially about staying away from uncleared banks and water edges after dark, I don't think it's a great idea to watch fireworks back there again. It meets all the criteria for a gator habitat.

We are like you, and have also watched the fireworks behind the 300 loop. We Midwesterners do not think about gators, and will not do that again. Am also sure that we have splashed our feet in that water waiting for the EWP. Our hearts are heavy with the sadness and innocence lost. Blessings to this family.

 

[North of Mouse]

So. LA girl here that learned from small to respect what gators (and snakes) are capable of doing - still thought Disney kept the big ones away (learned they try to) but they can travel fast and far just in one night.

This past early Feb. our campsite was in 200 by the canal - first time 'ever' to be near one. I wasn't happy, but dh convinced me we would be ok. Every night when we returned from the parks, I wouldn't turn into our campsite until dh checked all around our mh for gators or snakes with a light. 'Now', I will 'not' ever camp on a canal site again - yes, I'm a scaredy-cat!! (Also, was cold and rainy lots of those days which made the likelihood of seeing them even less)

 

[Madonna3]

My children have played at the water's edge just like that baby, at night waiting for the fireworks even. I'm a Floridian and it NEVER occurred to me that he could be snatched by a gator ...

I think that is the most sobering part of this tragedy. You are not alone in that train of thought because I too am a Floridian and it NEVER occurred to me either just like I am sure it didn't occur to most other people. It makes me SICK to know that I encouraged my son to come step in the water with me and walk along the edge. Granted, we never did it at night because for some reason, I remembered snakes are in the water, but day attacks by gators can and have happened (but please remember, there have only been an average of 3 fatal gator attacks per year and they're very rare) and yet there we were with me never giving consideration that the water gets *real* dark just a foot off shore. Now, I am sure someone is going to come here and say they knew it all along, and well good for them, but I'm not ashamed to say I think I fall into the majority who never saw something like this happening at the Grand Floridian, let alone Disney. I dunno, I guess since everything else was so magical I figured the water was too.

 

[peg110]

I guess since everything else was so magical I figured the water was too.

I guess this is kind of my thought too. Sadly now, some of that magic has disappeared forever.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Besides, the bacteria and chemicals in the water are a far worse hazard to health than gators.

That is true, but no one would assume Disney is nasty/bacteria ridden right? It should be clean and safe!
I can see how it is easy to let your guard down when the beach goes to the water with no barricade and Disney hands out pails to go play in the sand near the water's edge. This was (sadly) inevitable.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

This was (sadly) inevitable.

Probably.

 

[ArielRae]

Anyone else seen this video?
I have a feeling something sooner then later will be done with River Country now.

 

[JenLT]

I think that is the most sobering part of this tragedy. You are not alone in that train of thought because I too am a Floridian and it NEVER occurred to me either just like I am sure it didn't occur to most other people. It makes me SICK to know that I encouraged my son to come step in the water with me and walk along the edge. Granted, we never did it at night because for some reason, I remembered snakes are in the water, but day attacks by gators can and have happened (but please remember, there have only been an average of 3 fatal gator attacks per year and they're very rare) and yet there we were with me never giving consideration that the water gets *real* dark just a foot off shore. Now, I am sure someone is going to come here and say they knew it all along, and well good for them, but I'm not ashamed to say I think I fall into the majority who never saw something like this happening at the Grand Floridian, let alone Disney. I dunno, I guess since everything else was so magical I figured the water was too.

I do think part of it is the beach aspect. The water's edge isn't obscured with plants or rocks. Most beaches don't have alligators (because they are on the ocean), so the connotation isn't there.

 

[old feller]

It's refreshing to hear the heartfelt thoughts for the family on this thread

 

[pjpoppins]

Just requested woods view in Loop 200...just thought that sounded good a little more secluded. I'm really not that worried I live in the woods of CT (Not everybody from CT is like Deborah Romano's parents!!!!). How close are the canals to the sites?

 

[North of Mouse]

Just requested woods view in Loop 200...just thought that sounded good a little more secluded. I'm really not that worried I live in the woods of CT (Not everybody from CT is like Deborah Romano's parents!!!!). How close are the canals to the sites?

We were right on the Canal in 200 in Feb/Mar. toward the back of loop. Not too much 'woods' in preferred loops.

 

[sippican]

Such a horrible tragedy. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
FWIW, some points to ponder -
As has been mentioned, the primary reason for closing the lagoon to swimming was the deadly bacteria in the water - not gators.
Should Disney be expected to post warnings about Zika-carrying mosquitos, coral snakes, Leprosy-carrying armadillos? ... No easy answers to just adding gators to the signs.
Although primarily inhabitants of fresh water, alligators have been increasingly spotted in salty inland waterways as well as the ocean on portions of the Florida coast.

 

[tink'smom2B]

We haven't camped since 2004 but we were along the canal then. Just how does Disney keep alligators out of the canals?

 

[North of Mouse]

We haven't camped since 2004 but we were along the canal then. Just how does Disney keep alligators out of the canals?

They don't!!!! We camped on a canal last year, but have no plans to do so again (a decision 'before' this past tragedy). I was constantly wary of returning there after dark, as I'm a south LA girl, and grew up being 'very' aware of gators and snakes.

 

[rajak73]

It's refreshing to hear the heartfelt thoughts for the family on this thread

The family back here in Nebraska has had overwhelming support since they have got back. I can't possibly know what this family is going through right now, IMO, this is a terrible accident, something I've never heard of at Disney and something you will probably never hear again. Our local radio station had a interview on last Thursday I believe, they also lost a 2 year old to a accident, If the interview is still on, it is worth checking out, he had great views of things, it's kfab.com and look for the Dave Nabity interview. I've heard all the blame the parents, blame Disney, blame the signs, blame the alligator but sorry, this was a freak incident. There was also a 2 year old in Omaha that fell backwards on a chair in the yard and is now in a coma because their was something, (they don't even know what it was) they hit their head (and they couldn't even find a bump) in just the right spot. Do we ban chairs? How about chairs in back yards? No person under 10 in a chair outside? Sorry for the ramble, I just feel so bad for these parents.