Gators at resorts...facts and wise tips

[Donna M]

That's not what it means up here in New York.

No Swimming = Don't swim.
No Wading = Don't go up to your knees.
No Entry = Stay away completely.

At the GF, the sign on the beach says "No Swimming Please" with a cute drawing of an adult doing the Australian crawl. Hardly the message one would expect to indicate a life-threatening animal encounter in ankle-depth water if you live outside of Florida.

This would be a New Hampshire definition too. There are many people who think Disney would take care of any alligator problem, which they do, so that the water would be safe. If you aren't from the South, you don't know of the natural dangers. I hope they replace the signs with clear warnings of the danger. What a difference that could have made.

 

[Don_Air]

Isn't it safe to say that you don't have to be in the water to be attacked? The water's edge is the danger zone. The "Don't Swim" sign wouldn't help anyone who is not from Florida, that isn't aware that the Disney Property is full of gators. I honestly, 100% had no idea there were gators on Disney Property. I assumed everything was handled to make it safe. It's literally the most safe place I've ever felt.

I'm not from your country. Sure it sounds dumb to say that I didn't know Gators were on Disney Property (And yes, I've already read 100 times today that I'm wrong). If anything, I've learned a lot about them from this tragedy. Maybe the people blaming the parents can show some tact, and think that is VERY possible that not everyone knows everything you do. These are smart people who obviously are doing well for themselves being able to stay at the Grand Floridian resort. They didn't get the memo on Gators, because everyone assumes everything, and there is no indication anywhere about Gators at Disney. (Not that I've seen the few times I've been there).

Those poor people will live with this for the rest of their lives, and you people blaming them will forget this even happened a week from now.

 

[amyamya]

This article shows a child in the exact spot of the tragedy an hour before it happened. http://www.scarymommy.com/boy-attacked-by-alligator-disney-resort/?utm_source=FB

 

[Seeker615]

I've read a lot of these posts here and on other sites. What is boils down to is that there should have been some kind of signs letting people know that there is a chance you could encounter a gator.

I have been to Florida many times and I am aware that there are gators and other creatures that could be harmful if encountered. I lived in Louisiana and dealt with scorpions and snakes and have seen an occasional gator. I have hiked in state parks and swam in the ocean and I was aware that there are risks.

When you go to resort and theme park, especially one that is made for families you do not expect to encounter a danger such as an alligator. Disney built the resorts and encourages families to enjoy their man-made beaches and sit near the water. I think there is an expectation that when you are in a resort like this that you are safe from something as daunting as an alligator. If Disney knew that alligators were a problem then the correct measures should be taken. (warning signs posted, security to keep people away from the water, info on their website.) A little knowledge to make people aware is so important.

You can't expect people from other countries or people who are not familiar with Florida to be hyper-aware of gators on a resort property. Yes people do their research but if you are staying in the Disney bubble most people would not even think that maybe there are alligators in the water and you could get attacked. There is so much fantasy, pixie dust and family fun that people feel safe. Yes you should always be aware but when you are on a beach in the evening with your family and near the water and doing a Disney activity you would let your guard down a bit and enjoy the atmosphere. I can even bet that many people who visit Disney do not know it was built on a swampland.

I do hope the family can recover. It was such an awful tragedy. I do hope Disney will work on getting some public awareness regarding the wildlife in the area.

 

[Candice1873]

So since it is common sense for everyone to know about the gators in every lake in Disney......

WHY DIDN'T EVERY SINGLE PERSON WATCHING THAT MOVIE, WITH THIS SO CALLED COMMON SENSE, TELL THE LITTLE BOYS PARENTS THAT GATORS WERE IN THE WATER???

 

[boltjames]

This article shows a child in the exact spot of the tragedy an hour before it happened. http://www.scarymommy.com/boy-attacked-by-alligator-disney-resort/?utm_source=FB

Could have happened to anyone's kids, it's unfathomable.

 

[North of Mouse]

Could have happened to anyone's kids, it's unfathomable.

True, but there was one big difference - this was during bright sunlight where you can 'see' a little further - the other was at 9:20pm (more than an hour later) when you could not 'see' anything, and more dangerous time when gators feed. Still dangerous, yes, but not to the same extent.

 

[amyamya]

Could have happened to anyone's kids, it's unfathomable.

For me, this picture really shuts down the "no swimming sign means don't go in the water" crowd. This is super shallow, clear water until the reeds start. As an adult from another state, I might have rinsed my feet or cooled them off here. As many have mentioned, kids fill their sand buckets with water all the time to make sand castles. This is a sandy beach with chairs and a lifeguard and activities. It's so awful this happened here.

 

[Mom2DisneyBabies]

For me, this picture really shuts down the "no swimming sign means don't go in the water" crowd. This is super shallow, clear water until the reeds start. As an adult from another state, I might have rinsed my feet or cooled them off here. As many have mentioned, kids fill their sand buckets with water all the time to make sand castles. This is a sandy beach with chairs and a lifeguard and activities. It's so awful this happened here.

There isn't a lifeguard on the beach. The nearest lifeguard is at the pool and doesn't monitor the beach.

 

[maxiesmom]

For me, this picture really shuts down the "no swimming sign means don't go in the water" crowd. This is super shallow, clear water until the reeds start. As an adult from another state, I might have rinsed my feet or cooled them off here. As many have mentioned, kids fill their sand buckets with water all the time to make sand castles. This is a sandy beach with chairs and a lifeguard and activities. It's so awful this happened here.

There is no lifeguard at the beach. They had to go to a pool to get the lifeguard. And no, that picture only shows how many people don't get that No Swimming means Stay the Heck Out of the Water.

I'm wondering how many years old those signs are. In this day and age you do have to dumb everything down. Maybe the sign should read "Stay out of the water. There are snakes, gators, and brain eating amoebas in it". You apparently can't simply tell people No Swimming and have them not try to think their way around the sign.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just wondering - Would the story and thought process be any different if a child was bitten by a brown recluse at the resort and died as a result?

There was a child bitten by a snake a few years past. He went into the bushes for some reason and was bitten.

 

[Shanti]

You will be fine as long as you do not get close to the water in the lakes. Don't go walking in the lake - not even just up to your ankles.

In 1986 an 8 year-old boy was attacked by a gator at Ft. Wilderness, on dry land. A link to the news article is below.

http://www.witn.com/content/news/Gator-survivor-recalls-1986-Disney-attack-383279111.html

Fortunately, he was saved, but it's false to assure folks that they'll be safe as long as they stay clear of the lakes.

 

[KrazeeK120]

For me, this picture really shuts down the "no swimming sign means don't go in the water" crowd. This is super shallow, clear water until the reeds start. As an adult from another state, I might have rinsed my feet or cooled them off here. As many have mentioned, kids fill their sand buckets with water all the time to make sand castles. This is a sandy beach with chairs and a lifeguard and activities. It's so awful this happened here.

I'm also an adult from another state (Illinois) and I have not ever, nor will I ever touch the water at Disney other than in a bathroom or pool. My husband has commented on several of our trips how disgusting the water appears to be. And he's right - swamp water really isn't pretty, plus the water at Disney is polluted with all of the watercraft constantly in it (the canal that runs from Port Orleans to Disney Springs is particularly bad). And I think it smells. My first concern has always been water moccasins, and second concern was bacteria/amoebas. Third concern is that it's just plain dirty. I know there are gators there, but I shudder even thinking about snakes and gross microorganisms and stay as far away from them as possible!! Apparently there are "No Swimming" signs on the beaches, but truthfully, I've never looked for them. I, personally, do not need a sign to not want to go near that stuff.

 

[Don_Air]

There is no lifeguard at the beach. They had to go to a pool to get the lifeguard. And no, that picture only shows how many people don't get that No Swimming means Stay the Heck Out of the Water.

I'm wondering how many years old those signs are. In this day and age you do have to dumb everything down. Maybe the sign should read "Stay out of the water. There are snakes, gators, and brain eating amoebas in it". You apparently can't simply tell people No Swimming and have them not try to think their way around the sign.

This is EXACTLY the kind of ignorance I am talking about. You think it's "dumbing it down" for us do you? What if the information you seem to have isn't known by every person on the planet. What if I told you something about where I live that you didn't know about? Is that "Dumbing it down"?.

 

[Don_Air]

Also, is there a magical force field that hits the sand? What happens if someone is attacked on the sand? It's inches from the water, but is just as dangerous. If you don't know there are gators there, you are following the rules. Who's at fault then?

 

[fairytalelover]

do alligators jump? Is it safe to be on the boats going to DTD etc....?

 

[Lynne M]

This is headed down the same bad road as yesterday's thread. I will warn one last time. This thread is to discuss alligators and associated safety concerns. It is not a place for personal arguments or to litigate the incident.

If we can't keep the thread on track, it's done.

 

[maxiesmom]

This is EXACTLY the kind of ignorance I am talking about. You think it's "dumbing it down" for us do you? What if the information you seem to have isn't known by every person on the planet. What if I told you something about where I live that you didn't know about? Is that "Dumbing it down"?.

I'm saying you can't simply tell people not to swim and expect them to stay out of the water. Yes, it is dumbing it down to have to explain exactly why. It is very ignorant to see a sign telling you to not do something, and think it doesn't apply to you because it doesn't list out the exact reasons. Do people think Disney puts up signs just for fun? Or to try to disappoint people?

 

[Don_Air]

Swimming means to go into the water and swim. Putting your feet in the water is not swimming. If someone told me there were gators in the water, I'd avoid the lake (Like I plan to from now on).

Not everyone has the information you seem to have.

 

[brertoad]

I've never been to Australia - but I know about giant snakes as well as other poisonous snakes, giant spiders, spiders that take over entire towns with their webs and how they migrate on a breeze, about poisonous sea snakes, sharks, sting rays, jelly fish, dingos, kangaroos, koala bears, etc. etc.

University of Florida's football team is called The Gators, for someone to say they never associated gators with Florida is mind-blowing.
There are gators on golf courses, just last week a giant gator was on a Palmetto golf course that was all over the news. There are gators in ponds, ditches, on the side of the roads in some areas like "Alligator Alley" which is what the portion of I-75 has been nicknamed for decades, which cuts through the Everglades, there are gators around Paynes Prairie (22,000 acres of land) which are sometimes seen from the road up near Gainesville. There are definitely gators (and snakes, and all manner of Florida wildlife) on Disney's 27,000 acres of land. To think Disney can get rid of all the gators is like thinking they can get rid of all the mosquitos. Google "Florida" and "Alligators" you will see photos of alligators in pools, at people's doors, in neighborhoods, gators can even climb fences.

Tell your friends that if there is water, there can be gators and snakes. That is their habitat it doesn't have to be a swamp, even if it is a retention pond, ditch, man made lake, cold spring, shopping plaza retention pond, back yard fish pond, etc. We also have black widows and brown recluses, so don't stick your hands into wood piles, tree trunks, be careful in your yards, or be careful if cleaning out your garage or attic.


The lake activities, boat rentals, skiing, take place during day time hours and stop at 5 pm, there is more activity in the lake during the day time hours, although boats run all during the night to ferry people from MK to the resorts. People should not enter the lake water at all. In the future their signs should have at least a pictograph of an alligator, snake, as well as something to indicate the water quality is not safe, amoebas, and bacteria. I honestly wonder if people will still disregard an alligator sign in the future, some people just don't care.

If you want to stick your feet in something, stick it in the beautiful pools or spas that Disney has created for the guests enjoyment, not the nasty disgusting pond scummy swamp water.