Heartbreaking news...a big reminder to be aware of wildlife on property

[A Mickeyfan]

Unless you're Shaq, then 6-12" is ankle deep.

12" is not ankle deep for a 2 yr old..not at all, actually neither is 6".

 

[soniam]

I am from PA and knew that Florida had alligators. I also thought everyone knew that scorpions were a problem in Texas too lol

I am surprised at how many people don't realize how dangerous they are. They are ambush predators.

It is definitely a heartbreaking situation.

I knew Florida had gators. I didn't know that they snatched kids or that large ones were in the lakes in WDW.

 

[focusondisney]

So now we all need to have this taken away because Disney or this poor family couldn't foresee such a freak occurrence??
Because this is what will happen. It won't be just adding proper signs or pamphlets, it will be an overreaction to the people who aren't even involved that are freaking out.

And I don't know who all of you see, but 3 stays at the Beach Club, I never saw all these people playing in the water. Laying in the chairs, watching the movie, yes. Sure, I saw people dip their toes in, I did too knowing all about the alligators. Now I will think twice about that. And I'm sorry, most people aren't booking these hotels thinking they are going to a beach resort.

My DH & I just said this. In over 30 trips to WDW, probably 20 at Y&B, 4 or 5 at WL, 2 at GF & 1 at CR, we have never seen anyone wading in the water anywhere. The beach areas are very nice, but the water looks disgusting, not inviting at all.

 

[thedonduck]

No I'm not kidding. If they can't control the gators, and of course they can't, they have to keep them away from the guests. They have all kinds of creative barriers at AK. I see no reason they can't come up with something for the lakes. As for your back yard, my guess is disneys pockets are deeper than yours and they can throw a lot of money at the problem. You're telling me there's no place in Florida with an effective gator barrier?

Concerte walls and a moat? Google pictures of alligators climbing fences. They can push through and over. People need understand that wild animals don't follow our rules and need to learn and respect their habitats

 

[thedonduck]

I knew Florida had gators. I didn't know that they snatched kids or that large ones were in the lakes in WDW.

It isn't like this is a common problem. Gators don't attack humans for food.

 

[Boski]

No I'm not kidding. If they can't control the gators, and of course they can't, they have to keep them away from the guests. They have all kinds of creative barriers at AK. I see no reason they can't come up with something for the lakes. As for your back yard, my guess is disneys pockets are deeper than yours and they can throw a lot of money at the problem. You're telling me there's no place in Florida with an effective gator barrier?

But you're more likely to die from a bee sting than a alligator....so what should we do against the bees?

 

[momofkids]

Every time you go outside anywhere, there is dangerous wildlife. This is true even in cities. I once narrowly avoided an attack by a squirrel in Philadelphia. Was it the city's fault for placing a bench in a known squirrel area? Where was the sign warning of rabies and squirrel attacks?

Come on people. At some point we as humans have to figure out that we share this world with other organisms. We have to learn to protect ourselves and not require everyone to do it for us.

Stop being so naïve. No one and nothing can protect us from everything. Think rationally about this and set aside emotions. There are thousands of dangers around us all the time.

This was a freak ACCIDENT. Disney is not responsible. Maybe the parents should have been a little more cautious, but we all let our guard down from time to time.

After an accident like this, Disney should improve their signs to keep guests away from the water. Maybe they should even move activities away from the beach at night. They do not owe anyone a settlement and, they were not negligent.

Sometimes there are no explanations for why things happen, and sometimes there is no one to blame.

 

[20yBWDW]

Disney isn't to blame for the animal behaving instinctually in their habitat, they are to blame for not informing guests that the lagoon is a wild animal habitat. You may think it's obvious, but I think there is an argument that under the circumstances to many reasonable people it isn't.
First, Disney is a master of illusions. People go there because of that. But just as we know the Eiffel tower in France at Epcot isn't real, that the the buildings on Main Street look big due to foreshortening and illusion, I suspect many people see the manmade lagoon and think it's something Disney manufactured and maintains to look like a "Florida lake" but which is essentially a large (unclorinated) "pool." Isn't that kind of what they've done with the water at Disney Springs?
Second, Disney draws people to the beach. They are cleary meant to be enjoyed. They even draw people to them at night, for the movies. Disney has a world renowned reputation for making things family friendly. How could wading into water an ankle deep during a movie on a heavily populated beach be unsafe? And that isn't "swimming."
Third, Disney DOES NOT have these beaches appropriately labelled as containing dangerous wildlife.
So, in many ways they are sending implied messages of safety and not clearly labelling any of the beaches overtly. To me this makes them liable for this incident.

I think the part about Disney being a master of illusion is an important one. I'll be the first to say I generally love the efforts Disney goes to in order to make the impossible feel real. To convince children that they're meeting the real Cinderella or Elsa. To immerse us in the feel of a country with a single building. To put us into the action of a movie or surround us with the scenery of a favorite locale. I also greatly appreciate that in the midst of it all, they try to keep us as safe as possible, eliminate 99% of the risks and distract us from the other 1% because they know it's so unlikely to happen and we may as well relax and enjoy our vacations instead of worrying about it. All of this pays off well for the tourists who receive a magical vacation. But in this case, those illusions may have led to a parent, already not in possession of the natural fear of alligators, to be a little relaxed and complacent. To see a "no swimming" sign and not even consider it would be because of dangerous wildlife, because, after all, Disney has assured us that they're keeping us safe and we're in a place of magic (albeit it magic that is carefully engineered). All of that illusion can make a person suspend disbelief, trust their environment a little too generously, and trust their own anxieties a little less than usual. All of that attention to detail is, in a way, manipulating us into a more happy, relaxed, positive state of mind. Which is usually a good thing. But in this case, I think it is important to consider how it can lead to ignorance of risk, and whether the line of illusion needs to be redrawn.

 

[MattRyan]

No I'm not kidding. If they can't control the gators, and of course they can't, they have to keep them away from the guests. They have all kinds of creative barriers at AK. I see no reason they can't come up with something for the lakes. As for your back yard, my guess is disneys pockets are deeper than yours and they can throw a lot of money at the problem. You're telling me there's no place in Florida with an effective gator barrier?

Sorry, but it's much easier, cost-efficient, and sensible to keep the humans out of the alligator's habitat. I'm sure Disney will post signs warning of alligators in the future.

 

[jknc]

Not going to waste my time explaining all the reasons why, but there is no way you can possibly compare a glorified zoo, to an actual real world environment.

And for the record, the lagoon is man made. Bay Lake is NOT.

I am deeply saddened for the family who lost their sweet innocent child.

I'm also saddened by those who honestly believe Disney should do everything to protect them from Florida wildlife.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Right here. It isn't inconceivable to think that it is true. 10 feet is about 3 adult steps. Given the area, that water would probably be about 6-12" deep.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...T-shore-reptile-struck-lifeguard-reveals.html

And like I said before. Some may not like the DM source, but this is where the quote is coming from.

So this is saying a lifeguard said it. Also says he was "paddling" what's that? To me paddling is using your arms to swim? He wasn't swimming but wading. If it wasn't released by authorities, I am not taking it as truth.

 

[pooch]

Not going to waste my time explaining all the reasons why, but there is no way you can possibly compare a glorified zoo, to an actual real world environment.

And for the record, the lagoon is man made. Bay Lake is NOT.

Really, I'd like to know why a barrier/fence/something cannot be erected to keep the gators from accessing the beach areas around GF and the Poly. I do understand this is the real outside but it is also a privately owned resort area and its owners have the right to do it.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I am deeply saddened for the family who lost their sweet innocent child.

I'm also saddened by those who honestly believe Disney should do everything to protect them from Florida wildlife.

Asking that they post a sign that warns of danger from wildlife is hardly expecting Disney to "do everything".

 

[cgattis]

exactly!! And your kids could have been killed by a gator while they were filling up their buckets! That's why it's Disney's fault!!

You make it sound--to me anyway--that Disney is making it look like a "safe beach." Do you let your kids swim or wade in the ocean? There are sharks in there. Is that beach still safe? If something happened, would it be your fault? Or the fault of the city/county/state/property owner? I've been to MANY beaches without shark warning signs. I've seen a guy catch a shark where he and my friend and I were standing in knee-deep waves. This is absolutely tragic, and I agree that a "keep out of water" sign would be much stronger, but I don't blame anyone. Terrible accidents happen sometimes. I do hope Disney gives the family enough money, as another poster said, to allow them to not have to work until they feel like they can function again, and to take care of their family in the future if they never really manage again.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

No I'm not kidding. If they can't control the gators, and of course they can't, they have to keep them away from the guests. They have all kinds of creative barriers at AK. I see no reason they can't come up with something for the lakes. As for your back yard, my guess is disneys pockets are deeper than yours and they can throw a lot of money at the problem. You're telling me there's no place in Florida with an effective gator barrier?

Gators have made their way into fenced in back yard screened in pools...

 

[cruisingtwins]

Every time you go outside anywhere, there is dangerous wildlife. This is true even in cities. I once narrowly avoided an attack by a squirrel in Philadelphia. Was it the city's fault for placing a bench in a known squirrel area? Where was the sign warning of rabies and squirrel attacks?

Come on people. At some point we as humans have to figure out that we share this world with other organisms. We have to learn to protect ourselves and not require everyone to do it for us.

Stop being so naïve. No one and nothing can protect us from everything. Think rationally about this and set aside emotions. There are thousands of dangers around us all the time.

This was a freak ACCIDENT. Disney is not responsible. Maybe the parents should have been a little more cautious, but we all let our guard down from time to time.

After an accident like this, Disney should improve their signs to keep guests away from the water. Maybe they should even move activities away from the beach at night. They do not owe anyone a settlement and, they were not negligent.

Sometimes there are no explanations for why things happen, and sometimes there is no one to blame.

Disney knew there were gators in the lakes. Many guests including ME did not know there were gators at the lake. Disney is to blame for not informing guests about gators on the lake. There is nothing dangerous about a toddler in ankle deep water with a parent right next to him in most lakes. Disney failed to protect guests plain and simple.

 

[thedonduck]

So this is saying a lifeguard said it. Also says he was "paddling" what's that? To me paddling is using your arms to swim? He wasn't swimming but wading. If it wasn't released by authorities, I am not taking it as truth.

And that is fine. Paddling is a British term to walk through water. I am just saying it is the plausible that he was further out than people are thinking.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Barriers folks. Keep us away from them. End of story .

How about a twinge of personal responsibility, vs ugly fences, barricades, and silly rules??

Disney isn't your mother.

MG

 

[pooch]

Ok, I guess I'm just naive (no snarkiness here). I get that the gators are in their natural habitat & we need to stay out of their way. But really there is NO barrier that has EVER proven effective in keeping alligators out? NEVER?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Gators have made their way into fenced in back yard screened in pools...

True. And this is why I think the most reasonable response is improved signage warning of potential danger from wildlife. Walls would be breached somehow by either wildlife OR people climbing them anyway. Just give people a real warning rather than a little "no swimming please" sign: