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

[BayouQueen]

Seems like a real lack of empathy shown in a lot of posts here. I'm thinking my chances are better with the alligators than with my fellow "guests."

 

[nandm92574]

They don't have guards? ?? We have gators in fresh water and sharks in salt, should we get the CG out on patrol at nigjt too here in FL for all our beach front resorts? Which FYI some of them put the Grand to shame, they are real 5 star resorts

Please note "movie night". Is there some new shark that now walks on land? If so and your movie is on the shore then yes! You should... Point is if you know that danger yes you should. I did not say all the time either

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

I have little knowledge of Nebraska... I've driven through it once... but I don't believe they have many lakes or other bodies of water...? Is it possible that this family simply didn't have any knowledge/experience with either of these ideas?

I am from NE, not far from where this family lives. Yes, we do have lakes and rivers, ponds and streams in NE. There are no alligators here, well actually one was trapped in a ditch about a mile from my home a couple years ago. A 4 foot one that was a "pet" someone released. Even without the everyday alligator here in NE I am very aware that the waters in Florida, and even WDW property, have alligators in it. In addition to that I am aware that they have water moccasins, cottonmouths, copperheads, brain eating amoebas, and a whole lot of pollution! I remember going to FL for the the first time as a child and the first thing we started watching for was alligators from the car windows on the drive from the airport to WDW! Florida=alligators.

 

[nugov2]

What if there was a shark attack at Aulani in Hawaii. Shark attacks happen every year somewhere on the islands, sometimes directly in front of a hotel, condo complex, or privately owned beach home. No one would think to sue the property owner. Why is there such a over the top response to the burden Disney shares in this tragedy? Aulani shares the a man made lagoon with other resorts on Oahu. Man made, but with access to open water where I am sure, there have been sharks.

We visit Hawaii often and know to avoid swimming in the dark or murky water. I have seen plenty of people swim when and where they shouldn't, but I never thought it was the responsibility of the land owner. It comes down to personal responsibility.

Can't speak for all resorts, but we've stayed at several in hawaii and they have signs the stick in the ground when jellyfish are sighted, when currents are strong, wave are high, when shark bites have occured in an area recently, if there is a drop off. All I have I witnessed posted while on vacation there. Both the Marriott and Princeville resort had and informative channel with not only activities, but area warnings and facts. One fact I still remember is more people are killed by coconuts than shark attacks so be on the lookout while under trees. Google hawaii beach signs and you'll see the plethora of temporary signs they stake in the ground when needed in addition to permanent ones on display.

 

[JackOfHearts]

I was unaware of the potential danger of gators at WDW. Of course I knew there are gators in FL, but I thought they were kind of like bears here and were very rarely spotted in heavily populated areas. This scares me because I thought I had done my research planning for our first trip. I read a book, the WDW website, these boards, the blogs. I never saw anything about gators until this incident. Of course I wasn't searching specifically for information on gators, but I didn't know that was something I should be looking for.

 

[Indecisive]

Can't speak for all resorts, but we've stayed at several in hawaii and they have signs the stick in the ground when jellyfish are sighted, when currents are strong, wave are high, when shark bites have occured in an area recently, if there is a drop off. All I have I witnessed posted while on vacation there. Both the Marriott and Princeville resort had and informative channel with not only activities, but area warnings and facts. One fact I still remember is more people are killed by coconuts than shark attacks so be on the lookout while under trees. Google hawaii beach signs and you'll see the plethora of temporary signs they stake in the ground when needed in addition to permanent ones on display.

Yes! Similarly, I have vacationed in Australia and often saw signs posted about sharks and jellyfish. Also, as I posted earlier, when I visited Africa, I saw signs about lions, etc. I have also been to many national parks where there are abundant signs about bear safety. Whether or not it is strictly necessary to do this legally, it is just common sense and courtesy to warn visitors about known dangers, just because you would rather your guests not get killed by wildlife on or adjacent to your property. Whether or not any of us thinks that Disney is really "at fault" in this horrible accident, I think it is ridiculous for anyone to suggest that Disney should not now post better signs at its beaches. "No swimming" is, I think, quite obviously extremely inadequate.

 

[yulilin3]

I've been following this thread since it opened. There has been a lot of blame thrown around. It's easy to do this in hindsight.
Can everyone keep in mind that we are all different, different backgrounds, beliefs, this thread has gone so long because of this.
Some people try to find who's at fault to make them accountable, but I have to agree with some of you that this was an accident.
Like I've said before it's the first time, since WDW opened back in 1971 that this has happened.
Will having a sign or pamphlet waiting in the rooms about all the dangers at Disney prevent this?
Will closing all water activities, renting boats, water skiing, fishing, be the answer?
How about Fort Wilderness, will that have to close to prevent accidents?
Do you, as a traveler,need to be aware of your surroundings while you travel?
Can this accident easily happen to anyone walking the marked trails at all the resorts, going to your rooms from the lobby or walking from the Poly to the Grand Floridian? Being bit by a snake, or a spider, or even an alligator that came out of the water to sun bathe?
These are questions that only you can answer, in your own frame of mind. No need to keep trying to convince others that your point is the right one.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

But that's you..and that's the problem with all these arguments about well they should have known...you can't assume you're perspective for EVERYONE...WDW is far too national/international.



Thank you..well said.

But that's you..and that's the problem with all these arguments about well they should have known...you can't assume you're perspective for EVERYONE...WDW is far too national/international.



Thank you..well said.

Are you saying that's me, I use common sense and others don't? One cannot blame the signage alone. That water is filthy. Stoves are hot, there aren't signs engraved on them to not touch. You just don't do it. Just because something is there, doesn't mean it's ok. Judgment needs to be used, don't rely on others to tell you everything

 

[A Mickeyfan]

As I posted earlier, I'm honestly wondering whether tourists from areas without many natural water features might have no frame of reference for this? For ME, coming from a part of the country with a LOT of water, I wouldn't even consider letting my kids get anywhere near that water, at any time of day. But clearly that isn't a mindset shared by everyone, and I do wonder whether some of that may be because other people simply haven't been around lakes/rivers and don't know that water that looks like that is nasty and contaminated with all sorts of undesirable things?

Huh??? Dark outside and dark water that you cannot see the bottom. I don't care where you come from, that doesn't equal safety. ..even if no gator was involved. I am sorry, but that is a big chance you take going in

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I just posted a thread on the podcast forum, but I wanted to post it here too. I thought this was the first time a gator attacked a guest, but this article says otherwise. This child was lucky.

http://nypost.com/2016/06/16/i-was-...ebook&utm_medium=SocialFlow&sr_share=facebook

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Can't speak for all resorts, but we've stayed at several in hawaii and they have signs the stick in the ground when jellyfish are sighted, when currents are strong, wave are high, when shark bites have occured in an area recently, if there is a drop off. All I have I witnessed posted while on vacation there. Both the Marriott and Princeville resort had and informative channel with not only activities, but area warnings and facts. One fact I still remember is more people are killed by coconuts than shark attacks so be on the lookout while under trees. Google hawaii beach signs and you'll see the plethora of temporary signs they stake in the ground when needed in addition to permanent ones on display.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Bingo!!! When they are sighted or when there is an attack, signs are not there every day. ..thank you, you may not realize it but you just proved my point. It isn't until there is an occuance that signs go up...

 

[Dismama2boys]

According to this Disney photo, probably...

View attachment 175854

Anyone know how old this photo is, or how recently Disney used it in their marketing info?
EDIT: Should have finished reading the thread first.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I am sorry, but I don't see any pictures like that on the Disney website. Who looks at brochures anymore and what year are those pictures even from?

Anyone who googles the resort? And they CHANGED this at some point... stopped using this obviously promotional photo, let's say. Why??

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Sadly part of the issue is that guests feed these alligators and therefore draw them closer to shore to get food, lose their "fear" of humans and associate people with food. And before you say it doesn't happen at Disney...it does..

Bungalows over the water seem like an open invitation to me. I long ago thought they were a bad idea, and this is just one of the reasons why.

I knw several tourist places that allow guests to feed gators, and/or drop fish pellets in the water in Florida.

One of them was right in Orlando.

But I can very easily see folks, at the end of a week at WDW, tossing extra food into the water beside their bungalow, and never thinking it posed a danger to anyone.

 

[BayouQueen]

If I invited a family with small children to my home, and I had a pond in front that contained alligators, I would tell my guests about this "water feature." That's what common sense and personal responsibility would lead me to do.

 

[snoopboop]

Anyone who googles the resort? And they CHANGED this at some point... stopped using this obviously promotional photo, let's say. Why??

I'd wager that IF they did indeed use this photo at one time, they may have stopped using it around the same time that River Country closed, and for similar reasons.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I was unaware of the potential danger of gators at WDW. Of course I knew there are gators in FL, but I thought they were kind of like bears here and were very rarely spotted in heavily populated areas. This scares me because I thought I had done my research planning for our first trip. I read a book, the WDW website, these boards, the blogs. I never saw anything about gators until this incident. Of course I wasn't searching specifically for information on gators, but I didn't know that was something I should be looking for.

Bears are popping up in many communities. ..FL has so many that they do bear hunts to hold down the population. Several schools in my County have been on lock down due to bear sightings..

 

[Indecisive]

Bingo!!! When they are sited or when there is an attack, signs are not there every day. ..thank you, you may not realize it but you just proved my point. It isn't until there is an occuance that signs go up...

WRONG! The signs I have observed, in Australia, and Africa, and numerous "bear territory" areas in the United States, are permanent signs which are, indeed, present every day.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Last winter, we thought about walking from Ft. W back to WL. WE assumed there was a well lit path, as there is around the BC/BWK lagoon, but a CM said no, because assorted wildlife posed a danger to guests.