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

[cjparker0110]

It is a terrible tragedy. I cannot imagine what that family must be going through. I hurt thinking about anything happening to my children (4 of them 5 and under). I will be praying for them.

As for the gators: WDW, from what I understand, does an excellent job of trying to keep guests safe from gators. However, gators are wild animals who tend to dwell from one body of water to the next. They even end up in swimming pools of private homes...I've seen images of them tearing through screened in areas to get into the pool. Keeping them out of the lagoon would be impossible. Traps could be used, but it would take more traps than you could imagine. Disney is not to blame. The parents are not to blame either. They tried to save their child without success. That is not their fault.

I grew up by the ocean and there are occasionally shark attacks. People make a big deal of them. But with a yearly global average of less than 100 people attacked by sharks, and far less than that dying, people still flock to the ocean. You are more likely to drown than be attacked by a shark. You are more likely to have a heart attack getting off a ride at WDW than be attacked by a gator. That said. EVERYONE should take caution when entering or playing near the water. Alligators are fast and very strong. If you don't feel safe, stay out of the water.

In the meantime, be praying for this poor family!

 

[DopeyDame]

Let me ask a question? Would anyone go swimming in the ocean at night? Im thinking not very many because of sharks or any predator. How many beaches have signs posted about shark attacks? Its common sense. Dont go in the water at night or if you cant see your surroundings. Everyone was taught in school, gators live in the bodies of water in florida.

Would I go swimming where I couldn't stand at night? Probably not. Would I walk along the waters edge and wade into foot deep water. Yup. I have on many occasions. Walking along the beach at night with your feet kicking at the water is a wonderful and fun thing to do. It truly never would have crossed my mind that it would be dangerous, except in areas that have very well marked signs, such as the HUGE and very vivid signs in Australia warning of their insane jelly fish.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

WOW! So many judgmental **^&$F# on this thread!! How do you know what they were told to do by police?

That's not judgmental at all. I feel the same way that person feels. Perhaps i could state my personal thought: There is no way I am walking out of that lake without my child. If the gator is taking them down, then i am going down with them, fighting until my last breath.
I wasn't there, i don't know what they went through and i don't feel any different about them for what they did because they suffered such a horrible loss... but that is what i would have done.

 

[Sona99]

Frankly I wonder how many times the employees must fish gators out of rides like Splash or Pirates. For example, when we did MK a couple of weeks ago Pirates was shut down. Technical issue or wildlife incursion?

Living in FL now I'm much more aware of how many gators just simply live along with people.

 

[shanethesaint88]

This was a a freak accident. Its not Disneys fault or the parents fault. Even if the parents allowed their kids to be close the water they had no proof of an alligator lurking just seconds away. This was an accident. Plain and simple. A tragic, heartbreaking, and terrible accident. But an accident none the less. I think when terrible tragedies happen we have this burning to know the exact details and to put blame immediately on someone and sometimes those things just cant happen.

 

[Pesky]

Just so heartbreaking. I can't even imagine. I do remember from living in Florida we were always told to assume any body of water could hold an alligator (and probably did). They move and will seek out new territories. Heck, we were even supposed to look in the pool before jumping in. I heard they'd already pulled out 4 alligators from the lagoon, none of them the offending alligator. Even if they pull out all the alligators, there would probably be new ones in there within a bit. Such a horrific accident.

 

[agame2323]

First off ... This is extremely sad. Its hard to imagine what that poor child went through. I pray God will deliver strength to the family. There is a part of me that still believes the child is somewhere safe and alive. It's just too hard to imagine anything different. I'm praying for him.

That said... I know this changes how I personally view the SSL and any other body of water. I can recall taking photos in front of the Polynesian on the "beach" and not thinking twice about what could possibly come out of the water. Not everyone comes from a place where wildlife plays a factor in how one goes about their day. I refuse to blame the family. No one goes to WDW thinking they have to be THAT cautious especially when staying onsite and one of the most expensive hotels on property.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I wonder if Disney had sign such as do not enter, danger alligators etc if that would cause more people to re-consider paying the outrageous prices for these resorts with a "beach". That is one main reason I found the GF, BC and POly a joke. Beautiful whitensand beaches but you can't ( and wouldnt want to) swim!!

Wonder if those last night/today staying at the Poly bungelows wished they'd booked elsewhere.

I've stayed at the Poly, the Beach Club, the Contemporary and live in FL. I know there are gators and other dangerous creatures in that water. I am originally from NY and knew back then there were gators in all Fl fresh waters, natural or man made. I have since learned they are in salt water and walk the actual city streets too

 

[aprilp]

Actual sign at a Beach/Park in Miami. People shouldn't leave their children alone near the water, gators or not.

This sign is awesome.

 

[BudgieMama]

I knew it couldn't really go any other way (and was hoping against hope), but very sad to read police have now said they're certain the child is dead.

Totally horrific. Praying for the family.

 

[dnkmmw]

This thread shows that sometimes a simple sign change won't help.

Disney changes the sign to "No water entry." And some people will say, "Well, the sign didn't tell us why? And it never said we couldn't be close to the water!"
So, Disney changes the sign to, "Dangerous wildlife." Some people will say, "Well, you didn't specify, and I never expected a brain eating amoeba?"
So, Disney changes the sign to include specific animals such as "Alligators." Oops, a kid gets bit by a poisonous snake, and it wasn't on the list.
and so on, and so on.

Do we really need to end up with sign that reads like a contract? Is that what the human race has devolved into?

I think the sign should say:

Welcome to the Walt Disney Resort. For your safety, please do not leave your room.

The reality is, there are dangers everywhere. I am from the Midwest, never lived south of Chicago, but I was aware of alligators in Florida and at Disney World, this is not secret information. I travel to the Pacific Northwest and am aware of Bears, travel by car and am aware of the risks and on and on.

I do not mean to sound cold or unfeeling, I do feel very badly for these parents, but there shouldn't need to be a sign for every possible scenario that can befall us.

Dawn

 

[tsme]

It's really sad. It's not really the parent's fault. Could they have obeyed the signs & stayed out of the water, yes, but maybe as others have posted they didn't realized what exactly the dangers, but that's not Disney's fault either. We all have personal responsibility over ourselves & our children. It was just an accident, an accumulation of circumstances that led that child to be in that exact location where that exact alligator was, who looked at the child as an easy prey. It's what alligators do. If the child & his family were 10 feet to the right or left, it probably wouldn't have happened. It's unreal & horrible, but an accident just the same. Sometimes bad things happen & that's all.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Swimming used to be a thing in the lagoon... so much so that they built a wave machine on one of the islands way back in the day. It never worked so they just tore it apart.
http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_c...quot-to-seven-seas-lagoon-s-wave-machine.aspx

Yes and River Country was once opened but has since closed due to the dangers in those waters

 

[8caliace]

*****

How "COLD" and unsympathetic can one be? YOU SHOULD KEEP THAT OPINION to YOURSELF! UGH!!

Call it an opinion all you want, but it's a sad and tragic fact that had the child not been allowed to go into the water, at night nonetheless, this would not be a story today. As a parent, I am as sympathetic as any other parent here. I cannot even begin to fathom the pain and agony that this family feels now, and will for the rest of their lives, especially in hindsight given the choices they made.

 

[fairytalelover]

how do i post a photo and video here?

 

[Mambo Junkie]

Whether or not any "blame" can be issued or "fingers pointed", we've all been to Disney World. I don't know how all of you are when you get there, but we are super excited, happy, just glad to be there. We don't walk around assuming there are dangers, or alligators, or snakes in our rooms, or spiders in our beds. Sure, it happens, but we're not thinking about it or looking for negative things to happen. Most of us just don't. I would think nothing of walking on the beach and we have watched the movies at the Grand Floridian and the Beach Club. Not once have I thought of an alligator attacking. I doubt seriously that most people ever consider something of that nature happening. It's just devastating and I can't begin to imagine what that family is going through.

 

[LMarge]

And you don't have to be at the water's edge to come across one. My daughter and I were driving up Bonnet Creek Parkway one day and one came across the street from Best Friends and crossed over the grass in front of Port Orleans. It was huge and no water right there. It probably came from the small lake near Best Friends and was headed to the PO canal but still this was right out in the open.

Liz

We stayed at PORS two years ago and gators were around -- sunning themselves on the embankments. We talked to the kids about cutting through the wooded areas (not to!) and the importance of being aware of your surroundings at all times. It's their habitat and you never know where they will turn up, like the 3 foot one that was in the parking lot under a car! I sort of freaked out, the hubby was calm and we watched as the gator made his way over to another small pond of water. My heart breaks for the family. I realize we go to WDW to relax and get away, let the guard down, so to speak, but this is an unfortunate reminder that you have to be aware all the time, especially at dusk and later. Prayers for the family and the crews that are trying to locate the baby.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Frankly I wonder how many times the employees must fish gators out of rides like Splash or Pirates. For example, when we did MK a couple of weeks ago Pirates was shut down. Technical issue or wildlife incursion?

Living in FL now I'm much more aware of how many gators just simply live along with people.

Pirates would be a hard one for a gator to get in. It's indoors. ..

 

[luvthemouse71]

I'm honestly not trying to start anything, but just honestly wondering if, besides the family, there were any other witnesses

To be honest, I was hoping that this was another Balloon Boy incident. Or, maybe the child wandered away and the worst was assumed. Anything rather than the fact that a two year old was eaten by an alligator.

 

[minniemous]

Maybe it's just because I'm a Floridian but if a sign says no swimming, that means don't get in the water.

I think putting signs saying there is alligators in the water won't stop people from still going in. If anything, people should be more cautious about water moccasins.

Absolutely incorrect. Here you go...what the heck is a water moccasin? I have heard the name..i knew at one point.. It is silly to think people coming from all over the country and world to Disney should know about alligator danger and water moccasins. That is so silly. If a sign said no swimming the natural thought is...there is no lifeguard , water gets deep fast, polluted water, boats , not..................alligators that might lurch out and drag your child to his or her death.

If that is one of the dangers they mean by "no swimming" why are they showing movies near the waters edge? The entire argument is ludicrous. I know people ask businesses to be sometimes over cautious with with warning and there are ridiculous law suits but this is Disney's fault end of story. They should have had a sign up alerting people.

When people enter a theme park like Disney you feel like you are in a bubble where every experience is carefully thought out. Not for a second do you feel like you have to be on guard about something like this especially when they are showing movies on the beach so close to the lagoon.....not to mention they put the sand on the "beach" . Logically you feel walking in the water surely can be done when there is a pristine man made beach. Perhaps not swimming if they put up a sign..but walking in the water....yes.

When you go under that Disney Arch you no longer are in reality.....they work very, very, very, very, very hard at making you forget reality. You are in a different state of mind at disney. Not for a second are you thinking about the dangerous wildlife in this very manipulated environment.

This is where it is one of those situations where it is simple Disney is at fault for not giving the warning. I know I would have a completely different approach to being near that water seeing a "no swimming sign" versus a "danger alligator" sign. Most parents when seeing a alligator sign would never let a child near the lagoon. I know I would not even let my child walk anywhere near the water. I assumed they had a way of seeing to it that there are no dangerous alligators around.

Unfortunately who is at fault is of little concern at this point to these poor parents. I can not imagine what they are going through. I hope to goodness that Disney takes full blame for this negligence in not warning visitors of the danger around the water ways properly of alligators or what ever other wildlife may be dangerous to visitors.

When you are in the business of making people feel like they are in fantasy and doing the best job on earth at doing that you have a duty to bring their attention to a real threat because believe be when in disney the majority of people forget reality of dangerous animals in a manmade lagoon.