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

[cjbcam]

Maybe someone could school me on alligators - being a Canadian - but is there a chance the alligator would have also went for the child a foot away from the water standing on the beach or playing in the sand? If that is true - then really had nothing to do with swimming at all.

That's what I was thinking. I can't imagine what the family is going through.

 

[megster1123]

No matter what anyone says, this is a tragedy and just horrific. That being said, it is heartbreaking that there were signs posted that said No Swimming. The parents could read. The 2-year old obviously couldn't and relied on his parents to keep him safe. They failed.

 

[jknc]

Where is that sign going to be posted?

-Under the welcome sign as you enter the property
-Buses
-Ferry
-Monorail
-On the inside of your Magic Band
-A tattoo on Iger's cheek.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

That would be me...

I do know that there are a lot of alligators in Florida. I have heard stories, from people I know, of animals going missing, of dogs being attacked. But it's Disney. I assumed they had it all under control.

Unfortunately, even Disney cannot stop all wildlife. They do their best, but that's why these animals are known as wildlife. They live in swamps, brush, trees, etc...depending on what animal it is. Where I live there's a problem with coyotes coming out and snatching small pets too. So far never have gotten a child, thank God

 

[Duckiedee]

Bingo...they can tell you what time you need to get up to take the bus to be at rope drop to get in line for Elsa, but they don't know there are alligators in the waters, or that there are poisionious snakes....seriously....

The thing is - I research Disney to death - I have not seen or heard of this anywhere. Florida has alligators - sure, but Disney - maybe during the safari or on the Jungle Cruise. I honestly would never think I had to protect my kids from alligators besides making sure they don't fall out of the boat on the Jungle Cruise.

I would be more apt to be careful of standing water on the side of the road, after learning Alligators aren't JUST in the bayou, vs at the beach where they hold activities all the time and have chairs and hammocks all over.

I'll bet most people who have been to Canada don't know you don't just hit our Moose with a car - but it will TAKE OUT your car they are so huge... and if you see a moose in the road, turn off your car lights and slowly back away your car because they may also CHARGE you. That's not usually written in Canadian Tourism books - it is something you learn once you are in the place you are staying.

 

[sabrecmc]

Maybe someone could school me on alligators - being a Canadian - but is there a chance the alligator would have also went for the child a foot away from the water standing on the beach or playing in the sand? If that is true - then really had nothing to do with swimming at all.

I'm not an expert, but, as I understand it, most fatalities occur while swimming in the water, BUT, young children, like this poor boy's age, tend to be grabbed at the shoreline, if for no other reason than that they would not be out swimming as they are too young. Though, the chances of this happening to anyone are exceedingly small.

So, as one article puts it:
"Since 1973, 23 people have been killed by wild alligators in Florida, according to data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Those fatalities were among 383 unprovoked bites not caused by someone handling or intentionally harassing an alligator.

Eight children, ages 2 to 16, were among the fatalities. Five died while swimming in lakes, rivers and canals. The youngest victims were killed near lakes, including a 2-year-old girl who wandered 700 feet from her fenced backyard and a 3-year-old boy who left a roped-off swimming area in a county park to pick lily pads."

 

[Joe White]

How many comments about money have been made? Can't we just focus on the loss of a small child. How many of you are sitting there saying this would never happen to me and have put yourself within a foot of the water in that area. It's a 1/1000000 chance thing. R.I.P little one

 

[PSUGuy]

somebody but who, accidents aren't always someone'sfault. You have signage that's saying no swimming but a person interprets wading as ok. From what I understand there was a sign saying no guest in this area also, I am not sure. How can you say, a gator who lives in fresh water by nature, snatches a child, is "someone's fault" if your child was in that water and struck by lightning, someone's fault too? The signage is misinterpreted by many, tons of people are too concerned on magic and not reality. ...wildlife exist all around, always did, always will. ..

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I said I don't see negligence or malice here, no 'fault'. I was responding to someone who implied that since $$ won't restore a child that a parent suing is out for the cash. My retort is that IF someone was at fault I'd administer punishment by a lawsuit, the money is beside the point.

Bill From PA

 

[Eastern]

Just wondering, has anyone stayed at real beachfront property and been given a flyer saying sealife in ocean ie: jellyfish & sharks upon check in? Why would Disney give you a flyer on their wildlife? I don't mean to sound sarcastic so please don't take it that way. I have never heard of a resort doing this, which is why I am asking. Just because you didn't "think" or "realize" thst there is wildlife in surrounding areas is not Disney's fault. Just as it's not a resorts responsibility to inform you of sealife when staying at ocean front property.

I stayed at the Marco Island Marriott. It is beachfront. There were prominent signs on the beach advising one to shuffle rather than take steps in the water, in order to avoid stepping on the stingrays.

 

[Duckiedee]

I've warned of this in November and always warn people about it. It's worse during mating season, which is now.

http://disboards.com/threads/alligators-visit-the-parks-too.3462431/page-3#post-54719062

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article75386147.html

Thank you... it probably doesn't need to be pinned now... But if I hadn't been on the boards that day - I wouldn't have seen it, nor would I have even thought to search the topic "Will alligators harm us" or "What wildlife can kill you on resort." But I do absolutely thank you for thinking of this and trying to warn us less informed.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yes it's possible it could still have happened at waters edge on the sand, but I firmly believe that the splashing is what got the gator's attention. Can I swear to it, no, but logically that's what happened.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I stayed at the Marco Island Marriott. It is beachfront. There were prominent signs on the beach advising one to shuffle rather than take steps in the water, in order to avoid stepping on the stingrays.

Did they warn you on the signs of rip tide, sharks and other sealife? Yes we have sharks down this side of the State too

 

[Duckiedee]

To me, the rule vs. danger argument is nullified by the fact that "no swimming" has an implication of danger. Why else would WDW prohibit swimming, other than because its dangerous? Whether the danger is alligators, snakes, no lifeguard, bacteria, a sharp drop off, rocks, etc., it poses a risk to the point where Disney has a rule in place. If you choose to wade in the water regardless of that no swimming rule, you're at risk for the same dangers that a swimmer might face if they ignored the rule as well.

Not blaming the parents by any means, my only point here is that I think the signage was appropriate. Could the signs have said "do not enter water" to be more concise? Sure. But how can any company have the foresight to predict every common sense error humans can possibly make?

I see where you are coming from... that said - "No swimming" seems to mean different variation of using the water as indicated by people on this board. Especially for a body of water vs say a pool.

 

[nugov2]

I would not take my child near water unless I was teaching them how to swim or drown proofing. Such teaching is essential at an early age if kids are to be around water. Perhaps where you live you do not see the number of drownings that occur each year as I do in my state. Often these occur in less than a foot of water with adults all around. Parents never think it could happen to their child until it does. Takes just a blink of an eye.

So if you were on vacation at a beach you wouldn't allow your child to walk on the shallows and collect shells or get water for building a sand castle? I'm not talking about allowing it while I'm at the car or far away. I will sit very close by or walk close by...as it sounds this father was at the time of the incident. Children do drown in very little water, but very rarely is it while a parent is within reachthat had their eyes on the child and that can happen even while teaching them to swim if you take your eyes off of them for enough time. I'm not in the habit of doing that when we are in any water, regardless of lake, pool, tub. This IMO isn't a case where a parent was distracted and a child drown though, so hypothetically it could have happened even if they were teaching that child to swim. If your child is dragged away by a gator, most likely you are not going to be able to stop the attack. I guess I just don't see the point in forbidding a child from walking in the shallows regardless of location, but to each their own.

 

[Lehuaann]

As stated above, we all want to think this can't happen to us. But it was a zero entry body of water right? I'm a huge rule follower but I wouldn't think dipping my feet in would be a big deal. The 2 yo probably ran in there. This is so so so sad and horrifying. And I had no idea that gators could be in Seven Seas Lagoon.

Zero entry, but (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) does not have a lengthy gradual decline into the water. More like a small decline with a drop-off.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

I don't care how many people say " wading ". No swimming means stay out of the water. This isn't some real beach on the coast.

I highly doubt anyone with a child would let their child anywhere near a body of water that says no swimming

But see, now we are debating on if the parents were wrong or Disney, which we shouldn't.

Fact is this is a freak occurrence. Disney is doing all it could for the family and the family is going through a major trauma.

Will this affect the kind of signs that go up? Most likely, to help people who clearly don't understand that no swimming means stay out of the water.

No matter what anyone says, this is a tragedy and just horrific. That being said, it is heartbreaking that there were signs posted that said No Swimming. The parents could read. The 2-year old obviously couldn't and relied on his parents to keep him safe. They failed.

What a horrible thing to say. Failed to keep him safe? Gimme a break, you weren't there and didn't see anything. That father has to live with those scars for the rest of his life knowing he couldn't save his boy after attempting to get the gator off him.

Just horrible

 

[Eastern]

Did they warn you on the signs of rip tide, sharks and other sealife? Yes we have sharks down this side of the State too

Hey you asked for a wildlife warning and I gave you one.

 

[Nicholmom3]

I knew the rest of Florida had gators, but I always thought they were joking about WDW. I can't believe they allow them in the waters. This is horrific and terribly unsafe. Brought back memories of DS the first time we stayed at Poly. I remember him being near the water. We won't be going near that at night anymore. What a terrible thing to happen.

Disney doesn't "allow" these animals on property, it's not like the gators are checking in or something. There are hundreds of acres of wild property around WDW, not to mention the hundreds of acres ON property that are still uninhabited. Wildlife is called that for a reason. Disney has full time staff that monitors the property for gators, and routinely removes (and euthanizes) gators from the area. There isn't a way to keep the gators from entering property.

What happened is extremely tragic, devastatingly so. Disney should amend their signage to include the existence of gators.

 

[minniemous]

How many incidents of this nature have occurred on Disney property? How many have occurred over the last four decades in Florida? How many millions of people have sat in the spot that family were in? This type of event is a rarity, which is why the signage is not all over the place. Do we need signs up saying there are wasps and bees in the parks and you may get stung?

People are specifically discussing the sign saying "no swimming" to be adequate and having the same meaning as "stay out of water" or "danger alligators". People are also saying that the parents are at fault for not perceiving this particular risk.

They do not need the signs everywhere. However.... they darn well need them in places they are calling people to congregate and then say....oh...but stay every inch out of the water because there are non-disclosed dangers here and Disney conveys that to the public with a sign that simply says "no swimming". Then do not call people there in the first place if you can not spend the extra $10 to mention alligator risk or wildlife danger risk.

People are saying the "no swimming sign" should have conveyed this danger. I say no way. The fact that it has not happened before in disney is just lucky. Also they decided it was better to not put the alligator/wildlife sign there for their own reasons not because they felt "no swimming" was adequate or because of the cost of a more specific sign. Probably because if they had "danger alligator" signs they would be calling attention to something they do not want people to think about while they are sitting back enjoying.

The fact is they did put a sign of no swimming. If part of the reason for that was the danger of alligators then that in no way conveyed that risk and did not and would not stop someone from thinking putting their feet in the water a few inches would be dangerous.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Where is that sign going to be posted?

Why at the arch. ..where else