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

[luvthemouse71]

I honestly do not know if anyone has been killed by a lightning strike on Disney property.

I hope it has not happened but if it has there needs to be signage all over property warning of the dangers of lightning during the frequent afternoon thunderstorms.

Well, yes. After all, Florida is the lightening capital of the world but how are people supposed to know that? What's that you say? They mention this fact all of the time on the Weather Channel? There's a thunderstorm practically every day in Florida? Lightening shouldn't hit me in WDW, it's my happy place. Plus, I come from a non-lightening capital state and I watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians exclusively.

I know that was flip of me, but it is an impossibility to guard against every bad thing happening. The only way to keep this from happening again is restrict water access permanently. We all know we could have a sign with a huge gator on it and some people will still go in and may get hurt or killed. Then, it will be that the sign wasn't big enough, they don't have enough of them, they didn't understand what the sign meant. Enough, I say. Just close them off for good and be done with it.

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Why do they keep putting up those pesky highway signs letting me know the speed limit? I have a general idea when I am going too fast and I research where I am driving so I know. Seriously. Kids, water, beach, movie, fireworks. Doesn't really require a big leap to put up a warning gators and other wildlife sign.

Seriously. It's not about whether everyone would obey a sign or whether people "should" know the dangers if they do their research. There is a unique danger that many people don't know about, in an area where people are invited to be at night when the danger is highest. A sign would warn people of the danger.

There is a new unusually-designed intersection near me that has resulted in several accidents, including a recent fatal crash, because people wrongly believe they have the right-of-way to turn left across oncoming traffic. Now, you can argue that people SHOULD know they don't have the right-of-way and you can argue that a warning sign won't stop EVERYONE from turning when they shouldn't, but a sign will prevent SOME accidents. As soon as someone died and it became very clear that some people don't understand the intersection, a sign went up.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I think that knowing exactly where the attack took place will help us to understand the attack and put the danger into context. Alligator attacks on people are extraordinarily rare, alligators coming up onto land to grab children on the shoreline are even rarer. If the child was in the water, even 1 foot of water, the attack would make more sense from a biological perspective, because alligators are water predators. They are fast and strong on land, but it is much more difficult for them to attack on land and drag to the water than it is to attack in their natural habitat.

I'm thinking Disney didn't have signs warning specifically of alligators because there is such a tiny chance of it occurring, not because they wanted to mislead guests or break the magic. Really, your children should be safe if they play by the water, or dip their toes in, or fill up buckets for sandcastles, because alligators dragging children into the water from the shoreline is such a freak occurrence, like getting struck by lightning on a clear day. You will certainly be safe sitting on a lounge chair or hammock or watching the nightly movie dozens of feet from the shoreline. Sure, we've all heard of dogs getting snatched by alligators, but even that is pretty rare, and it makes more sense, because small 4 legged mammals are part of an alligators prey profile (like raccoons or rabbits), people are not part of an alligators typical prey.

None of this will make any difference to the family, and my heart goes out to them, but I hope that this crazy, completely rare occurrence does not lead to some giant over reaction by Disney. I hope that the beaches are still accessible, that fireworks can still be watched, and movies will still be shown. I come from this with a healthy respect for alligators and Florida's other dangerous wildlife. I worked as an archaeologist in Florida for 15 years and spent all that time in wild natural areas where I came into contact with poisonous snakes and alligators frequently. The best thing you can do is keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings, with a little vigilance we can still enjoy everything that Florida has to offer.

2 dogs in a week in my surrounding Counties were snatched a week ago...Hendry & Charlotte Counties. I agree it's rare but I seem to think they are increasing

 

[Indecisive]

Have others seen this?

http://www.scarymommy.com/boy-attacked-by-alligator-disney-resort/

 

[nandm92574]

Quite frankly, and I just throw this out there so the wading/swimming issue goes to rest, for all you Floridians... Will an alligator attack someone on the shoreline? Not in the water? If so, seems to me no swimming is a moot point.

 

[sabrecmc]

I think this very well may be what happened. The report of a British family and Canadian family who encountered an aggressive alligator could prove to be the determining factor, in my opinion. If that information made it to the powers-that-be, and documentation shows that they acknowledged the risks and took the gamble, or that they ordered new signs but made no effort to communicate it in the interim, I think they'll be found negligent. Other hotels posting alligator warning signs would not necessarily prove Disney negligent, IMO, if those hotels had notice of aggressive alligators on their premises or if they were being especially prudent and it was not an industry standard in Florida. I think Disney could argue that they did not consider the alligators easily accessible if they had no reports of guests being frightened by them, and they were taking steps to monitor for any who became large enough to be a threat and then remove them immediately.

I agree. If for 40+ years, there has been one issue and that was 20 years ago, then it would seem their system was working. If they recently learned that a gator or gators was becoming more aggressive and did not euthanize the gator and warn in the interim, then I think that would be a different issue. I don't know if these other families reported their encounters to hotel management or what. That would be interesting to know.

Disney has set up a beach area that implies it is safe to be close to the water, even if you are not allowed to swim. While I wouldn't touch that gross water with a ten foot pole, I understand that not everyone would imagine that sticking a toe in could be dangerous (for a variety of reasons, not even primarily gators). The No Swimming sign doesn't convey that there is something in the water that can come out and get you. To me, it conveys don't go in the water, not don't stand near it, and with the beach ready to be used for sandcastles, lounging, fireworks-watching, etc, this isn't a random pathway where people would have to stray off a marked path to be close to the water. It just is not sufficient if they knew there was an aggressive alligator in the area who had already had an encounter with another family. Until that situation was rectified, a stronger warning or closing that area would have been prudent. So, for me, a lot hinges on whether Disney was informed there was an issue. Otherwise, they are left with the assumption that what has worked for decades is continuing to work.

I grew up in Florida and am well aware of the dangers from our wildlife. We used to swim at Wakulla where they literally had a rope that you were to stay on one side of b/c the gators were on the other. Don't worry, they won't bother you, we were told. Which...was true. They never did. In retrospect, that was probably insane, but people did it and, to my knowledge, there was never an issue. As the lifeguard said, you don't need to worry about the gators you can see. But, a lot of people visit Disney from all over the world and see a beautiful, carefully sculpted theme park, not swampland. Maybe it is an abundance of caution, and hindsight is always perfect, but an update to the signage would make sense. It isn't going to hurt anyone to provide more information and maybe it will help prevent a tragedy in the future.

 

[IrishNYC]

Are there at least no feeding signs? This seems like an obvious one because people will not only leave their trash behind but also throw food into the water which could entice these gators to approach humans without fear. I also know that in the past Disney had gator wranglers that would be on property 24/7. I find it hard to believe that 5, 4-7 foot gators were found in the near vicinity to where the boy was taken and it was not known by trained trappers.

Alligators can only be removed if they are a nuisance. One previously reported recent incident , which may or may not be the same gator, does not make it a nusiance. The problem with trapping and relocating them is that they either just come right back to the same place they've been a nuisance at, or they intrude on an existing group of alligators with their own social structure, and are killed by them.

 

[jknc]

False.

If a large segment of the population is unaware of the dangers within Floridas waters, there is likely a segment of the population unaware that Florida leads the nation in lightning strike deaths.

Governor Scott needs to change all welcome signs immediately.

WELCOME TO FLORIDA:

The home of Oranges, Alligators, Mickey Mouse and Lightning!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Based on responses here, I'd say half don't know there are alligators at WDW. I'm sure if the general population would be fewer. Many go to WDW as a one and done trip. Tourists who go to WDW don't give a fig about Florida's ecosystem, they just want to be immersed in Disney's bubble.

And who is at fault, the guest is. That was their choice, their decision to be immersed in a bubble of Pixie Dust and Magic. ... I too love it, but I don't check my common sense outside the arches??? You cannot blame Disney because they have an awesome advertising team. As adults we have to remember that it's all make believe and that in the cruel world of reality, Disney is a business with all the evils any real world areas have. After all, they really aren't built in a "bubble".

 

[Momof2Singers]

Praying is fine, but it doesn't change things at Disney. People making judgements, specifically that Disney had improper/inadequate signage, does. I'm not less compassionate than you because you choose to pray and I choose to discuss signage.

EASTERN, I am totally confused here, I made a heartfelt statement, I did not reference you, it appears you are attacking people other than me on this post also, and for no reason other than them appearing to have compassion...or they offer prayers....I am done with this post.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

If a large segment of the population is unaware of the dangers within Floridas waters, there is likely a segment of the population unaware that Florida leads the nation in lightning strike deaths.

Governor Scott needs to change all welcome signs immediately.

WELCOME TO FLORIDA:

The home of Oranges, Alligators, Mickey Mouse and Lightning!

And poisionious snakes...and now the highest concentration of the Zika Virus. ..yep people that too...
yeah, in Orlando.......and let's not forget a real danger, the threat of terrorism too....

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You cannot blame Disney because they have an awesome advertising team.

Hmmm... How about an ad/photo like the one previously posted with someone walking with their feet in the water at the Grand Floridian "beach"??

I'm not in the camp BLAMING Disney, but this doesn't seem exactly wise to me. You?

 

[sunshine1]

SHAME ON DISNEY for killing those 4 alligators after the 2 year old child was dragged into the water by a alligator on Disney property.
Walt Disney World is built on swampland so one can only imagine how much wildlife has been displaced and killed since start of constuction of Walt Disney World in the late 1960s.
Humans build on wildlife areas then get annoyed or we kill the animals when they interfere with our way of life.
I have never seen signage warning guests to beware of alligators.
Also it happened at the Grand Floridian where there is a man made beach so it lures guests into a false sense of security.

If there is no proper signage to warn people about the gators then Disney are at fault and play a big part in the fact the poor child lost his life.

Disney now has metal detectors for when guests arrive at the park. So now they have to also 'burst the fantasy bubble' and put up 'Stay out of water, alligators maybe present' signs.

 

[nandm92574]

Seriously you have to admit there is huge difference between walking the walkway between HS and BW at night and movie night on the beach? Disney even sells sand toys! I don't think that it's a far leap for a parent to think they patrol aggressively and make safe the GF beach on movie night.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

SHAME ON DISNEY for killing those 4 alligators after the 2 year old child was dragged into the water by a alligator on Disney property.
Walt Disney World is built on swampland so one can only imagine how much wildlife has been displaced and killed since start of constuction of Walt Disney World in the late 1960s.
Humans build on wildlife areas then get annoyed or we kill the animals when they interfere with our way of life.
I have never seen signage warning guests to beware of alligators.
Also it happened at the Grand Floridian where there is a man made beach so it lures guests into a false sense of security.

If there is no proper signage to warn people about the gators then Disney are at fault and play a big part in the fact the poor child lost his life.

Disney now has metal detectors for when guests arrive at the park. So now they have to also 'burst the fantasy bubble' and put up 'Stay out of water, alligators maybe present' signs.

I'm pretty sure DISNEY didn't kill the alligators... ...

 

[Dis703]

This is just silly.

Everyone knows that lightning can be dangerous. If you're outdoors ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD this is a risk.

CLEARLY not everyone knows that the little zero entry "beaches" that Disney draws guests to day and night have multiple alligators roaming possibly just feet away.

THAT people might not know. Pretty sure they're aware of lightning, bees, and all the other false equivalences mentioned here.

Actually, having moved from Florida to NJ I was shocked at how people here did not take lightning seriously at all. Florida being the lightning capital we know the dangers early on. We've seen the destruction and I've know people who have been struck.

And it's not only an outdoor risk. There were little safeguards we followed like staying away from windows, not running water when it's storming, not using a landline, computer, etc. My husband thought I was completely insane and had never heard of any of that safety info. I don't think people necessarily know how bad the lightning gets in Florida either. The frequency of storms and number of strikes is drastically different in Florida.

I agree with posters that said this is a far greater risk than gators and if you warn of one it would make sense to warn of the other.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

You don't need to be in waters to be killed, not at all. A young boy, 11 was killed on football field 2 or 3 years ago by me. A high school boy on a football field by me back in early 90s. Water no where around.
No, Disney does not have to put signs up. Do the shopping centers in FL need to tell you, what about the restaurants? It's mother nature, you're responsible for keeping up with that....not private property's responsibility to warn you of lightning dangers

Why did you kill an 11 year old boy? And why are you discussing it on the internet?




(just trying to add a tiny bit of levity since we're just going in circles now...and also point out how messages on internet chat boards can easily be misinterpreted)

 

[sunshine1]

 

[20yBWDW]

And who is at fault, the guest is. That was their choice, their decision to be immersed in a bubble of Pixie Dust and Magic. ... I too love it, but I don't check my common sense outside the arches??? You cannot blame Disney because they have an awesome advertising team. As adults we have to remember that it's all make believe and that in the cruel world of reality, Disney is a business with all the evils any real world areas have. After all, they really aren't built in a "bubble".

If Disney is making the effort to convince people they are in that bubble because it increases their bottom line, than part of the cost of that marketing effort is to pay when it backfires. Most likely, it's a cost they accept, and you'll find the actual Disney corporation much less defensive of themselves than people here are. They know they manipulate their customers to increase their bottom line, and they know for every 99999 for whom it works out well, there will be one for whom it doesn't, and they're willing to absorb that cost.

You can't say "don't worry, we've thought of everything, feel safe, feel protected, feel surrounded by magic," then turn around and say "it's not our fault you felt safe and protected and surrounded by magic and put your trust in us to think of everything and keep your family safe."

 

[brooke789]

Interesting thought about the signage. I work at a Event Center. We have event space, a hotel, golf course and multiple restaurants. Quite frequently a car is hit by a golf ball. Every once in a while a guest at our main restaurant(in Disney terms a TS) sitting at an outdoor table is hit by a golf ball. Our HR (and legal department above that) says that putting up signs in the parking lot or restaurant that you are at risk of having damage to your car by a golf ball or a direct hit to your person at the restaurant actually assigns the fault (and thus financial responsibility) to us (the business). So, there are no signs that you are in danger. We have never had to pay for someone's damage (either medical or property). Now, we've never had someone challenge it in court, so I do wonder how it'd hold up. As far as me, I'm not the one making the decision, so I just don't worry about it.

Anyway, makes me wonder if Disney puts up signs saying "Danger: Alligators present" does WDW then admit fault if someone is hurt/killed again?