Please Be Aware of the Dangers of Gators in Disney World waters.

[Sammie]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...-dragged-alligator-disney-20160614-story.html

This happened tonight at the Grand Floridian. It is all over the other boards but we must get the word out that Yes, Disney World has gators. Some really did not know this could ever happen.

 

[LisaS]

I just heard this on our local news. Too tragic for words. My heart goes out to the parents.

On the Resorts board someone mentioned the family was watching the outdoor movie. Is that held on the beach near the villas building?

 

[atricks]

DO NOT FEED the gators, this draws them in and makes them associate people with food, when normally they'd just mind their own business. I've seen people feeding them over there before, and hoped nothing like this would happen.

 

[LisaS]

I'm listening to the press conference. According the Orange County Sheriff, the family was relaxing on the beach and the child was playing in the water when the attack occurred. The father tried to rescue his son but was not able to get the gator to release him. The family is from Nebraska and staying at the Grand Floridian.

 

[sgtdisney]

We're here now at PVB and saw the helicopters circling Seven Seas Lagoon when we left MK at about 12:10 tonight. They had searchlights pointed at the lake. What a horrific thing to have happen. We watched the press conference live, and it's very sad. They are looking to do a recovery as opposed to a rescue at this point. So many horribly bad things happening in Orlando this past week.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Are they still searching with the hellos?

MG

 

[bobbiwoz]

DO NOT FEED the gators, this draws them in and makes them associate people with food, when normally they'd just mind their own business. I've seen people feeding them over there before, and hoped nothing like this would happen.

So many times I have seen folks feeding the turtles and alligators in the canal at BCV.

 

[crisi]

As long as we are on this topic - don't poke around in the bushes or plantings either. Florida does have poisonous snakes.

 

[Anal Annie]

Alligators are not harmless ducks - why would anybody FEED them?!

Very sad. Guess Disney needs to spell out why they have signs that say "no swimming" in the lagoons & ponds. They will have to add "Alligator" signs to keep people from wading in the water. We watched an alligator swimming next to us at an outdoor bar area at Cornondo Springs last fall. They're wild animals not pets....it's FL so you have to assume if there's water there's probably alligators. I'm actually surprised something like this hasn't happened before.

 

[DizBub]

As long as we are on this topic - don't poke around in the bushes or plantings either. Florida does have poisonous snakes.

Last September we golfed for the first time at WDW and were told DO NOT go looking for a ball if it may even be near shrubs. I have heard of people stepping on snakes walking through the grass. Been on balconies and have seen snakes in the landscaping below....this is why I always request an upper floor.

I know WDW is built on swampland and it's natural to have these animals be around but after this they will have to redouble efforts to keep the alligators out of the waterways and lakes.

 

[icydog]

I've seen alligators at BCV and at the Poly. I figured Disney knew they were there and that they kept close tabs on them. I now realize that these wild predators are in all the lagoons. Please be Careful near the rushes, the beaches, the golf courses, the transportation boats. In fact anyplace near the water.

 

[Darklord77]

I have never seen a gator at Disney in our many trips there. However, you have to assume they are around since it is Florida, there is water, and Disney was built on a swamp. When we were there last week I told my kids to look out for gators when walking near the water. They thought I was joking.

We stood on the bridge near the BCV side of the Beach club at the end of the pond. Within 5 minutes there were 10-12 large turtles in front of us and it was obvious they were expecting to be fed.

 

[sgtdisney]

Helicopters still flying around this afternoon, very, very low. Marinas are all closed, at least here at the Poly. Went to Ohana this morning and could see all the activity on Seven Seas Lagoon. So sad all the way around.

 

[CraigInPA]

To think that, in 1973 and 1974, I actually swam in the Seven Seas Lagoon off the Polynesian... I thought they closed the beaches there due to duck feces. Now I realize it was likely due to alligators...

 

[DaisyNY]

Wow...after hearing this news, wondering if I really would want to stay in the Poly beach side villas. Are they elevated high over the water?

 

[icydog]

Helicopters still flying around this afternoon, very, very low. Marinas are all closed, at least here at the Poly. Went to Ohana this morning and could see all the activity on Seven Seas Lagoon. So sad all the way around.

Omg, that's a terrible thing to have to watch. I don't think I could stand it. So, so sad!

 

[Donna M]

Wow...after hearing this news, wondering if I really would want to stay in the Poly beach side villas. Are they elevated high over the water?

They are high off the water, you don't have anything to be concerned about there. People need to stay away from the edge of the water.
This is such a tragedy. The poor family.

 

[smores]

We are staying at the poly in the bungalows next week. They have closed all the beaches. Will there still be access to the bungalows?

 

[Sammie]

We are staying at the poly in the bungalows next week. They have closed all the beaches. Will there still be access to the bungalows?

Yes.

 

[southerngirl528]

Sammie is correct. Even if the beaches did still happen to be closed, access to the bungalows is via elevated boardwalks with nice fencing.

I agree with above posters. I woke this morning to read this horrific news, being one more addition to a very, very dark week here in the Orlando area. Unbelievably sad for all the families that have lost loved ones. I cannot fathom what the parents of this precious child must be going through. Praying for them and all the families that have lost loved ones this week.