Video or gator at Splash Mountain....is this ride and other water rides safe?

[cornflkgrl]

Well, that video certainly looks concering to me as someone with an anxiety disorder. There are lots of things on YouTube or the news that could cause me to feel unsafe. I could convince myself the whole place was unsafe in 5-10 minutes by scouring the internet and The Dis. But I could do that with anything/any place, including the home I live in.

But in answer to your question: no, I do not think the water rides are unsafe.

All rational information says you are not at all likely to be harmed by a gator on a water ride at Disney. Go and enjoy your trip!

 

[Lynne M]

You're more likely to see a log fly off the top of Splash and burst into flames like Kristoff's sled than you are to see a gator doing anything even remotely threatening in the water of a ride.

It's a shame the imagineers won't take unsolicited ideas. That sounds like kind of a cool ride.

 

[Delirium]

All the water rides are safe. The thread link below discusses the really dangerous ride at WDW. The PeopleMover!

http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-people-mover-is-not-safe.3468534/

 

[Lynne M]

"Can" and "will" are two entirely different concepts.

Yes.

That's been on my mind after several days of reading these threads. Just because it's physically possible for an alligator to make its way over to where the guests are on Splash, doesn't mean there's any reasonably significant chance that it will.

More people have been run over and killed by ride vehicles on Splash (1) than have come into contact with an alligator on Splash (0), even though there have been gators in that spot for as long as the waterway's been there. Thank the people who throw their turkey legs to the gators for making it a popular hangout for them.

I put "being attacked by an alligator at WDW" into the class of events with an extremely rare, but non-zero chance of happening. Extremely rare because in the 45 years that WDW has shared space with probably thousands of alligators, there has been exactly one fatality. To me, that's such vanishingly small odds that it's not worth my time to worry about it. It's right up there with being hit in the head by a meteor, or having a plane fall on my car while I'm driving on the turnpike. Both things are possible. Neither are at all likely.

 

[anneboleyn]

All the water rides are safe. The thread link below discusses the really dangerous ride at WDW. The PeopleMover!

http://www.disboards.com/threads/the-people-mover-is-not-safe.3468534/

LOL yes the People Mover, aka The Devil's Chariot.

 

[AngiTN]

You stand a greater chance of falling out of the log at Splash Mountain than you do a gator attacking you at Splash Mountain.

 

[anneboleyn]

Once again... You seem to only want to respond to the more pointed posts here (I personally think some of those DID give advice... perhaps not the advice you were hoping for?). Still haven't responded to me...

That might give the impression that you may be looking for conflict rather than answers/friendly advice...?

@MickeyMinnieMom, your reply was very nice and extremely helpful, so even if the OP doesn't take the time to acknowledge it, I am sure it will be a great help to someone Thanks for posting it!!

 

[StanH]

Seriously?

 

[StanH]

That was in response to the Op

 

[Bluegrrl]

You are fine. The gator won't jump you in the ride, cause it's got better things to do. Keep your arms and hands inside the vehicle, and you are fine.

Now the snakes on Tom Sawyer's island I wouldn't trust, although those snakes are mostly gardeners and black racers/indigo snakes and not harmless. But don't hang around to check it out. The birds in Frontierland are ruthless, and because people feed them, they can get really pushy. Squirrels and bunnies (so cute to feed, right?) could have rabies and cuddly little armadillos carry the plauge. Or flesh eating disease or syphilis. I forget which. Either way, don't trust those cute little critters.

And those darling little deer/Bambi? Those sweet things? Watch the back roads because they can hop out and crash into your car. Oh, and those sweet looking red ants? What about those cutesy turtles? Gonorrea/syphilis. So, it's mostly the cute things that can really screw you up. Don't touch, interact, or feed anything you see unless you are given permission too. Fed wildlife = dangerous/deadly wildlife.

But a non-fed gator in an enclosed place should not be dangerous when given its proper space and proper respect.

Splash Mountain is fine.

 

[Oswin]

I know you don't want eye rolling but as someone who adores and respects the local wildlife this all is just unneeded anxiety for everyone and pitchfork wielding at this point. Let the words of Yoda be your guide:

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

 

[anneboleyn]

I know you don't want eye rolling but as someone who adores and respects the local wildlife this all is just unneeded anxiety for everyone and pitchfork wielding at this point. Let the words of Yoda be your guide:

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”

I love the wildlife too This unnecessary hysteria makes me worry about how many of the alligators are going to be killed. I wish people would recognize this as a freak accident and nothing more.

 

[SplashMo]

We rode Splash mountain 18 times in one day. Loved every minute and never saw a gator...

 

[Tomh]

The gator in that video is pretty small. Obviously, the man at the other end of that skimmer pole doesn't feel terribly threatened by it! I don't expect that animal is anywhere near as large as it would need to be in order to hop into the ride area, and pull someone out of the log lol. I don't see anything there to really get worried about.

We saw a similar sized gator the year before last sunning it's self on the grass adjacent to the boat dock at DTD. It had obviously been doing so in that location for a while, as it had a nice mud slide down the bank into the water. I will admit to standing on the boat dock for a period of time just looking at it, and taking some pictures. I thought it was amazing. I wasn't interested in throwing any food at it, or getting any closer, but it was wonderful to observe it from a safe distance.

 

[Srbright]

When I go do Chicago, I don't need signs informing me that if I venture into the south side I am likely to get shot. It's just something I'm aware of, a natural danger of the area. It's a risk I take to enjoy the Cubs.

There's even a song..."oh the south side of Chicago is the baddest place around. And if you go down there you better best beware of man named Leroy Brown"

Stacy

 

[Srbright]

Looking at this thread it would seem there is an awful lot of bullying going on!..Some of you should be ashamed showing things like "ALLIGATORS playing instruments at PO POOL AFTER THE DEATH OF A BABY BOY ... ALL you die hard Disney fans need to get a grip!!!!.. CMS repeatedly told management of their concerns regarding Alligators and guess what they were ignored and a small boy lost his life!!!...Unfortunately people like me from the UK dont realize that a child's film show would be held on a beach if it was in any way dangerous ,we thought there was a separate fee paying park for anyone that wanted to see Alligators....

Did you know there have been 17 dog related fatalities in the UK since 2005?

Did you know that there have been only 22 recorded alligator fatalities in Florida since 1948?

I don't remember a sign at the Brittish Museum, Tower of London or on my Jack the Ripper tour (all of which had dogs on or near it) warning me of the possibility of being killed by a dog. Do I get to sue the Crown for not warning me of the dangers inherent in my visit there?

No one is being bullied. If pointing out different sides of the coin is considered being a "bully" then I need to go back and re-read the definition.

Stacy

http://www.outsideonline.com/1917111/surviving-alligator-attack

http://www.planetdeadly.com/animals/uk-dangerous-animals

 

[DVCcurious]

I'm more afraid of the ceiling snakes in Space Mountain than I am of the alligators on Splash Mountain.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

@MickeyMinnieMom, your reply was very nice and extremely helpful, so even if the OP doesn't take the time to acknowledge it, I am sure it will be a great help to someone Thanks for posting it!!

Thanks!

 

[goofy289]

When I go do Chicago, I don't need signs informing me that if I venture into the south side I am likely to get shot. It's just something I'm aware of, a natural danger of the area. It's a risk I take to enjoy the Cubs.

FYI...the Cubs aren't on the south side. They are on the north side in one of the safest neighborhoods in the city!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

FYI...the Cubs aren't on the south side. They are on the north side in one of the safest neighborhoods in the city!

Yes, I know where Wrigley is located. It was more statement about being in Chicago. My non-native self could easily get turned around and end up in a bad part of town.