Whoa ~ A gator near miss story.

[Hisgirl]

So Coronado Springs resort almost had a similar incident. The news story is here:
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/06/16/san-diego-father-says-gators-at-disney-also-went-after-his-son/


When the CM at the resort was told about a near encounter with rapidly approaching gators, the response was: ‘These are resident pets. They’ve known about them for years, they’re not dangerous, they’re not going to harm anybody,'” said Hiden. “I was very upset, very angry, very shocked and I say, ‘I hope to god I never read about a young kid killed by an alligator like that one almost did to my son.'”

I hope to the good lord that everyone not from florida and not familiar with the huge population and habits of gators will read this and BE AWARE no matter where you are in florida or south Georgia. We were at GF in April and saw gators in every single pond we passed.

 

[WEDWDW]

And there was the actual attack at Fort Wilderness in 1986.

 

[margot31]

When seeing an alligator on land and its chasing you never run in a straight line....run zig zag. Alligators are very fast in a straight line.

 

[HM]

I've seen small gators at CSR but never a large one. People were feeding them. I don't doubt that someone thought they were 'pets'. But the management's response was really wrong.

 

[DrewJB]

When seeing an alligator on land and its chasing you never run in a straight line....run zig zag. Alligators are very fast in a straight line.

This is an old myth. If an alligator chases you just run away in a straight line as fast as you can. Alligators do not typically chase people on land. If you get a good distance away the alligator doesn't care about you anymore and the quickest way to get away is to run in a straight line.

 

[BrianL]

I've seen small gators at CSR but never a large one. People were feeding them. I don't doubt that someone thought they were 'pets'. But the management's response was really wrong.

Yes, the feeding is a real problem. That's what they need signs about. Gators are gonna be there, but management needs to try to prevent guests from interacting with them. Gators are cool animals and I love seeing them, but feeding them is not only bad for the guests, it's bad for the gators too. Let them be and admire from a safe distance.

 

[mjkacmom]

When seeing an alligator on land and its chasing you never run in a straight line....run zig zag. Alligators are very fast in a straight line.

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/10/nation/la-na-nn-alligator-attacks-rare-20120710

 

[margot31]

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jul/10/nation/la-na-nn-alligator-attacks-rare-20120710

When we lived in FL we were told to zig zag.

 

[JJZMgailey]

Moving this to the Theme Parks Community board.

 

[mommycrawford]

Steve Irwin was a lifetime expert interacting with wildlife, crocodiles in particular, and he died in a freak encounter with a sting ray!...Things happen! We cannot be so arrogant as to think animals do not have sophistication and abilities, and moreover instincts!... Just think about "good" dogs grabbing food off the counter or table. or biting to defend themselves when feeling threatened.

 

[DrewJB]

When we lived in FL we were told to zig zag.

It is one of those things passed from person to person for many many years, but it is not recommended by any experts. Search for it online and you'll find that experts agree that it doesn't make any sense. Alligators are super quick at lunging, but for flat out running they top out at about 10mph - so most people who can run could easily outrun them. They really don't typically chase unless they are protecting something or feel momentarily threatened, but the quicker you get away the better.

 

[HopperFan]

SADLY when something like this happen we will see all kinds of stories come out of the woodwork for folks 15 minutes of fame. Lets also note this man is a lawyer and we have no idea what his motive is for telling his story a year later.

This man has told his "story" a few times, and it's not staying consistent. It really is best if we don't help these folks promote themselves.

Story 1 -
"In April of 2015, San Diego lawyer David Hiden took his family to the theme park. His five-year-old son waded calf-deep into a lagoon behind their hotel."

Story 2 -
“He was playing, and looking for bugs and stuff. Then, all of a sudden, I looked past his head and I see this alligator, maybe 6 or 7 feet, bee-lining it straight for him.”

Funny how it is widely discussed that you are not to go in the water....... and then he changes his story from his son being deep in the water .... to looking for bugs with no mention of water. Up to his calf meant he went deep into water, where he is not allowed, where alligators and turtles (maybe snapping) and snakes live. Note: at CSR it is even more difficult to go in the water with all the bank landscaping.


"I was very upset, very angry, very shocked ..." and yet he never contacted Disney further? Never went over the manager's head? .... Certainly a lawyer could do that easily? It wasn't important enough .... or the maybe the story was they just saw some alligators and they didn't like it. We have no idea what really happened that day.

Yeah ............... funny how it wasn't upsetting enough to really do something until he could get some national press, and then he had the time to get with the national media.


We need to stop turning this tragic accident into a panic for guests.

I think the misunderstood message, do not go in the water, has been broadcast plenty. We don't need to help these folks have their limelight.

 

[Anthony1971]

I think the bigger lesson here about running is to TEACH children to run does not matter how as long as they get themselves running.... younger kids may freeze up... toddlers they may think it is their friend...I can understand the straight as they can only run fast for short distances, I can understand zig zag if the Gator lunges at you with an open mouth he may miss... BUT in the end it does not matter if a child does not run.... ALL CHILDREN do strange things if you are looking or not looking so it is always important to teach what to do...
since my son was 2 and could understand I always told him stay on paths stay off the grass stay away from water... I no longer need to say it to him but still do every trip... I know daddy... do not care you will hear it anyway... I will now added RUN... Every trip we have stayed at AKL (at least 5 times) I have seen kids walking through the vegetation... Garden snakes still bite... yes there could be a lot worse on the bushes but lets leave it at garden snakes.

 

[capegirl]

So Coronado Springs resort almost had a similar incident. The news story is here:
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/06/16/san-diego-father-says-gators-at-disney-also-went-after-his-son/


When the CM at the resort was told about a near encounter with rapidly approaching gators, the response was: ‘These are resident pets. They’ve known about them for years, they’re not dangerous, they’re not going to harm anybody,'” said Hiden. “I was very upset, very angry, very shocked and I say, ‘I hope to god I never read about a young kid killed by an alligator like that one almost did to my son.'”

I hope to the good lord that everyone not from florida and not familiar with the huge population and habits of gators will read this and BE AWARE no matter where you are in florida or south Georgia. We were at GF in April and saw gators in every single pond we passed.

Just terrible. I have to concur with the gator sightings. We were staying at SOG last April and we saw gators everywhere. On our walks from SOG to the Poly there was never a day without a sighting at both resorts. I will say SOG does post gator warning signs. IMO the gator population has increased on Disney property, and I am sure feeding these creatures only enhances the possibility of an attack. I heard a news report just this morning that some people staying a the Poly in the new structures on the water, were seen feeding the gators. In the past the sightings were less frequent that said, I do think that Disney needs to do a better job of patrolling the waterways, to remove the gators, and they should be taking any reports of gator sightings very seriously.
There are those who will say that even if Disney did have proper signage to warn guests it may not have prevented the tragedy, but then again it may have saved this child had the parents been warned of the danger.

 

[GPC0321]

Yes, the feeding is a real problem. That's what they need signs about. Gators are gonna be there, but management needs to try to prevent guests from interacting with them. Gators are cool animals and I love seeing them, but feeding them is not only bad for the guests, it's bad for the gators too. Let them be and admire from a safe distance.

Exactly. And while I do think "problem" gators and those that have gotten to a threatening size should be removed from the property or euthanized, I also think any guest seen breaking the law by feeding them should also be forced to leave the property (probably not euthanized though!). Feeding those animals puts others at risk. It should not be tolerated at all.