Gator grabs 2 year old at Grand Floridian?

[rteetz]

There's no swimming and stay out of the damn lake signs.. what's the lifeguards job on this beach? i'm assuming it's to make sure people see the sign and know the dangers of ignoring them.

The lifeguard might have been just walking by. Lifeguards do not patrol the beaches.

 

[DLgal]

Certainly not a good thing to be doing but again it doesn't seem like someplace youd expect a gator to stroll up to to be honest.

That is exactly where gators (and crocodiles) attack...at the water's edge. It is literally the worst place to be at night. Gators hunt at night. They often hunt small animals that come to the water's edge to drink. They stalk around the shore and strike when there is a chance. They can move VERY fast once they are on land.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I can't wrap my head around how the family setup a spot to hang out with a playpen and 2 other children and splashing around in the water with a lifeguard nearby not only not saying something, but the father had to yell to them for help?!?!?!?

what's the point of the lifeguard?

First off...you mean the lifeguards shacked up over at vista way and Chatham?

Uh huh...

Second...how exactly do you expect a lifeguard to react to an alligator with 1000 psi jaws snatching a child...who was IN THE WATER AT NIGHT?!?

you'd need steve Irwin or roy scheider for that...

There is no fault on the "lifeguards" here...for many reasons but mostly because there's no way to watch a lagoon that has no swimming.

The playpen story doesn't wash..maybe they were toiling in the sand...that happens every night...but only when price Waterhouse coopers interns party it up there does anybody end up in the water.

 

[rteetz]

We likely won't get anymore info until daylight.

 

[Kat73]

The first report I read about of this nightmare was quoting a source from Twitter. I kept thinking, this has to be some kind of sick crazy War of the Worlds prank. I am so incredibly heartbroken for this family, having to suffer this nightmare.
As for the news conference, you could definitely tell that the reporters asking questions were out-of-towners there for the shooting, and not the normal folks that report on Disney. (Side note I had no idea that many people knew so little about Disney....I live in a Disney bubble I guess). And I just wanted to hug that poor Disney employee woman, she held it together pretty well but man.
So much love and prayers for that family.

 

[Patricksp]

I don't think they've allowed swimming there. (?)

On the island near the Polynesian they built a wave machine for the guests to make it feel like it was a real beach and you could swim in the water.

 

[ck2d]

We likely won't get anymore info until daylight.

Or they find the child...

 

[rteetz]

Or they find the child...

Which might not happen until morning because of it being dark.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That is exactly where gators (and crocodiles) attack...at the water's edge. It is literally the worst place to be at night. Gators hunt at night. They often hunt small animals that come to the water's edge to drink. They stalk around the shore and strike when there is a chance. They can move VERY fast once they are on land.

Correct. Nearly all crocodile attacks take place near River/stream edge. Niles...saltys...caimans...

What's shocking here is that alligator attacks on humans are pretty rare. Dogs are pretty common...easy prey Which is what nearly every animal looks for.

 

[umichigan10]

That is exactly where gators (and crocodiles) attack...at the water's edge. It is literally the worst place to be at night. Gators hunt at night. They often hunt small animals that come to the water's edge to drink. They stalk around the shore and strike when there is a chance. They can move VERY fast once they are on land.

I never knew they were night hunters. But I could sort of see why the parents wouldn't think a gator would roll up on a white sand beach, being from Nebraska where they probably have that image of them living in "swamps" (and yes I know Florida IS swamp but you get my drift)

 

[GimmeMoreMagic]

ive seen gators on property as well, on my last visit in September there was one in Rivers Of America, a woman who was standing with my family watching it in the water alerted a CM, the CM looked at it and told us they allow them in river until they reach a certain size then they have them removed...

 

[ck2d]

Which might not happen until morning because of it being dark.

If it was anyone else but Disney I'd think that too. But I bet they are doing the most thorough search possible, and if they don't find him overnight, I doubt they ever will.

 

[Accident]

.how exactly do you expect a lifeguard to react to an alligator with 1000 psi jaws snatching a child...who was IN THE WATER AT NIGHT?!?

@rteetz clarified that a lifeguard is not stationed on that beach and they were most likely at the nearby pool. I woudln't expect anyone to be able wrangle an aligator and it was more "why didn't they warn them". Since it wasn't a stationed spot, I withdraw now that I know the beach is not staffed to warn visitors (and i'm aware of the frequent signage).

 

[DLgal]

Correct. Nearly all crocodile attacks take place near River/stream edge. Niles...saltys...caimans...

What's shocking here is that alligator attacks on humans are pretty rare. Dogs are pretty common...easy prey Which is what nearly every animal looks for.

To an alligator, a 2 year old child is not much different than a small dog.

 

[Maleffiecent41]

If it was anyone else but Disney I'd think that too. But I bet they are doing the most thorough search possible, and if they don't find him overnight, I doubt they ever will.

Not entirely true in 2003 they found a 3 yr old 20 hrs later.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wayyyyy back in the day I think you were able to. Long before my time but what I've heard at least

From 71-88...

The typhoon lagoon wave machines were originally offshore at the polyneisian to allow surfing...but it messed with the beaches.

The grand Floridian was originally "the grand floridian beach resort"...but the name was changed prior to opening Due to red tide.

River country was only partially filtered.

Disney built things trusting the customer exercising common sense. It doesn't appear that it was done entirley in this case. But that will be determined later.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Not entirely true in 2003 they found a 3 yr old 20 hrs later.

Was that child attacked and guaranteed to be injured?

Kinda different

 

[MommyLove]

I've never been to WDW so I don't know the area... is it a man made lake that's connected to swamps? I don't understand. It looks beach-y? But there are signs to stay out of the water?

 

[Maleffiecent41]

Was that child attacked and guaranteed to be injured?

Kinda different

He was his Neck and skull were crushed.

 

[umichigan10]

I've never been to WDW so I don't know the area... is it a man made lake that's connected to swamps? I don't understand. It looks beach-y? But there are signs to stay out of the water?

I mean its all surrounded by swamp as is the whole state. But Disney cleaned up the lake when they built it, and made it look pretty for people to walk on (and originally swim in; that's no longer the case)