Child pulled into water by alligator near Grand Floridian

[dmaxphil]

I think we are in for a lot of changes.

 

[Spoiledraf]

There are signs in the parks...Don't feed the birds. People feed the birds.
There are warning signs on rides...Bad backs, pregnant, ect., don't ride. But people ride anyway. Signs for line jumping, don't exit boats on rides, no flash photography and on and on. And so many people think they don't really mean anything. Try to enforce the rules and the guest goes bananas!!! Either way it's bad publicity for Disney and these forums go into high gear for and against.
A sign says no swimming. I don't know. Maybe I'm smarter than I thought. To me, that means stay out of the water.
I think this was a horrible accident. Nothing happened for 45 years with hundreds of millions of guests. I think Disney works extremely hard to create a very safe environment. Would s sign with an alligator on it have averted this or would people just have overlooked that as well. The obviously disregard every other warning.
Disney will likely lose a large law suit. But you know. Sometimes terrible things happen. I feel horrible for this family. I hope Disney can make things safer. Such a tragedy.

 

[boltjames]

Going on vacation never means packing all your stuff but leaving your brain at home.

Alligators at Disney World isn't some common-sense moment for parents who aren't from Florida.

This isn't like leaving your kid in a car on a hot day, using a toaster in a bathtub, running around with a sword in a thunder storm, or teasing a pit bull. Might be commonplace knowledge for people in the southeast, it's not something we know elsewhere.

 

[ryansstitch]

Amen to this!! I think everyone that is posting anywhere on the internet should ONLY show compassion for this family. Not only have they lost a child but it looks like they will not even have his remains to bury.

Human beings need to get back to being human again. Not one of us is perfect and all of us need each other to lean on when times are tough.

That's so tragic. To go home and not be able to bury your baby. I feel like I'm stuck reading posts because I'm in disbelief that this is this family's reality. To lose a child in such a horrid way. For a child's last moments to be spent in terror and pain, and the very real likelihood that his brothers and sisters won't be able to even visit his grave. I just can't with this story.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Alligators at Disney World isn't some common-sense moment for parents who aren't from Florida.

This isn't like leaving your kid in a car on a hot day, using a toaster in a bathtub, running around with a sword in a thunder storm, or teasing a pit bull. Might be commonplace knowledge for people in the southeast, it's not something we know elsewhere.

Blanket statement.
I don't live in the SE US and I know about the dangers in FL freshwaterways.
When I visited Australia last year you'd better believe I educated myself on box jellyfish, saltwater crocs, and poisonous snakes, hell even dengue fever.

 

[boltjames]

I live in Detroit and understand there are alligators in Florida. The no swimming sign means more than worries about drowning. It refers to the brain eating parasites found in the water.

That's great for you, somewhere in Detroit you got the message. I'm in New York City and while I know that alligators are frequent in Florida in undeveloped areas I never thought in a million years that in a man-made tourist attraction they aren't fully controlled and are a legitimate threat. One would think that since Disney warns everyone about just about anything on their rides in the parks that they would have done likewise on the beaches. For me, the lack of warning about alligators means to me that there is actually no threat.

 

[Redbudlover]

If the guests witnessed this why wouldnt they all be in the water trying to rescue this child? Only his father tried?

Are you kidding? Alligators kill people! Jump in the water with an aggressive alligator? NO!!!

 

[boltjames]

I don't know why it's so hard to understand "no swimming". I see that and I'm not going in the water at all. Also have you not listened to the podcast at all? What do you think Pete has been saying at the end of the podcast for years......frankly I'm more afraid of the parasites in the water than alligators hence why I wouldn't let my kids set foot in the water.

Podcasts? What podcast? Am I supposed to listen to a podcast before going to Disney World to learn of hidden dangers?

When skiing off-terrain in Colorado, they put up big signs that say AVALANCHE WARNING. They don't put up signs that say "Shh, please." That's what happened here.

 

[nandm92574]

That's so tragic. To go home and not be able to bury your baby. I feel like I'm stuck reading posts because I'm in disbelief that this is this family's reality. To lose a child in such a horrid way. For a child's last moments to be spent in terror and pain, and the very real likelihood that his brothers and sisters won't be able to even visit his grave. I just can't with this story.

I am with you... I have planned so many happy trips to Disney World. Oh My the pain these people must be going through. I can't even go there. I can't assign any fault. Its a horrible horrible tragedy. As someone who has stayed at the Polynesian many many times I have been lulled into a sense of safety (although spending 10 years in Louisiana it has never been around the water). Who hasn't? I have watched many, many parents let their children make mud pies on the beach. And I never thought they were morons for doing so. Perhaps in hindsight Disney could have some Beware of Gator signs and some guards backing people off 10 feet from the water (gator usually has one big lunge and won't ambush people much further) at gator time (nighttime or dusk). And parents should be a bit more vigilant even though we are at Disney. :-( This is simply horrible. That poor family

 

[ryansstitch]

Are you kidding? Alligators kill people! Jump in the water with an aggressive alligator? NO!!!

To save a child? I would try

 

[mjr0483]

I am sick of reading these posts blaming the parents and the issue of the no swimming signs. Standing in a foot of water is not swimming. What do you call it when you wake board, tube or water ski over at the Contemporary and you fall in the water? Um I would call that SWIMMING. I guess you can swim in the lake when you pay for it.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/contemporary-resort/sammy-duvall-watersports-centre/

 

[BLTLDZ]

I think everyone needs to take a deep breath and stop making this a debate. Regardless where you are from, what you are aware of, this is/was a terrible, horrific tragedy. It can happen to anyone, at anytime, common sense or not. Following this tragedy, I am CERTAIN disney will make sure "Beware of Alligators" is posted at all resorts now as well. Alligators don't typically waltz up to humans and snatch them. It's just not a common occurrence. But obviously, it can and does happen. SO sad- that poor family , pray for them

 

[MammaMoe48]

According the Orange County Sheriff at the press conference, the family was relaxing on the beach and the child was playing in the water when the attack occurred.

There are signs telling people not to swim in the water. I'm not blaming the family because I would guess that it's almost inconceivable for a family from land locked Nebraska to even contemplate that there would be alligators in the lakes at WDW. I think that Disney should specifically state that people should not swim in the lakes because there are ALLIGATORS in the water. Just putting up a "NO SWIMMING" sign isn't enough to deter people.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

There are signs in the parks...Don't feed the birds. People feed the birds.
There are warning signs on rides...Bad backs, pregnant, ect., don't ride. But people ride anyway. Signs for line jumping, don't exit boats on rides, no flash photography and on and on. And so many people think they don't really mean anything. Try to enforce the rules and the guest goes bananas!!! Either way it's bad publicity for Disney and these forums go into high gear for and against.
A sign says no swimming. I don't know. Maybe I'm smarter than I thought. To me, that means stay out of the water.
I think this was a horrible accident. Nothing happened for 45 years with hundreds of millions of guests. I think Disney works extremely hard to create a very safe environment. Would s sign with an alligator on it have averted this or would people just have overlooked that as well. The obviously disregard every other warning.
Disney will likely lose a large law suit. But you know. Sometimes terrible things happen. I feel horrible for this family. I hope Disney can make things safer. Such a tragedy.

Sadly, had the sign said "DO NOT GO NEAR THE WATER OR YOU WILL DIE" some people (maybe not this family) would still go in the water. Just read these boards, they are full of either 'how do I avoid Disney "rules" or stories of "they didn't mean me when they said no" Heck, there was a rider injured on a Disney ride because he stood up on the ride. People will just assume Disney is being too cautious and "pixie dust" will protect them.


So there are multiple versions of the sequence of events

1. Child was holding dad's hand and was snatched from dad who tried to fight off alligator
2. Child was playing at the edge of the water and was grabbed by gator and dad ran towards child and grabbed gator



Vastly different scenarios occurring here and I am not sure which is true.

As for the lawsuit, it's unlikely to get far. Disney will settle out of court, because the attorneys for Disney want to avoid the publicity. And the attorney for the family will know that "acts of nature" are hard to win (and an alligator is an act of nature. If Disney had put it there and invited you to come see then they are liable, but if it shows up on it's own.. it's just doing what nature does.)

 

[BLTLDZ]

I am sick of reading these posts blaming the parents and the issue of the no swimming signs. Standing in a foot of water is not swimming. What do you call it when you wake board, tube or water ski over at the Poly and you fall in the water? Um I would call that SWIMMING. I guess you can swim in the lake when you pay for it.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/contemporary-resort/sammy-duvall-watersports-centre/

I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH YOU! I've bene RIGHT near that "Shore" line myself....could happen to anyone. He was not "Swimming". And for those that are commenting on the lifeguard not helping- I would imagine this was the lifeguard at the pool....and in reality, what is a lifeguard who is most likely not trained on how to rescue a toddler from an alligator - supposed to do? He was probably focused on the kids at the pool, which is if I'm not mistaken- where his post would be ?

 

[jason10mm]

Where was the "abundance of caution" prior to this horrible incident?!! Disney is always reactive rather than proactive when it might cost them a lot of $$$$$ to deal with a problem. They knew there were alligators in Bay Lake but have not posted warning signs about the risk; nor do they sweep the lakes on a regular basis (only after guests complain of a sighting).

When was the last alligator related attack or fatality on WDW property? Has there ever been one? I'm sure there are signs for all sorts of theoretical risks they could cover the place with. "Watch for Lightning" in every clearing, "Watch for car" every 10' along every road, "Beware of Choking" written on every napkin served with every meal. They do remove larger alligators but even if they scoured the lakes clear every day some will still slip in and this tragedy might still occur.

 

[Hopefully]

That's great for you, somewhere in Detroit you got the message. I'm in New York City and while I know that alligators are frequent in Florida in undeveloped areas I never thought in a million years that in a man-made tourist attraction they aren't fully controlled and are a legitimate threat. One would think that since Disney warns everyone about just about anything on their rides in the parks that they would have done likewise on the beaches. For me, the lack of warning about alligators means to me that there is actually no threat.

I am from MA, so further north than you. I know there are alligators in the Disney waterways and they are dangerous. I know NOT TO GO IN YHE WATER - no matter the wording of the sign.

This is a Tragic ACCIDENT. Parents have lost their 2 year old in a horrid way.
They is no one to blame. It was a Tragic ACCIDENT
Disney is not to blame. It was a Tragic ACCIDENT

I pray for the family and hope those here who must blame someone, can find some peace too.
Sometimes there simply is no reasonable explanation of why.

 

[ryansstitch]

I am with you... I have planned so many happy trips to Disney World. Oh My the pain these people must be going through. I can't even go there. I can't assign any fault. Its a horrible horrible tragedy. As someone who has stayed at the Polynesian many many times I have been lulled into a sense of safety (although spending 10 years in Louisiana it has never been around the water). Who hasn't? I have watched many, many parents let their children make mud pies on the beach. And I never thought they were morons for doing so. Perhaps in hindsight Disney could have some Beware of Gator signs and some guards backing people off 10 feet from the water (gator usually has one big lunge and won't ambush people much further) at gator time (nighttime or dusk). And parents should be a bit more vigilant even though we are at Disney. :-( This is simply horrible. That poor family

Yes. And I think it's obvious that Disney CMs differentiate between water play and swimming, or we would not all have seen it so much over decades. I'm so sad for that family. And frankly sad for every family in WDW this week. First a young musician killed at her own concert. Then the worst terrorist attack since 9/11 happens down the street. Then a baby being eaten while playing at Disney's flagship resort. All this in just 4 days!!! All the vicarious trauma around there right now, I would bet money that baby's family may not be the only ones in need of counseling.

 

[airhead]

Exactly. Take the swimming out of it for a minute.

Based on what I've just learned about alligators- fast as a horse, can jump 7' vertical, lie in wait at the shoreline- *** is Disney thinking? Forget the signs. Why are they inviting families to lounge and play with their children on beaches to begin with?

Just look at how close(and inviting) the child playset is to the water! I would be surprised if Disney did NOT get rid of all the stuff on the shores of the lake.

 

[MammaMoe48]

I did some research and the last alligator attack at Walt Disney World was in 1986 when a boy was by the water watching ducks. He got away with leg injuries. So while Disney should have had signs up that were more specific as to why one should not go in the water (alligators), it's not something I think that is high up on the radar of WDW dangers.