My 2 cents on the young child/alligator tragedy at the Grand Floridian

[Polybound]

No, it's not the parents fault that an alligator attacked their son. When most people are at Disney, they feel like they're in a bubble, not only is it the happiest place on earth, many feel it's safest as well, whether true or not, but they feel nothing could ever happen to them while there.

No, the parents shouldn't have aloud their child to swim in the lake.

No, Disney shouldn't be held responsible for every incident that occurs on their property. There was a sign that said no swimming and the child shouldn't have been swimming, especially at night. As everyone should know, the lakes, ponds, bayous and even water puddles of in Florida contain numerous forms wildlife that are dangerous. You can't expect any company to have to warn people to beware of the Lightning, Hurricanes, Tornados, Possible debris from high winds, deep water, Black Bears, Panthers, Bobcats, Alligators, Crocodiles, Water Moccasins, Copperheads, Rattle Snakes, Coral Snakes, Brown Recluses, Black Widows or numerous other poisonous spiders and snakes, scorpions, Bees, Wasp, Hornets, Fire Ants, poison Ivy, Oak, Bed Bugs, Quick Sand, Sink Holes, Stray Meteors, or anything else that may cause harm to you, though Have A Magical Day! Pretty soon, the sign will look like a Willy Wonka release form with everyone having to sign.

No, Disney shouldn't be sued, but that's the society we live in, and

Yes, this is a horrible tragedy and I know the parents are completely devastated and my prayers, not blame, go out to them.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

I view this one in the same way I do with the gorilla incident at the zoo. the parents allowed their child to do something they shouldn't have done and it had tragic consequences. Parents need to take responsibility for their kids at all times and should not allow them to break rules because they think it's ok.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

The child wasn't swimming...and there was robust signage or a blockade that made the water inaccessible to naïve guests. Had there been a barrier or a warning of potential alligator/wildlife in the water you might have a point.

Disney is not free from criticism/lawsuits - incidents like this make them step their game up in safety to ensure that things like this never happen again.

 

[sunshine1]

 

[*NikkiBell*]

The child wasn't swimming...and there was robust signage or a blockade that made the water inaccessible to naïve guests.

The child was wading in the water at night. Either way, it was a terrible accident. I don't blame the alligator or Disney.

 

[disneysteve]

The child wasn't swimming.

The child was wading in the water at night.

I'm with Nikki on this one. The child was in the water. Whether he was standing, walking, or swimming makes no difference. If signs say "No swimming", don't go in the water.

 

[Polybound]

The next question is, should Disney build a 3-4' wall around the lake. And if a Water Moccasin climbs it and bites someone, should they have to raise it to 5-6'. Or if a sink hole suddenly occurs and swallows someone, should Disney be liable, if they don't have a sign saying beware of sink holes. Sink holes happen frequently in Florida and as most know at least one person has been killed. Where does liability begin and end?

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

Was there ever any definitive word on whether the poor kid was in the water or not? Many articles seem to be repeating things other blogs say, and to be honest I just don't have much respect for reporting now a days, everyone seems to quote random blogs or twitters and no one vets the source.

I've seen many nature documentaries of alligators lunging out of the water to get an animal that was at the edge. So it wasn't really necessary for the kid to have been in the water.

 

[disneysteve]

Was there ever any definitive word on whether the poor kid was in the water or not?

Every report I've seen said he was in the water.

From CNN.com: The boy's family was at a movie night outdoors at the Grand Floridian resort when around 9 p.m. the boy waded into about a foot of water in a lagoon, authorities have said.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Again - there was a sign that said no swimming. Do you not see signs that people break on a daily basis i.e. no smoking. People might assume that there is no lifeguard on duty - not that there are alligators/wildlife in the water. If the sign said No Swimming/Wadding - Beware of Dangerous Lake Wildlife you would have a point.

I do think Disney is at fault that if they didn't want their guest in this lake there would be some kind of signage, or cast member guarding the lakes at night not just a simple no swimming sign. You hosted a movie night on the beach luring people to believe that this was a safe area.

Again my simple opinion, and one I think the courts will rule with as well. No Swimming undefined is left up to interpretation

Below is the actual Signage...

 

[carmelhp]

RIP Lane Graves, taken too soon from this world.

 

[disneysteve]

Below is the actual Signage...

I was hoping someone would find a pic of the signs. That certainly makes it perfectly clear that going into the water is dangerous and shouldn't be done.
Whether or not the sign is easily visible at night might be another issue but you can't tell from a daytime photo.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Huge difference, IMHO, between no swimming and walking on the shore. Steep drop off refers to dangerous water conditions where you can be over your head quickly (again, IMHO) rather than anything else. YMMV

Agree with PP, horrific to happen to this family. Could have happened to so many any day of the week. It's hard to understand the danger when you are from a state where that danger does not exist.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I was hoping someone would find a pic of the signs. That certainly makes it perfectly clear that going into the water is dangerous and shouldn't be done.
Whether or not the sign is easily visible at night might be another issue but you can't tell from a daytime photo.

Wading in the water is "going into the water" that warns of a steep drop off and no swimming..?

 

[mcd2745]

No, it's not the parents fault that an alligator attacked their son. When most people are at Disney, they feel like they're in a bubble, not only is it the happiest place on earth, many feel it's safest as well, whether true or not, but they feel nothing could ever happen to them while there.

No, the parents shouldn't have aloud their child to swim in the lake.

No, Disney shouldn't be held responsible for every incident that occurs on their property. There was a sign that said no swimming and the child shouldn't have been swimming, especially at night. As everyone should know, the lakes, ponds, bayous and even water puddles of in Florida contain numerous forms wildlife that are dangerous. You can't expect any company to have to warn people to beware of the Lightning, Hurricanes, Tornados, Possible debris from high winds, deep water, Black Bears, Panthers, Bobcats, Alligators, Crocodiles, Water Moccasins, Copperheads, Rattle Snakes, Coral Snakes, Brown Recluses, Black Widows or numerous other poisonous spiders and snakes, scorpions, Bees, Wasp, Hornets, Fire Ants, poison Ivy, Oak, Bed Bugs, Quick Sand, Sink Holes, Stray Meteors, or anything else that may cause harm to you, though Have A Magical Day! Pretty soon, the sign will look like a Willy Wonka release form with everyone having to sign.

No, Disney shouldn't be sued, but that's the society we live in, and

Yes, this is a horrible tragedy and I know the parents are completely devastated and my prayers, not blame, go out to them.

Agreed.



It is a horrible tragedy. And unfortunately, horrible tragedies happen. I don't know why, when tragedies like this one occur, so many people are determined to find fault with and/or place the blame with someone. Some people are blaming Disney, some the parents. You know...sometimes...it's just a tragic accident and it's no one's "fault". Sure, the family should not have been even 1 foot in the water. Sure, Disney could have had signs warning of the potential for alligators (or snakes, or whatever) being in the water. However, that doesn't mean anyone should be considered culpable and/or vilified. That family (or any other just like them) could have been at that same exact spot every night for a year and never have this happen. Everyone should just pray that the family can somehow find a way to get through this and stop looking to place blame somewhere.

 

[jpeka65844]

The next question is, should Disney build a 3-4' wall around the lake. And if a Water Moccasin climbs it and bites someone, should they have to raise it to 5-6'. Or if a sink hole suddenly occurs and swallows someone, should Disney be liable, if they don't have a sign saying beware of sink holes. Sink hole happen frequently in Florida and as most know at least one person has been killed. Where does liability begin and end?

I remember awhile back at WL there was a low wall at the water's edge on the beach. To prevent erosion, maybe? Wonder if that was temporary then and if they'll be coming to all Disney beaches now.

 

[disneysteve]

Wading in the water is "going into the water" that warns of a steep drop off and no swimming..?

I can't imagine any interpretation of "no swimming" that would say "feel free to go in the water as long as you don't actually swim".

"Oh just ignore the sign. We're not swimming. We're only wading/floating/walking/bobbing. And the doggie paddle isn't really swimming, right? The kids don't even know how to swim so it definitely doesn't apply to them. Grab your inner tubes and come on in."

Doesn't that sound kind of silly?

 

[jamiek81]

Just a hunch but maybe guests should stop feeding the gators so that they won't lose their fear of people. Most often gators don't get up that close to the shore and in general they are more afraid of us than we are of them. That is unless people feed them. I've said this a lot this week, but I've grown up going to Florida every year if not more than once a year. I was taught from an early age to not go in to any natural bodies of water (with the exception of the gulf and only on permission from my parents) and to look before I reached/stepped anywhere. There are lots of creepy/scary/dangerous creatures in the south. It's common sense to be careful and especially when its dark and you don't have clear sight of what is in front of you. Don't get me wrong. This is a terrible tragedy and a freak accident. I feel awful for that family, but I don't really fault Disney for this one.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

I can't imagine any interpretation of "no swimming" that would say "feel free to go in the water as long as you don't actually swim".

"Oh just ignore the sign. We're not swimming. We're only wading/floating/walking/bobbing. And the doggie paddle isn't really swimming, right? The kids don't even know how to swim so it definitely doesn't apply to them. Grab your inner tubes and come on in."

Doesn't that sound kind of silly?

Neither the "deep water" nor "steep drop-off" killed the boy, though.

The signage, as written, was (obviously) ineffective....I would guess if for this family, then for others along the way as well (who were just luckier than the Graves). It needs to be changed.

I can't help but think if the word DANGER was written somewhere on that sign, and/or if alligators were referenced, if this whole tragedy could have been avoided.

 

[disneysteve]

I can't help but think if the word DANGER was written somewhere on that sign, and/or if alligators were referenced, if this whole tragedy could have been avoided.

No "Steep Drop-Off, Deep Water, and NO Swimming" is insufficient to keep people out of the water but if they added the word Danger or Alligators that would make it okay?

What if the sign said both Danger and Alligators and the death had been caused by a snake bite? The sign didn't mention snakes so then what? Back to Disney being liable somehow?

I'm happy to agree to disagree on this one.