This was a man made lake INSIDE the Disney resort. Big difference from just a random lake in Florida.
This was a man made lake INSIDE the Disney resort. Big difference from just a random lake in Florida.I'm stunned that there is any doubt about the expectation of alligators in Florida lakes.
The kid's dad could have been holding his hand so he didn't slip and submerge into the deep water not expecting an alligator would grab his son.
So, the kid was IN the water.Authorities were still questioning the boy's family and witnesses, but gave this early account to The Associated Press: The family of five was lakeside when the boy was grabbed as he waded about a foot or two into the Seven Seas Lagoon. Posted signs warned against swimming but made no mention of alligators. After the attack, the boys father tried to rescue his son and when he failed, alerted a nearby lifeguard.
The worst thing you could so is wade into water, in any lake or pond in the state of Florida at 9:20 in the evening, especially in the warmer months like now, said wildlife biologist Joe Wasilewski.
The more important issue is that this is a toddler. It doesn't matter how many signs there are - A TODDLER CAN'T READ.
Perhaps in the future, if Disneyworld even survives the lawsuit, they will realize that the water needs to have guards posted, or in addition to multilingual signs (i saw the sign only in english) speakers so that the warnings are audible. This also protects the illiterate, the deaf, and children that are not yet able to read but still deserve to be protected from alligators all the same.
Shame on Disney.
I'm stunned that there is any doubt about the expectation of alligators in Florida lakes.
I went to Walt Disney World, rode the ferry to Magic Kingdom but never once did it cross my mind there are gators in the water.
Cool idea but not very feasible. Any gap the gators could use. No gaps and how do you bring in water taxis? Gates? And believe me they need them to help get resort guest in and out. Gators will also get on land and walk around, so we are talking eyesore fences regardless.The fences would be mostly under water, though, and of a type that's difficult to climb.
Alligators can climb a regular fence, and we have seen that crocodiles can climb a tree.
But if you have lifeguards, then the alligator would be easy to spot going over the fence out in the water.
Of course, one big problem is almost certainly that guests/tourists feed the alligators at the edge of the water.
I'm stunned that there is any doubt about the expectation of alligators in Florida lakes.
Whether a person is on vacation, working or lost, in the bad part of town, on a public golf course or at Disney World, the fact is there are over a million alligators in Florida that are oblivious to their own location and need to eat.
It's like going to Iowa and being surprised to find corn.
You are exactly right. Disney as I wrote above, goes to great lengths to maintain the Most magic and happiest place on earth atmosphere. They play the numbers on stuff like this, and the number finally came up. They will probably take action now to enhance their protection from criminal and civil liability.Not American here :biggrin: Careful of people, sure. Gators were not featured prominently on Disney's website when I was buying tix
You are exactly right. Disney as I wrote above, goes to great lengths to maintain the Most magic and happiest place on earth atmosphere. They play the numbers on stuff like this, and the number finally came up. They will probably take action now to enhance their protection from criminal and civil liability.
Some things are inherently risky. People die on rides and other ways in theme parks sometimes. Getting eaten by wildlife is one they can mitigate better, and I expect they will.
I agree. The bad thing was I had been to florida before as a child and watched a 4 foot gator in front of us while the shuttle was launching. During that same vacation I saw a crocodile swimming in the ocean. My mind totally went into vacation mode when I went to disney as an adult.There is a disconnect between reality and resort. People go to resort to get away from reality. So this gator thing never crossed my mind til now. I knew there were gators in Florida, but I would never think they were inside Disney.
It is Florida, they don't have signs about lots of wildlife in this place, or tons of other places.
You should know your environment before even going close.
Though, to be honest, people don't even bother to read anything, so having a sign is no guarantee that this tragedy would have been prevented.
To make matters worse, lots of people actually try to feed gators, as stupid as this is, they do it.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article83914877.html
So, the kid was IN the water.
Gated communities don't have a fence all the way around them. I expect these types of resorts actually do.I agree with all of this except the bold. My question is, why? A fenced off resort does not read "there are no gators here." There's millions of gated communities in Florida. Gated does not mean no gators. There's private golf courses in Florida. Private does not mean no gators. (Did you see the news a few weeks ago with the practical T-rex strolling through the fairway? ) The gates, fence, barricades, whatever they have to surround the grounds typically do not run through all the paths of water, either. They can easily get in. I refuse to believe that 980/1000 people would vote on that idea. Else, I'm terrified to be living on this planet with said people.
I've been kayaking in the everglades feet from gators, but I'm also not 2 years old and know how they can react. I wasn't kicking my feet around in a foot of water at dusk, but just simply floating along. Water is their territory, their feeding grounds, their shelter. The kid understandably had no idea where he was or what risk he was putting himself at, but the parents should have.
Golf courses aren't completely fenced in. Isn't the property of most theme parks completely fenced in?Alligators aren't like fish. They have legs with which they walk from place to place. That's how they get on golf courses and in people's back yards.
Maybe Disney stupidly thought a "don't swim" sign was enough. Now they'll need to put up a twenty foot flashing sign listing all the reasons why. Apparently hillfolk from Nebraska don't pay attention otherwise.
I agree 100%. On a Tuesday, my kids were fishing and kept getting harassed by a 7 foot gator - the gator kept coming over to wherever they were near. Reason was that a local along the canal fed the gator daily. So, while fishing, we had to keep changing locations. On Wednesday, we went to Disney. I had ZERO expectations of being eaten by wildlife while on their grounds.There is a disconnect between reality and resort. People go to resort to get away from reality. So this gator thing never crossed my mind til now. I knew there were gators in Florida, but I would never think they were inside Disney.
I agree. Not something you should have to think about.There is a disconnect between reality and resort. People go to resort to get away from reality. So this gator thing never crossed my mind til now. I knew there were gators in Florida, but I would never think they are inside Disney.
Gated communities don't have a fence all the way around them. I expect these types of resorts actually do.
Golf courses aren't completely fenced in. Isn't the property of most theme parks completely fenced in?
I agree 100%. On a Tuesday, my kids were fishing and kept getting harassed by a 7 foot gator - the gator kept coming over to wherever they were near. Reason was that a local along the canal fed the gator daily. So, while fishing, we had to keep changing locations. On Wednesday, we went to Disney. I had ZERO expectations of being eaten by wildlife while on their grounds.
Cool idea but not very feasible. Any gap the gators could use. No gaps and how do you bring in water taxis? Gates? And believe me they need them to help get resort guest in and out. Gators will also get on land and walk around, so we are talking eyesore fences regardless.
I have friends and family that have been cast members. Disney goes to great lengths to maintain the "most magical place on earth" atmosphere. Insurance will cover claims, and they will address this in the most Disney way possible. Someone joked about Cpt. Hook. I would not be overly surprised if they decided to use him holding on to the mast with the crocs right below him, mouths open, as visual part of a future warning sign. And they would find a way to make the danger sound almost cute in the wording. Like "DANGER! Stay out of the water! Here be man eating gators ye land lubbers!
More likely though, is they will hire full time gator trappers to scour the place every day. All gators will be relocated from property, and a zero tolerance for them will be implemented. Disney likes everything to be as invisible as possible to guests. But insurance may require signs from now on, so maybe those too.
My friend and I were on the back 9 at the Savannah's on Merritt Island. A turtle comes out of the water hazard and seemingly, aimlessly, starts derping around the green, messing with his putt. So, he says come on lil guy, and sets him at the edge of the water. Gator snatches it less than 2 seconds after he lets it go.Golf courses aren't completely fenced in.
Agreed. I call this a fine example of bad parenting. I feel for the family, but what does one need to happen to weigh in the dangers of the environemt at hand.
I agree. Not something you should have to think about.
When my son was prey sized for the average sized gator, I did not let him even stand next to dark water. On a dock or high bank, yes, but not the shoreline. My friend has shot a 10 footer that was raiding his fish pond. And the canals on his property go all the way to the St. John's river. Gators are common.
If I came to Canuckistan, I would be mindful of bears, moose, and the like. I would not expect to need to worry about one attacking us by the resort poolside though.
For the Grand Floridian and a few other resorts at the Magic Kingdom, You would see the fencing while entering the park by monorail or water. Never mind the eyesore for guests at the resorts. When we stayed at the Caribbean Beach, they had hammocks and volleyball on the beaches. Many guests stood there to see the Epcot fireworks too. A fence would completely ruin the atmosphere. Same goes for GF and Polynesian. You just cannot do it brudda. The solution needs to be as invisible as possible. Warning signs and such.It would just be for the areas where people tend to be near the water or wade in the water. Marked protected areas like they have with sharks.
I have had a encounter with a black bear in Tennessee. Came back from mountain biking and he was sniffing my truck; I had fig newtons inside. Doors were locked and windows up.Probably should watch out for raccoons more than any other animal. They are breaking through garbage cans that were supposed to be (small) wildlife proof. And I have only seen a moose in the zoo. Same with bears.
This is the gorilla thing all over again. Innocent animals slaughtered because of inattentive parents.