*Updated with poll* - WTF, Alligator drags away a toddler at Walt Disney World

[skimple]

why do they even have a "white sand beach" to a body of water they don't want people entering?

That may actually be a valid legal argument. That's not a "natural beach". Disney built that beach. You can put up all the disclaimers and warnings you want, but they made it look like an area that was meant to used for swimming. I don't blame Disney for being unable to "gator-proof" the lake, but putting up swimming areas and then saying "no swimming".....hmmmm

I stayed on that lake with little kids 4 times now. We never went near the lake other than to board the boats, but never really gave it much thought. We talked with the boat staff several times about gators, and they all said "Its Florida - there's gators in the lake". If anyone spots one, they call it in and have people come remove them (if they can find it).

I remember when the "Electrical Water Pageant" came through at night, a bunch of people ran down to the water's edge to watch. Now that I think about it, one of my boys even went down there. I literally shudder when I think that there could have been a gator a few feet away. It never even occurred to me at the time. I would not have let him swim, but stand by the water's edge to watch the light show - why not?

And to another poster's point - it's not a "fenced off resort area". This is a huge area of land and water that could not possibly be constantly monitored and restricted from wildlife.

 

[rh71]

They have a case, it was at a Disneyland Resort. You expect to be fairly safe at a resort like that. You don't expect a Gator to come out and take your kid.

They had No Swimming signs up but nothing about gators.

Do they really have to name every potentially dangerous situation? Sad as this was, I wouldn't support a lawsuit since it's nature and not a Disney-operated ride. Would that honestly make you feel better if you were the family?

 

[gorcorps]

by all accounts the kid wasn't swimming in the water.

We either disagree on what NO SWIMMING means, or disagree on what "all accounts" means

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the child was "wading ... along the lake's edge at the time that the alligator attacked."

If I see a no swimming sign, I think "don't go into the water". Are you saying that since the child was merely wading, it doesn't count as swimming and that's why the parents didn't think anything of it?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Can't they put up the underwater nets or fences to keep the gators from getting near the shore in those places?

Image search gator climbing fence. It would help, but Disney has always gone for that illusion of a magical place. Tall fences around the property, that you can see from the monorail, water taxis, paddle boats, etc. inside of the magic kingdom? Highly unlikely.

On a happier, and somewhat related topic. If you have never been to Disney Parks or stayed at their resorts during the Holiday season, try to do it once before you expire. The Grand Floridian where this happened does a life size gingerbread house. As soon as you are inside, the delicious smell hits you. You do not have to stay i suppose, and at the ones in the magic kingdom, you can access them by monorail or water taxi.

 

[Chiropteran]

I'd expect animatronic robot gators, not the real life child-eating kind.

 

[Icepick]

There's no way the parents can be held responsible for this. Disney World makes it a point to make it's guests feel like they are safe and taken care of. There was never a reasonable expectation to beware of dangerous animals while within the resort property.

Also, there was no signage warning of a threat from predators. When staying at a Disney World resort there is a reasonbale expectation of safety. The signage read, "no swimming" and the family heeded that warning. The toddler strayed to the water line and had his feet in it. Non-Floridians who visit Disney World are not educated about the dangers of Alligators. If these are as common as some on this thread claim then It's the resort's responsibility to either warn it's guests or take reasonable precautions to prevent this sort of disaster.

The family is absolutely entitled to a lawsuit given the information that's been presented so far.

 

[purbeast0]

We either disagree on what NO SWIMMING means, or disagree on what "all accounts" means



If I see a no swimming sign, I think "don't go into the water". Are you saying that since the child was merely wading, it doesn't count as swimming and that's why the parents didn't think anything of it?

wading != swimming.

if they didn't want you doing either of them, they should probably have a sign like this.

https://www.google.com/search?safe=...0.0..0.0....0...1c..64.img..0.0.0.KAxanzgocUY

 

[vi edit]

If it's a body of water in Flordia...I'm going to assume it's got a gator risk. Don't care if it's Disney or not. I do agree that if they staffed a life guard then it does certainly send mixed messages on if the water is meant for swimming.

 

[zerocool84]

Do they really have to name every potentially dangerous situation? Sad as this was, I wouldn't support a lawsuit since it's nature and not a Disney-operated ride. Would that honestly make you feel better if you were the family?

Of course not but Disney hasn't the responsibility too keep their guests safe, especially from gators.

 

[Zee]

We either disagree on what NO SWIMMING means, or disagree on what "all accounts" means



If I see a no swimming sign, I think "don't go into the water". Are you saying that since the child was merely wading, it doesn't count as swimming and that's why the parents didn't think anything of it?

Who would think no swimming means don't put your goddamn feet in the water. That makes no sense.

 

[shimpster]

Why is this 'WTF'? It's water, it's Florida, it's an alligator, and the toddler had no idea where he was or what sort of risks he was taking. "Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said the child was "wading ... along the lake's edge at the time that the alligator attacked." Williamson said the boy was in less than a foot of water." Perfect setting for something like this to happen. Sure it's sad, but it's really nothing too crazy...

good point the 2 yo toddler had no idea.
wonder if the toddler had parents?

 

[zinfamous]

They have a case, it was at a Disneyland Resort. You expect to be fairly safe at a resort like that. You don't expect a Gator to come out and take your kid.

They had No Swimming signs up but nothing about gators.

That's a very difficult thing to prevent in Florida, especially in a resort the size of Disney World. Not sure where on the property this occurred, but it's likely there is no real way to prevent gators from wandering in and out of those water ways.

 

[zinfamous]

Who would think no swimming means don't put your goddamn feet in the water. That makes no sense.

It's Florida. No swimming means: "Stay the fuck away from this water. 10 foot minimum distance. etc" This sucks for sure, but: tourists.

 

[lxskllr]

I hate those stupid frivolous lawsuits as much as the next guy but really, you guys go to a Disneyland Resort and expect there to be alligators there? It's Disneyland/Disney World, they have a reputation for being one of the safest and family friendly places in the world. You don't expect there to be gators INSIDE the resort in the water. The father tried to save the son.

I absolutely expected it, and was disappointed when I didn't see any gators. I watched every body of water inside, and to/from the parks looking for gators. I also wouldn't have let my daughter play near natural water down there. She was 6 at the time if I remember right.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

This asshole here

You are searching for the remains of a 2 year old child, why do you look so happy? Not finding the kid is cause for relief; who wants to be the one to do that? But he looks like he just made a dead baby joke he thought was hilarious.

 

[zerocool84]

That's a very difficult thing to prevent in Florida, especially in a resort the size of Disney World. Not sure where on the property this occurred, but it's likely there is no real way to prevent gators from wandering in and out of those water ways.

I'm sure it's extremely difficult but everyone knows that Disney is going to be held liable for this. It was at their resort, not just some hotel next to a lake.

 

[Zee]

It's Florida. No swimming means: "Stay the fuck away from this water. 10 foot minimum distance. etc" This sucks for sure, but: tourists.

You're saying it's Florida that's the reason. If it said no swimming in lake George, upstate NY, does that mean stay 10 feet away and have an Uzi ready at all times?

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Just heard on the radio, so far 4 gators trapped, and dissected, no remains found yet.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

It's Florida. No swimming means: "Stay the fuck away from this water. 10 foot minimum distance. etc" This sucks for sure, but: tourists.

:thumbsup: and Teh 10ft min. is no joke. Anyone who has fed gators, or seen them fed, knows they can use their tails for springing better than tigger himself. They can be 6 inches under that dark water, you would not see them, and they would be on your dog or kid before you can scream. Once those jaws close, anything in them is staying there.

Another reason not to let your kids play at the edge of bodies of water this time of year (water temp is high) is amoebas. Rarely happens, but it is almost always fatal, and a bad way to go. that first foot of water line is the most dangerous.

 

[iamwiz82]

The nearby Hyatt had signs that were a little more obvious as to the danger.

 

[Chiropteran]

Just heard on the radio, so far 4 gators trapped, and dissected, no remains found yet.

This is the gorilla thing all over again. Innocent animals slaughtered because of inattentive parents.

 

[NoTine42]

Who would think no swimming means don't put your goddamn feet in the water. That makes no sense.

The threat of Brain eating amoeba has always been enough to keep me away from natural waters

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-cason-yeager-water-bacteria-death-20150627-story.html

Naegleria fowleri, a freshwater brain-eating amoeba, has killed more than 30 people since 1962 in Florida. The rare amoeba lives in lakes, rivers and poorly maintained pools and is almost always fatal. Then there's necrotizing fasciitis, a deadly flesh-eating disease that can be contracted through bacteria in waters if a wound is present.

 

[purbeast0]

This asshole here

You are searching for the remains of a 2 year old child, why do you look so happy? Not finding the kid is cause for relief; who wants to be the one to do that? But he looks like he just made a dead baby joke he thought was hilarious.

im offended that you are offended. i agree nobody should be able to smile until this baby is found.

 

[purbeast0]

The nearby Hyatt had signs that were a little more obvious as to the danger.

lol.

"DO NOT GO IN WATER, BUT HERE ARE SOME CANOES RIGHT BEHIND THE SIGN FOR YOU TO USE IN THE WATER"

 

[DAPUNISHER]

im offended that you are offended. i agree nobody should be able to smile until this baby is found.

fuck right off with that. I read enough of your posts to know you are not a idiot. And you damn well know the circumstances of that pic make his smile inappropriate as hell. You have a kid now, and if you tell me that smile would not set you off if that was your kid they were searching for, I say you are a liar.