Child pulled into water by alligator near Grand Floridian

[dinosaurgertie]

I saw my first alligator at Caribbean Beach a few years ago and I was shocked and terrified. I thought, "what is an alligator doing in this small, man-made body of water? Don't alligators live in natural lakes and swamp land? I'm not exactly "roughing it." I am at a Disney resort in Central Florida. Turtles and fish and birds, yes. But, an alligator???" I'm an intelligent person who-- because of where I'm from (the midwest)-- was ignorant about the prevalence of alligators in Disney World. I thought that the alligator I saw was a fluke and would, naturally, be removed for fear of guest's safety. This isn't a public beach. This is private property where Disney hosts guests from around the world. If there's known, territorial predators on their property, they have a responsibility to notify guests so they can protect their safety. There's a difference between that and putting up a sign for every crack in the sidewalk.

 

[gmboy95]

Can we just for once recognize that none of us were there, and try not to pass judgement about something we probably know about 1/5th of the story at best....one thing about these boards, is we have a whole Bunch of folks who apparently have the power to know all, and also a collection of former winners of parent of the year...We don't know what happened, we probably won't know (despite what you read)...so how about we feel terrible for this child, and hope that Disney takes the proper steps to make sure something like this never happens again....if there was negligence on anyone's part, let the courts or law enforcement sort it out

 

[Spoiledraf]

Not to be cynical but were there cameras capturing this? We have no idea how far the kid was in the water except from what the parents say, right?

Are there any witnesses other than the father that a gator did this?

Don't flame me folks, just asking the obvious.

Wow!! You're asking for trouble. But....That's a tough question to ask in this situation but it really needs answered.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

No swimming = not safe to swim
No wading = don't go in the water

Sign may not have made any difference, however.

Really, what's the difference?? How fast you flap your arms?
Is the traveling public that stupid they need this clarification?

MG

 

[Daddy Mack]

Alligators can jump 6 feet high from a standing rest. That's a vertical, not a horizontal, leap.

You cannot "gator-proof" a large body of water. Gators can get onto the deck of the Poly bungalows if they want.

I was raising the possibility of gator proofing a small body of water, namely the area around the beach, but even that may not be possible.

 

[ryansstitch]

Wife and I were just talking about the signs and she never even imagined Alligators were in the water. We are from Texas and know the danger of water/wildlife. Even though most people know about Alligators/Florida but I sincerely believe that most folks assume Disney "magic" would prevent these things from happening.

We both agreed that seeing a sign that says "No Swimming" does not automatically mean no walking in water, or imply that alligators - snakes - or brain eating amoebas are present.

In our previous stays (many) we see mostly foreigners hanging out in the lakes. I've probably seen folks setting up the beach chairs in the water 5 or 6 times at Poly and Beach Club.

I've seen this too at poly and GF. I'm Like the human version of Piglet, im borderline paranoid about water, so I never turn my back to it, and keep my distance at night. But most people aren't scaredy cats, and if no one is reprimanded for touching water, and so many people do it, it seems safer than it actually is.

 

[NileNellie]

Alligator population is too high? Get rid of the alligators? You all can't be serious. Signs were ignored that "beach is closed" and "no swimming" and it's the gators fault?!? This is FL. Gators live here, long before Disney did. We have to be smart and respectful of them while in their territory. Same as with any other wild animal.

Agreed, but at the same time, the gator population in FL is out of control. Bottom line is that they are a
nuisance and something needs to be done.

 

[Spoiledraf]

I saw my first alligator at Caribbean Beach a few years ago and I was shocked and terrified. I thought, "what is an alligator doing in this small, man-made body of water? Don't alligators live in natural lakes and swamp land? I'm not exactly "roughing it." I am at a Disney resort in Central Florida. Turtles and fish and birds, yes. But, an alligator???" I'm an intelligent person who-- because of where I'm from (the midwest)-- was ignorant about the prevalence of alligators in Disney World. I thought that the alligator I saw was a fluke and would, naturally, be removed for fear of guest's safety. This isn't a public beach. This is private property where Disney hosts guests from around the world. If there's known, territorial predators on their property, they have a responsibility to notify guests so they can protect their safety. There's a difference between that and putting up a sign for every crack in the sidewalk.

Apparently you didn't see the recent video of the 15 foot gator that lives on a Florida golf course. If you are in Florida, you are in the alligators natural habitat. No matter where you are.

 

[Mabel67]

I'm blown away that some are trying to distinguish "no swimming" from "no wading".
Really??

MG

Absolutely agree. Pretending there is a difference between the two is a game of semantics rather than an exercise of common sense.

Additionally, there are many, many reasons that Disney may have for not entering (i.e. 'swimming') the lagoons. If they were to list the known hazards and someone were to have an incident relating to a peril not listed, I would think they would be worse off legally (I'm not a lawyer, though, and I've never slept in a Holiday Inn Express). Reasons other than alligators for not entering swampland in Florida:
- snakes, including venomous types
- high bacteria counts (testing can be time consuming and costly)
- Naegleria fowleri (rare, but almost always fatal - google it).
- other protozoa harmful to humans
- biting insects, crustaceans, etc
- unsafe conditions on the bottom of the lagoon - jagged rocks, broken glass, etc.

It seems to me that too many people don't want to be responsible for themselves and their children. Yes children can be sneaky and quick - that's why they require supervision from competent, responsible adults. At all times. Simply following the posted warnings would have resulted in the child squealing happily today at MK instead of the horrific outcome now being experienced. If you're unfamiliar with the hazards of a particular area, all the more reason to follow the posted warnings.

 

[luv disney]

All the reports I have seen keep saying, 'there were no witnesses'. Only the parents.

Because they were the only ones wading in the water ~ News report posted this

 

[sam1998]

I am from Kentucky. We don't have alligators here. But I am surprised at how many people seem shocked that there are alligators in and around the lakes at Disney. I'm less shocked when someone from out of this country doesn't know, but I don't know how any American doesn't know. I don't mean disrespect, I am just surprised.

FYI: here is the range of the American Alligator.

 

[Opie100]

Really, what's the difference?? How fast you flap your arms?

Wading = standing in the water (could imply bad water)
Swimming = swimming in the water (could imply unsafe swimming conditions)

They are pretty clearly different. Impossible to know if a different sign would have changed the actions undertaken.

 

[moobar25]

Eastern said: ↑
All the reports I have seen keep saying, 'there were no witnesses'. Only the parents.

Because they were the only ones wading in the water ~ News report posted this

This says a lot about the situation.

 

[Monorail Bob's dd]

Does anyone have an actual picture of the signs posted on the beach at the Grand Floridian before this incident happened? I am hearing very mixed things about what those signs said.

 

[JollyHoliday]

No swimming does not mean no wading. I have seen many children splashing at the waters edge at the resorts over the years and no one ever told them to get away from the water. There are many activities right next to the water every night. The electric water parade goes by, roasting of marshmallows by the waters edge, movie by the water and wishes music playing on the beach to watch the fireworks. Also, children are given a bucket and shovel with their kids meal to play on the beach. As a vacationer from the north, I would have never expected this could happen. Prayers for the family.

 

[Poohsmommi]

Does anyone have an actual picture of the signs posted on the beach at the Grand Floridian before this incident happened? I am hearing very mixed things about what those signs said.

 

[goNDmay9]

i am so shaken by this. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to this family. Just horrible.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Wading = standing in the water (could imply bad water)
Swimming = swimming in the water (could imply unsafe swimming conditions)

They are pretty clearly different. Impossible to know if a different sign would have changed the actions undertaken.

This, in my opinion, is a silly distinction.

MG

 

[Poohsmommi]

The signs say no swimming. I really don't understand the way people think. This is Florida. It was a lake. ANY body of water here can and most likely does have gators. People need to use their heads.

 

[Hundredacre]

For every four they find now, there will be that many later. Think about how many man hours and specialists this involves, and apply that property wide day in and day out. Not going to happen.
And I'm guessing that they are killing the large ones- that's wildlife policy- as they're trying to find that poor toddler's body. There's no count of the small gators (under 4 feet) that they're not touching in this search.

Exactly. There are way too many alligators. The population is out of control.