Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
Original poster

Accident of sorts at Disney in Florida, may be upsetting

549 replies

CheerfulYank · 15/06/2016 05:46

A two year old was dragged into the lagoon by an alligator a few hours ago and hasn't been seen since.

It's so awful I feel like I can't breathe. I cannot imagine how scared he/she was and what the parents are feeling.

Accounts vary but apparently they were sitting on the beach either waiting for fireworks or having movie night. It's just too awful. I'm sure it was supposed to be a wonderful trip and now this.

I know the chances that child will be found alive are almost nothing, but I am hoping against hope that he or she is. I just cannot imagine.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
18
ryanbeth1 · 15/06/2016 23:17

There is a sign saying "no swimming" no sign warning of alligators!! The Police said when asked if it was known that alligators were present in the lake said.... there has been no reports of NUISANCE ALLIGATORS RECENTLY!!! So they knew and allowed families to play there!!

AnecdotalEvidence · 15/06/2016 23:17

And we knew about alligators - the guidebooks mention them a lot
No they don't. I have just checked my guidebook and there are barely any references to alligators and the references that are there relate to things like Gatorland and the Airboat Tours.
I've also checked a few websites with tourist information and there really is nothing that would indicate the risks on Disney. Plenty of info about gators in the wild and how to see them. If there was a risk of being taken by a gator whilst paddling on the banks of the lake, I would expect the sign to be a damn site more clear than "no swimming"

Of course they have to kill the gators they find in that lake!

AnneEyhtMeyer · 15/06/2016 23:17

I think people are unaware of the scale of Disney World. It isn't like Alton Towers.

It is bigger than Manhattan! It isn't just a theme park. It is 4 huge theme parks, 2 water parks, vast lakes and waterways, roads, around 25 hotels, sports venues.... and less than half of it has been developed. You can't just put a wall round it.

ryanbeth1 · 15/06/2016 23:18

The child was 2 years old and only had feet in the water. His dad lost the battle trying to save him. So sad

AnecdotalEvidence · 15/06/2016 23:19

I have just read that they are now saying the boy was 10ft out in the water, if that's right then the gator didn't actually come right up to the beach and snatch him
They found his body 10 yards out from the shore!
He was paddling within 1 foot of the edge.

SpringerS · 15/06/2016 23:21

I was talking to a Floridan about this today and she told me that basically, you assume that all bodies of water potentially have alligators in them. Other than baths and pools, you stay out of all inland water.

AnneEyhtMeyer · 15/06/2016 23:21

They have said he was paddling 10 feet out.

ryanbeth1 · 15/06/2016 23:21

It's been announced they found his body.x

datingbarb · 15/06/2016 23:22

Ah ok I must of read it wrong, I read it about 5 mins after the news broke that they had found him, something about despite initial reports the boy was said to of been 10 foot out

ryanbeth1 · 15/06/2016 23:27

Maybe they will now put signs up huh! x

AnecdotalEvidence · 15/06/2016 23:27

This doesn't look like an unsafe place to me.

Accident of sorts at Disney in Florida, may be upsetting
datingbarb · 15/06/2016 23:27

This is why I thought it

Accident of sorts at Disney in Florida, may be upsetting
Itsaplayonwords · 15/06/2016 23:29

I read that he was paddling 10 feet out from the shore as well. The water was about 1ft deep.

I didn't realise how vast WDW was. So are Disney solely responsible for the entire area? Or is it shared with authorities?

VioletBam · 15/06/2016 23:30

There was a big sign there which said No Swimming, Steep Drop Off.

Which is worrying. Perhaps the poor family didn't see it?

SouthWestmom · 15/06/2016 23:31

Love how shitty the DM are with their outraged capitals. That's TEN FEET people, in case you didn't think k the parents were to blame...

datingbarb · 15/06/2016 23:33

Itsaplay you really just can't explain how big or what Disney is like, it's honestly just would not be anything like you imagine, I was shocked the first time I went. It's just huge!!

I'm not really sure they have there own staff employees to take care of gators etc just like they have there very own fire station on site but I guess they have outside help as well

Original poster
CheerfulYank · 15/06/2016 23:33

I think he is mostly...intact. I'm reading that there were just a few bites. I would imagine that they may not be letting the parents see him right away due to time in the water.

His name was Lane Graves and he was two and from Nebraska.

I think Sheriff Demings did an exemplary job. He was there all night and day and was extremely professional and kind in all the interviews I saw. I'm reading now that he had found out the Graves were Catholic and brought a priest with him to tell them when they found the body. I don't know if that's normal protocol (it may be) but I think it was very kind anyway. We've had so much bad press for our police force lately (and a lot of it has been deserved ) but there really are so many good, hardworking officers.

I really hope the media circus dies down to let Lane's family grieve in peace. They've suffered enough and will forever.

OP posts:
datingbarb · 15/06/2016 23:35

Guess when you actually think about it 10 feet really isn't that far is it?

AnecdotalEvidence · 15/06/2016 23:36

Piss poor DM reporting there.

This is what the Sheriff ACTUALLY said:
"Demings said the body was found in murky water perhaps 10 to 15 yards from where the boy was attacked."
"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"

www.wesh.com/national-news/police-alligator-attacks-drags-away-boy-at-disney-hotel/40060608

hownottofuckup · 15/06/2016 23:40

It's sad how blindsighted people are by Disney propaganda as to be so quick to jump to their defence in the wake of a toddlers death.
They are a multi-billion company seeking nothing more than to make money.
Inadequate signage and fear of bad press has resulted in a little boys death.
The family deserve compassion. Disney deserves to be held to account as to why they put brand image and profits ahead of the safety of it's customers.
That poor little boy and his family, there are no words.

JeremyHunt · 15/06/2016 23:41

Tragic for everyone involved. Sad

Alisvolatpropiis · 15/06/2016 23:41

Completely agree Cheerful.

datingbarb · 15/06/2016 23:42

The DM wasn't the original report I read, think it was a American one! Either way 10ft really isn't that far

I heard the news this morning driving to work and have been following throughout the day, just horrendous

ryanbeth1 · 15/06/2016 23:42

shame the didn't have signs all over saying ALLIGATORS!! Don't think i'd be doing movie night on the beach with my kids if i'd knew there was a predator in the water

imwithspud · 15/06/2016 23:42

There are so many conflicting stories flying around. The boy was in the water, he was playing near the water, it was sign posted, it wasn't sign posted.

We will move on and it will all be old hat by next week. Let's stop all the speculating for a second and spare a thought for this little boy who tragically died, and his family who will now have to live with what happened for the rest of their lives.