Accident of sorts at Disney in Florida, may be upsetting

[CheerfulYank]

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.

[WannaBe]

This is absolutely tragic for the family.

But, this is the first incident of its kind in the Disney resort, even though Florida is well known for alligators.

It's very easy to say that Disney should have had signs up warning about alligators/that people should have known/that someone somewhere should be accountable/was irresponsible etc etc. But there's only so far you can go really. Given that the equivalent of the U.K. Population visit Disney every year and this has never happened before, the reality is that this was just a tragic accident which was always possible in a place where large wild animals may occur, however in a resort which is not known to be swarming with alligators and where guests are told not to swim in the lagoon it's clear that Disney are not culpable here and neither are the family.

Let's not jump to knee-jerk "how irresponsible to have water/allow people on the beach/not warn people of the dangers" conclusion when this was a one-off, tragic event.

[redhat]

mouldy I'm really not victim blaming in any way. I'm just saying that any news reports saying that there are no gator signs around the lagoon are incorrect. The Polynesian (as you know) is right next door on that same lagoon and there are definitely signs there - so the reporting is clearly incorrect. Whether there were any signs on that particular little bit of the lagoon I don't know (as you know, its vast) but there are gators all over disney and the cast members do tell you about them. There are also signs everywhere telling you not to go into the water.

Its a tragic accident. But it is not Disney's fault.

[callherwillow]

So upsetting

I always thought alligators were relatively harmless to humans (relatively in the sense that if you leave them alone they leave you alone - crocs I know are vicious.)

Poor, poor family

[CocktailQueen]

There are signs by the beach saying not to go in the water. The boy was in the water. On the map in the Guardian article, the Magic Kingdom is right on the edge of a big lagoon that feeds into a huge lake. Must be very hard to keep all alligators out.
Awful for all concerned.

[Itsaplayonwords]

I agree WannaBe. It's a tragic accident and, unfortunately, finger pointing doesn't change the outcome. It seems like it's possibly a problem which is escalating in recent times - the BBC article says "Twenty-two people have been killed by alligators in Florida since 1948, they say." Which is relatively a lot less than has happened in the past week (given this incident and the one someone else mentioned further up the thread). If it's an increasing problem then I'm sure signs will be put up where there are none for the safety of all who visit in the future.

[BrandNewAndImproved]

This is such an awful story. I was quite upset this morning listening to it on the news.

[redhat]

It was also night time and so even more risk of attack (or indeed problems in general) if you are in the water.

Its very sad.

[pambeesley]

Not a lot Disney can do. This is a freak accident. Alligators don't attack that often.

If Disney had thought it was a real risk they would have done a lot more. Disney are very health and safety conscious, for example you used to get hot cheese for burgers but someone burnt themselves and that was the end of that.

This will be huge for Disney. But even if they put fences round the water alligators can climb them.

[CheerfulYank]

Right Pam. I don't think it's negligence on their part. I doubt they'll continue movie night.or whatever so close to the water thought.

[Thefitfatty]

There are signs and they do warn people, because although they search the waters regularly some alligators do get through. I don't know if they have alligator warning signs at the Grand Floridian, but the Polynesian is right next door and they have them on the canals at the New Orleans resort. The island is a nature reserve for birds, not alligators.

This is a huge shame, and Disney will take it badly (they actually closed a park in the past because a boy died of a very very rare infection he got from the water), the park has the highest safety standards, so this is really really sad.

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

I imagine fences will go up to keep people out of the water, rather than alligators out of the resorts. Horrific as it is, I've seen warning signs around the resort, and I don't think it's Disneys fault. I'm not blaming the parents at all, as many people don't realise the danger, but the child was in the water, at night, in Florida...

[WannaBe]

The very fact that it's being reported on the news over here shows just how unheard of this is.

Agree that if alligators are becoming an increasing problem Then additional precautions will likely be taken. I've been to Florida several times and every time I've been there there have been instances on the news of alligators being removed from gardens and freeways and such.

but they're wild animals which will sometimes enter into domestic places. Where possible they will be removed, but sometimes, just sometimes wild animal wins over human. Tragic for all concerned but certainly nobody's fault.

I grew up in South Africa. You knew you didn't go tramping around in the bush or long grass etc without shoes on and such because of the potential for snakes, but nobody played a blame game if one made it into a swimming pool or a patio and ended up biting someone. It happens when people and animals live in close proximity. And fortunately these instances are rare, so rare that when they happen they're reported on the international news.

[PandasRock]

I agree it is a tragic accident.

I've been to Disneyworld several times, always staying in Disney resort hotels, and alligators have never been mentioned to me.

When playing at the Beach Club, my dc all asked if they could go paddling (they didn't), and it didn't occur to me there was a really so from alligators. If I thought about it at all, I would have assumed the no swimming was because Disney don't want to be responsible for ensuring the lakes and lagoons are 'clean' water.

Given how guests are encouraged to gather on the beaches after dark (they are prized locations for viewing the fireworks, officially endorsed as Disney pipe in the music for full effect) I would have thought warning signs in those areas were essential.

[pambeesley]

I thought the movie night was at the pool and they may have been watching fireworks there. I'm sure these areas will now be closed at night which is a shame really.

Do we know for sure he was in the water even?

Disney will be on complete damage control today. The Orlando shooting would be worrying for them too (PR wise) as it links the concept of terrorism attack with wdw and also the news that he may have looked at targeting Disney.

I used to live out there and spend a lot of time reading and listening to stuff about wdw and the company.

[BBQsAreSooooOverrated]

Oh that's really said. Poor little boy, an exciting holiday ending this way.

[JayDot500]

I'm going there this summer with family. My cousin had already warned me not to go near lakes or beach areas at night. This is awful. Poor little boy

[Thefitfatty]

I would have assumed the no swimming was because Disney don't want to be responsible for ensuring the lakes and lagoons are 'clean' water.

I assume that's the biggest part of it. To be fair, none of those lakes and canals look particularly clean, and they're full of ducks (and presumably duck poop!).

[chanelfreak]

I don't think the child was in the water though? I thought he was with his mum on the beach/sand? Either way, it is a terrible tragedy and I can't even imagine how the family are feeling. Poor little mite.

[Notbigandnotclever]

It's a freak accident but very very horrible for the family. My thoughts are with them right now for sure.

Disney do have no swimming and alligator warnings around all the lakes and water in the parks but they are fairly discreet as it is rare to actually see one. If they spot one they usually discreetly remove them from the area. Also all the water areas in Disney are man made fresh water as far as I'm aware which usually alligators don't like. Cast members do warn people as well. I've been warned on my visits.

There seem to have been a spate of alligator attacks recently which is unusual. I've heard it being suggested that there has likely been a population boom which has resorted in a lack of food so gators are being found in areas they wouldn't normally be in and are attacking when they normally wouldn't.

Usually there aren't really many in the tourist areas as the big parks etc do their best to relocate any they find. There is only so much you can do with a bloody huge lake though.

[MaryPoppinsPenguins]

There are conflicting reports, I've read that he was on the beach, and in the water holding his dad's hand, and in the water alone. It's so tragic.

[CheerfulYank]

I read that the family was sitting on the shore and the little boy was splashing right by them.

Honestly if I saw the no swimming sign I wouldn't really connect it with a toddler wading a bit or alligators! I'd just think they didn't want the liability involved with having lifeguards and swimmers going out too deep, etc.

[redhat]

Sheriff when interviewed said he was wading in the water along the shoreline.

[PointlessUsername]

Such a sad thing to happen.

My thoughts are with the little boys Family

[BaboonBottom]

Poor poor boy, just awful.

As it's a hotel you can presume everyone there is not local, therefore they wouldn't know not to go near the water
I wouldn't know not to go near that water. I'd expect aligator signs if there is the remotest chance. Because I'm not local I don't know. I'd also expect it to be in the welcome meeting and welcome pack.

That poor poor family, you can't blame Disney but they should have done more with information.

[redhat]

And that he was the only person in the water at the time indicating that he wasn't holding his father's hand.