brandonh83
Banned
gf just dropped this on me while I was eating breakfast. I almost threw the fuck up.
Holy shit.
Holy shit.
Gator drags child into water near Disney's Grand Floridian
- Thread starter Somnia
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Saltwater beaches (Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean) are fine. If it's not a beach and you can't see clear through to the bottom, don't go in.
Also, bring insect repellent with as much DEET in it as is legally allowed. The mosquitoes down here are their own special brand of hell.
We go to the beach quite a lot with our kids (5, 3, 2)
We're always close by when they are playing by the sea, but the 2 year old will have a splash in the (very) shallow water without holding our hand.
Now obviously we haven't got alligators, but can totally understand how the parents, on a "beach" in a Disney land resort, having an organised film evening just wouldn't even consider such a thing.
And its completely imaginable that the 2 year old was sitting nicely next to a parent 2 minutes earlier, before quietly (as they do) run off
Jailer of Hope
Member
Oh. I had not read that article since the OP was posted.
Highly unlikely, Disney will most likely do something for the family before it gets to that and legally Disney most likely would settle or are covered somehow.
Also lets not turn this thread into a "Disney is cancer for Florida" thread, this isn't about that.
WeAreStarStuff
Member
That's terrifying. We were at Disney with another couple a few months ago, and it never crossed my mind that gators would be in the water there. I mean it makes sense, b/c they are everywhere in Florida, but I just never considered it. ::shudders::
It's an unwritten rule, but a safe one.
An exception in my case if Florida-GAF is familiar with it would be Moss park. It has a little man made beach with some netting or guidelines around, but the water is brackish as shit. I was still able to swim in it, alongside dozens of others in relative safety however, even as the legion of cattails of the wild lie roughly 50-100 feet away.
Thanks for the response. I'll have more personal experience with this in...exactly 2 years and 1 month.
That is terrifying and horrible news. I have a two year old boy who loves his alligators. If he saw one in real life, he would be afraid, but he wouldn't understand the full extent of how dangerous it is to be close to it. Very sad.
I'm not ready to crucify the parents, I imagine this could happen in an instant.
I'm not ready to crucify the parents, I imagine this could happen in an instant.
Alligatorjandro
Banned
Were there no signs saying to stay out of the water?
Best of luck
BattleMonkey
Member
Disney employs tons of people, many of which are simple no skill required jobs, so yea lot of folks are going to not get amazing pay. They do offer lot of benefits to their employees though.
astroturfing
Member
this is the most frustrating post i've seen on GAF, ever.
surely you dont let your kid swim with gators anymore?? that is fucking insane. would you let him go into a forest with tigers roaming around..? this is even worse because you cant even see a gator coming! aaargh
They have signs all over that say no swimming. Reports are the kid and his dad were about a foot into the water.
There were signs to stay out of the water.
Chiaroscuro
Member
Read tha article and the CNN one. There are many signs.
I am not blaming the fathers but they were very naivy to let their younger child to play in that water even a foot in (as I look at the pictures). Specially at sundown. But they were on vacation on a luxery resort, so they probable felt very safe. My family was been at Disney almost every year in the last years. I remember when staying at Caribbean Resort the staff would make bonfires to cook marshmallows at the artificial beach from its lake, and at sundown too. So... I cannot blame anyone here.
Dreams-Visions
Member
God damnit.
Astral Dog
Member
What does that mean with the gators
Dreams-Visions
Member
I feel there is an essential difference between "no swimming" and "beware alligators". I feel like they illicit two potentially contrasting reactions, especially if you're not from FL. One gives way to curiosity or a bit of rebellion. Maybe one thinks the water is dirty or unwatched by life guards for which the sign amounts to legal coverage for Disney. The other says, "oh shit let me say way the fuck back, lest I get bit in the ass by a dinosaur ancestor."
Anyway, the lawyers will figure out who can be blamed. I think you're fooling yourself if you think this family is going to shrug off their 2 year old disappearing into the Buena Vista night surrounded by gator jaws.
Skiptastic
Member
My wife and I are taking our 10 month old to WDW on July 4. This story is giving me chills.
I highly doubt legally they can say "the signs said no swimming but we thought its okay to be a little rebellious". I do not see how they could win here, it would be against Disney of all companies. They know how to make sure they are legally protected.
SliceSabre
Banned
At first I thought this was crazy that an alligator was nearby then I remembered at one of the resorts my family stayed at when we were visiting Disney had a huge pond and there were numerous signs around warning customers not go in the water with a large picture of a alligator on it.
I thought the signs were bullshit till I was on the secured patio our room had overlooking the pond one evening and realized the thing I was looking at in the pond was not a branch but a pair of eyes and a bit of alligator snout. I didn't let my younger siblings out of my fucking sight after that and would not go near the pond.
Such a tragic thing to happen to that family.
I thought the signs were bullshit till I was on the secured patio our room had overlooking the pond one evening and realized the thing I was looking at in the pond was not a branch but a pair of eyes and a bit of alligator snout. I didn't let my younger siblings out of my fucking sight after that and would not go near the pond.
Such a tragic thing to happen to that family.
I feel like too many people see a "No Swimming" sign and seem to think that it means it must be OK to just wade in a few feet into the water.
Alligators aren't the only reason WDW doesn't want you in the lagoon, so a broader sign like "No Swimming" made sense, I thought.
Maybe it should be changed to "Do Not Enter the Water" to stop people from wading?
EDIT: Also, if people are still wondering how that lagoon has gators, go look at Google Maps. It's directly connected to the larger Bay Lake, and both have a ton of canals connecting them to even more bodies of water
Alligators aren't the only reason WDW doesn't want you in the lagoon, so a broader sign like "No Swimming" made sense, I thought.
Maybe it should be changed to "Do Not Enter the Water" to stop people from wading?
EDIT: Also, if people are still wondering how that lagoon has gators, go look at Google Maps. It's directly connected to the larger Bay Lake, and both have a ton of canals connecting them to even more bodies of water
Dreams-Visions
Member
My guess is we'll see soon enough. Assuming they were in the water, swimming is just that: an assumption. Depending on the family's account, Disney could very well be in a heap of trouble.
Disney legally is probably covered yes, but that doesn't bring this little boy back and knowing the Disney company they will most likely settle with the family without it ever going to court.
In the end a little boy is lost and that is the most tragic thing here, I don't think the blame should be put on anyone though.
Tal Shiar Agent
Banned
Gators will travel for miles overland between bodies of water too. Unless it's completely enclosed like Echo Lake you must assume there are gators.
Hopefully Disney will put some of physical barrier up on the beaches now.
Dreams-Visions
Member
I don't disagree right now, but if someone or some entity was negligent, they need to be held accountable. If for no other reason to ensure better safety measures are put in place to reduce the likelihood of something like this happening again. Better lighting at night events on beaches by gator-infested waters, for example. Or increased distances from the shore. Or clearer signs. Or lit signs at night to ensure they aren't missed in the darkness. Stuff like that.
Jailer of Hope
Member
They tend to take measures after things like this happen whether they were forced to or not.
They do. The signs also say "No wading". They make it clear that they don't want you in the water at all.
Parents with limited income vs disney parks with billions of $$ at their disposal.
Im sure there will be a settlement tho.
friskykillface
Banned
awful story to hear
but its Florida , gators all over the place so I'd be no where near a body of water thats not an ocean
doesn't Disney resorts have pools?
but its Florida , gators all over the place so I'd be no where near a body of water thats not an ocean
doesn't Disney resorts have pools?
you do realize that this is the first time a kid has been snatched up like this, right? hundreds, if not thousands of these viewing have happened over the span of the grands life time. If anyone was negligent, it could be argued the parents were.
awful story to hear
but its Florida , gators all over the place so I'd be no where near a body of water thats not an ocean
doesn't Disney resorts have pools?
All of them do. And 99% of the nightly movie viewing are at poolside, with exception to the resorts surrounding the lagoon
Yes, they do. Their minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage.
Disney brings a ton of jobs to FL, both directly and indirectly. WDW is basically its own city.
10mo old? I wouldn't do it. Wait a few years. The heat will be exhausting and there's really nothing for a <1yo to do.
We didn't bring our daughter to WDW until she was 5yo
Disney is known to make major safety changes very quickly for little things, I guarantee you things will change going forward on the beaches. What they do I do not know, but they will do something.
Dreams-Visions
Member
As mentioned, it really depends on the clarity of the signs. "No swimming" is a different message than "no wading" is a different message than "do not enter the water: danger" is different message than "danger: alligators in water".
It is often important to know why something is being suggested and confusion over a general safety recommendation vs a health hazard or wildlife threat yield different responses. Especially if people are not from FL and are unfamiliar with gators.
Ah, they do? I haven't stayed at the Grand Floridian or been on its beach yet. I know some of the signs on property don't say anything but "No Swimming".
(this one is from the Beach Club resort, taken on Feb 5, 2016)
EDIT:
Not sure what part of GF's beach this is in regards to the movie viewing area, but this is from a Chicago Tribune article and is actually on the Grand Floridian beach:
(says "Steep Drop-off / Deep Water / No Swimming")
Miggytronz
Member
Dr. Zoidberg
Member
I seriously doubt it. Attendence was already down because two of the 4 parks are in the midst of major additions and construction among other reasons, but these recent tragedies would not dissuade the vast majority from making a trip if they had already wanted to go. People will just avoid getting close to the lakes and rivers, and horrible gun tragedies can happen anywhere.
Should really tell you why no swimming is allowed. These signs seem to suggest that swimming is not permitted, not that swimming might result in your being snapped in half by an alligator.
The signs should always be explicit as possible about the potential dangers of not following the rules.
InfiniteBento
Member
As someone who grew up near Pulse, and who's mother has worked for Disney for the past 10 years, let me clarify some shit;
There are signs all over Disney that specify no swimming or wading on almost, if not all, bodies of water surrounding the resorts. Generally, if a cast member sees you anywhere near bodies of water they will call you out. Its not like they will just stroll by while you put yourself in danger. However, if you choose to still disregard blantant signs and warnings, that is your responsibility entirely. Its not Disney's fault you decided to go near massive bodies of water, at night especially, to swim or fuck around. While i am not blaming the parents, this kind of thing is completely spontaneous, people do need to be more aware that Florida is not clear waters. Florida is a swamp. We are a massive state filled to the brim with wildlife at every damn corner. Disney can only tame so much of that.
Also, for those who dont know, Florida is a massive swamp. Every body of water has wildlife in it, gators especially. We cannot control this to the high extent people think we can. They are everywhere and produce rapidly. There are people who hunt them daily and sell their meat as jerky and other products for a living but that still only diminishes their population ever so slightly. If you live in Florida, you know not to go near rogue bodies of water. There are lakes/springs we go to that are controlled or bordered off from gators for swimming and recreational use. Not every place is like this though so when you come to Florida, it is almost always swim at your own risk. Thats just the way it is here. We cant change that and we make grand efforts to but its pretty fucking difficult when this whole state is a massive swamp overflowing with dangerous wildlife.
There are signs all over Disney that specify no swimming or wading on almost, if not all, bodies of water surrounding the resorts. Generally, if a cast member sees you anywhere near bodies of water they will call you out. Its not like they will just stroll by while you put yourself in danger. However, if you choose to still disregard blantant signs and warnings, that is your responsibility entirely. Its not Disney's fault you decided to go near massive bodies of water, at night especially, to swim or fuck around. While i am not blaming the parents, this kind of thing is completely spontaneous, people do need to be more aware that Florida is not clear waters. Florida is a swamp. We are a massive state filled to the brim with wildlife at every damn corner. Disney can only tame so much of that.
Also, for those who dont know, Florida is a massive swamp. Every body of water has wildlife in it, gators especially. We cannot control this to the high extent people think we can. They are everywhere and produce rapidly. There are people who hunt them daily and sell their meat as jerky and other products for a living but that still only diminishes their population ever so slightly. If you live in Florida, you know not to go near rogue bodies of water. There are lakes/springs we go to that are controlled or bordered off from gators for swimming and recreational use. Not every place is like this though so when you come to Florida, it is almost always swim at your own risk. Thats just the way it is here. We cant change that and we make grand efforts to but its pretty fucking difficult when this whole state is a massive swamp overflowing with dangerous wildlife.
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