Found Deceased FL - Lane Graves, 2, Walt Disney World, 14 June 2016 #1

[sonjay]

The thanks button was not enough! I agree completely. This is not an issue of class differences. This is a human tragedy that could happen to anyone. Compassion makes for a better world IMO.

I totally agree.

Gators and gorillas don't care about your financial status or your bank account.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

They're killing gators, 4 dead so far .. Still no sign of the child http://www.news.com.au/world/north-...a/news-story/fd2d0fcd5976673e8da05c754f84ad56 I wish we wouldn't do this EVERY SINGLE TIME!

The Florida DNR has a period of time each year where people who get a special license can kill so many gators. Gators are not on an endangered list. In fact many areas are overrun with gators who are killing pets, small farm animals and even humans. Georgia does the same thing every year to cull the huge gator population.

So it doesn't bother me they are having to kill a few gators so the child's remains can be recovered. Its mating season now so more will multiple anyway.

 

[keyleigh]

Hang on. How was the little one wading in the water when

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...tor-near-Disney-s-Grand-Floridian-resort.html

Shows the area is deep with a steep drop off? And the lagoon has a ledge there, not a smooth entrance to the water.

 

[LisaWL7TR]

So very sad for the family. We love Disney and I can't imagine this happening. Granted we would never be with them at the edge the water at dark that is just us, not blaming the parents, nor Disney. We did go down to the lake? at dark to watch a lit up floating parade after dark when we stayed at Fort Wilderness.
The family is in my prayers.

Sorry! (apologizing for my oops in advance)
Old Lurker, New Poster

 

[sonjay]

The Florida DNR has a period of time each year where people who get a special license can kill so many gators. Gators are not on an endangered list. In fact many areas are overrun with gators who are killing pets, small farm animals and even humans. Georgia does the same thing every year to cull the huge gator population.

So it doesn't bother me they are having to kill a few gators so the child's remains can be recovered. Its mating season now so more will multiple anyway.

Yep, we're now at a point where might have too many gators. They were placed on the endangered species list in 1973. By 1987, the gator population had recovered sufficiently to be removed from the endangered species list. They're everywhere. They multiply like rabbits.

I hope they're doing something useful with the gator meat from the gators they killed. Gator fritters are yummy. Gator gumbo is delicious.

 

[1&2&3]

It's been about twenty years since my family's last trip to WDW. We always stayed at the Polynesian, and went every 18 months from the year they opened.

Different characters would ski up on the beach to greet the children each day, morning and afternoon. We rented jet skis, paddle boats, ski boats and had barrels of fun on the lagoons. While I don't recall the lagoons being for swimming, I do recall a small shallow area for children to sit in the sand and water to play. What would Florida be without sand and water and sun?

I want to know when the alligators moved in and what provisions Disney made to keep them from coming on land? From looking at the pictures, it does not appear we can see what has been done . This is a scary thought as I LOVE WDW and gave them credit for running an excellent clean top knotch entertainment park. L cannot fathom this is a problem that has gotten out of hand, an accident waiting to happen! Please don't let Disney go down for ignoring this alligator problem.

There were no mention of alligators and the beaches were not built in a safe protective mode to keep alligators out. Not even at he Floridian Resort when it was brand new,

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Jun 15 2016, 7:52 am ET

Child, 2, Dragged Into Water by Alligator Near Disney Resort

by Phil Helsel and Shamar Walters

A 2-year-old boy on vacation with his family at a Disney resort was attacked by an alligator and dragged into a Florida lake in front of his horrified parents, police said.

The child was playing in the water on a beach area near Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at 9:16 p.m. Tuesday "just a foot or so into the water" when the incident occurred, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.

"The father at some point struggled to try to get his son and was not successful," he said...

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...ed-water-alligator-near-disney-resort-n592641

 

[YidArmyRach]

Thanks for the info. Didn't realise Disney had gators around. Scary!

I went to Florida (from UK) about 25 years ago for a holiday, and went to Disney for 3 days whilst we were there. From what I can remember, the danger of gators in Orlando was made very clear to us, as soon as we arrived (not just at our hotel, but when we visited Disney, the Space Centre and many other places).

We were made perfectly aware that there were gators around, especially in areas where there was water. Unless things have changed since then, we were made very aware of the dangers of gators at Disney and all other places we visited. Its one of the things that suprised me, as I had no idea until I got there, just how prevalent they were.

 

[MissyLDT]

Such a tragic event! However, people who vacation at Disney need to keep in mind that bad things can even happen at 'the happiest place on earth' if you let your guard down. It's still Florida and there are still many dangers.

We stayed at Port Orleans a few years back and half way through enjoying a swim, someone started shouting 'Gator'! Yip, said Gator was in the pool enjoying a dip with us and that was even with lifeguards patrolling the sides in the way they are taught to patrol to keep an eye on the pool at all times. Thankfully, there wasn't any major drama and the gator was removed in this instance. The wildlife in Florida was there before the mouse though and no matter what measures you apply, they'll still find a way to get in.




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[Tssiemer]

Words fail me.


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[ellemo]

This is one of those freak accidents that happen. Disney is pretty good at relocating gators, but like any wildlife, they find a way in. This probably wouldn't have happened in the daytime. And the gator was said to be relatively small so it probably wouldn't have happened to an adult or maybe even a pre-teen.

 

[Karinna]

I went to Florida (from UK) about 25 years ago for a holiday, and went to Disney for 3 days whilst we were there. From what I can remember, the danger of gators in Orlando was made very clear to us, as soon as we arrived (not just at our hotel, but when we visited Disney, the Space Centre and many other places).

We were made perfectly aware that there were gators around, especially in areas where there was water. Unless things have changed since then, we were made very aware of the dangers of gators at Disney and all other places we visited. Its one of the things that suprised me, as I had no idea until I got there, just how prevalent they were.

Yes the gators are everywhere in Florida, just wouldn't expect any to be at a Disney theme park though. In all the years i lived in Orlando i never went to Disney so don't know what it's like there. Just wasn't interested in it i guess.
But Prayers going up for the little boy and his family.

 

[Tayls1117]

I was just at Disney World with my 6 kids, their spouses and 5 grandkids. With all of the security there - you would think you would see a camera image of what happened. Perhaps they would not want to broadcast it, however, it should take the heat off of the parents. In addition, people are using their phone cameras and video every where, it is amazing to me that there are no reports of anyone catching this on video. jmo


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[Ontario Mom]

What a heartbreaking tragedy this is. Our family vacationed in WDW for the first time about 4 years ago. I don't recall if there were gator warning signs but having family in Florida we already knew how prevalent they are there. Knowing how diligent WDW is at keeping their parks clean and safe, IF this particular lagoon was known to have gators they wouldn't even allowed public access to that beach - and there WOULD BE warning signs, not just "no swimming" signs. This tells me that this particular area was as safe as it could be.

My mother-in-law lives right on the water not too far from Disney and she'd never (in 20+) years seen a gator in her yard. Until the day she did. Like many others have said, if there's water, the gators will find it, even if they've never been seen in that particular water before. I can't see any reason to blame anyone. From all I've read it sounds like a horrible, tragic accident because gators, and gators do what they do. Praying for the family.

 

[kimi_SFC]

I can't even imagine....

Prayers to this family, because I can not find the words...

raying:
:candle:


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[Wyle_E_Coyote]

For those of us who go to Disneyland rather than Disney World, fill us in on what kind of instruction? Is is a hotel orientation like on a cruise ship?

I'm curious as well. They get visitors from all over the world... how do they deal with language barriers? Are the warnings like the safety talk on airplanes that the attendants rattle off and no one listens to?

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[Momoffourboys]

Dear lord! I can't even think of what to say.
How the he!! does this happen? Was the baby alone? No One near him?

We've been to WDW dozens of times and have stayed at every resort. We have never been warned about gators being ON the property. Nor, would I ever imagine in my wildest dreams that a gator would grab my kid.

The kid had to have been at the foot of the lagoon.

Prayers. Prayers. Prayers!!!

 

[human]

Tourists are a huge problem. When they go to a beautiful place, they think it is safe. Hawaii has an enormous problem with people drowning. They are trying to figure out what to do to make it more abundantly clear that some swimming areas are dangerous.

I do not think people realize that tourists do not understand the dangers of an area. It doesn't matter where rhe area is.

I have a few friends who do not live in Florida, but they are obsessed with Disney and go there often. Never once have they talked about alligators. Alligators are not on the radar screen of people who do not live by them. A place that caters to tourists has to do something to inform of dangers that may not be understood by the out ot town visitor. First responders pay an emotional toll as well.

 

[keeleydoll]

We've been to Disney several times, when we stayed at the Grand Floridian years ago playing in the water on the beach was allowed. On more recent trips, staying in resorts on the lakes/lagoons, I do not remember any warnings about alligators at all. I've spent a good chunk of my life in costal South Carolina and never really paid a ton of attention to the alligators, besides out back of my grandparent's house, where there was a 12' gator for years. I don't remember any warnings at Disney about them from the last time we went.

In regard to foreign language speakers- "Walt Disney World provides Ears to the World headset translators for the shows at all four theme parks. Translators are available for French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Japanese languages. Although the headsets are free of charge, you will be asked to post a 0 deposit, which will be refunded when you return the headset at the end of the day. The headsets are available at Guest Relations." http://www.orlandovacation.com/disney-world/for-foreign-tourists/


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[Stripehaven]

Never in my wildest nightmares worrying about things that could happen to my children would I think this could happen. I know nothing about alligators, and I wouldn't expect them unless I was specifically informed about them. There's a big difference between warnings of "no swimming" compared to the threat that alligators are around and that they feed at night.

Praying for a miracle for this little boy and his family.

I agree completely. "No Swimming" suggests to me that there is no lifeguard, or perhaps the water quality is bad. I might still dip a toe. Also, that sign looks pretty small. Is it easily seen at night, in a crowd?