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

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  • #841
I don't think all people speaking up now are attention seekers. I've seen plenty of situations that make me wonder why precautions aren't being taken to avoid litigation, so I would imagine an attorney would definitely be shocked that a major corporation wasn't taking more precautions.

Extreme warnings are required for people not familiar with the dangers. I'm learning a lot more about alligators from this sad tragedy. Yikes, they aren't just lumps in the water.

I agree with the warnings but you'll still have people that let their child at the waters edge thinking "I didn't know gators would come out of the water...." etc.

I don't know how anyone owns a business anymore...the liability alone not to mention you must think of EVERY possible scenario under the sun or you're at fault. Ugh.
 
  • #842
The situation with Disney visitors feeding alligators and the alligators becoming emboldened to human contact reminds me of the last century of bear-human interaction in Yellowstone National Park. When the Park Service changed their policies in 1970 to prevent all 'feeding the bears,' negative bear-human interactions declined dramatically.

http://www.ypf.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5185

As a privately-owned resort, Disney has a very different mission and management style/requirements than the National Parks of course.
 
  • #843
See below:

This is probably the reason the gators lost fear of humans, creating a perfect storm,. It was dusk (feeding time), it's late spring (mating season), the child was small looked like prey to the gator. :(
 
  • #844
The situation with Disney visitors feeding alligators and the alligators becoming emboldened to human contact reminds me of the last century of bear-human interaction in Yellowstone National Park. When the Park Service changed their policies in 1970 to prevent all 'feeding the bears,' negative bear-human interactions declined dramatically.

http://www.ypf.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5185

As a privately-owned resort, Disney has a very different mission and management style/requirements than the National Parks of course.

It already is illegal to feed alligators in Florida. Illegal at Disney just like it is everywhere else in the state.

Unfortunately, that doesn't stop people from feeding them.
 
  • #845
I found it interesting that Bob Iger and other executives, opening Disney China, received very little news coverage as this tragedy took centerfold in Orlando. I remember when they opened Disney in Paris and it had a lot of US coverage. Perhaps this is why we haven't seen him front and center before cameras in the US?
 
  • #846
  • #847
I went down the rabbit hole for a few hours last night. I found it interesting that at the lagoon where the other "almost" attack happened in 1986(?) The Wilderness Lodge? You cannot walk into the water from the sand beach. There are some kind of raised pilings (wrong word?), I wonder if that was because if that accident? I was on trip advisor scouring the beaches of all of the Disney resorts. The Caribbean resort beaches are even set up more alluring than the Grand Floridian. And the Port of Orleans has a man made river with grassy slopes practically the length of property. And I counted dozens of traveler pics of wee ones in that nasty, inky water at each local. Not judging, just reporting on my current obsession.

For the record, you would have to point a muzzle at my face to get me into that black, icky mess. I live on long island and won't even go into the ocean, I have to travel to Caribbean. I need to SEE what's in my bath tub. Jmo.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
  • #848
When I look at video and photos of that beach area, I keep wondering what the purpose is of having it when there are alligators present. No one should be using it, it's too dangerous. Why not build a low wall and elevate the ground area? Allow people to walk along and look down at the water instead of sitting or standing near it.

Disney is all about authenticity. DH and I stayed at the Grand Floridian for a week during its inaugural year. The hotel, dining and entertainment venues, the beach, etc. are designed to replicate a Victorian-era seaside resort that was frequented by the wealthy. The exquisite grandeur of the main building, the impeccably-groomed landscape, luxurious accommodations, upscale dining including afternoon high tea, etc. provide guests with a glimpse into a bygone era when those who could afford it spent leisurely summers at lavish oceanside resorts. The beach is simply part of the hotel's overall theme. FWIW
 
  • #849
See below:

JMO, but the whole wealthy guests routinely feeding gators story...I don't buy it. The person's assertions sound ridiculous. I think it's someone looking for their 5 seconds of fame. People attach themselves to stories like this all the time. Again, JMO.
 
  • #850
another:

[video=youtube;F1ZqrnJkQuQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1ZqrnJkQuQ[/video]
Splash Mountain Alligator
While on vacation in Disney World, I was watching people ride down on splash mountain and right at the very end of the hill was an alligator...


see more here: http://nypost.com/2016/06/16/disney-world-is-crawling-with-alliggators-see-for-yourself/

Wow that thing isn't afraid of people AT ALL. Quite the contrary. Seems pretty brazen and almost aggressive.... not wanting to go away despite being whacked on the nose. So much for if you are attacked hit them on the nose.
 
  • #851
  • #852
Wow that thing isn't afraid of people AT ALL. Quite the contrary. Seems pretty brazen and almost aggressive.... not wanting to go away despite being whacked on the nose. So much for if you are attacked hit them on the nose.

That definitely looks like a gator that's been fed. He kept trying to approach the guy because he was expecting food. IMO.

That guy shouldn't have been whacking it. He should have called for the gator trappers and then kept an eye on it while waiting for them. If he did succeed in getting it to move away, then they'd have a human-aggressive gator somewhere else that they don't know where it is. Better to leave it alone, so it stays put, while waiting for the gator trappers.
 
  • #853
JMO, but the whole wealthy guests routinely feeding gators story...I don't buy it. The person's assertions sound ridiculous. I think it's someone looking for their 5 seconds of fame. People attach themselves to stories like this all the time. Again, JMO.

Feeding the gator

[video=youtube;CKSEaCItVB4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKSEaCItVB4[/video]
 
  • #854
I stumbled upon this video on youtube. I'm shocked at the comment from the person who uploaded it!!!

8 foot Alligator in 7 seas lagoon Disney Orlando

[video=youtube;LSdQvErTs4A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSdQvErTs4A[/video]
Published on Aug 16, 2012
My little sister kate spotted this out of our window which faces the disney lagoon. We phoned guest serives as there was little kids playing on the beach just next to our room however there response was not very quick . This alligator appeared to be stalking them like prey it was terrible to watch. The room next to us called out to the people on the beach and also the little boat heading toward the directon of this creature. The alligator disappeared later on but we did not see any boat go retrive it and return it into a different safer place im sure it was though the afficience of disney is usually impeccable.
 
  • #855
Feeding the gator

[video=youtube;CKSEaCItVB4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKSEaCItVB4[/video]

All due respect, this has nothing to do with the article. By the video poster's own description, her children were feeding big turtles when the gator came up. The article asserts that wealthy guests routinely seek out and feed the gators and Disney knows and willfully ignores...so as not to upset their rich guests. The situations have nothing to do with one another. I am NOT defending Disney here. While they do have no swimming signs and do instruct guests not to get in the water, they do NOT have any signage about gators or warn guests of them. This is a problem. In fact, I hope they fence the water line off. However, I do not believe that Disney, who has no shortage of wealthy guests seeking the cabanas...completely disregards feeding gators, because they don't want to cause a tiff with a rich guest.

By the way, the mother in that video is setting a terrible example for their children.
 
  • #856
Here's another, watch at 2:45 too:

[video=youtube;YsTLPXiHPeo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsTLPXiHPeo[/video]
Published on Jul 31, 2015
This is footage of a small alligator...maybe 4 feet long...that was spotted chasing after some ducks in the Rivers Of America between Liberty Square and Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. While alligators are, obviously, common in Florida, they are rarely seen roaming freely in the theme parks themselves. Supposedly, they are only removed when they become a nuisance.
 
  • #857
It's official.....I am no longer looking into Florida real estate....and......time for alligator handbags to be in vogue again.....moo.


I do believe Disney should have cautioned it's guests about the potential risk of gators.

Eta ...the music in these videos is killing me....that and the screams of the amusement riders.
 
  • #858
I 100% believe they need to sue, Disney knew this could happen (as per the man back in 86 upthread) they CHOSE not to put signs up that said do not wade, therefore wading seemed to be allowed ....if allowed they are responsible for safety of their paying guests, end of Story. JMO
 
  • #859
That definitely looks like a gator that's been fed. He kept trying to approach the guy because he was expecting food. IMO.

That guy shouldn't have been whacking it. He should have called for the gator trappers and then kept an eye on it while waiting for them. If he did succeed in getting it to move away, then they'd have a human-aggressive gator somewhere else that they don't know where it is. Better to leave it alone, so it stays put, while waiting for the gator trappers.

This may be the same gator:

[video=youtube;Z0L1afURULY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0L1afURULY[/video]
Published on Aug 26, 2012
Alligator eating popcorns at splash mountain Walt Disney World Orlando FL
 
  • #860
I 100% believe they need to sue, Disney knew this could happen (as per the man back in 86 upthread) they CHOSE not to put signs up that said do not wade, therefore wading seemed to be allowed ....if allowed they are responsible for safety of their paying guests, end of Story. JMO

When I went, we were told not to get in the water. I agree with you and I think another huge problem is their lack of consistency. I assumed that everyone was told this as we are, but it seems that it's not the case. It was made very clear to us, but many, many people are saying they were told nothing. It's a problem. I think the whole shoreline just needs to be fenced. If someone chooses to hop over and beak the rules, the responsibility is not in question. Disney will NEVER be able to keep gators out of their parks. It's simply impossible. It's Florida. But they should certainly actively try. But they can make the warning very, very clear. Every little or big area of water should be marked. Guests should be instructed every time they step in a park or resort. There can be no assumptions that people know this.
 
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