Heartbreaking news...a big reminder to be aware of wildlife on property

[Disneyliscious]

I have an issue with lawsuits that occur when people disregard the rules in place. You ae asked to stay out of the water. You do not. You get hurt. You win money. There is something terribly wrong with that, IMO.

I am not trying to minimize this tragedy, but honestly I cannot count how many times people see signs and think they are just for show. I have told parents to get the kids out of the water, there ae alligators in there, and I am ignored.

I agree with the sentiment about people breaking rules and then getting compensated for it but I don't think thats going to change the outcome on this. I guarantee you lawyers will be all over this. Depending on the verbiage of the sign and how it was interpreted will be a huge factor in this that will likely see a settlement in the millions. I do believe we will see fences go up on these beaches and/or beach events come to an end. Something will change, not sure what, but Disney will act on this.

 

[goodeats]

But do the signs say there are alligators? Forgive me if a picture of the sign has been posted and I'm wrong, but I thought the sign just says no swimming? No swimming to me means don't submerge yourself due to the brain eating amoebas, not don't go wading to your ankles. Some might have thought no swimming meant because there's no lifeguard. No swimming is not the same as don't enter the water at all.

I also heard reports there was a lifeguard on duty at the movie at the beach. Was it close to the pool or was it in case kids went into the water?

 

[Nancyg56]

I agree with the sentiment about people breaking rules and then getting compensated for it but I don't think thats going to change the outcome on this. I guarantee you lawyers will be all over this. Depending on the verbiage of the sign and how it was interpreted will be a huge factor in this that will likely see a settlement in the millions. I do believe we will see fences go up on these beaches and/or beach events come to an end. Something will change, not sure what, but Disney will act on this.

I hope not.

 

[jerseygal]

Woke up to this horrible most tragic event. So SAD, sick to my stomach. Prayers and thoughts for this family. Read that the movie was over by that time. We were just at the Poly three weeks ago and DH and I always take long walks from the Poly to GF right by that beach between Poly and GF, sometimes have breakfast or lunch at Gasparillos. When we walk on the path, it has crossed my mind about alligators. SADNESS.

 

[DVCcurious]

There will be a lawsuit.

Disney deserves to be sued and lose multi-millions. I'd say anywhere from 10-50 is reasonable (I know it's a wide range).

Yes there are signs but none warn of alligators. Any attorney will ask "why didn't the sign say 'danger: alligators are in the water'" Imagine you're on the jury and the lawyer points out the sign says "don't go in the water" vs "alligators are in the water" and asks you, the jury "how would you behave differently if you saw sign #2"? This is a slam-dunk case of negligence on Disney's part.

Will things change? Nope. What can Disney possibly do? Drain the lakes and fill them with sand? Build giant fences all around every body of water? Talk about ruining the beauty of the area. The lakes, waterways, boat transportation, etc are all part of the draw to WDW.

Frankly, from a business point of view, one alligator attack every decade and a $50 million dollar lawsuit is nothing. Remember the mayor in Jaws? That's not a completely made-up reaction of a business person/politician to these types of events.

Yes this is tragic, but let's all keep our heads here. Bad things happen and we don't need to go drastically changing everything just because of one sad event. The movies on the beach will still happen, there will still be smores on the beach, they will still have the "don't go in the water sign" but no "danger: alligator" signs.

 

[mousefan73]

There will be a lawsuit.

Disney deserves to be sued and lose multi-millions. I'd say anywhere from 10-50 is reasonable (I know it's a wide range).

Yes there are signs but none warn of alligators. Any attorney will ask "why didn't the sign say 'danger: alligators are in the water'" Imagine you're on the jury and the lawyer points out the sign says "don't go in the water" vs "alligators are in the water" and asks you, the jury "how would you behave differently if you saw sign #2"? This is a slam-dunk case of negligence on Disney's part.

Will things change? Nope. What can Disney possibly do? Drain the lakes and fill them with sand? Build giant fences all around every body of water? Talk about ruining the beauty of the area. The lakes, waterways, boat transportation, etc are all part of the draw to WDW.

Frankly, from a business point of view, one alligator attack every decade and a $50 million dollar lawsuit is nothing. Remember the mayor in Jaws? That's not a completely made-up reaction of a business person/politician to these types of events.

Yes this is tragic, but let's all keep our heads here. Bad things happen and we don't need to go drastically changing everything just because of one sad event. The movies on the beach will still happen, there will still be smores on the beach, they will still have the "don't go in the water sign" but no "danger: alligator" signs.

With that arguement, can I can sue the state of Florida if I go Swimming and get bit by a shark? I have yet to see any signs besides the stingray warnings, warning me of wild-life.
Can I sue the state park if I am Camping and poisoness snake slithers and bites me in my tent.

if Disney gets sued and one arguement is that they have no Fench, what precedence does this than start... do all residential complexes in the state, with any form of water Need to build fences??

this was a Freak accident, If now let's say People were being attacked weekly, then you have an arguement that wildlife was getting "out of control" and Disney failed to control...

I have seen nothing where Alligators have been a past "nuisance"

 

[Pmctn]

Not if I am on the jury.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

This is horrible, I cannot even begin to imagine.

 

[NJlauren]

Feel horrible for this family. I cannot even imagine.

In no way does a no swimming sign make this any less tragic, and who knows how fast the kid got to the water etc.

Yet someone above asked if you would act differently with a no swimming and an alligator in the water sign. My answer is no if it's no swimming I'm not in the water at all.

 

[ArielRae]

So how do you think this will effect disney's summer attendance? Think a lot of people will cancel trips out of fear? Just stay out of the water and you will be fine but there will be some that say nope I'm canceling the family trip.

 

[NY Pirate Princess]

Heartbreaking.

 

[mlayton14]

So how do you think this will effect disney's summer attendance? Think a lot of people will cancel trips out of fear? Just stay out of the water and you will be fine but there will be some that say nope I'm canceling the family trip.

Very possible on a smaller scale depending on the media coverage, the movie Jaws from the 70s kept people out of the ocean during that summer, and that was fiction , it's not far fetched

 

[CF'er]

How do they get guests to MK today?

 

[mousefan73]

How do they get guests to MK today?

Good question.. I assume if they dont have boats running.. either Monorail from TTC or Buses.
though i assume monorail is also not running to avoid "Viewers"

 

[Rhody Red]

This is horrible. I can't even imagine what this Family is going through.

 

[Travel Mum]

This news is so tragic and my heart goes out to the poor family involved.

Ignorant me (note I'm in New Zealand and have only been to WDW once before) presumed Seven Seas Lagoon and the other bodies of water within WDW were man-made and therefore never imagined that alligators would be in them so I'm totally shocked. We will be staying at BWV in January. I'm not sure what the body of water that the Boardwalk is on is called but could that have alligators in it too?

 

[beesly]

How terrible for this family. I hope they are able to begin the healing process soon. The waiting during the search and recovery effort must be more than agonizing.

We were just there at the Poly in April and walked the pathway between the Poly and the GF several times, even at night. I am well aware of the alligator presence in FL and we kept an eye out for them - we didn't see any on this trip, but I can't help but wonder how many times we might have unknowingly walked past one (or more) nearby.

 

[Minniemoo15]

This makes me sick to my stomach.

Im obviously a naive Canadian because an alligator in a man made lagoon would not even have been on my radar. I don't know why, I just assumed they lived in natural bodies only. As for the signs that say "no swimming" : I interpreted that to mean literally no swimming due to the quality of the water itself and have let my toddler put her toes briefly in the waters edge as well. I feel sick now thinking about it. Gosh, As a child myself I spent so many days playing on CBR "beach", getting water from the lake for sand castles, etc. on our yearly family vacations (actually I'm old enough to remember when you COULD swim in the water there)

Clearly now that I know why "no swimming" exists, I (and my children) will stay out of the water and the waters edge. I just wish it didn't take this tragic accident to inform so many people why the signs exist.

 

[MeganMango]

This poor family!

 

[ITALIANNYC]

It's a tragic situation but Disney is not liable for anything. When there are signs that say don't swim and you go swim, you're disregarding the rules and doing something your not supposed to be doing. Nature is nature. Gators are all over florida.

Shouldn't even be having the argument about it right now cause someone just lost their child. Last thing they are probably thinking about right now is a payout.