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

[jknc]

You guys are STILL talking about this?

I've mostly been talking to myself.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I've mostly been talking to myself.

"professional juggler"? "former reality TV contestant"? Something or other about no longer sniffing glue?!? You're a funny one... ...

 

[dnkmmw]

Also, if you go an hour north of Milwaukee, you are in farmland.

Sheboygan may be small at only 50k people but I wouldn't call it a farmland.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

You seem extremely misinformed about that case. The woman suffered third-degree burns in her pelvic region when she accidentally spilled hot coffee in her lap after purchasing it from a McDonald's restaurant. She had permanent disfigurement after the incident and was partially disabled for two years.

Yes, I do know that. A friend of mine was actually a paralegal for her defense. ..my point is the coffee was hot, when you purchase hot coffee, it's hot. I would expect to be burned , however not that bad. That was a fluke. Due to that, they now have that wording on their cups

 

[jknc]

You're making it sound as if alligator attacks are happening all the time at Disney.

Clearly Disney has been doing something right if in all the years WDW has been open this has happened twice. Disney does do an amazing job of keeping dangers away, maybe too good of a job since so many people seem absolutely baffled to learn that anything like this could even happen on their property. It's impossible for Disney to eliminate all dangers on their property, there needs to be some element of responsibility we as individuals need to take for our own safety. That's not to say the parents are to blame here (I don't think they are), but seriously some people on these boards have no sympathy for people who are unaware you have to make ADRs to eat at certain restaurants but people aren't supposed to learn basics about the state they're travelling to?

Not dismissing this families horrific tragedy in anyway, but hundreds of millions of people have visited WDW without a direct incident from an alligator.

Clearly WDW has been doing something right to protect the visitors.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Yes, I do know that. A friend of mine was actually a paralegal for her defense. ..my point is the coffee was hot, when you purchase hot coffee, it's hot. I would expect to be burned , however not that bad. That was a fluke. Due to that, they now have that wording on their cups

Sorry, that's just incorrect.

 

[jknc]

"professional juggler"? "former reality TV contestant"? Something or other about no longer sniffing glue?!? You're a funny one... ...

Thank you. I take myself quite seriously.

 

[NYDisGuy]

You're making it sound as if alligator attacks are happening all the time at Disney.

Clearly Disney has been doing something right if in all the years WDW has been open this has happened twice. Disney does do an amazing job of keeping dangers away, maybe too good of a job since so many people seem absolutely baffled to learn that anything like this could even happen on their property. to?

Seems like it's luck if you read interviews of current/former CM's and guests.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-alligator-history-20160615-story.html

 

[calliest]

I'll just leave this here:

The Walt Disney World Resort was aware of an ongoing problem of guests feeding alligators and had ignored staff requests to put protective fences in place, TheWrap has learned.

Numerous employees at the theme park expressed anxiety to management about guests feeding the animals within the past 14 months, an insider with knowledge of the resort told TheWrap.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...tvjhBHRWsT2W3uCGQ&sig2=t8dHdCRtUTp9178F9E_Bjg

 

[IrishNYC]

This is from the WDW website re Poly:
"Escape to an enchanting oasis of swaying palms, white sandy beaches and tropical surroundings that evokes the languid spirit of the South Pacific. Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows makes its home at one of the original—and legendary—Walt Disney World Resort hotels."

"Tiki torches will light your way across sandy beaches around a tranquil lagoon dotted with palms. Exotic island refreshments and music will inspire you to abandon the cares of the outside world you've left behind.

Whether it's a relaxing family vacation in Disney's first over-the-water Bungalows, or a fun-filled getaway in our beautifully designed Deluxe Studios, you will find your place in paradise—and a favorite vacation getaway that your family will treasure for years to come."

"Lush, tranquil beauty abounds on the sandy beaches along the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon. You can enjoy the view from one of the lounge chairs and hammocks placed throughout the beach area. When the sun goes down, the beaches are also a favorite location for viewing the Electrical Water Pageant and the Magic Kingdom Park fireworks. Swimming is not permitted in Seven Seas Lagoon."

And the Grand Floridian:
" Bask on the white-sand beach, indulge in a luxurious massage and watch the fireworks light up the sky over Cinderella Castle."
"Watch favorite Disney films at complimentary movie screenings on the beach near Beach Pool"

None of that says to come SWIM at their beaches. The language used is very carefully chosen to not suggest one go in the water, and it even says swimming is not permitted.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'll just leave this here:

The Walt Disney World Resort was aware of an ongoing problem of guests feeding alligators and had ignored staff requests to put protective fences in place, TheWrap has learned.

Numerous employees at the theme park expressed anxiety to management about guests feeding the animals within the past 14 months, an insider with knowledge of the resort told TheWrap.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...tvjhBHRWsT2W3uCGQ&sig2=t8dHdCRtUTp9178F9E_Bjg

Ugh, if that's true, Disney is going to lose a very large wrongful death lawsuit.

 

[kellyjeanie]

Sheboygan may be small at only 50k people but I wouldn't call it a farmland.

Ok. Replace Milwaukee with Sheboygan in my post, my point still stands. Except for the part about me growing up there. lol

 

[Bay_Lake_Tower]

Seems like it's luck if you read interviews of current/former CM's and guests.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/os-disney-alligator-history-20160615-story.html

We have no idea what the gator situation would look like if WDW truly did nothing.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I would bet that 1% of tourists read this and for good reason. I don't go to Florida because of the state, I go because of Disney. I could care less about the history and wildlife of Florida. We need to separate that because it's not like going to London and not knowing what side of the road to drive on. Disney creates the environment of airport to resort and there is a certain safety that NEEDS to be associated with that. I don't expect Bay Lake to be Lake Placid. Plenty of hotel/resorts do an amazing job of keeping dangers away, I would expect the top one to do the same. And if they can't control it, tourism will plummet and the alligators can roam the lands freely again since that seems like the only thing you have been harping on.

Oh, but you come from the USA, not all do and may research what side of the road we drive on, you fly in and not all do...so the way you think Floridians are assuming things, so are you? You do realize that not all fly in right? You do know half the tourist are from outside of our Country. ..maybe it really is just a small portion of people that don't realize there are gators in the happiest place on earth. You do know this board doesn't represent all guests right?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I'll just leave this here:

The Walt Disney World Resort was aware of an ongoing problem of guests feeding alligators and had ignored staff requests to put protective fences in place, TheWrap has learned.

Numerous employees at the theme park expressed anxiety to management about guests feeding the animals within the past 14 months, an insider with knowledge of the resort told TheWrap.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...tvjhBHRWsT2W3uCGQ&sig2=t8dHdCRtUTp9178F9E_Bjg

If true, this is terrible.

I mentioned in an earlier post that IF feeding was a problem, all the more reason to post WARNING signs. I wouldn't have thought Disney KNEW of a potential issue with feeding and didn't address immediately with improved signage.

This would be truly disappointing and dismaying.

 

[IrishNYC]

So the sign issue seems to be settled as far as Disney is concerned. So now you'll aim for a class fight? Geez. I'm sure NO ONE here thinks what you're suggesting. Come on, now.

I didn't see that the sign issue was resolved when I responded. The post I quoted said that at $500/night guests should have wildlife patrol. You took what I said out of context.

 

[TheFloatingBear]

I'm a little skeptical on this, but if it is indeed true, it's very unusual. Perhaps there needs to be a sign reminding people that it is illegal to feed alligators in Florida, with what the punishment is. Because if alligators are running onto beaches it's not to be sociable, it's because people are feeding them - and an alligator doesn't know the difference between a man throwing him a sandwich one day and a man stood with a little boy the next, both are food to him.

Hi @KateP85 - the man has been interviewed over the past couple of days (I've seen him on the local news), but the incident occurred back in 1986 when he was 8yo. Someone posted what looked like the original article about it in one of these threads yesterday. Just didn't want it to be confused with something happening more recently...

 

[Bay_Lake_Tower]

I shouldn't be surprised, but it's really sad that people have to be warned not to feed a freaking alligator. People are such idiots.

 

[Matty_Disfan]

Ugh, if that's true, Disney is going to lose a very large wrongful death lawsuit.

Meh they will settle. They would do anything to ensure that this does not keep coming into the news. The idea of daily reporting on a trial involving this, or even every few months an update for a court appearance or filing in the case would be worth tens of millions in lost revenue and reputation damage. We shall never hear of this again.

 

[atp]

You find these things out by researching the State, the environment you are going into. No tourist destination is going to warn you in their flyers. OMG, have you ever been to Mexico lol do the resort brochures tell you to be careful out on some of the streets for you will be robbed. Do they tell you not to drink the water etc.. you have to research everything on where you are going. While Disney is a resort destination, it's built on swamp and FL is notorious for specific wildlife. Common sense is going to tell you to expect it. It's just that many guests truly see Disney as really magical and its not. It's like any other resort destination, it's got teal world issues. This entire situation is so sad. I hope others have opened their eyes to their surroundings there.

Most places actually do warn you of common dangers. Even in Europe if you go to France or Amsterdam there are many signs warning you about pickpocketing. And that's not even something irreversible that will threaten your life.

Disney has a history of warning people about the most obvious things. Alligators are not an obvious threat to most people, specially the many international and out of state guests that Disney has. And clearly there are a lot of alligators around. And this is not the first time an alligator attacked or attempted to attack a guest. Once Disney knows about an attack, it has the duty to warn guests or at least not invite them to an area where they will be at a greater risk (i.e watching a movie by the water in the dark).

The difference is that if you are "attacked" by a mosquito, or a bee or a cow, you will likely survive or have a chance at fighting it or see it coming. If you are attacked by an alligator you do not have that luxury. Also, bees, cows, mosquitos are not aggressive by nature and they make their presence know unlike an alligator that can be sometimes impossible to spot and attack in a split second.

The only reason more people die from those other animals/insects is because there's a much greater number of them, not because they are more dangerous.

This was a very rare and freak accident. The idea of room fliers, etc is just plain silly. This reminds me of the boy who was hit by a bus near FW. Disney rents bikes and has bike trails. Unfortunately this boy rode his bike in the road and was killed. Terrible, but Disney didn't overreact and eliminate bikes. We have spent many a wonderful evening watching the fireworks on the Poly beach. My children have never stepped foot in the water. The signs are there for a reason. The parents took the risk.

We all our responsible for our actions. We spent the weekend hiking in Oregon where there are rattlesnakes on the trails. We know the risk and try to take precautions, but there are freak snake bite accidents.

I would hate for Disney to have to react by destroying the scenic areas they have created. I'm sure there are bears in the woods. Should we cut down all the trees?

How can you say they "took the risk"? They probably had no idea they were risking anything because clearly the vast majority of guests do not know there are alligators in those waters as evidence by this thread. And that is coming from a very biased group of people who knows a lot more about Disney and Florida than the average person because this is a board full of Disney fans.

Many guests may also not know eating too many Mickey Ice Cream bars will make you fat, I look forward to the clear warnings on those as well.

Yes, because Mickey Bars fall out of the sky into your mouth and instantly make you morbidly obese in a split second. People are comparing alligators with other dangers that are not even close to being on the same level. Something that can happen in a split second and is often fatal when it happens, needs to become a warning. It is that way all over the world. Even in developing countries who are extremely lax about safety. Disney already warns you about many obvious things that will hardly harm you, such as "you may get wet" in SPLASH Mountain. Among other silly things. Now with alligators they take a chance, go figure.

I don't think Disney was intentionally withholding the information. More so just didn't realize that people were unaware of where wildlife can be in Fl

After reading that there was an incident just 2 months ago, I'm starting to think they WERE withholding the information. They know how dense their guests can be. We have all heard cast members mention that some guests complain Disney didn't control the weather, thinking genuinely that Disney has the ability. Asking where the monorail to Universal is, etc etc. I'm sure they are well aware they have many clueless guests.

So your areas would permit wading in E.Coli/bacterial infested waters? What's the difference if the water is coming in contact with you. Someone could easily be pushed over while horsing around and the water could be ingested. The no lifeguard/drowning situation is still a concern when people are wading if small kids are involved, and if these people are pushed over or pushed out into deeper waters, on purpose or not. IMO, it's all or nothing - you're allowed in the water or you're not. No swimming signs are there for a reason so why test your luck?

But Disney allows you to parasail, wakeboar, kayak, etc, all in that water. In fact, they charge you for it. You are much more likely to come into close contact with the water doing those activities then walking along the shore.

But you are more likely to die from a Bee/Wasp than a alligator.

Only because there are millions more bees and wasps. I see bees and wasps regularly and have only even been stung once in over 30 years of being around lots of them. I know many more people who have never been stung, ever. And I know a ton of people who have been stung and nothing happened to them. An alligator attack is VERY different from a sting! If it happens to you, it will be serious. It's not a little sting that you won't even remember in a few days. That is if you survive. It's a rarer occurrence, but a more dangerous one.

If Disney is making the effort to convince people they are in that bubble because it increases their bottom line, than part of the cost of that marketing effort is to pay when it backfires. Most likely, it's a cost they accept, and you'll find the actual Disney corporation much less defensive of themselves than people here are. They know they manipulate their customers to increase their bottom line, and they know for every 99999 for whom it works out well, there will be one for whom it doesn't, and they're willing to absorb that cost.

You can't say "don't worry, we've thought of everything, feel safe, feel protected, feel surrounded by magic," then turn around and say "it's not our fault you felt safe and protected and surrounded by magic and put your trust in us to think of everything and keep your family safe."

Exactly.

I have also heard that this is the first incident of this nature in the 45 years that WDW has been there. I ask this question, is this really the first incident of this nature at WDW or has there been others that got swept under the rug and pay offs by Disney?

It is not the first incident of this nature. Disney is well aware of this risk and chose to not make this risk known to unsuspecting guests.

Just because they RARELY cause harm, doesn't mean there won't be times that they won't.

Just because not everyone abides by signs, doesn't mean there aren't hundreds that would.

The logic in some of these posts has me shaking my head ... I can't fathom why ppl are so opposed to a few signs being put up with beware and a picture of an alligator?! Even if it only saves one life in the next 50 years, isn't it worth it? To simply shrug our shoulders and say "it's Florida, u should be aware" is shameful.

Has anyone thought that maybe if there was a sign with an alligator on it that this little boy might be right at this moment be having the time of his life at the happiest place on earth?!? Who knows for sure if it would've saved him, but it MIGHT OF, and that is important. And we should no lose sight of that.

Yes, that's what I keep thinking. I follow all signs and directions. Many people do. You never hear about the ones who follow the rules, just the few that don't. For every person that ignores a rule or warning, there are thousands of others who do not. It's crazy to think you should not warn people just because a handful of people will ignore the warning.

Maybe some are saying that, I don’t know. I don't think Disney was neglectful. I think they never in a million years thought this would happen, even though I'm sure they have many resources devoted to studying the local wildlife. However, we could cut the parents some slack. In all the multitudes of information on Disney online there is very little advising to watch out for deadly alligators. It is not a failing on the parents' part that they didn't think this could happen.

Maybe they didn't think a child would be snatched by an alligator, but it's impossible that they didn't know an alligator could attack a guest when it has happened before not too long ago. They don't have to be psychic to anticipate that a guest could die or be seriously injured in an attack, and with the amount of alligators around and the amount of guests unaware of their surroundings, they can't possibly think that an attack will never happen.