I definitely positively knew alligators existed in Florida, IMO in today's day of social media, youtube with the alligators being filmed randomly in people's houses, inground pools and golf courses, I think most people in the country would know nowadays that alligators are in Florida.....but...actually, myself I would have not known that they are living in the lagoon by Magic Kingdom. I guess I live in the happiest place in the world bubble.
I am originally from Vermont, so if any alligators existed there they would be frozen stiff. I did know about them even as a kid and I knew that they were in WDW, but, like someone said they don't usually hang around people if they don't have too. In this case I think it is a direct result of guest feeding them that attracted them to that part of the property. They usually stay in pretty isolated areas. The ones seen in the parks are more then likely lost souls that took a wrong turn in Albuquerque. Disney, overall, does a good job of keeping them away from their populated areas, but, there are millions of gators in Florida, so understandably, it can be an impossible task to keep them all away. This was a freak incident and I believe that after 44 years this is the first fatal encounter that I am aware of. Some have been surprised or been in the wrong place at the wrong time and have had scary encounters with them, but, usually nothing more the being frightened.
It's a sad thing to have happened, but, I think that if they can find a way to keep brain dead tourists from feeding them for their amusement, it might be the only one, especially in that area. The problem is keeping control of the brain dead. More signage and more complete descriptions of what can happen if they kept on feeding them, might go a long way in preventing this from being an ongoing problem.
It might be a bit of a downer for us to see lots of signs and warning in the, so called, Happiest Place on Earth, but, it is a small price to pay if it can eliminate the terrible tragedy that this place gave one unfortunate family.