Ultimately I think that parts of this theme park will have to be closed. They will become part of the eerily popular motif of abandoned theme parks and future generations will look back on it and say, wow, were people weird for seeking entertainment from an annoyingly voiced mouse.

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Anonymous wrote:Not the PP but maybe because it says "on the beach" at the bottom

And a couple exits down it says "Welcome to Hogwarts" at Universal. You get my drift?

Actually on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7PM the calendar lists "Campfire and Marshmallows on the beach."

Perhaps those arguing whether or not these are beaches, could let Disney know they are spreading misinformation.

It's apparently a huge deal.

Are we talking about the same place? Pretty sure resorts exaggerate locale. Orlando is filled with resorts and resort style dining. Rainforest Cafe isn't really a rainforest nor a cafe'?! Get out of town!

What exactly does your opinion on whether or not these classify as beaches have to do with the fact that a 2 year old boy is dead? The family was using the area as it is intended to be used. Whether it's a beach, a sandy play place.. whatever. They were doing what people do while there.

I disagree with you. Classifying it as a beach means s lot. It gives people a false sense of security thinking they should play in the water (because alligators don't live at the beach) and then Disney contradicts that very preface by warning people not to swim. again I don't think it's anyone's fault and with all the best signage in the world the same thing could have happened.

Wrong.

If disney had posted signs warning about gators in the water throughout the resorts and parks, this would not have happened...because nobody in their right mind would let their child go near water if a sign with a gator warning was posted. Heck, nobody would let their kid on that beach if gator signs were posted.

Another child was attacked by a gator in 1986 while standing on the shore near water (not in water) at disney wilderness resort. That certainly should have warranted signs being posted everywhere...just like the gator warning signs at other non-disney resorts. Social media wasn't a thing in the 80s, so nobody remembers that story (but you can google it now and see pics of disney characters visited that victim in the hospital).

Disney's dirty little secret is out: they have gators all over the property--including inside the gates of the actual amusement parks...go read the multiple threads on this in the DisBoards to hear how common it is to see gators. Go read the stories about how parents have recently rescued their kids from gators approaching out of nowhere on land.

I don't know about you, but my youngest kids would be absolutekg terrified if they saw a live gator in public. A zoo is one thing. But randomly popping up on a walking trail (as they do at disney wilderness resort) or on a beach near loung chairs? Or on Tom Sawyer island inside MK? Or as they look out the hotel room window?

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Anonymous wrote:OMG

I can't believe 100+ pages of blaming parents for this?

Where TF is Jeff Steele? I understand clicks will put his own kids through college, but a little bit of empathy is in order here.

What a disgusting thread.

I'm the OP of this thread. I rarely am an OP, but I started it because I'm so sad, shocked, heartbroken (there aren't even words to describe) about this tragedy. I wish I could process it, but it is beyond horrifying. Maybe it's because I grew up near Disney and have such happy childhood memories (and now have a toddler boy of my own) that this little boy's death really hit me.

I should have foreseen that this would devolve into a blame the parents debate. Apparently I gave DCUM too much credit and thought that other parents would be sympathetic. Some of the nasty responses on here just make me even more sad.

I don't blame the parents. I think Disney is getting a raw deal also. I went to Polynesian resort in 1973. Shortly after it opened. Disney rented boats to anyone to go on that lake. I dropped of my parent on one of the islands and then picked them back up. People had no fears of anything in the water then. I vaguely remember a pool right on the beach and wandering around the beach at night after a lua dinner.

Still Disney should pay and pay big time. Someone in their companies was responsible for safety. Someone fell down on the job

Probably because they started hiring Guest workers to do US workers job. They deserve to pay.

https://jonathanturley.org/2016/02/26/the-happiest-place-on-earth-disney-outsources-more-jobs-to-foreign-workers-while-asking-existing-workers-to-donate-part-of-their-wages-to-support-lobbyists/

Setting aside for a moment the axe you're grinding about guest workers, I think that, if Disney is guilty of anything, it's not being sufficiently aware of the rise in the number of alligators in Florida. In 1973, when your parents were on the island in the lagoon, the alligator was on the endangered species list:

"During the 1960s the alligator population continued to diminish. Poaching of the alligator was widespread, and because of a loophole in state laws, authorities were unable to shut down an interstate network of illegal hide dealers. Finally, in 1967, the American Alligator was placed on the first Endangered Species List. In 1970, federal regulations were imposed that effectively shut down the illegal alligator market, and the populations of alligators began to rebound. It has been speculated that perhaps the alligator population was never as low as originally thought, but that the alligator had just become more adept at eluding humans.

"In 1977, the alligator was reclassified from an endangered to a threatened species. This change in status allowed the alligator once again to be available for commercial use. During the 1980s the alligator came to be viewed as a renewable resource, and several alligator management programs were instituted by the State of Florida. These programs allowed for controlled hunting of the alligator by private individuals and the collection of eggs and hatchlings by licensed alligator farms.

"Alligator farming is now a thriving business, with an estimated 30+ alligator farms in the State of Florida. This multi-million dollar industry generates approximately 300,000 pounds of meat and over 15,000 skins a year. Alligator meat averages $5-$7 a pound wholesale, and while skin prices vary year to year, the average price is $25 per foot. Currently, it is estimated that the state of Florida is home to over 1,000,000 alligators, not counting those raised on commercial alligator farms."

Anonymous wrote:It's not that your job is being shipped offshore," Hira says, "They're bringing in a guest worker to replace you."

Disney stockholders deserve to pay.

http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-06-05/senator-calls-probe-after-disney-fires-american-workers-uses-h-1b-visas-fly

Your grasp of the concept of the rule of law is very shaky, at best.

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Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with you people who can't deal with someone with a differing opinion? Running to tattle to Jeff. Seriously?

I think this thread is very important. The death of this child is horrible. If nothing else, I hope that it makes parents more aware of the waters in Florida and for them to not let their guard down, no matter where they're traveling.

I think this is one of the worst DCUM threads I've ever read. Not because of the judgment toward the parents and Disney, but because of the direct attacks on other posters throughout the thread, the language, the extreme name-calling, etc.

I think Jeff should delete 30-50% of this thread, all the posts that are directly attacking other posters, etc. Leave the bickering about what exactly the signs say, etc. but remove the truly awful posts.

I've been pretty active in this thread and the only attacks I've read are by folks angry at posters who criticize the parents. We're all adults here and should be able to handle adult language. Relax.

I've written some of the meanies shit I can think of to all of the sanctimonious assholes on this thread. Fuck them. They deserve it.

You're the problem here. Argue your point without being vulgar.

Got fuck yourself. That is my point.
The only thing I regret is that I'm not more creative with my insults.

I know your type. You'd never utter these words IRL. Have fun being a tough guy on an anonymous forum.

If I heard you saying the kind of crap people have been saying about this family in public, I would say everything and more. You're right. You don't know me.

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Anonymous wrote:Haha! See? Caught ya. That sign was taken years ago when they were building the grand Floridian villas. That drop off isn't there and it's a beach now. You haven't been and have no idea what you're talking about.

Great. Except- it's NOT a beach! It wasn't them and still isn't, that's right, a motha effin' beach. It's a crusty green lagoon people. Probably filled with green algae and fertilizer run-off from magically manicured lawns in the shape of Mickey.

Except Disney calls it a beach.

They don't call it a sandy swamp. Or an alligator habitat. Or even a murky dirty place where scary Florida creatures reside.

They call it a beach. They call all of those white sand areas beaches. Heck, they even named one of their upscale resorts the Beach Club Villa.

And surprise! And guess what the guests do at the beach at the Beachclub Villa? Surprise!! They walk along the water and let their kids play and wade in the shallows.

We were at Beach Club recently for a week and never saw anyone playing **in** the water, just hanging out on the sand for movies and s'mores. Outside of those activities we rarely saw anyone on the beach at all.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with you people who can't deal with someone with a differing opinion? Running to tattle to Jeff. Seriously?

I think this thread is very important. The death of this child is horrible. If nothing else, I hope that it makes parents more aware of the waters in Florida and for them to not let their guard down, no matter where they're traveling.

I think this is one of the worst DCUM threads I've ever read. Not because of the judgment toward the parents and Disney, but because of the direct attacks on other posters throughout the thread, the language, the extreme name-calling, etc.

I think Jeff should delete 30-50% of this thread, all the posts that are directly attacking other posters, etc. Leave the bickering about what exactly the signs say, etc. but remove the truly awful posts.

I've been pretty active in this thread and the only attacks I've read are by folks angry at posters who criticize the parents. We're all adults here and should be able to handle adult language. Relax.

I've written some of the meanies shit I can think of to all of the sanctimonious assholes on this thread. Fuck them. They deserve it.

You're the problem here. Argue your point without being vulgar.

Got fuck yourself. That is my point.
The only thing I regret is that I'm not more creative with my insults.

I know your type. You'd never utter these words IRL. Have fun being a tough guy on an anonymous forum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with you people who can't deal with someone with a differing opinion? Running to tattle to Jeff. Seriously?

I think this thread is very important. The death of this child is horrible. If nothing else, I hope that it makes parents more aware of the waters in Florida and for them to not let their guard down, no matter where they're traveling.

I think this is one of the worst DCUM threads I've ever read. Not because of the judgment toward the parents and Disney, but because of the direct attacks on other posters throughout the thread, the language, the extreme name-calling, etc.

I think Jeff should delete 30-50% of this thread, all the posts that are directly attacking other posters, etc. Leave the bickering about what exactly the signs say, etc. but remove the truly awful posts.

I've been pretty active in this thread and the only attacks I've read are by folks angry at posters who criticize the parents. We're all adults here and should be able to handle adult language. Relax.

I've written some of the meanies shit I can think of to all of the sanctimonious assholes on this thread. Fuck them. They deserve it.

You're the problem here. Argue your point without being vulgar.

Got fuck yourself. That is my point.
The only thing I regret is that I'm not more creative with my insults.

how many tens of millions have gone to WDW in the last 50 years? 1 gator burger. Better chance of getting hit by a thunderbolt 3 X in one day. Its just bad luck.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No it isn't. I just posted a picture that proves it is not a good distance away.

+1 I was literally there last month, and the screen is just a few feet away from the shore. And for the people saying the waters are dark and murky, they most certainly are not. The first ten or so feet in is crystal clear. You can see the beautiful white sand (carefully placed there by Disney workers) through the water.

I'm willing to bet you can see during the day (which is probably why Disney doesn't go heavy on enforcing the rule). Nightfall is another story.

Anonymous wrote:No it isn't. I just posted a picture that proves it is not a good distance away.

That picture is not big enough to see detail.

Anonymous wrote:No it isn't. I just posted a picture that proves it is not a good distance away.

+1 I was literally there last month, and the screen is just a few feet away from the shore. And for the people saying the waters are dark and murky, they most certainly are not. The first ten or so feet in is crystal clear. You can see the beautiful white sand (carefully placed there by Disney workers) through the water.

Anonymous wrote:Personally, I believe everything Disney tells me.

I think it's what they aren't telling you that's the real problem.

No it isn't. I just posted a picture that proves it is not a good distance away.

Anonymous wrote:Having been there recently, this is the only picture i have found that a accurately shows where the movie is/was currently being shown at the grand. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b9/f5/6d/b9f56dbd218f1f092ff02f8b824be87f.jpg

Please see 23:56 it's a good distance away