Anonymous wrote:We've stayed at the GF twice, both times with kids this age. Both times we saw an alligator in the water, as we were looking down from the deck off our room. We saw alligators in the water going to and from the Magic Kingdom on a boat. "No swimming" signs are everywhere and I wouldn't have allowed our kids to go near the water, anyway. We are from the Midwest, but knew there would be alligators in almost any body of water in Florida.

Having said that, if the resort had offered a movie night then it's entirely possible we would have taken our kids. Disney should not have been offering any sort of family activity near water, given the risk of alligators. I can see where parents might have thought it was safe, or not thought about it at all. If they stayed right by their child, then they would have had a reasonable expectation of safety in that situation.

This is so unrealistic. There are also snakes everywhere in Florida. I guess no one should go outside?

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Anonymous wrote:I know Florida has gators, but I wouldn't have assumed that they are everywhere in densely populated areas like in and around the Disney parks. I get it now, but I wouldn't have assumed that that they are there. And I would've assumed that they were NOT in a theme park. Stupid assumption, I guess, but I think it's a common one. I do think there should be signs indicating the possibility.

I do agree with PP that if this is the first instance in the whole history of the park, Disney probably does make an extensive effort to keep them out, but for whatever reason, that effort failed this time.

Same here. Yes - I know Florida has gators but not so everywhere (similar to our deer and squirrels). I assume most people from the north would think the same thing.

Typically, I would too EXCEPT near bodies of water. Any body of water in Florida (with the exception of a pool) would keep me at a distance.

We've stayed at the GF twice, both times with kids this age. Both times we saw an alligator in the water, as we were looking down from the deck off our room. We saw alligators in the water going to and from the Magic Kingdom on a boat. "No swimming" signs are everywhere and I wouldn't have allowed our kids to go near the water, anyway. We are from the Midwest, but knew there would be alligators in almost any body of water in Florida.

Having said that, if the resort had offered a movie night then it's entirely possible we would have taken our kids. Disney should not have been offering any sort of family activity near water, given the risk of alligators. I can see where parents might have thought it was safe, or not thought about it at all. If they stayed right by their child, then they would have had a reasonable expectation of safety in that situation.

Anonymous wrote:I know Florida has gators, but I wouldn't have assumed that they are everywhere in densely populated areas like in and around the Disney parks. I get it now, but I wouldn't have assumed that that they are there. And I would've assumed that they were NOT in a theme park. Stupid assumption, I guess, but I think it's a common one. I do think there should be signs indicating the possibility.

I do agree with PP that if this is the first instance in the whole history of the park, Disney probably does make an extensive effort to keep them out, but for whatever reason, that effort failed this time.

Same here. Yes - I know Florida has gators but not so everywhere (similar to our deer and squirrels). I assume most people from the north would think the same thing.

Anonymous wrote:How dumb are these parents? Who in the United States doesn't know that ANY body of water in FL (besides the ocean), no matter how pretty or inviting it may seem likely has gators and/or venomous things. I love that we're splitting hairs between swimming and wading, when this child shouldn't have been touching water, period. Even if the signs don't say it - why risk it?

Wonder how close the dad was to the kid - bc I would think a dad standing right there could grab the kid under the armpits end pull hard enough to pull him out. Though I guess that also depends on the gators grip.

Sad but I don't want to see Disney paying out huge sums here.

I'm not going NEAR any body of water in Florida, AT NIGHT, whether there's a sign or not. Are you kidding me? Gators terrify me and by the time you see them, it's usually too late.

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Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the parents thought no swimming meant no swimming, but wading is okay.

I'd probably be this way. I'd think, "Oh, the signs are there b/c it's too dangerous to swim, but wading does not count as swimming."

We were there last year and that's exactly what I thought. I let my kids wade and fill their bucket from the water. Now I think it was a bad decision, but at the time I didn't. I wish the signs had said "no going in the water" or something more than "no swimming," which is all they said.

I agree. I saw a photo of the signs in a news article - it clearly states that there is a steep drop off, no swimming. To me, that implies, wading at the edge would be ok but don't swim. Swim =/= wade. Nothing about bacteria in the water or alligators that would suggest STAY AWAY FROM THIS WATER.

If I see a sign that says "No Swimming", I take it to mean to not get in the water at all.

Good for you, but that's not what those words mean.

Easy to say but I doubt those parents find comfort in being right on this issue. If I'm in FL and a body of water says "No Swimming", the first thing I'm thinking is gators or worse. It's Florida!

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Anonymous wrote:The posters (or maybe only one poster) claiming the parents could have prevented this by being closer to the child must not be familiar with how gators attack. For such a huge animals they are incredibly fast, silent, and practically invisible above the water.

Not to quibble but a 20-foot Nile crocodile is not an alligator.

That's what I was thinking too. Crocs are very, very aggressive. Not saying gators aren't dangerous, as they clearly are, but they have a different temperament than crocs.

Anonymous wrote:Obviously the sign needs to say "no swimming, alligators" or something that makes it clear why. No one would let a kid near the water if it said that. Not the people's fault at all.

Why do we have to spell things out to grown ass adults?

Anonymous wrote:The posters (or maybe only one poster) claiming the parents could have prevented this by being closer to the child must not be familiar with how gators attack. For such a huge animals they are incredibly fast, silent, and practically invisible above the water.

Not to quibble but a 20-foot Nile crocodile is not an alligator.

Anonymous wrote:The lake is not a naturally occurring lake, it is a man made lake. Disney made the lake in an area infested with alligators. They didn't rope off this attractive nuisance, and encouraged families to congregate on the beach by hosting a boat parade, movies, and activities. I can't believe people are blaming the parents.

I posted this and forgot to add- Disney is hosting activities at night when alligators are more active AND they are hosting out of state visitors who aren't familiar with alligators.

And to the poster who keeps coming up with wired conspiracy theory about why there aren't witnesses and maybe the toddler wasn't taken by an alligator. If you want to think up conspiracy stories a better chance is that Disney quickly herded up the witnesses and offered to pay for their entire vacation plus spending money, maybe a return trip, and/or front of the line passes for signing a non disclosure agreement to never talk to the media or anyone else about the event. I really do think Disney can move that fast with a team of lawyers. Especially since Disney Shanghai is opening this week. That is what Disney wanted to be in the press.

How dumb are these parents? Who in the United States doesn't know that ANY body of water in FL (besides the ocean), no matter how pretty or inviting it may seem likely has gators and/or venomous things. I love that we're splitting hairs between swimming and wading, when this child shouldn't have been touching water, period. Even if the signs don't say it - why risk it?

Wonder how close the dad was to the kid - bc I would think a dad standing right there could grab the kid under the armpits end pull hard enough to pull him out. Though I guess that also depends on the gators grip.

Sad but I don't want to see Disney paying out huge sums here.

It was 9:30, likely dark and the alligator was probably lurking in the water. In daylight you would probably just see its eyes. At night you wouldn't see anything, and the dad was probably looking at his toddler, not for alligators.

Disney's fault, not the parents'.

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Anonymous wrote:I wonder if the parents thought no swimming meant no swimming, but wading is okay.

I'd probably be this way. I'd think, "Oh, the signs are there b/c it's too dangerous to swim, but wading does not count as swimming."

We were there last year and that's exactly what I thought. I let my kids wade and fill their bucket from the water. Now I think it was a bad decision, but at the time I didn't. I wish the signs had said "no going in the water" or something more than "no swimming," which is all they said.

I agree. I saw a photo of the signs in a news article - it clearly states that there is a steep drop off, no swimming. To me, that implies, wading at the edge would be ok but don't swim. Swim =/= wade. Nothing about bacteria in the water or alligators that would suggest STAY AWAY FROM THIS WATER.

If I see a sign that says "No Swimming", I take it to mean to not get in the water at all.

Good for you, but that's not what those words mean.

Obviously the sign needs to say "no swimming, alligators" or something that makes it clear why. No one would let a kid near the water if it said that. Not the people's fault at all.

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Anonymous wrote:No one had a gun? We encountered one several years ago in SC. It was hissing on the porch of our rental cottage. DH shot it and killed it before it could harm anyone.

What, you take guns on vacation with you? You aren't supposed to go around shooting wildlife.

np. Then tell the wildlife to stay in the wild.