Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. A "no swimming" sign is not sufficient to cover the risks associated with alligator attacks. That child could have been killed simply walking near the edge of the water.

2. It's not reasonable to expect resort guests coming from Europe, Canada, or yes even Nebraska to know how prevelant alligators are, especially on Disney property where a beach has been set up.

3. Disney was grossly negligent and WILL pay up the a$$ including to this who just witnessed the attack. That's guaranteed.

I disagree. And, I would also say that anyone who doesn't know that Florida has alligators is an imbecile. It's practically the first thing you think of!

Here's the thing - even if you know "Florida has alligators" you may not be familiar with alligator behavior. If a sign says "no swimming", and you make the logic leap that you should not swim due to alligators, you might think your kid is safe WALKING IN LESS THAN A FOOT OF WATER, because that is not swimming. Maybe you think alligators are like sharks - and someone might not swim on account of a shark in the water, but they'd probably walk along the beach and not fear a shark attack. Signage was inadequate and inappropriate to the threat.

I'm really trying to understand this mindset. Alligators are a pretty popular animal. Even if you don't know everything about their behavior, I would argue that the basic stuff is known to ADULTS. I'm really trying to understand this idea that alligators are some weird and mysterious animal.

How familiar do you expect Nebraskans to be with alligator behavior? I had no idea alligators were this aggressive. I thought they mostly left people alone.

Ugh, as much as a Virginian knows to be worried about scorpions? I know that if I'm in the SE, to check my shoes and clothing, even though I've never seen a scorpion. But it is basic common sense.

Is your only experience with crocs is a cuddly stuffed animal? How does someone make it to adulthood not knowing these basic things?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. A "no swimming" sign is not sufficient to cover the risks associated with alligator attacks. That child could have been killed simply walking near the edge of the water.

2. It's not reasonable to expect resort guests coming from Europe, Canada, or yes even Nebraska to know how prevelant alligators are, especially on Disney property where a beach has been set up.

3. Disney was grossly negligent and WILL pay up the a$$ including to this who just witnessed the attack. That's guaranteed.

Exactly. If the child had slipped into the water while the parents weren't looking (or the parents allowed the child to swim) and he drowned, that would be a different story. But there is zero warning of alligators and Disney is in a much better position than it's guests from all over the world to know what may lurk in the lake. And I highly doubt the child would have been safe even if he had been 6 inches outside the water. Gators will come up on land, especially at night, and snatch small creatures.

Anonymous wrote:"They should just put up ALLIGATORS BEWARE signs"

It won't do any good. Alligators can't read.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if a venomous snake had bitten the child if we'd be having this conversation. That's as likely, if not more, than an alligator attack.

People do get bitten by snakes on Disney property, every once in a great while. No, we would not be having this conversation. Disney has not volunteered to remove snakes from its property and they are small. Disney actively removes alligator from its property. I've talked with cast members about it. Once you voluntarily assume a duty to do something (remove alligators), you have a duty to do it in a non-negligent way.

Also, some British tourists are reporting encountering a gator near there a week or ten days ago. If that is true, Disney should have warned people that there was a gator near that location and closed the beach.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Disney will be held liable. Although there are alligators in Florida, Disney has set up that beach as a place to hang out for young children. Children will put their feet in water. the alligator is completely able to come up on the shore and snack a child. There are no signs that say Danger: alligators. Once it gets in front of a jury -- right or wrong -- they will go crazy with an award. Disney will settle out of court. Disney would look heartless in the media and besides very unsafe. Also it could easily be argued that they knew that alligators could and would go into those lake and that it was their responsibility to keep the alligators removed by whatever means. That will be very difficult, but still it will be the argument. The shorelines of Disney may change forever over this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. A "no swimming" sign is not sufficient to cover the risks associated with alligator attacks. That child could have been killed simply walking near the edge of the water.

2. It's not reasonable to expect resort guests coming from Europe, Canada, or yes even Nebraska to know how prevelant alligators are, especially on Disney property where a beach has been set up.

3. Disney was grossly negligent and WILL pay up the a$$ including to this who just witnessed the attack. That's guaranteed.

I disagree. And, I would also say that anyone who doesn't know that Florida has alligators is an imbecile. It's practically the first thing you think of!

Here's the thing - even if you know "Florida has alligators" you may not be familiar with alligator behavior. If a sign says "no swimming", and you make the logic leap that you should not swim due to alligators, you might think your kid is safe WALKING IN LESS THAN A FOOT OF WATER, because that is not swimming. Maybe you think alligators are like sharks - and someone might not swim on account of a shark in the water, but they'd probably walk along the beach and not fear a shark attack. Signage was inadequate and inappropriate to the threat.

I'm really trying to understand this mindset. Alligators are a pretty popular animal. Even if you don't know everything about their behavior, I would argue that the basic stuff is known to ADULTS. I'm really trying to understand this idea that alligators are some weird and mysterious animal.

How familiar do you expect Nebraskans to be with alligator behavior? I had no idea alligators were this aggressive. I thought they mostly left people alone.

Ugh, as much as a Virginian knows to be worried about scorpions? I know that if I'm in the SE, to check my shoes and clothing, even though I've never seen a scorpion. But it is basic common sense.

Is your only experience with crocs is a cuddly stuffed animal? How does someone make it to adulthood not knowing these basic things?

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Disney will be held liable. Although there are alligators in Florida, Disney has set up that beach as a place to hang out for young children. Children will put their feet in water. the alligator is completely able to come up on the shore and snack a child. There are no signs that say Danger: alligators. Once it gets in front of a jury -- right or wrong -- they will go crazy with an award. Disney will settle out of court. Disney would look heartless in the media and besides very unsafe. Also it could easily be argued that they knew that alligators could and would go into those lake and that it was their responsibility to keep the alligators removed by whatever means. That will be very difficult, but still it will be the argument. The shorelines of Disney may change forever over this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the father had been armed, he could have shot the gator.

Guns are prohibited on Disney property. My sister works there and takes issue with not being allowed to leave it in her car.

I realize you were probably joking, but someone might believe it. Also, it is in poor taste.

I wasn't joking. I'm not a big gun fan, and I don't own any, but what I said is a true statement. And if I were in the situation that PP described about finding one in the backyard, I would buy a gun and do the same thing. I have three kids to think about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How have they not found the boy yet?

The ugly truth is that the Gator may have eaten him. They don't normally actually eat people - the bite can kill, but they rarely actually eat people - but this was a small child.

I'm amazed at the people asking how a Gator got into the lagoon. We have two gators (that I know of) in the man made retention pond in our back yard. Wildlife control will relocate them when they reach 6 feet. Every house on our lake has kids. The kids are outside all the time and know not to play in the water. I worry more about the water moccasins than about the gators.

It's been said so many times in this thread - In Florida you assume all fresh water has gators.

You sound like you are in Florida or somewhere else in the South. When will you understand that the rest of the world is NOT the South and thus we do not have the same concerns? How about this: we do not understand why you cannot drive in the snow. Huh? Why can't you? Why? Why? Why? Any smart person with a brain in their head should be able to do it. Why can't you?

Do you get it now???????

PPP might be in the south, but she is the face of a jury pool, if there is a trial. It is a question that all the jurors would wonder about.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if a venomous snake had bitten the child if we'd be having this conversation. That's as likely, if not more, than an alligator attack.

Anonymous wrote:STOP. Close your eyes and imagine your child's sweet face. What if that was your baby? Now, can you hear the gut wrenching cries of that poor mother? We could lose our children any number of ways by any kind of freak accident. This was an ACCIDENT. Stop the bickering. It does nothing to honor this poor baby.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently visited Disneyworld and rode a ferry on this very area.

The hotels are beautiful, lovely architecture + all.

And the whole ambiance is just stunning.

I wouldn't think an alligator would be lurking in such a tranquil setting but it IS Florida after all.
However if the lake is man-made then how in the world did an alligator get inside.

I'm from the West Coast so please excuse my ignorance on this!

And people are claiming there are "No Swimming" signs posted & if that is the case, perhaps the parents ignored them or didn't see them.
Or perhaps they witnessed other people swimming and joined.

Regardless this is the second child being taken by an alligator so far this month.

My heart breaks for these families....the pain + sorrow they feel I cannot even imagine.

Poor Orlando too.
They are having a very cursed month so far.

R.I.P. to everyone who has been lost ~ Rest in Paradise ~

No, you're misunderstanding. No one was swimming. The family was NEAR the water at a Disney-sanctioned event. The alligator got out of the water and took the child.