OT Disney has a problem: 2 year old apparently eaten by Alligator in front of visitors at Disney Hotel
- Thread starter ermackey
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I've had nightmares about this all morning. I can't imagine that happening before my eyes and trying to stop it and failing.
A lot of people are going to blame the parents, but that's a very inviting beach and there should've been some signs.
A lot of people are going to blame the parents, but that's a very inviting beach and there should've been some signs.
There were "no swimming" signs but I don't think they were out deep.
Man it makes me want to vomit. I can't even read the story.
The mom was holding the kids hand as he walked in the water.
Big difference between "no swimming" and "Caution: Alligator Habitat." One, you may let your kid put its feet in the water. The other, hell no.
This doesn't look like an area you know to be afraid of:
It was a freak deal because gators are almost never aggressive toward humans. It probably thought the 2 year old was a raccoon or dog.
I agree. I'm sure Disneys insurance will provide a nice payout but obviously it's a horrible situation and nothing can ease the pain the family has. I just can't imagine. Makes me sick thinking about it.The mom was holding the kids hand as he walked in the water.
Big difference between "no swimming" and "Caution: Alligator Habitat." One, you may let your kid put its feet in the water. The other, hell no.
This doesn't look like an area you know to be afraid of:
It was a freak deal because gators are almost never aggressive toward humans. It probably thought the 2 year old was a raccoon or dog.
There have been several gator attacks in the past several years....gators kill when they're hungry. They don't think or reason. Like the gator that took the golfers arm off just a few weeks back...the gator that killed a swimmer in the last week or so....the gator that attacked and killed a woman while she was jogging a couple of years back or so. I don't trust any body of water in Florida, Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, etc. No way I'm taking a chance with my kids, grandkids or anyone else for that matter. Just an incredibly sad and unfortunate nightmare....The mom was holding the kids hand as he walked in the water.
Big difference between "no swimming" and "Caution: Alligator Habitat." One, you may let your kid put its feet in the water. The other, hell no.
This doesn't look like an area you know to be afraid of:
It was a freak deal because gators are almost never aggressive toward humans. It probably thought the 2 year old was a raccoon or dog.
Witnessing a small child being eaten by an alligator sounds absolutely devastating to the human psyche.... I just picture the videos from the series "planet earth"....I cannot fathom not seeing that horrible act every day for the rest of my life. It is terrible for all involved, and i agree with mike, "no swimming" is hardly a fair warning for that area.
I cant even...
I cant even...
Disney needs to offer a few million $$$ dollars to the family and donate major $$$ in the child's name to a charity of the parent's choice really quick and get this out of the news.
One of the saddest things I have ever heard. What a nightmare for the family.
My reaction is more horror than...worrying about Disney's PR.
I had to sit down when I heard this story this morning. My legs were weak and it was hard not to cry watching my own 2 yr old run around the house this morning.
In this day and age, what will get this out of the news is not hush money. It's the next thing the media wants to distract us with
I agree with you. I am just recognizing that Disney needs to step-up and do the right thing. If not for ethics, at least do it for what is best cor the company.
Can't even imagine this. I've lived in Tampa for 12 years. Initially lived on a pond on a golf course. I had a gator who would sun himself on the bank about 20 feet from my back porch. You get so used to seeing them here. After my son was born, I wouldn't let him play in the back yard. Eventually moved into a house that is no where near a pond. Attacks are rare, but just don't want to take the chance. Can't imagine what those parents are going through.
Man...Orlando has had one seriously bad few days. Singer Christine Grimmie gets murdered signing autographs at a club...then a terror attacks kills 49 people at another club...and now a gator kills a 2-year old at Disney. Too much to fathom.
I'm not sure what they'll do. In general, I absolutely hate that our society has developed the mentality that "I suffered a terrible personal tragedy; I better get a big payout." Will this family need counseling, therapy, etc? Absolutely, and I hope they get it, and I hope Disney helps them get it. But throwing money at this family isn't going to undo what has been done. It's a tragedy, not a winning lottery ticket.
Not going to blame anyone, it's such a fluke deal
But they would have to put me in a straight jacket, padded cell and medicate me heavily
But they would have to put me in a straight jacket, padded cell and medicate me heavily
Honestly, I don't think I could continue.
Terrible story and I feel bad for everyone involved, I really do. I have young kids, so it hits home. However, I disagree in having to change the messaging. IMO "no" means "no", further explanation should not be needed for people to decide if they are going to obey or not.
You hate to say things like that, but I'm not sure I could go on either. It's hard to imagine not fighting that alligator until he had to let my kid loose.
I'm surprised that Disney would even allow people that close to the water at night, as they are probably fully aware that gators are predominantly nocturnal
I was at the Magic Kingdom with my family last night. We were in the crowd on Main Street USA watching the nighttime show and fireworks when I noticed a helicopter with a spotlight circling behind us (approx 9:45 pm). We watched the shows and rode a couple rides and still noticed the circling helicopter. As we waited through the long lines to catch a monorail back to the Transportation Center (11:30ish) again we kept seeing the helicopter. At this point I could tell it was circling the Seven Seas Lagoon (which separates the main park from the resorts and parking areas). With all of the weird terrorist activities in the area my mind was starting to fear that something way out of the norm was going on. I didn't find out what truly happened until I read about it the next morning.
Prayers to that family. I cannot imagine what they are going through.
Prayers to that family. I cannot imagine what they are going through.
Money can't replace the child but it would help relieve other stressors in life as they deal with the trauma. I see what you are saying though.
No swimming means no swimming. At no point did anyone go swimming.
If your intention is to not have anyone go near the water because of gators, then say so.
that's debatable if they are wading. I'm sure ppl would stay out if the sign said "stay out: gator infested water"
10 ft away from shore on a 2 year old is going to be fairly high - to your point debatable. Think of it this way, it had to be deep enough to conceal the gator.
Yes, that sign would have more impact. But do you need a stop sign or red light to say "stop or you may get hit by a car"? Could there be a harsher warning? Yes. But It's pretty black and white to me. As a matter of fact I was there 2 months ago, my 5 year old wanted to swim in the lake and I saw the sign and said you're not allowed.
Sad is not a word to describe this. Sickening comes to mind. How do you ever get over this if you're the child's parents?
Ugh, no idea. I cant even imagine. Most stories usually dont bother me, but this one makes your heart hurt.
They have to because apparently they have a 4 yr old daughter that was there as well that they will need to be there for.
You seem to have the opinion that well, they broke the rules so that's what happens. When the truth of the matter is if there was a sign about the gators this likely would not have happened.
I play golf on a course that has a couple of gators. The have signs. I'm glad they do. I don't let my 7 year be on the edge of the lake by himself. I possibly would have had a brain fart if there weren't signs.
Disney just didn't want to advertise there were gators in the lake. The odds were low that anything would happen.
We're the parents irresponsible? Probably. But when you think the risk is your child drowning and you can see them and know they are just splashing in shallow water, then that's one thing. If they are in danger of being dragged off and eaten, that's another.
This is what blows my mind. I really can't fathom that there were absolutely no warnings about alligators anywhere once they entered that area. What an incredible oversight if so.
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Yeah, pretty sure I'd have to just check out if that were my child. How could you ever function again? No coming back from seeing that, IMO.
You ever been there ? I have, there are signs EVERYWHERE. Nothing but a Parent fail here.
Well, they just interviewed a couple of other parents that said they had their kids at the edge of, or just in the water over the past few days. Sounds like a park fail if it was a re-occurring problem and they didnt take active steps to stop people from standing in the water.
Who cares if there was 1 no swimming sign or 20 signs. The number of signs is hardly the issue.
The sign should have said "Alligators! Beware! Do not enter water! Keep distance! Danger!"
- May 11, 2002
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There are "no swimming" signs near where the attack occurred but no signs warning against alligators, a Disney spokesperson confirmed.
You can't give up the daughter becomes your focus. Awful as this tragedy is, life continues.
I hate thread titles such as this one. You can no longer depend of them being false jokes or just wrong. Now they're all too real.
I hate thread titles such as this one. You can no longer depend of them being false jokes or just wrong. Now they're all too real.
- May 11, 2002
- 34,249
- 33,887
- 113
Jeff Williamson, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff's Office, said Wednesday morning the signs didn't specify why swimming was prohibited.
Re-occurring problem ?? The park has been there 45 years and no one has ever been eaten by a gator but you call it a RE-OCCURING (horrible grammar BTW, it is RECURRING)
Good Lord do you need to be spoon fed everything ? Do you need signs on the beach saying, beware, there are sharks that swim in the ocean ? At some point common sense has to come into play here. You are in Florida. There are signs everywhere saying to stay out of the water. Why not just STAY OUT OF THE WATER ? regardless of whether there is a sign telling you what is in the water.
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