Alligator is Not a Four Letter Word
By now, you’ve likely heard of the heartbreaking death of a child who was attacked by an alligator at Walt Disney World ad nauseam. If you somehow haven’t, here are the details. I’m not going to rehash them. The death of that young child is incredibly tragic.
It should go without saying (but probably does need to be said as I’m sure someone will misconstrue this article) that my heart goes out to the family. What happened on the beach of the Grand Floridian is awful and heartbreaking. I cannot begin to fathom the pain the parents must be feeling, especially as they are unduly scrutinized and second-guessed in the aftermath of losing a child.
With that said, I see the aftermath and reaction to this tragedy as fear winning the day over logic and common sense. This presents a problem that goes far beyond alligator attacks, with troubling responses from the media and guests. Beyond that, there’s the reaction from Disney itself as it adds fencing, closes beaches, modifies marina policies, and removes all references to alligators in attractions. I view these subsequent measures and public outcry as very concerning and worthy of discussion.
Responses similar to this are something I’ve noticed quite a bit in the travel realm in the last few years as overreactions to various world events that result in people changing their behavior and entities changing policies. For example, friends and family often inquire as to whether I have any concerns about visiting X or Y destination because “they wouldn’t go there after hearing [insert world event example].” My answer is always the same: safety never crosses my mind. While terrorism is certainly awful and grisly, the fact is that it’s a highly improbable way to die.
My response is often met with some bewilderment, as if I’m reckless for not giving these dangers serious consideration. My view is the opposite: that it would be irresponsible to worry about something so unlikely. While thinking with one’s ‘heart’ is innately human and there’s no way around that, to the greatest extent possible, I try to not let emotion cloud logic. You’re more likely to die of heart disease–by orders of magnitude–than all of the improbable causes of death people tend to fear more combined.
On the scale of heart disease to lightning strikes, alligator deaths are beyond even lightning, with a total of 24 reported United States fatalities since 1928 (until 2010) due to alligators. That’s only .06 attacks per 100,000 people per year, and the vast majority of those are provoked by attempts to capture the alligator. In the improbable event of attack, the survival rate is 96%. Suffice to say, if you are not alligator wrangling, your chances of a fatal alligator attack are close to zero.
Statistically, homicide, bus accidents, heat stroke, West Nile virus, drowning, malaria, and literally hundreds of other causes of death are far more likely in Florida than alligator attacks. In terms of animals, specifically, the most feared animals (like sharks and bears) are actually the most unlikely killers. Cows, spiders, bees, and snakes are all leading killers among animals. Even a fatal whitetail deer (also found on property at Walt Disney World) encounter is more likely, either in the form of a car collision or unprovoked attack. In fact, you are far more likely to crash your vehicle into an animal than be attacked by one (excluding insects).
I can understand why this recent alligator incident has resonated so much with people. It’s a heart-wrenching story with vivid detail, ghastly imagery, and many parents can imagine themselves in the shoes of those parents. It is quite scary to envision, provokes a deeply emotional response, and plays to our fears.
This doesn’t change the objective reality that alligators do not pose a significant threat to guests of Walt Disney World. Despite their nefarious appearance and protruding teeth, they are relatively timid creatures that fear humans. We have heard countless stories of alligators at Walt Disney World over the years, and I don’t mention that here to corroborate the myriad sensationalized “Disney Was Warned!!1!!!” headlines.
I find these headlines irresponsible. Of course there have been alligators spotted in and around numerous bodies of water in Walt Disney World. There are ~1.3 million alligators in Florida. Alligators live in all 67 counties of the state and inhabit all wild areas of Florida that can support them. The mere presence of alligators doesn’t make a location dangerous. The Florida Nuisance Alligator Program does not recommend small alligators for removal, as they are not threats to even small pets (unless the alligator is handled). This should underscore the point that in the swamps of central Florida, alligators have been around forever–certainly since 1971–and this is the first time something awful happened at Walt Disney World.
I’m not writing this to dissuade anyone on the fence about canceling a Walt Disney World vacation. That’s a personal decision. I know that overriding the emotions of a situation are easier said than done. It’s upsetting to think about what happened, and if you’re going to feel unease on vacation, the vacation is worth rethinking.
However, an isolated event that is–by any logical measure–an anomaly, should not dictate how we live our lives. Walt Disney World should not be forced to take prophylactic measures to “prevent” this from occurring again, because if it is bound to happen again, these “preventative” measures aren’t going to change that. (The only thing that will is guests ceasing to feed alligators, thereby potentially causing them to associate food with people.) All references to alligators should not be vanquished from the resort, as if it’s a four-letter word not to be uttered on property.
I can’t fault Disney too much for its response to this incident, even if I do think the subsequent measures taken are unnecessary. Disney is already facing nightmarish PR and media coverage, there have been a ton of cancellations, and innumerable irate guests have contacted Disney about their “alligator issue.” Moreover, we live in a litigious society in desperate need of reform, and some of its actions might behoove Disney from a legal perspective.
That doesn’t make any of this right. This type of response is endemic to our culture, and it’s time for us to say enough is enough with knee-jerk responses to fear mongering. Rather than responding to dramatized media accounts that play into our emotional fears and elicit ill-defined outrage, we should contemplate the real danger present. What we stand to lose to fears of alligators at Walt Disney World is insignificant in isolation, but it presents a growing trend of a willingness to ‘err on the side of caution’ and make meaningless sacrifices for an ill-gotten slice of peace of mind. You simply cannot protect people from every remote danger, and in attempting to do so, too much would be ceded in the name of “safety.” We must allow for some level of acceptable risk, or else live in a constant state of irrational fear.
If you desire things to fear, you will find no shortage if look for them. In the aftermath of 9/11, it was often said that if you live in fear, the terrorists have won. I believe this can be extended to fear, itself. It’s cliché, but Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words ring true. The moment you let fears alter any facet of your life is the moment those fears are fully-realized.
Tom,
I agree with you on most all points. Especially in not concerning yourself with things that are just so statistically insignificant.
One thing I do wonder about, though, is the correlation/causation relationship between Floridians not letting their kids near the water and the low chance of being attacked. Is it not possible that the rate of alligator attacks is as low as it is in part because Floridians know that they shouldn’t let their kids near them?
I will say that as a lifelong Ohio resident who stayed at the Poly recently, we didn’t go in the water but it wasn’t out of fear of alligators. I’m just grossed out by large bodies of standing water in general so it’s not something we’re even remotely tempted to partake in. The thought of alligators honestly didn’t cross my mind. I wouldn’t be opposed to adding “watch out for gators” verbiage to the existing “no swimming” signs to allow for people to at least make informed decisions.
I’m sure no one can blame these parents more than they probably blame themselves. this said I live in the south and alligators are a part of life. If you are in a lake they are there to. Disney can not be blamed for this awful accident. I do believe they now need to post about alligators for those who do not understand about them. Maybe in the lobby at the check in or maybe a post hung on the walls in the guest rooms. But people need to understand alligators mostly ignore areas with people unless they are feed but, they aren’t going to follow our rules of not wanting them in certain areas. You can not keep them out and you can’t kill them all . I have to comment on everyone who does not live in the south with alligators and the need for a lot of signs. I also live on the coast when I go in the ocean I don’t see a sign about watch for sharks because they bite also. And probably more than gators but we still swim. Just saying if you get bit by a shark do we need fences. Somewhere the crazienes just needs to stop and take resposibility for the choice you made
I don’t think you can equate this to Floridians knowing to avoid the water. I think one could argue the opposite. We routinely boat, swim, ski, tube, and fish in almost every body of water through all of the southern states. It’s one of the best ways to deal with the heat, which was up to about 104 this week here in southeast Georgia. The one thing we are taught is to never, ever feed the wildlife. Feeding the wildlife destroys their natural fear of humans, and can ultimately lead to accidents exactly like this.
Maybe I just expect the worst of people, but I think this would have happened eventually no matter what signs Disney posted. They could have a sign that said “No swimming, wading, or entering the water for any reason due to alligators and brain destroying amoebas,” and there would still be people who assumed those signs were for OTHER people, not them. Maybe it wouldn’t have been this family, but it would have been someone. This is a tragedy, without question. But it was a horrible accident, and I don’t think anyone is to blame.
Right but I think people are upset that they didn’t actually know there was any danger, and didn’t have the option to ignore the danger, like Tom does when he travels and isn’t concerned with terrorism.
I agree, Tom, this case will be settled out of court. The Graves’ family situation at the Grand Floridian breaks all of our hearts. Perhaps the signs along the shoreline could have been more specific, but there were signs in place. Disney actively pursues a zero safety incident record, so I have sympathy for the company, as well. There is responsibility on both sides – for the company to provide reasonable protection to its guests and for visitors to conduct reasonable research regarding dangers/risks to any place visited (Florida or elsewhere). At a minimum, check with the front desk of the hotel.
Florida has a lot of snakes, too. Should every walkway in the park have signs telling visitors to keep all hands and feet within the boundaries of the walkways?
Great post!
Thank you for writing this, Tom! I agree with pretty much everything. I completely understand why people are scared and reacting, I do. What has really bothered me here is this intense need to BLAME. BLAME the parents, BLAME Disney, blame blame blame! I feel like people think if they can blame somebody and say “Well if they did THIS like I would have this wouldn’t have happened” and that somehow makes them feel safer and more immune to tragic accidents.
Isn’t that just what tragic accidents are, though? Accidents? This is a terrible, horrible, tragic thing that happened. I agree that we should take cautionary measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again(maybe updating the signs to say “Do not swim, we share our lands with various creatures because it’s Florida and even Disney isn’t immune to the craziness that’s Florida” you know? And maybe some sort of barrier further in the water would be reasonable. I do find that fear can lead to OVERreaction.
I understand what people are saying about Disney’s end of things, but I think that calling it criminal negligence is just a bit too far. I get it though because I work in hospitality and I see people turn their brains off on vacation. I’m not calling them stupid, I’m just saying people(not all but most) kinda go into auto-pilot, and things they generally do from day to day get thrown out the window and become something to be done FOR them, and they can just focus on relaxing. Especially at Disney, you’re gonna be in a magical safe bubble. Danger will never enter your mind like it might if you weren’t on vacation.
If it had been a venomous snake that had bitten somebody and they died, would people be like “Why didn’t they have signs saying there are snakes!?” and not even talk about the gator threat? I’m 100% for informed consent for everybody, truly, so I understand that point of view. I’m just wondering if it’s fair to say that Disney was really at FAULT for what happened. Maybe they are. I don’t know the whole story, but it just seems like a terrible, horrible, accident.
I think what is important here, as with most tragedies, is to try to come together and be compassionate and caring and grow and learn as humans. Maybe that’s too hippie? I don’t know.
I can’t express enough how your post resonates. Thank you for this. It expressed so much of my thoughts but with facts. So many people are quick to judge and jump to conclusions. What happened to common sense? Why do people feel the need to be coddled and warned about every possibility? In my mind it’s like the caution hot on hot coffee cups….
Jeff Corwin interview is short, but he says it like it is
“I think it was an absolute catastrophic, rare event,” Corwin told Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie on TODAY Thursday. “You’ve got to keep in mind that Disney has been open for more than 40 years.
“They’ve had hundreds of millions of visitors. They’ve never had this problem before.”
Disney apparently HAS had this problem before:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/06/16/30-years-ago-another-boy-was-attacked-by-an-alligator-at-disney-here-is-his-story/
And that child was NOT in the water – he was near the water feeding ducks.
There have also been reports of increased alligator presence and complaints from guests that Disney ignored over the past 2 or 3 years.
Thus – what has changed? Are there more alligators? Is Disney doing less? They claim to remove all alligators over a certain size – yet numerous large alligators were found during the search for the child.
Apparently, Disney simply decided to hide information about a known threat from their guests. As I said, we are huge Disney fans. We are appalled that Disney never warned us to stay out of and AWAY FROM the water (see the 1986 attack) because of alligators.
Alligators do not leap out of the water or wait behind a beach chair. They feed from dusk till dawn, splashing around the shore attracts them looking for a potential meal. The child was a tragic victim of negligence. He never should have been in the water. Florida is a swamp. WDW was built on drained swamp land. The veritable odor of the swamp water would keep me away, along with the risk of brain-eating amoebas. There is no fence, no sign and no alligator patrol that can keep a baby in the water after dark, safe. Thank you for a well written article. Agree with your thoughts 100%.
So basically, following posted rules isn’t enough if there is no reason given for the rule? Why is it not possible for someone to just accept that there might be a rule in place for a good reason and follow it without a full list of why it exists? No swimming means no swimming. It doesn’t mean “I can let my friends or family play in the water since this rule doesn’t apply to me anyway”. If you simply follow the rules set up by the managers of any location or property, your stay/visit will less likely end up in tragedy, and will, in all probability, take the minuscule chance of a “freak incident” down to zero chance.
I agree with one of the newest posts, that this is really criminal negligence on Disney’s part. We’ve been to Disney almost every year since my eight year old was born and obviously fans. We’re going again in August, staying at the Polynesian. We won’t go near the lagoon and aren’t concerned for our safety. We’re fans but also angry at Disney’s inaction. Being angry isn’t bashing Disney. On the contrary, many of these posts sound like Disney fans that are wearing blinders, as though Disney can do no wrong. A little boy died when Disney could have prevented it. It should be called what it is.
From what I can surmise, you believe that Disney should post specific warnings about risks so people can make informed decisions. My position is that it is impossible and impractical to provide warnings of every risk that visitors to Florida could encounter, a point I’ve underscored with statistics demonstrating the unlikelihood of a fatal alligator attack, coupled with numbers concerning more likely causes of death (which also do not have signage associated with them).
While I don’t agree with you, I can understand and respect your opinion. We have a difference in ideology, which is what it is. I think it’s unfair to state: “many of these posts sound like Disney fans that are wearing blinders.” I feel this dialogue has been civilized in both directions, with many commenters providing supporting rationale for their opinions.
I’m not sure it is a difference in ideology, I think you are classifying all risks the same way. No one expects Disney or any company to post warnings for knowable and reasonable risk, these are risks that they are aware of and can make an informed decision about. Everyone is aware terrorism, that lightning can strike, that mechanical failure that results in injury can reasonably happen without there being negligence, etc. Risks to guests of dangers that they can’t reasonably be expected to be aware of should be their responsibility, so guests can make an informed decision whether they want to wade in the water or play on the beach. If Disney is going to post a sign that says No Swimming, then why not also say alligators and bacteria are in the water. If they had, a little boy standing in a foot of water (not swimming) is alive and the risk of any attack, fatal or otherwise, is virtually eliminated. Why wouldn’t they do that?
My “blinders” comment was in response to those that have characterized people angry at Disney as being Disney bashers.
With all due respect, I don’t think anyone expects/wants signs warning of every possible thing that could befall us if we visit Florida/WDW.
However, other resorts such as Shades of Green and Hyatt Grand Cypress have had alligator warnings posted on their property for years. If these resorts considered it prudent to post these, then why not the Grand Floridian? If you know there are alligators in the lagoon, then warning signs should be there.
Guests aren’t supposed to get to decide if they want to wade in the water or not. The “No Swimming” sign has told them it isn’t allowed. It doesn’t matter the reason for the No Swimming sign, that rule should be followed.
Yes, it should be called exactly what it is; a terrible accident, the first and only alligator fatality at Disney World in almost forty years of operation, and should not be the basis for fencing off the lagoon, cancelling outdoor movies, removing any and all references of alligators or crocodiles from the parks, and other such asinine things. But of course it will mean all of those things, because this is America in 2016, where accidents can’t just be accidents and it’s never anybody’s fault except the evil corporation’s, who really should alleviate parents from all of their responsibilities as soon as they step foot on property. Oh, and they also. It’s have complete and total control of all wildlife on their 50 square mile property at all times, or else they’re “negligent”, of course.
Great article Tom. Unfortunately, there’s not enough people like us to counteract the unruly mob. I weep for America.
If there are alligators in the water — a sign needs to let families from other states (you know, the states without alligators?) know that alligators are in the water. Loads of Florida hotels have bodies of water with signs that say “don’t feed the alligators” etc.
It’s that simple.
Disney purposely didn’t put up a sign about alligators because gators don’t fit into the Magic Kingdom. Um, even though they do fit and they live there.
If I visit CA, I’m well aware of earthquakes. Kansas: tornadoes. East Coast: hurricanes. I know that alligators populate FL, but I honestly thought that Disney would work over time to keep the prehistoric beasts out of their “world.” So when I visited Disney World with my 4-year-old sons and was zipping along on that lake, my gator-radar was turned off. Disney wouldn’t have alligators, right?
I’m glad you’re not one of the lawyers that’s going after Disney. They’re going to get clobbered. And rightfully so.
“I’m glad you’re not one of the lawyers that’s going after Disney. They’re going to get clobbered. And rightfully so.”
This is a case that has settlement written all over it. Unless there’s non-public information that Disney actually did conceal the true nature of the alligator threat, they’d easily prevail on the merits. (In fact, there’s a good chance they could get the case dismissed on summary judgment.) However, they have already lost in the court of public opinion, and dragging out litigation will only keep this in the news, which Disney certainly does not want.
But Disney is turning into a 4-letter word: TORT. And perhaps even intentional tort.
We are from Florida. We are familiar with alligator danger. We have stayed at the Grand Floridian and allowed our children to build sand castles with the wet sand on the edge of the lake countless times. Also at the Beach Club. Always in the evening, after dark as some of our children are watching the movie while others play a few feet away from us.
And I never, ever had any knowledge there were alligators in those waters. When I was a child, we were allowed to swim in those waters at the Poly and I never knew there were alligators. I though the swimming had been stopped because Disney began building elaborate pools and didn’t staff both beach and pool with lifeguards. The signs LED me to believe this – no swimming: deep drop-off. That implies that swimming is hazardous because of the water depth – NOT because of a threat of wild animals.
Had I ever suspected there were alligators in the water, I would have never have allowed my children on the beach at all. I certainly wold never have sat on that beach and relaxed while our children played.
Disney’s negligence borders on the criminal.
The statistics you publish are not convincing, as it is apparent from the 5 or 6 large alligators removed in the search for the poor victim demonstrate that the lake was infested with dangerous, adult alligators. Furthermore, there have been reports now of repeated warnings about these alligators from numerous sources. Disney knew about the danger and ignored it. Even worse, Disney lured that family – and ours – into a sense of security when they knew there were alligators lurking at the water’s edge.
What is wrong at Disney that anyone who knew about these complaints failed to act?
There are numerous theories:
Does it have something to do with their HB1 Visa abuse? Does it have something to do with hiring foreign workers and then ignoring these same workers’ observations?
Does it have something to do with cutting back on wildlife management? Have they cost cut to the point that there are not trained, knowledgeable people on staff anymore?
Has the alligator population at Disney gotten out of control because of cost saving measures.
Something has changed about Disney. I have been a life-long enthusiast of Disney and sought out staying at their resorts for the amazing amenities. The death of this child makes Disney itself, in its voracious need to increase profit margins, feel to me like a predator as stealth and dangerous as an alligator.
All of your statements presuppose that alligators are dangerous, which is demonstrably false.
No one is denying that there are alligators in the water. It’s Florida, of course there are alligators.
I’m not sure what this has to do with HB1 Visas…in Disney’s IT department, but alright.
One observation of yours with which I agree is that Disney’s cost-saving measures have gone too far. However, I feel that’s an issue separate and apart from the alligator topic.
No – I do not presuppose that alligators are dangerous in themselves. I presuppose that alligators hunt for food – which is only dangerous if they are hunting in a PLAY area designed for young children at a time when Disney has invited young children to play in that area.
Disney was on notice. An alligator attacked a child in 1986 at Fort Wilderness.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/06/16/30-years-ago-another-boy-was-attacked-by-an-alligator-at-disney-here-is-his-story/
I was NOT on notice. Especially in those pre-internet days. I guarantee if I had known about the Fort Wilderness attack, my children would not have been playing at water’s edge of the lake over the past 15 years.
Where Disney has cut costs visibly (Visas – and we only know that because of a whistle blower) I suspect they have also cut costs invisibly. Based on the numerous reports now coming from CA, England and elsewhere, there have been numerous complaints about aggressive alligators at those resorts over the past few years. I assume Disney cost cutting is to blame. Other explanations simply defy any sense of humanity. Either way, the death of this child did not result from a freak accident. It resulted from Disney’s negligence.
Tom,
The outcry is about not being informed and being unnecessarily exposed to a risk that most aren’t aware of. Disney has an army of lifeguards at their pools and signs not to swim in their lagoons to prevent against drowning. Parents are also aware of the danger of drowning. You choose to travel despite the risk of terrorism, but you’re aware of the risk. Guests weren’t fully informed of this risk so they could make the choice that you make when you travel.
We stayed at the Grand Floridian last year and numerous kids waded in the water during our stay. If Disney simply had signs posted that said to stay out of the water because of alligators, parasites, etc., parents/guests would have had the opportunity to make a fully informed decision, and it’s reasonable to think that those kids would not have been in the water and that the little boy that died would be alive today.
Disney could have done its part by posting these signs and installing barriers. As it stands, they did not. That is why people are upset.
Thank you for some perspective on this tragedy. I have vacationed in Disney upwards of 10 times in the last 20-25 years with family and friends, and we have stayed at the Caribbean Beach resort more often than any other resort. Having said that, we have always paid attention to the “No Swimming” signs posted around the lake. Oddly enough, we stay out of the lake mainly for reasons that do not include fear of alligators.. We have heard the stories about the infections that can be contracted by swimming in untreated water (brain eating amoeba e.g.), and stick to going to the pools… Disney may very well make a settlement payment eventually, but I feel there are enough warnings present to have provided warnings to potential swimmers, etc.
My heart goes out to the family suffering this tragedy, and I hope they can eventually learn to live with the pain. I also wish that the media and social media would not take this “opportunity” to bash Disney as i think it’s neither fair, nor warranted.
Thank you! I’ve seen alligators in the lake at Coronado Springs and yet I still go out at 5am to walk all the paths (numerous times) for exercise. I’ve never seen them out of the water. Still plan on going to WDW next April, can’t wait to go, in fact. So thanks for putting it all in perspective.
Well said! I completely agree with all your points.
I’m sure no one can blame these parents more than they probably blame themselves. this said I live in the south and alligators are a part of life. If you are in a lake they are there to. Disney can not be blamed for this awful accident. I do believe they now need to post about alligators for those who do not understand about them. Maybe in the lobby at the check in or maybe a post hung on the walls in the guest rooms. But people need to understand alligators mostly ignore areas with people unless they are feed but, they aren’t going to follow our rules of not wanting them in certain areas. You can not keep them out and you can’t kill them all .
Agree wholeheartedly! I think, though, that we should be able to say that Disney should’ve had signs explicitly warning of alligators, without that being an assignment of blame. In retrospect, perhaps that would’ve helped, but perhaps not. And frankly, that’s the best measure they could take now. Along with adding, “do not feed the wildlife!” signs of they aren’t already there. I grew up in Florida and visit once or twice a year and it never ceases to amaze me how close to alligators people get. Doesn’t make sense to me how we can have literally hundreds of thousands of people a year purposely getting within ten ft or less of an alligator in the wild for a photograph or something, and then when a tragedy like this happens start to blame either the parents or the proprietor. It was a horrible tragedy. I feel so terrible for that family and also for the other guests and employees there.
I’ll just mention that generally speaking young gators are actually far more aggressive than larger older ones.
Thank you so much for this post Tom! I totally agree. In fact, this reminded me of the irrational responses to the Paris attacks. We are living in Paris, and we had teachers telling us never to go to the mall again, never to take public transport again, never to go to concerts or big, crowded events again…it was ridiculous. There were also a lot of new security measures put in place, some of which made sense, but most didn’t. The most popular is adding a half-hearted bag check to every building, even to schools on occasion. This was proven useless when seniors sneaked a live hen into the high school, despite the security checks. I’ve always had the mindset that “if you die, you die” because anyone can die at any time, but many people seem appalled by that attitude. Again, thanks for writing this post!
Tom,
The outcry is about not being informed and being unnecessarily exposed to a risk that most aren’t aware of. Disney has an army of lifeguards at their pools and signs not to swim in their lagoons to prevent against drowning. Parents are also aware of the danger of drowning. You choose to travel despite the risk of terrorism, but you’re aware of the risk. Guests weren’t fully informed of this risk so they could make the choice that you make when you travel.
We stayed at the Grand Floridian last year and numerous kids waded in the water during our stay. If Disney simply had signs posted that said to stay out of the water because of alligators, parasites, etc., parents/guests would have had the opportunity to make a fully informed decision, and it’s reasonable to think that those kids would not have been in the water and that the little boy that died would be alive today.
Disney could have done its part by posting these signs and installing barriers. As it stands, they did not. That is why people are upset.
I totally agree with you if they put a sighn that’s said keep out because risk of alligators then people cannot say they haven’t been warned but this wasn’t the case and its took a lovely little boys life to make Disney put the these up
Exactly. I agree with one of the newest posts that this is really criminal negligence on Disney’s part. We’ve been to Disney almost every year since my eight year old was born and obviously fans. We’re going again in August, staying at the Polynesian. We won’t go near the lagoon and aren’t concerned for our safety. We’re fans but also angry at Disney’s inaction. Being angry isn’t bashing Disney. On the contrary, many of these posts sound like Disney fans that are wearing blinders, as though Disney can do no wrong. A little boy died when Disney could have prevented it. It should be called what it is.
So basically, following posted rules isn’t enough if there is no reason given for the rule? Why is it not possible for someone to just accept that there might be a rule in place for a good reason and follow it without a full list of why it exists?
I think you guys might be missing the point. You can’t warn people about every danger possible and statistically speaking an alligator attack is very very rare. Building barricades would be really silly but even putting up signs specifically warning of every hazard would lead to putting up 100 signs. Snakes, spiders, slip and falls, tripping, choking, parasites, strong winds, ducks… How many signs would it take? And if I was standing by the sign saying ‘watch for alligators’ but didn’t read the ‘watch for snakes’ sign 100′ away, and then got bit by a snake, then we’d sue because there weren’t enough signs placed together. Driving on the roads in WDW is likely way more dangerous – should Disney put up signs every half mile warning people that travelling on roads could lead to death? You can’t warn people about everything and signs saying ‘stay out of the water’ are sufficient.