robin1234

No I didn't conflate two facts! Native crocs are an entirely different thing, mostly salt water but now apparently to be found inland too. Recent research indicates that there are more exotic Nile crocs in FL than previously thought, and they are widespread. The Nile crocs actually want to eat people, whereas alligators only attack folks incidentally and less frequently. Doesn't help if you're one of the infrequent victims, of course.

markonline1

It was a lake with a beach in the middle of Disneyland surrounded by Disney hotels. I think the last thing you would be expecting are croc's in that body of water. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I don't blame the parents at all. The report I read had the mother paddling in the water with her son. This story is bad anyway, but as a father with a daughter who is 19 months old, I just can't imagine the horror of seeing that. Having kids puts a different perspective on everything, and thinking about this now almost makes me physically sick. Not sure how as parents you'd ever get over this.

Pulaski

You have just paraphrased what I said, whereas your earlier post that I quoted said (i) Nile crocs are "widespread" (I"m not sure how true that is? Compared to gators and native crocs, I suspect "not very"), and (ii) made no mention of native Floridian crocs, which are already more dangerous than gators.

robin1234

Why should I mention native crocs? What am I, writing an encyclopaedia entry already?

Hiro11

This is a shocking and horrible story.

I think blaming the parents is completely inappropriate. If you've been to WDW, you know that the Seven Seas Lagoon forms the center of the Magic Kingdom resort and that four major resorts all have beaches on the lagoon. Disney also has a huge wildlife management program already in place. Obviously appearances can be misleading, but the average person would assume that it doesn't get more safe/controlled than the beach at the Grand Floridian. In fact, Disney used to have a sizable water park right on the lagoon with only minimal barriers. I've stayed at three of the four resorts on the Seven Seas Lagoon and I'll admit that I hadn't considered gator attacks to be a concern during any of my visits.

However, I think Disney likely could have done a better job of informing visitors of the risks. Gators are impossible to keep out of any wet area in Florida and in retrospect this seems like it was a tragedy waiting to happen.

Pulaski

That was the only important part of your post. And I think "the average person" knows this. Unfortunately a few don't.

Hiro11

Kind of a dickish response, no?

Bermudashorts

I have been following this story really closely as I just booked a Disney holiday and joined a Disney forum. Sorry.

I understand that he was paddling with mother after attending a beach event hosted by Disney. The beaches are man made, have sun loungers, a man made beach and an inviting lake. The sign is a fairly benign, white "no swimming" sign. It does not say "no paddling", it is not red to indicate danger and it certainly does not mention that there is any risk of alligators.

It may indeed be very appparent to residents that there are alligators in every stretch of water in Florida. It may be common knowledge amongst Flordians that Disney is built on a former swamp. But I am a reasonably intelligent and well traveled person and neither thing was apparent to me. It would not occur to me that a man made Disney beach would be harbouring alligators.

The signs should have warned of alligators. I do not believe that any parent, or indeed any non-parent would have wilfully enterd a body of water even for a paddle had they thought there was an alligator risk. My heart breaks for these parents, how they will ever get over this I do not know.

Tirytory

We were there in March and it makes me want to vomit slightly that we could have easily made the same mistake. I'm aware of crocs/gators in Florida but in Disney, no it never even crossed my mind. I've read some of the comments on Facebook- some people seem incapable of showing compassion..

LondonSquirrel

Don't you just despise trolls? They obviously have nothing better to do than sit behind the shield of a computer making spiteful remarks.

Jerseygirl

It's not a case of people on here not being compassionate...we are. It was a horrific thing to happen...both for the boy and his family. I don't know how you ever get over losing a child.

However we are allowed to post our views as to what we would or would not have done. No doubt the parents have done this a thousand times and will continue to do so for the rest of their lives.

ddsrph

Maybe someone could post a link, there is a very good recent video of a large alligator found in Walmart parking lot in Sugarland, Texas. A very attractive, dental hygienist, part time alligator wrestler, saved the day. The gator wandered out of a creek behind the Walmart.

LondonSquirrel

Lot of gators on FL golf courses too apparently!

Jerseygirl

Florida is full of gators and snakes...I can't believe that people aren't aware of this! We often pull over if we see a stretch of freshwater...it's usually not too long before we spot a gator...from the safety of our car.

There are also poisonous snakes and mega huge boas!

markonline1

I think they are. Doesn't change the fact, most would expect a lake surrounded by hotels in the heart of Disneyland to be gator free.