I’m sure I do remember from a trip to Magic Kingdom many years ago. (Possibly 2012 or 2014.)
That there was a small alligator in the lake at Liberty Square, the reason I remember it is because it was missing a good part from its front leg, and only had three complete ones.
Anyone else remember this. (Please tell me I’m not dreaming).
Actually Disney World did not have “Alligator” warning signs around their property before Lane Graves’ death.
There were signs to “stay out of the water” but nothing that signified dangerous wildlife before the boy was taken by a gator.
Yes. Several at Fort Wilderness Lodge along the beach before 20-6. Some at least 4ft. Alerted the staff who seemed nonplused at my angst. People had their feet and legs in the lagoon. No alligator signs whatsoever ever!
You cannot protect from predatory wildlife. It was absolutely a horrible tragedy. But Florida is a giant marsh with snakes, gators and all sorts of poisonous wildlife. Even sharks in the sea. These are not kept secret.
The Seven Seas Lagoon, on a clear sunny day, is visibly dark brackish brown water at best. Yuck. Who would put a toe in such water even during daylight? The attack occurred well after sunset in the dark. Why was a toddler – or anyone – in that dark murky water especially at night? Impossible to see. Tragic definitely. A child’s life was lost. Horrible. But this was also incredibly negligent on the part of the parents.
People’s expectations of a controlled environment are unrealistic. The park is built in an enormous marsh. Gators, snakes and other wildlife have constant access thru canals and waterways in every part of Florida. Disney’s efforts now give a greater false sense of security because they cannot remove every gator, every snake, every raccoon.
When we stayed at All Star in 2013 we saw an alligator when we were walking back to our room. It didn’t occur to me how dangerous that situation really could have been. We hurried up the stairs – looking back I should have called the front desk or something !
Biggest gater I have ever seen was on the bank of one of the canals you see from the Monorail, MK to EPCOT. It was during a draught in Florida years ago, water was low, and the tail of the gater was under the water withthe body crawling up the bank, head at the top. No idea how deep they canals are, but most of the tail was not visible, and that hater was huge! A little spooky it was so big!
Get your facts right about the tragic death of Lane Graves, he did not get killed by an alligator attack, he drowned because his father allowed him to go into the water at GF despite the signs telling guests not to do so. It is only shallow for a short distance then there is a ledge where it drops into deeper water and the little lad went over that ledge. His body was found ‘intact’ had no marks that could be positively attributed to an alligator and his cause of death was drowning. His father lied about the alligator and note that Disney were never sued by the Graves family. Daddy was probably busy on his phone while the child he was supposed to protect was probably less important than his phone screen. No one cared about the five alligators caught and killed to see if the child’s body was in their stomachs.
Do I sound harsh? Tough, I’ve seen far too many situations in recent years at Disney and elsewhere where parents are more concerned about FOMO with their phones than their kid’s safety.
Disney is built on land where all these creatures have lived since before humans even walked on this planet. I have seen snakes, armadillos, wild pigs and turkeys, deer and a whole host of animals during my stays and I love seeing them (from a distance) I remember the alligator by Splash Mountain too, about 4 foot long and minding his own business.
Disney has rules that are there for guests comfort and safety and hardly anyone can be bothered to follow them. I’ve been nearer to being injured by grown men running full pelt, sometimes pushing a stroller or by an ECV driven far too fast, especially after dark, than any wildlife at Disney.
Most of your comments are inaccurate. There were puncture wounds on the boy’s body. Here is part of a report on the autopsy.
“A dive team found the boy’s body intact in 6 feet of murky water about 10 to 15 yards from where he was attacked, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.
“His body had only a few puncture wounds, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
“Of course, the autopsy has to confirm that, but there is likely no question in my mind that the child was drowned by the alligator,” Demings said.
“The fact that the body was found intact makes sense, said Jeff Corwin, host of “Ocean Mysteries” on ABC.
“That gator came in, grabbed that boy, pulled him, the dad startled that gator, the gator let him go and then the boy drowned…”
This was a tragedy that could have been avoided. You are trying to pin the blame on the parents and they have had enough trauma from this.
We just came back for Magic Kingdom to Port New Orleans Riverside as we are crossing the bridge, my daughter was in front of us and ran into a huge alligator. Thank God it went the other way. I also saw a small alligator that was sunning on the bank when we were going down to Disney Springs. The cast members all tried to say that they don’t have alligators on the property. This was in October 2015.
I wonder if Walt was aware. Folks used to definitely play in the water at the Poly when it first opened. As a Floridian you take for granted that ALL Americans or visitors know about gators in every body of murky water. My friend from Maine thought a live one was a statue and almost let her son sit on it! Or maybe everyone thinks the Disney bubble includes keeping all dangers away at all times. I like how Universal built a pool material bottom waterway where their ferries take resort guests to the park. It’s definitely clearer. But not pool-blue enough for me to even trust gators haven’t gotten into there.
wow, thanks for the update as me and my uncle were going back and forth about what was the true account. he is a AK emloyee 27 years now. I was in seattle then and I remember the news. my family often went to DL since we lived on the west coast. I now work for Epcot and am new to florida. 2.5 years next month
Comments for Disney Removes More Alligators Than Ever After On-Property Attack
Tel Bass
I’m sure I do remember from a trip to Magic Kingdom many years ago. (Possibly 2012 or 2014.)
That there was a small alligator in the lake at Liberty Square, the reason I remember it is because it was missing a good part from its front leg, and only had three complete ones.
Anyone else remember this. (Please tell me I’m not dreaming).
Bob
Actually Disney World did not have “Alligator” warning signs around their property before Lane Graves’ death.
There were signs to “stay out of the water” but nothing that signified dangerous wildlife before the boy was taken by a gator.
Elaine
Yes at The camp site at Wilderness Lodge.
Kim
Yes. Several at Fort Wilderness Lodge along the beach before 20-6. Some at least 4ft. Alerted the staff who seemed nonplused at my angst. People had their feet and legs in the lagoon. No alligator signs whatsoever ever!
Janis
You cannot protect from predatory wildlife. It was absolutely a horrible tragedy. But Florida is a giant marsh with snakes, gators and all sorts of poisonous wildlife. Even sharks in the sea. These are not kept secret.
The Seven Seas Lagoon, on a clear sunny day, is visibly dark brackish brown water at best. Yuck. Who would put a toe in such water even during daylight? The attack occurred well after sunset in the dark. Why was a toddler – or anyone – in that dark murky water especially at night? Impossible to see. Tragic definitely. A child’s life was lost. Horrible. But this was also incredibly negligent on the part of the parents.
People’s expectations of a controlled environment are unrealistic. The park is built in an enormous marsh. Gators, snakes and other wildlife have constant access thru canals and waterways in every part of Florida. Disney’s efforts now give a greater false sense of security because they cannot remove every gator, every snake, every raccoon.
Jennifer
When we stayed at All Star in 2013 we saw an alligator when we were walking back to our room. It didn’t occur to me how dangerous that situation really could have been. We hurried up the stairs – looking back I should have called the front desk or something !
AMJ
Biggest gater I have ever seen was on the bank of one of the canals you see from the Monorail, MK to EPCOT. It was during a draught in Florida years ago, water was low, and the tail of the gater was under the water withthe body crawling up the bank, head at the top. No idea how deep they canals are, but most of the tail was not visible, and that hater was huge! A little spooky it was so big!
Diane
Get your facts right about the tragic death of Lane Graves, he did not get killed by an alligator attack, he drowned because his father allowed him to go into the water at GF despite the signs telling guests not to do so. It is only shallow for a short distance then there is a ledge where it drops into deeper water and the little lad went over that ledge. His body was found ‘intact’ had no marks that could be positively attributed to an alligator and his cause of death was drowning. His father lied about the alligator and note that Disney were never sued by the Graves family. Daddy was probably busy on his phone while the child he was supposed to protect was probably less important than his phone screen. No one cared about the five alligators caught and killed to see if the child’s body was in their stomachs.
Do I sound harsh? Tough, I’ve seen far too many situations in recent years at Disney and elsewhere where parents are more concerned about FOMO with their phones than their kid’s safety.
Disney is built on land where all these creatures have lived since before humans even walked on this planet. I have seen snakes, armadillos, wild pigs and turkeys, deer and a whole host of animals during my stays and I love seeing them (from a distance) I remember the alligator by Splash Mountain too, about 4 foot long and minding his own business.
Disney has rules that are there for guests comfort and safety and hardly anyone can be bothered to follow them. I’ve been nearer to being injured by grown men running full pelt, sometimes pushing a stroller or by an ECV driven far too fast, especially after dark, than any wildlife at Disney.
Ajhsys
Most of your comments are inaccurate. There were puncture wounds on the boy’s body. Here is part of a report on the autopsy.
“A dive team found the boy’s body intact in 6 feet of murky water about 10 to 15 yards from where he was attacked, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said.
“His body had only a few puncture wounds, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
“Of course, the autopsy has to confirm that, but there is likely no question in my mind that the child was drowned by the alligator,” Demings said.
“The fact that the body was found intact makes sense, said Jeff Corwin, host of “Ocean Mysteries” on ABC.
“That gator came in, grabbed that boy, pulled him, the dad startled that gator, the gator let him go and then the boy drowned…”
This was a tragedy that could have been avoided. You are trying to pin the blame on the parents and they have had enough trauma from this.
Melanie Durham
Thank you
DC
You are a disgusting sad excuse of a human being. What are you a gator sympathizer and employee of Disney? People like you suck. Seek mental help
Melanie Durham
I totally agree
Melanie Durham
Have you had access to his autopsy? I think not! That’s where the truth is! Not anyone here! SMH
Tracy
We just came back for Magic Kingdom to Port New Orleans Riverside as we are crossing the bridge, my daughter was in front of us and ran into a huge alligator. Thank God it went the other way. I also saw a small alligator that was sunning on the bank when we were going down to Disney Springs. The cast members all tried to say that they don’t have alligators on the property. This was in October 2015.
Jenn
I wonder if Walt was aware. Folks used to definitely play in the water at the Poly when it first opened. As a Floridian you take for granted that ALL Americans or visitors know about gators in every body of murky water. My friend from Maine thought a live one was a statue and almost let her son sit on it! Or maybe everyone thinks the Disney bubble includes keeping all dangers away at all times. I like how Universal built a pool material bottom waterway where their ferries take resort guests to the park. It’s definitely clearer. But not pool-blue enough for me to even trust gators haven’t gotten into there.
Nichelle
wow, thanks for the update as me and my uncle were going back and forth about what was the true account. he is a AK emloyee 27 years now. I was in seattle then and I remember the news. my family often went to DL since we lived on the west coast. I now work for Epcot and am new to florida. 2.5 years next month
Comments are closed.