Community Chat

[itiswhatitis]

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@terrier3 wrote:

I've stayed at WDW a few dozen times. This lagoon is a man-made feature. There are two large lakes with hotels ringing them - this one and the one at the Boardwalk.

Both have resorts with sandy "beaches" - you can play on the beach and wade as well - which is why there is a life guard on duty. I never had any desire to put my toes in the water, but they also stock the 7 Seas Lagoon with fish. You can even take a "fishing tour" and catch small sunfish and even bass.

It appears that they stocked their man made lake with a buffet dinner for alligators...not a great idea!

If you wake up very early, the properties are sprayed for mosquitoes almost every day, by men in Hazmat type suits. If they are that fastidious at killing skeeters, they should do the same to keep alligators out too.

There are nightly Light Parades on the water...people are ENCOURAGED to come out, go down to the beach and watch the floats. If WDW thought that alligators might live in their man made lakes and canals, they shouldn't have created sandy "beaches" on them for family playtime.

I think they have a perfect right to sue. I have NEVER seen any warnings about alligators in the waterways at WDW...not one.

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Unfortunately we live in a "reactive" society.  Typically it takes unfortunate events for policymakers to change course on how they do things.  

[Carmie]

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@eddyandme wrote:

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@eddyandme wrote:

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@Tinkrbl44 wrote:

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@CouponQueen wrote:

Yes as parents we all make mistakes..but as parents it is up to US to pay attention to our surroundings. They are on vacation...but why would they let a 2 year old wade in the water - especially when the sign states NO Swimming..they are from the US..they know what No Swimming means..you do not go in the water!! So due to their lack of common sense they lost their child, this two year old tragically lost his life and goodness knows what his last minutes were like.. Parents..PAY ATTENTION to your surroundings!

This is what a witness stated:

Declan Salcido, who's on vacation with relatives from San Jose, California, said the "No Swimming" signs are visible "from any vantage point."

The lagoon is not for recreational swimming.

"This is Florida, and it's not uncommon for alligators to be in bodies of water," Demings said.

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@CouponQueen

ITA .....   Alligators are EVERYWHERE in Florida .....  millions of them.  If a beach says NO SWIMMING, then parents can't ignore their obligations just because they are on vacation!  They need to watch their kids!

Anyone want to bet how long it will be before the parents sue Disney for a wrongful death?   Of course they will blame Disney!   JMO 

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Yes, they are likely going to sue.  They have every right to do so.

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@itiswhatitis

They'll sue - sure the ambulance chasers are lining up right now.  They have the right to sue 'cause anybody can sue anyone.  WDW had proper signage - NO SWIMMING.  However, nowadays, lots of people don't follow rules.  Will they win in a court of law - imo, probably not.  But, WDW will give them a very substantial settlement for not going to court to avoid additional bad p.r..  Sadly, no amount of compensation will bring back their baby:  the real tragedy here is a child died needlessly and the family will be living with the sadness of "if only" and heatache for the rest of their lives.

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Why does them suing disturb you so much?  People have been suing each other for years, centuries~ not just "nowadays."  It's part of the fabric of America and has been since its founding.  What's it to you, that this family who lost their child will sue WDW?  Will any of the proceeds (if they win) go to you?

Go ahead and tell me about YOUR tax dollars.......

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@itiswhatitis

Years ago people didn't sue as frequently as today, fueled by lawyers who benefit the most, prolonging the agony, that's my opinion.  Whether or not they sue doesn't affect me whatsover and don't know why you say their suing disturbs me?  Anyways, don't know what your last paragraph refers to - sorry, just don't understand.  

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You'll have to give me stats on this.  Lawsuits have given us precedents for which we live by today.  Of course, lawsuits have been going on for centuries.  No doubt as a society advances, so too does the many ways one can breach a contract; cause unintended public harm and more.  Lawsuits are equal to the times in which we live.

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Lot's of people sue today and even win their lawsuits.  I for one just don't understand how money makes one feel all better.  

[itiswhatitis]

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@Carmie wrote:

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@itiswhatitis wrote:

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@Carmie wrote:

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@Mrsq2022 wrote:

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@febe1 wrote:

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@nomless wrote:

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@Mz iMac wrote:

Being from Nebraska or any other place in the world is no excuse for letting a 2 yr old wade in shallow water AT NIGHT w/NO SWIMMING signs posted all over the place.

The father was close enough to the child to rescue but no one can pry the jaws of an alligator once it takes hold of "food." 

I think I read some where that alligators "drown" their "food" prior to swallowing.

SIDEBAR:  Everytime I go to New Orleans I always take a canoe ride on the everglades to feed the alligators marchmellows.  I won't be doing that no more!!!

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Here, a land-locked area, wading close to shore does not equal swiming.  Now, I understand that No Swimming means Stay Away From the Water, but before this incident, that wasn't my interpretation of No Swimming.

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Same here. No swimming tells you nothing. It doesn't tell you not to wade in the water. DANGER --ALLIGATORS WILL EAT YOU! Make it clear to innocent parents.

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I agree!  Swimming, and getting your toes wet are two different things.  Unless there was a fence, a little sandy beach is tempting for a vacationing family.  

If I see a no swimming sign, I know that I'm not allowed to put on a suit and jump on in to swim.  If I see a "DANGER - no swimming - ALLIGATORS" sign, I'd know to stay 20 yards away from the body of water and not even walk close enough to skip stones...two very different messages. 

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Amazing.  If the sign says " No Swimmng" it means stay out of the water... No swimming, no wading.., no dangling your toes in the water!  It means you must stay out of the water... Period.

There shouldn't have to be an explanation as to why.  The sign is clear and to the point.

We spend every summer at a lake and launch our boat at a public place.  There are signs at the dock that say NO Smimming and NO Fishing, but every summer people bring their children and pets to the boat launch to swim and fish.

I have had to scream at the top of my lungs to get the children to move out of the water so that our boat doesn't hit them, especially when we are taking out boat out of the water.  Parents curse at me when I ask them to get their children out so we can back our trailer and drive the boat on it.  Boats do not have brakes and can't stop.  Our boat is big and would kill a child/ adult if they got hit.

All of us adults should obey the signs.  We should not only obey the ones we pick and choose..  We should not teach our children that it is okay to ignore signs either.  It only takes a quick moment for someone to get killed or hurt. 

I feel so bad for this family. They could have prevented this tragedy by using common sense.  It is  never okay to go into any natural water at night.  You can't see the bottom or know what might be in there.  The father and his son were wading in knee deep water at night.  So sad and too late now.

No matter where you are from, you have probably seen the pictures and new reports showing alligators in people's back yards and in swimming pools.  There is no way to keep them out.  They too don' t or can't read and obey the signs.

'

 NO SWIMMING IS SELF explanatory.  No swimming.  I don't care how bad you don't like it, but additional signage was lacking on this.  Just bysheer virtue of the way we interpret things differently.  No ambiquity when you say, DO NOT ENTER WATER ~ ALLIGATORS.  LEAVE NO ROOM FOR DOUBT OR AMBIGUITY.  unfortunately "no swimming" doesn't cut it here.

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So, if you can't swim, but are in the water up to knee level, you aren't  really swimming, so that it's okay then?  You are only swimming when you're wearing a swim suit and are floating in the water with arm movements?  Wading is different than actual Swimmg. Well, not in my book.

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The act of swimming is extremely different from frolicking.  Your book doesn't really count here.  If you want to go swim or frolic in waters with no knowlege of the marine habitate go for it.

[itiswhatitis]

Lots of people sue to keep other tragic events from happening to others.  Sometimes it principle, sometimes its money.  Who are you to say, which it would be for these parents?  Please don't run up in here and say they would do it for the money.  You don't know them, nor do I.

Sometimes lawsuits are filed unbeknownst to the public and settlements are offered.  

[colliegirls]

This is one time that the parents are not to blame.  The father was with the boy. I would not have expected alligators in Disneyworld, and we lived in Florida. This is a safety issue for Disneyworld that there were no "Danger, Alligators" signs up around that lagoon. The boy was no more than ( from the news that I heard and read) a foot into the water, that is negligible. "No swimming" is not the same as "Danger, alligators".

[itiswhatitis]

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@colliegirls wrote:

This is one time that the parents are not to blame.  The father was with the boy. I would not have expected alligators in Disneyworld, and we lived in Florida. This is a safety issue for Disneyworld that there were no "Danger, Alligators" signs up around that lagoon. The boy was no more than ( from the news that I heard and read) a foot into the water, that is negligible. "No swimming" is not the same as "Danger, alligators".

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1000% ^5!!!!!

[LTT1]

@Nataliesgramma@itiswhatitis@Carmie@Naturally

I have not read all of the posts.

After reading a few news stories this morning, I will say I came out of it a more educated consumer. 

Previously, my thoughts have been that Disney World is a perfectly pristine, totally magic fairy kingdom. No insects/no garbage anywhere, etc.  

I was naïve.

Perhaps the water running throughout "It's a Small World After All" is insecticide. I would not let my child drink it. There appear to be no bugs at all here even though giant Palmetto bugs are everywhere in FL!

I especially now, would not take my children into shallow beach water... especially at night. I don't know if I ever could even wade there now.

Yes, somewhere there should be a list of warnings and/or signs. They put signs up at zoos. 

ie: "Don't fall into the gorilla pit." (Or lion pit, etc)

[beach-mom]

I just heard the news conference on the way home. They found the little boy's body - all of it - close to where he was taken, in water about 6 feet deep. They have also captured 5-6 alligators from that area, and will test them to see if one is the one that drowned the little boy. 

At least the parents have closure. The sheriff said they appreciated all of the prayers and that a priest was with them. 

[febe1]

They've reported the alligator drowned the little boy. They didn't say what else the alligator did.

They are feverishly hunting down the alligator that did it. Like the alligator was a murderer or somehow different than any other alligator. This is not a "rogue" alligator. Alligators are predators and do what predators do. I don't believe they should go around killing all the alligators they suspect.

This has to be changed and made safe for families and children. Not enough care is taken for families on vacation.

[colliegirls]

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@beach-mom wrote:

I just heard the news conference on the way home. They found the little boy's body - all of it - close to where he was taken, in water about 6 feet deep. They have also captured 5-6 alligators from that area, and will test them to see if one is the one that drowned the little boy. 

At least the parents have closure. The sheriff said they appreciated all of the prayers and that a priest was with them. 

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I  understand what you meant but there is NO CLOSURE for parents who lose a child.  That phrase always strikes a cord with me. Their lives are ruined forever in many ways.