"Attractive hazard" [Orlando Gator attack]

[susano]

Is a term I'm familiar with because my little niece (years ago) was hurt on some construction equipment left unattended and unfenced. It was deemed an "attractive hazard" but no judgment was won because it was a township government who was the defendant.

This alligator nightmare at Disney is an attractive hazard if ever there was one. They created well groomed, sandy beaches with chaise lounge chairs, tables, umbrellas and a movie screen on the shore of the habitat of apex predators. People from all over the world go to that overpriced playground and have no idea that all fresh water in Florida has alligators. Disney had " no swimming" signs but no "DANGER ALLIGATORS - STAY AWAY FROM WATER" signs. I'm guessing that's because such warnings might hurt business. The little boy was simply wading (not swimming) with his poor parents unaware of what was in the "Seven Seas Lagoon". Their grief must be unimaginable

This makes me sick that Disney (who I can't stand) lured the unsuspecting to a freaking gator swamp by putting a beach there. These poor people will get HUGE money from Disney but lost their baby in the most awful way and it was completely avoidable. I'm amazed it didn't happen sooner but it was bound to happen.

 

[Danke]

I don't know maybe there should be better warnings. But I have been to Orlando many times and I always keep my distance from ponds and a good eye on them.

 

[oyarde]

I do not hang out in gator waters without a weapon.

 

[Danke]

I do not hang out in gator waters without a weapon.

Are you allowed to travel that far south?

 

[oyarde]

I don't know maybe there should be better warnings. But I have been to Orlando many times and I always keep my distance from ponds and a good eye on them.

If Vero Man was around he could show you how to hunt Cave Bear and Gator.

 

[oyarde]

Are you allowed to travel that far south?

Only on vacation. I was fishing in Mississippi in a bayou once , gator that kept cruising by the boat I would estimate at 16 feet. I feed it some marshmallows. They like them for some reason.

 

[Jamesiv1]

Kid did it to himself.

 

[Suzanimal]

So sad. I agree. Disney should do more to warn guests about the gators. I used to go a lot when my kids were little and it never occurred to me to look out for gators around a theme park. I had a too close for comfort encounter with them a few times visiting my brother. He lives on a canal and I would take my coffee outside in the wee hours of the morning so I didn't wake anyone else up and decided to take a walk around the yard when I heard something going into the water about 10 ft from me - it was a frickin' gator. I didn't even notice it. I was too busy watching the neighbors across the canal getting ready for work. It was still a bit dark outside and I could see right into their house.

 

[asurfaholic]

Look I know it's a horrible situation. This one little boy's death haunts me so much more so than all of the people killed in the nightclub. The innocence of him is heartbreaking. The helplessness I feel is real.

But let's not get all emotional and start blaming people that are not responsible. Disney didn't put the gators in the lakes. It is pretty common knowledge that the gators are everywhere in Florida. There are over a million in Florida, despite being listed as endangered for some reason. They go where they please and are opportunistic eaters.

This kid was a tasty treat for a hungry gator. Disney has no liability because they didn't make the kid get in the water at 9:20pm. I don't want to blame the parents but ultimately that's where the responsibility is.

My heart goes out to them

 

[pcosmar]

I don't know maybe there should be better warnings.

a lot of folks bought swampland in Florida.

They are just reaping their investment.

 

[MelissaWV]

Jeez. I feel for them, but at what point does common sense come into play? How many signs are needed?

Warning: All non-saltwater areas large enough to hold an alligator in Florida may contain an alligator (including chlorinated water). By the way, this is the season they are usually nesting. Oh and they tend to feed during the dark hours.
Warning: Leeches, snakes, snapping turtles, mosquitoes, ticks, geese, ducks, raccoons, spiders, frogs, lizards, and any number of other wild creatures are also going to be there. They're not friendly, either.
Warning: Do not drink the lagoon water.
Warning: Do not set up toddler play pens close to the water.
Warning: Since we actively advertise bass fishing as an option, consider that there might be both creatures the bass eat, and that eat the bass.

Can we also make sure this is translated in multiple languages, since there are numerous international tourists?

This can go right up next to the warnings about areas around the pool being wet, which do exist.

It's sad that these people didn't know, and yeah Disney is going to pay out the nose, but it's interesting that plenty on these boards have griped about how no one exercises common sense and that there has to be a warning for absolutely everything.

ETA: You can Google Earth that "attractive" beach, with the murky swampwater walled in by rocks. It looks like the edge of any of those lakes at Sea World, Epcot, Disney, etc. where they set up fireworks and boat shows --- which is precisely what the hotel cautions you the water is for. I guess they need to put THAT warning outside and in plain view as well.

 

[MelissaWV]

People from all over the world go to that overpriced playground and have no idea that all fresh water in Florida has alligators.

Brackish water as well.

 

[euphemia]

I'm in travel and tourism. It is impossible to put up enough warnings to make people have common sense. A two year-old can't read. Who was holding the child's hand? What were the parents doing? I would be willing to lay odds that one parent was taking pictures or video of the child. Just like the kid who fell in the bear thing in Cincinnatti. At what point do walls and encosures not mean something to a four year-old?

My job has a safety component. I can't count the times I have had to ask a parent to stop their child from doing something that is totally unsafe. We ask people do to something for a reason. We don't get our jollies bossing people around. We want to entertain them, but they really make it hard.

This past week we were visiting our kiddo and grandkiddos. We went to a place where there are valuable collections. There are alarms and instructions not to touch or sit on the furniture. We didn't. It was on a bay. The sign said, "No Wading or Collecting." So guess what? We didn't do it. The two year-old was in a stroller, then held by her dad. I had the 7 year-old. Husband had the 4 year old, and dd had the 9 year-old. That's how you keep your kids under control.

Take one picture, then enjoy the attraction. How many pictures of the child do you need? Parents miss a lot of face time with their kids when they interact with them through the lens of a camera. In the time it takes to snap a picture and post it on FB, the child can die. Save the free ranging for home.

 

[Suzanimal]

Jeez. I feel for them, but at what point does common sense come into play? How many signs are needed?

Warning: All non-saltwater areas large enough to hold an alligator in Florida may contain an alligator (including chlorinated water). By the way, this is the season they are usually nesting. Oh and they tend to feed during the dark hours.
Warning: Leeches, snakes, snapping turtles, mosquitoes, ticks, geese, ducks, raccoons, spiders, frogs, lizards, and any number of other wild creatures are also going to be there. They're not friendly, either.
Warning: Do not drink the lagoon water.
Warning: Do not set up toddler play pens close to the water.
Warning: Since we actively advertise bass fishing as an option, consider that there might be both creatures the bass eat, and that eat the bass.

Can we also make sure this is translated in multiple languages, since there are numerous international tourists?

This can go right up next to the warnings about areas around the pool being wet, which do exist.

It's sad that these people didn't know, and yeah Disney is going to pay out the nose, but it's interesting that plenty on these boards have griped about how no one exercises common sense and that there has to be a warning for absolutely everything.

ETA: You can Google Earth that "attractive" beach, with the murky swampwater walled in by rocks. It looks like the edge of any of those lakes at Sea World, Epcot, Disney, etc. where they set up fireworks and boat shows --- which is precisely what the hotel cautions you the water is for. I guess they need to put THAT warning outside and in plain view as well.

I think it's a bad idea for Disney not to put up gator signs. From a liability and a public relations standpoint, it just seems odd that they knew they were in the water (yes, I know everyone in FL knows that but people from all over the world go there and just don't think about it - especially on vacation in the middle of a resort) and don't have a sign posted - they have no swimming signs, it just seems odd that they wouldn't add GATORS! to it.

Here's a photo of the beach at the Grand Floridan where the boy was killed. Looks pretty nice to me.

 

[William Tell]

This is so sad. I thought this thread would be about Daisy Duke.

 

[Suzanimal]

This is so sad. I thought this thread would be about Daisy Duke.

I thought it was going to be about a good looking tranny.

 

[Danke]

So sad. I agree. Disney should do more to warn guests about the gators. I used to go a lot when my kids were little and it never occurred to me to look out for gators around a theme park. I had a too close for comfort encounter with them a few times visiting my brother. He lives on a canal and I would take my coffee outside in the wee hours of the morning so I didn't wake anyone else up and decided to take a walk around the yard when I heard something going into the water about 10 ft from me - it was a frickin' gator. I didn't even notice it. I was too busy watching the neighbors across the canal getting ready for work. It was still a bit dark outside and I could see right into their house.

There are somethings not even a gator will eat.

 

[Suzanimal]

There are somethings not even a gator will eat.

I see you made it out alive, too.

 

[Anti Federalist]

I thought it was going to be about a good looking tranny.

 

[euphemia]

And of course none of the Disney resorts in Florida have gator-free, lifeguard-staffed swimming pools.

I'm sorrier than I know how to be about the death of this child. It breaks my heart. I would never dream of shaming the parents or anyone around. It's just too sad. Nature is a powerful force. People should respect it.