Disney Resort/Florida. Needs to Settle Quickly in Alligator Case: Everyone knows about the boy toddler who was snatched by an alligator and drowned. Now Disney is putting up new...

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Everyone knows about the boy toddler who was snatched by an alligator and drowned. Now Disney is putting up new warning signs and fences, to assure this does not happen again. Previous visitors in the past from everywhere, said they have seen alligators nearby the shoreline. One even reported it to Management. My friend says that Disney may be getting lawyers to defend its practices before the tragedy occurred. The best thing for Disney to do is to settle quickly with the parents on this matter. Their family image and reputation depends on it.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

This was a tragic event to be sure but any Florida resident knows better than to let children play around water in times when things like alligators are likely to be feeding and that park was built on their homes not the other way around. Yes, Disney will settle but will it bring that little boy back? No amount of money can do that and it's sad that a monetary value has to be placed on the grief that these folks must surely be feeling.

Does anyone remember the McDonald's fiasco? Now we have to have lables for everything because common sense is not all that common anymore and apparently intelligence has to be legislated.

When I was a kid and did something stupid, I had to take responibility for it, there was no expectation that a huge company with a deep pocket would fix it for me but now we will most likely have to look at signs stating the obvious (CAUTION, Contents may be hot) and fences that will ruin the beauty that Disney has worked so hard to create.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Mike D. wrote:

This was a tragic event to be sure but any Florida... (show quote)

People in Florida are aware of Alligators. People in Minnesota aren't. When you run a tourist business you are responsible to warn patrons of dangers that may be obvious to you but not to them. Proper Signs weren't posted because it might frighten patrons.. It cost a child's life. The "No Swimming" signs were no warning of snakes and alligators, a known danger in the lagoon.

richosob Loc: Lambertville, MI

Mike D. wrote:

This was a tragic event to be sure but any Florida... (show quote)

Your right about taking responsibility for your own stupidity, I grew up in the same period. Unfortunately now we have lawyers that have found a way to turn your stupidity into their income. Warning labels on things like lawn mowers that caution the operator not to use it like a hedge trimmer just makes me laugh. Who is stupid enough to pick up a lawn mower and run it over their hedges. If you do then maybe you deserve to lose a finger.

Rich

picturesofdogs Loc: Dallas, Texas.

The sign said "NO SWIMMING." Hard to see how it's anyone's fault but the parents.

kodiac1062 Loc: Sarasota, Fl

Disney should go to the parents with an open checkbook and say how much do you want. Forget all the lawyers getting fat off the tragedy and clogging up the courts.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

picturesofdogs wrote:

The sign said "NO SWIMMING." Hard to see how it's anyone's fault but the parents.

The child was in 3 inches of water - not swimming. Yes, people in Florida know about alligators, but those visiting from Nebraska can not be expected to realize the serious risk that exists. I warn visitors all the time about alligators. Most people think alligators are out there in the wild places - not in the middle of every town and city in the region. Just last week I watched a 14 foot monster walk up out of a retention pond and up onto the golf course of a very well-to-do neighborhood near where I live. He could and WOULD very easily eat any small dog, cat, or person that he could grab. Here are a few recent photos from MY neighborhood!

On the hunt!
On the hunt!...

Basking after a meal. Who's next?

picturesofdogs Loc: Dallas, Texas.

sb wrote:

The child was in 3 inches of water - not swimming.... (show quote)

Every resort I've been to, no swimming meant stay out of the water. Period. It didn't say no swimming but okay to wade.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

My comments were not intended to fan the flames on an opininated fire. I have mine and I've said almost all of what I intend to say on the subject but those of you who think that Disney should just bend over and let the world screw them are condoning a dangerous precedent which is EXACTLY why I cited the McDonalds case.

I have 11 children, 12 if you count a son in law. All have been to and thoroughly enjoyed the Disney experience. Some for as long as one quarter if a century. Look around you. People don't parent their children. My wife and I have adopted 8 that are shining examples of other people's failures as human beings.

I feel for the family but handing them money won't solve the problem and I'm sorry, being from another state doesn't preclude you from excercising caution around water. I am a native Californian but I read!

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

Mike D. wrote:

My comments were not intended to fan the flames on... (show quote)

Disney spends Millions to create the illusion of a safe tourist destination. They value their illusion more than valid warning signs. The "everyone be happy" philosophy can lure people into expecting a more safe environment than exists. If they created the illusion, they own the consequences too.The issue isn't "handing money to a bereaved family" but one of culpability of a billion dollar industry for not adequately warning guests of known hazards. In essence, they created the lagoon(manmade) knowing that there was a high probability it would be populated with alligators. Even when warned, they chose not to post the specific warnings needed to protect their guests. "no swimming" signs are ignored in almost every state, if not all- "beware of alligators" is an entirely different level of warning. In essence, they've created an attractive nusance, a water feature with a hidden danger.

picturesofdogs Loc: Dallas, Texas.

No swimming means stay out of the water. No OK to wade instead sign. The family ignored it. Still don't see how Disney is responsible for them ignoring the warning.

2Dragons Loc: The Back of Beyond

richosob wrote:

Your right about taking responsibility for your own stupidity, I grew up in the same period. Unfortunately now we have lawyers that have found a way to turn your stupidity into their income. Warning labels on things like lawn mowers that caution the operator not to use it like a hedge trimmer just makes me laugh. Who is stupid enough to pick up a lawn mower and run it over their hedges. If you do then maybe you deserve to lose a finger.

Rich

If I went to the Southwest, I would know enough to beware of prickly cactus, big cats, rattlesnakes & Gila monsters, and to have water with me at all times. If I went to the Rockies I'd know enough to watch out for bears, cougars, wolves, rutting elk. In Alaska I was always consciously aware of bears. Where I live I am aware of bears, timber rattlers, coyotes in packs, druggies, and swift running rivers. Even a child going to Florida one winter, we were aware of the gators, snakes and scorpions. What is wrong with these parents? What happened to their education of the world around them? Most of what I know about wild animals was learned in school in science classes. Remember the Food Chain and how that worked, or do they consider that too graphic and upsetting to teach today? Laissez-faire parenting might be good for the parents, but not so great for the kids.

romanticf16 Loc: Commerce Twp, MI

2Dragons wrote:

If I went to the Southwest, I would know enough to... (show quote)

With todays philosophy of "everyone gets a trophy", "you can't flunk my johnny!", etc people are not taught the realities of life. If someone said "Hey s---head, look out for the gators" they'd be criticized for their profanity instead of being thanked for a timely warning.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

Mike D. wrote:

My comments were not intended to fan the flames on an opininated fire. I have mine and I've said almost all of what I intend to say on the subject but those of you who think that Disney should just bend over and let the world screw them are condoning a dangerous precedent which is EXACTLY why I cited the McDonalds case...

The McDonald's coffee case has been lied about so much by insurance industry flacks, that many people (like you) have been fooled and are unaware of the actual facts. And the extensive background and history of McDonald's negligence and arrogance leading up by the case.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

mas24 wrote:

Everyone knows about the boy toddler who was snatc... (show quote)

You know it's amazing to me. Why is hindsight always 20-20 on these kinds of things when this could be never happened if the Disney people would have just thought of it a few weeks ago.