Gator Attack: Disney Knew of Problems, Staffer Asked for Fence at Lagoon

[B2G]

Disney is so screwed.

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Gator Attack: Disney Knew of Problems, Staffer Asked for Fence at Lagoon
By Matt Donnelly on June 15, 2016 @ 8:58 pm


Resort had ongoing concerns with guests feeding gators, insider tells TheWrap

The Walt Disney World Resort was aware of an ongoing problem of guests feeding alligators and had ignored staff requests to put protective fences in place, TheWrap has learned.

Numerous employees at the theme park expressed anxiety to management about guests feeding the animals within the past 14 months, an insider with knowledge of the resort told TheWrap.

An expensive collection of rooms called the Bora Bora Bungalows have been open since April 2015 at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, adjacent to Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel and a short walk along the Seven Seas Lagoon — the same body of water where a gator fatally dragged toddler Lane Graves into the water on Tuesday.

Guests have direct access to wildlife in the waters where the bungalows sit, and commonly feed gators that swim by, the individual said.

More:

http://www.thewrap.com/gator-attack-disney-knew-of-problems-staffer-asked-for-fence-at-lagoon-exclusive/

[B2G]

1. A lot more details at link. nt

[In_The_Wind]

2. This tragedy shouldn't have happened.

[avebury]

3. It seems that fencing would have been far more

important for the alligators then the humans. While one person or pet might lose their life in an alligator incident, may alligators will lose theif lives as a result which is exactly what happened. They might now know which animal did the deed so they will just kill all the ones the come across.

If, in fact, humans were in the habit of feeding the alligators then they were stupid. They were upping the ante on the alligators becoming a danger to other humans and thus a tragic human-alligator incident resulting in the chance that the alligators would end up being killed. It is like people who feed the bears and then wonder why the bears lose their fear of humans and become a nuisance and thus relocated or killed.

Disney for sure should have posted signs telling their guests to not feed the alligators which would have 1) alerted the guests to the presence of alligators and 2) hopefully cut down on the amount of food being fed to the alligators. Even with signs, some people would have stayed stupid and fed the alligators anyway. You can't fix stupid but at least Disney would have protected themselves by posting the signs. They could have posted flashing neon signs and some people would still act stupid.

[Marrah_G]

4. I remember back in the 70's being at the campground at Disney

There was an alligator in some water about 6 feet away from people and they were feeding it. I was a fearless 7 year old and I walked right down to the edge of the water. I was fascinated. My mom, on the other hand was not and dragged me away quickly. I was SO mad at her! Of course now I am grateful to her that I was not gatorchow.

[csziggy]

5. YouTube videos of gators at Disney World

THere are plenty - just search for "alligators Disney World." A number of them show people feeding the alligators - and some of the equipment used does not seem to be tourist supplied: