Oh why don't these people value life?

Then they should close that part of the attraction. The life of a child is more important than big business.

It seems utterly ridiculous to me.

Surely, Disney World is primarily for children. It's marketed for children. So children's safety should be the main consideration.

If it was some wild piece of land and an alligator killed someone, then there would be no one to blame. You could say, alligators are natural species. But this is part of a huge money making business. Responsibility needs to be taken.

By the parents maybe Jings ??

I disagree that Disney is primarily for children. Obviously they are a key market but kids don't pay for vacation - parents and adults do.

I think you would be surprised to know 1/3rd of all visitors are adults without children .also this particular resort ( it's a hotel with the usual amenities) is priced at 65% more than more child friendly option so there is a very high proportion of adults there.

drama - I agree. It should say don't enter the water at all. And if N&G was there last week and saw kids paddling, I should have thought Disney would be aware of that happening. As has been said, these creatures do come out of the water. Surely the beach should be cordoned off from the lake edge, or banned altogether. I think the facility on offer is wrong, and to be fair I probably wouldn't have taken small children there. An appalling tragedy. N&G I do feel for you too, as you had such a wonderful and memorable holiday, and have come back to this sad news. I imagine you can't get it out of your mind. So awful.

I still can't believe some people are trying to lay the blame on the parents for this terrible tragedy. Alligators are dangerous wild animals, so surely the water should have been fenced off to prevent anyone from entering the water or the alligators from entering the holiday resort/park.

Poor little boy and poor parents too.

Also the sign I read on line just warns of a steep shelf in the water. There was no mention of man eating alligators.

Again... I would like to say there are signs warning people about the Alligators everywhere, but people are like sheep. It only takes one person to let their child paddle and the rest all follow.

Having said that - I would not have even parked the car near there.

I don't think it is Disney to blame, but I do think they put money over everything.

It's a man made lagoon. Made by Disney. They should have the responsibility of making sure it is safe at all times. Or closing it off. They know there are alligators springing up everywhere in that area.

Yes Bellanonna we were on that beach and others in the area with our little grandsons so there but for the grace of God!! But for us it was just somewhere we walked past to get to the pool . Even without alligators I wouldn't venture in the water .

I think it's too late for blame but time to learn these hard lessons to stop it ever happening again x

If it says "No Swimming" maybe it should also say "Do not enter the water - alligators" - that would make it clear.

The pictures of the beach show beautiful white sand, and the water looks perfectly okay for paddling in. The lake is man made and is on a Disney resort. The No Swimming sign only mentions a steep drop, nothing about alligators. The parents are from Nebraska, so probably know very little about alligators' behaviour and like many tourists would possibly have assumed that a lake made by Disney would be safe. I certainly assumed so when I took my children there on holiday. There was an outdoor cinema showing that evening. Frankly, I can't see where the parents have gone wrong at all and Disney should (and probably will) take full responsibility for this tragic accident.

If there were signs about alligators the parents should never have let the child go anywhere near the water, let alone paddle in it. It's the gorilla in the zoo all over again but with more tragic circumstances for the child this time.Some people should not be allowed to have kids

There wasn't any signs about alligators.

It must have come as a shock to Disney as much as anyone lose that an alligator had entered the lagoon. But they should have foreseen the possibility of it happening, given the number of attacks from alligators in that area recently. The buck has to stop with them.

anyone else

Interesting to see what hey do about it now. The zoo is making alterations round the gorilla pit.

'Scuse me but I've been there and it is patently clear from the start that Alligators inhabit all the water areas in the resort. People living there have to make sure their swimming pools are safe from creatures getting in. They have to erect fencing and netting to keep themselves safe.

I have seen the signs . and this is how I was informed about it. At our hotel they had signs everywhere asking people not to go near the water or to feed the Alligators and turtles.

The Alligators and the other animals were there before we were, and there are many of them. I read now that four 'gators have been removed removed from the water and will be euthanised.
Not their fault is it

no-one said it was the alligators' fault, and it is awful that these animals have been killed.

I never implied nor said anyone had said that !

I'm not trying to get into an argument either. What I have said is IMHO.

Sorry! I didn't see your post!

I haven't been there, and neither would I wish to. Bad enough that GS is to spend a day at Disneyworld in Paris as part of an 'educational' school trip.

Total junk IMO.

The sad thing jings is you've made that decision never having been there or experienced it .

My sister many years ago said it wasn't for her 'total tripe ' I believe she said . She came once to humour me and has returned year on year. Florida is a lot more than theme parks but the parks are truly amazing with many educational elements disguised as fun to engage the children.

Oh, I suppose it's just not my kind of thing. We're all different. I'm glad you enjoy it.