Video or gator at Splash Mountain....is this ride and other water rides safe?

[ravenclawtrekkie]

You're more likely to see a log fly off the top of Splash and burst into flames like Kristoff's sled than you are to see a gator doing anything even remotely threatening in the water of a ride.

 

[anneboleyn]

my husband who is not afraid of anything and always rolls his eyes when I mention a slight fear of anything has actually shown concern with the gator issue at WDW

There is no "gator issue" at WDW!! Alligators live there, always have. A horrible incident happened last week that happened to involve an alligator. This does not mean alligators have all of a sudden waged war on the human race.

Since you are more likely to be hurt on the rides at Disney World, are you guys going to avoid riding them?

 

[mco65]

I do think the risk is VERY small but that video is disturbing..

 

[MouseTeens]

there is more of chance of getting killed on the road to the airport than at WDW

There are literally 100,000 things of greater risk to you than an alligator at Disneyworld or anywhere else. Honestly, don't give it a second thought.

 

[anneboleyn]

To be completely honest, I feel horrible for the poor alligators in Florida right now. Don't get me wrong, my heart breaks for the family that lost their child. But you just know that a ton of alligators are going to be killed off because people won't look at the situation clearly and just assume since a horrible accident happened at Disney World that alligators must be out to kill all of us, despite the fact that this has never happened before.

 

[JimmyV]

The alligator in that video is small and harmless (to humans). I wouldn't necessarily want to be a duckling in the spring. But a human? No way is that little guy going to do anything to a person. Stop acting as if alligators are creatures from some horror movie intent on wiping out our species. Let's say that on average WDW sees 20,000,000 guests. Times 45 years. That's almost a billion people. With one serious incident involving an alligator. If a one in a billion incident involving an alligator upsets you, then you really shouldn't vacation anywhere in Florida.

 

[BrianL]

You're more likely to see a log fly off the top of Splash and burst into flames like Kristoff's sled than you are to see a gator doing anything even remotely threatening in the water of a ride.

Great, now I have to worry about THAT happening when I ride Splash Mountain.

Hmm, thinking about it, it'd actually be kinda cool.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

...That gator has zero interest in boarding a ride vehicle...

The alligators have always been there. Finding one around Splash Mountain is a pretty common occurence.

The fact that they have gone pretty much unnoticed up until now is a testament to how big of a non-issue they are. You are more likely to fall out of the log on Splash Mountain than get hurt by an alligator there.

I can't wait until this all blows over.

Exactly

 

[SgtTibbs]

I dont want to be that rare occurrence that people speak of....

Of course the problem with that point of view is that gator included you are safer at WDW than you are at home. You chance of being a "rare occurrence" is less on Disney property than in your own kitchen or bathroom and if you happen to have a pool at home good God your danger level is terrifying. Which suggests the best course of action is to head directly to WDW and stay there as long as humanly possible. It's the best way to be safe.

 

[Dismama2boys]

A child is dead, freak occurrence or not. It doesn't feel appropriate to make fun of people who are afraid. Educate them, certainly, but please don't belittle them.

 

[fairytalelover]

A child is dead, freak occurrence or not. It doesn't feel appropriate to make fun of people who are afraid. Educate them, certainly, but please don't belittle them.

thank you. We have a son and want to do everything possible to avoid this type of tragedy and to us that means to be educated on all issues like this.....If this family had more information this wouldnt have happened......

 

[fairytalelover]

The alligator in that video is small and harmless (to humans). I wouldn't necessarily want to be a duckling in the spring. But a human? No way is that little guy going to do anything to a person. Stop acting as if alligators are creatures from some horror movie intent on wiping out our species. Let's say that on average WDW sees 20,000,000 guests. Times 45 years. That's almost a billion people. With one serious incident involving an alligator. If a one in a billion incident involving an alligator upsets you, then you really shouldn't vacation anywhere in Florida.

that alligator in the video can most definitely hurt a child and an adult for that matter. Even that small, they do have teeth and strong jaws. I know, because I have been reading all about them to learn more about them for the past few days now....

 

[Mitzicat]

And just so no one freaks out here is some information (from Web MD) on the Amoeba:

Amoebas are single-celled organisms. The so-called brain-eating amoeba is a species discovered in 1965. It's formal name is Naegleria fowleri. Although first identified in Australia, this amoeba is believed to have evolved in the U.S. There are several species of Naegleria but only the fowleri species causes human disease. There are several fowleri subtypes. All are believed equally dangerous. N. fowleri is microscopic: 8 micrometers to 15 micrometers in size, depending on its life stage and environment. By comparison, a hair is 40 to 50 micrometers wide. Like other amoebas, Naegleria reproduces by cell division. When conditions aren't right, the amoebas become inactive cysts. When conditions are favorable, the cysts turn into trophozoites -- the feeding form of the amoeba.

Where Are Brain-Eating Amoebas Found?
Naegleria loves very warm water. It can survive in water as hot as 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

These amoebas can be found in warm places around the globe. N. fowleri is found in:

• Warm lakes, ponds, and rock pits
• Mud puddles
• Warm, slow-flowing rivers, especially those with low water levels
• Untreated swimming pools and spas
• Untreated well water or untreated municipal water
• Hot springs and other geothermal water sources
• Thermally polluted water, such as runoff from power plants
• Aquariums
• Soil, including indoor dust

Naegleria can't live in salt water. It can't survive in properly treated swimming pools or in properly treated municipal water. Most cases of N. fowleri disease occur in Southern or Southwestern states. Over half of all infections have been in Florida and Texas.

How Frequently Do People Get Infected by a Brain-Eating Amoeba?
Even though N. fowleri amoebas are relatively common, they only rarely cause brain disease. N. fowleri disease is known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). It occurs from zero to eight times a year, almost always from July to September. It's considered a rare infection. But some cases may be unreported. A study in Virginia that looked at more than 16,000 autopsy records from patients who died of meningitis found five previously unreported cases of PAM. Studies show that many people may have antibodies to N. fowleri. That suggests that they became infected with the amoeba but that their immune systems fought it off. It's not at all clear whether N. fowleri is a rare infection that always causes PAM and is almost always fatal, or a more common infection that only sometimes causes PAM. In a 2009 study, CDC researchers suggested that the common finding of antibodies to the amoeba in humans and the frequent finding of N. fowleri in U.S. waters indicates "that exposure to the amoeba is much more common than the incidence of PAM suggests."

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I always heard that they removed the ones over a certain size in the parks. I'll continue to be aware of my surroundings, but not let it affect my enjoyment of the parks.

Same here!

 

[anneboleyn]

A child is dead, freak occurrence or not. It doesn't feel appropriate to make fun of people who are afraid. Educate them, certainly, but please don't belittle them.

It WAS a freak accident, that is the point. This mass hysteria over an animal that has always been there and has never been an issue is insane.

Animals have gone extinct over situations like this. Tasmanian Tigers were thought to be horrible predators that would kill every type of livestock and attack people, so they were killed off and are now extinct. Same with the the Falkland Island Wolf and other animals. Alligators almost went extinct in Florida before. People are much much much more likely to kill them than the other way around.

 

[Mitzicat]

Great, now I have to worry about THAT happening when I ride Splash Mountain.

Hmm, thinking about it, it'd actually be kinda cool.

I would be more worried about the water on Splash Mountain than the log flying off. If you take the Keys to the Kingdom Tour you get to see the holding tank for that water. If my memory serves me right, it is registered as a swimming pool and it is the largest in the state. But ugh...the color and what is floating on top - flip flops, hats, park maps. I always keep my mouth closed on that ride. Can someone tell me how you lose a flip flop on Splash?

 

[Happyinwonerland]

What exactly are you afraid that gator is going to do? He's not going to death roll and drown you on Splash mountain he's too small to swallow you whole or drag you into a larger body of water. I suppose he could give a nasty bite if he wanted but it's unlikely.

Lane died because of several reasons. Naive parents who didn't realize the dangers of being in a lake at dusk. Scores of people who fed the gators, making them associate the beach and people with food, and pure bad luck.

I think a more likely concern would be gators I'm the way of the ride track might cause a boat to crash or something. But I'm assuming there are sensors that would cause the ride to stop operating if a large object made it onto the track.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

You're more likely to see a log fly off the top of Splash and burst into flames like Kristoff's sled than you are to see a gator doing anything even remotely threatening in the water of a ride.

Do you have a video of THAT?!?!

Yeah... I'm not worried about this. Have known about this for YEARS, having seen pics and videos of gators near Splash Mountain, various resorts, etc. Still will always remain aware of my surroundings like @mom2rtk said -- just as I teach my kids to be -- but won't worry about this more now than I did before.

 

[wilkeliza]

OP based on your recent posts you are working yourself into a frenzy. I can't imagine you'll enjoy a Disney trip or Cruise constantly being afraid of gators.

No a gator will no attack you on Splash Mountain or other rides. I imagine Dinsey has stepped up their gator removal and will now kill more than they were before. Next up we'll hear from the animal activists who are against that so no is going to be 100% happy with Disney no matter what way they continue.

I saw a 2/3 foot little guy at Splash and I wasn't afraid. Of course I grew up going camping in South Texas where my grandpa would drive his boat around looking for big gators to film.

 

[anneboleyn]

thank you. We have a son and want to do everything possible to avoid this type of tragedy and to us that means to be educated on all issues like this.....If this family had more information this wouldnt have happened......

Are you concerned with the terrifying murders of people in the Orlando area the past few weeks? It would seem that getting shot is more likely than being attacked by an alligator.

And what about the rides at WDW? There have been a number of people injured and killed as a result of those.