I feel bad for everyone. The family, Disney employees, vacationers there now, the search parties, the organization as a whole, us. My heart breaks. I bet there is a lot of money being spent right now in the search and care of parties, grounds. Orlando is seeing some sad days lately. I mean Oh my Gosh - what's up with that???
I am sure the family will receive a lot of help from people to help them through this tough time.
I do not suspect this story will be forgotten anytime soon. Many lives will most likely be altered from this no matter the outcome. This will raise awareness for everyone.
I bet the family never expected anything like this to happen on their vacation. Not many would.
Many think Disney is the perfect place. It is still a place and a vacation. Vacationing anywhere comes with risks. Living in my house comes with risks. As a vacationer myself, I make a choice as a person -- Whenever I go on a cruise or a vacation anywhere, I do my due diligence. It is my responsibility as a vacationer to become aware and as a person I am lucky my parents exposed me to dangers and a true sense of imperfection. I am not in any way entitled or led to believe that any place or person is perfect. I always get in my car or fly on a plane or cross the road expecting the risk that comes with it. If I go swimming anywhere I know there are still risks - with or without signs. I could go swimming and drown due to crippling cramps even though I am an excellent swimmer. Children have been known to drown in the smallest amounts of water. There are risks to anything in life. And choices. And CHANCE. Please make no assumptions by my statements above or below. Chance of dangers causing death, dismemberment are inevitable anywhere. This situation for all is horrible.
Animals are animals and can act unpredictably. Being from Nebraska, I wonder how many farms are near the area where they live? Nebraska may not have alligators but they do have animals. There are animals everywhere and certainly near every body of water in the world. Living organisms. Good ones, bad ones but nevertheless unpredictable. There are no perfect spots in the world and risks everywhere with everything. There are no perfect animals. No perfect people. No perfect circumstances. We should never feign intelligence or share ignorance in making a conscious decision for the safety of ourselves or our families. I will not assume anything about the family or the people on our forum or the news.
Signs, notices, small print all exist for a reason. We drive the roads with signs all over the place. Do we analyze yield signs? Do you try to guess what can happen if those signs are ignored or unreasoned? The law says we follow them or we run another risk of getting stopped by police not just putting our safety and the safety of others at risk. Any chance or half truths in following, well, it's your life, your decision and it's still a chance anything can happen. Either way, no matter. I am sure there is not one person in the world that wanted this to happen. However, the results will nevertheless be the same.
We were just at WDW in March and was on the beach at the Poly overlooking the lagoon. I kept my kids AWAY from that water. To me when I saw: --> No swimming = stay away from the water. Period. That doesn't mean an alligator couldn't have come up on the beach in a flash. We took caution to even be in that vicinity with the accepted responsibility and risk assumed. When the pool at our resort closed I read the sign and kept my children out of that water too. I am not perfect by any means but I've watched the movies, TV, done plenty of reading, my due diligence and my own intelligence and lack of ignorance along with my raised awareness to make my own decisions for me and my family. I listen to my gut. I could make a mistake. At any time of the day. I could be killed tomorrow and I pray that doesn't happen for my kids sakes. Chance creeps. People who need an excuse or reasoning in order to do or not do things (not necessarily those parents I am talking about in general) - what does that tell us? Common sense is not so common anymore I am fast learning. We have the internet available to us for research before travelling. I won't be one to assume anything here. That is not what my post should be doing. Just try to state obvious facts, my own reasoning, leading to my own opinions. Thankfully this forum exists for the purposes of having an opinion and stating facts.
I am blaming no one. Especially not the father. Or the mother. And not Disney. I cannot fathom having to try saving your child from the mouth of an alligator. Or watching this unfold. I cannot imagine how Disney employees are strong enough to help those parents right now. It must be very difficult all the way around. I just feel bad for the situation in entirety.
Very sad day for all and I cannot even imagine how people could or could not assume something like this could / count not happen given the world is full of educated individuals and very rich organizations. Go figure. Think about it.
What will people learn from this?
No doubt, this will turn into changes. Some good perhaps. Some bad perhaps. Depending upon the parents, Disney may or may not face a lawsuit (after all, anyone can sue for absolutely any reason these days...) but I am sure Disney will implement some changes whether they are sued or not. Changes may be good or bad. Changes inevitably could raise prices (most likely). IMHO, it will never see court so those that mentioned it, I feel it is doubtful. Disney would most likely settle. I hope the family does not decide to sue.
Will Disney come out with a new risk assumption clause before people visit WDW? What changes will be implemented? That is definitely a good topic for this site. Today I can only send my condolences to everyone in the world for this sad event.
(yes I very much include the family)
Remember when the boy drowned at Pop Century a few years ago? Now when you go to Pop Century (or any of the resorts) I notice there is GREATER security now. A fence. I literally saw lifeguards patrolling the pools in very short pacing distances scouting every inch even when no one was swimming and they were not just sitting around. Multiple lifeguards. There are no doubt high costs associated with changes. I've seen a lot since my first visit to Disney in '97.
Liability is a tough thing for a business and the people who utilize that business. No one won or will win here.
Changes will come....for everyone.