Hellobee Boards

This is horrendous. I get it they should have obeyed the signs, but I cannot even imagine leaving for a dream vacation and not coming back with my child due to such a horrible tragedy. And watching it happen. I seriously just can't even watch the news on this one. Awful.

OMG, I feel sick thinking about this...

I can't even imagine. I'm sorry, but shame on Disney. Yes there are signs, but when the beach/lagoon is set up like this, it's inviting families to go near it.

It sounds like there was a swimming section right next to it because there was a lifeguard? And they weren't really swimming just splashing ankle deep water. So sad.

What a horrible, sad story. They said this morning they had pulled out 4 alligators but still not found the boy.

Did they have Beware of Alligators signs there? Although even if they did, who REALLY thinks something like that is going to happen in a foot of water? Absolutely crazy.

@MamaG: Yes, even still I can tell you so many times I've been too close to a pond/river fishing, playing with dogs etc....
Also it's such a practice we check pools and hot tubs for snakes and gatora before we dive in!
I truly hope Disney underatands that A No swimming sign means no swimming not beware of alligators

@snowjewelz: omg really?! Birds?!

@FaithFertility: That's what the CNN article said! So there really can be gators in ANY body of water I guess?!

It is so awful what has been going on in Orlando

This makes my heart hurt

@FaithFertility: Agree, its so sad. But yes, I believe there are no swimming signs and signs to beware of alligators.

@snowjewelz: Ummm yes, even swimming pools and in the ocean. They also love golf courses.

This is unimaginable I'm not a Floridian and it would never occur to me that this water can have gators and *it's not fenced off in any way and made to look so inviting* I do remember a similar beach in Australia that looked so awesome for swimming, except for the big signs warning you to watch for crocodiles and toxic jellyfish. It had special fenced off swim areas but I think people got close to the water outside them too... just not actually swimming. I guess everyone assumed you just keep your eyes open, and if a croc comes you can spot them before they bite. Apparently that's not true.

That poor family. Hoping for a miracle...

I saw this story when I woke up in middle of night and was nearly crying - my son will be 2 in a month, so all I can see is the horror of it happening to him. Just too much for my heart to handle!

@Anagram: omg - that picture! Really they set it up like that and say "no swimming"??

I can't even

I'm obviously a naive Canadian because I always thought the "no swimming" signs meant no actual swimming. I have NEVER seen an alligator warning sign on my 15+ trips staying on Disney property. I always figured alligators only lived in natural bodies of water, not man made lakes.

I frequently played on that same lagoon as a child (waded my feet, got water for our sand castles, etc.) It never occurred to me in my wildest imagination that it was because of ALLIGATORS that the "no swimming" signs existed. I thought it was because of poor water quality or something.

I feel so stupid for assuming alligators couldn't be in a man made lake and shudder to think that my daughter played on a Disney beach just a few months ago. I wish it didn't take this awful tragedy to properly educate guests as to why we need to stay out of the water completely.

The ONLY thing I can think of as far as prevention is they were out there at 9:15pm and alligators are nocturnal predators. 9:15pm seems super late and dark to be out near any body of water, much less with a 2 year old, although I realize they have other possibly older kids. It's totally awful, I have a 21 month old and that sounds like a horror movie. DH was like we are apparently not going to Florida ever after this week.

@gingerbebe: The beaches are actually pretty active in the evenings. Movies under the stars, smore making, etc. Also everyone gathers on the hotel beaches to watch the MK fireworks right around that time. Combine it with throwing typical bedtimes out the window because you're on vacation and it wouldn't be so out of place for a young family to be out late on the beach

I feel sick to my stomach reading about this. What a horrible tragedy! Who would think twice about alligators when you're at a dream Disney resort, and esp when the lagoon is setup like that?!

I honestly didn't know that much about alligators prior to this story. I didn't know that they could basically find their way into any fresh body of water... and that they've even been able to get into pools and such.

Poor family. What an awful tragedy.

This made me so sad this morning. It's so sad for the family and everyone involved. I have been to Florida enough to know not to get in the water because gators get a lot of places they shouldn't be. My understanding is the lagoon is attached to other bodies of water. This means it would be extremely easy for gators to gain entry. I hope the family finds peace and closure in time.