Gator drags child into water near Disney's Grand Floridian

[gauchojake]

So then there is always a threat of gators?

In Orlando, yes. Funny enough I have been there 5 or 6 times and had never seen one until my last trip there. But the understanding (at least mine) is that they're everywhere.

[VeggieDog]

The father was walking the child along the beach and the gator grabbed him/her quickly. He tried to grab the Gator but it was gone in an instance. OMG.

Were there any witnesses? Has Dad taken a polygraph?

[Mac4Lyfe]

So then there is always a threat of gators?

Got this from someone who lives near the hotel.

The lagoon hotels hold "movie nights" on the sand, with folding chairs set up all along the beach area, where guests can also sit to watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. It is common to see children playing in that area in the evening while their parents sit nearby.
Gators can run in short bursts up to 35 mph over land. If a toddler wandered within twenty feet of the water where one was submerged, the animal could take it in the blink of an eye, no matter how close the parent is - and, this being a Disney vacation, the parents were no doubt very close. Disney is vigilant about relocating big gators that wander into its waterways, but the animals can and do travel miles in a day, particularly this time of year.

[Mac4Lyfe]

[Kermit]

In Orlando, yes. Funny enough I have been there 5 or 6 times and had never seen one until my last trip there. But the understanding (at least mine) is that they're everywhere.

I knew Florida had alligators, I was under the assumption this was some kind of controlled man-made lake. I didn't realize that it was the real deal.

[jtoler]

Sad.

[Kermit]

Got this from someone who lives near the hotel.

The lagoon hotels hold "movie nights" on the sand, with folding chairs set up all along the beach area, where guests can also sit to watch the fireworks at Magic Kingdom. It is common to see children playing in that area in the evening while their parents sit nearby.
Gators can run in short bursts up to 35 mph over land. If a toddler wandered within twenty feet of the water where one was submerged, the animal could take it in the blink of an eye, no matter how close the parent is - and, this being a Disney vacation, the parents were no doubt very close. Disney is vigilant about relocating big gators that wander into its waterways, but the animals can and do travel miles in a day, particularly this time of year.

Holy shit.

[Mac4Lyfe]

Were there any witnesses? Has Dad taken a polygraph?

There were several witnesses including the mother who also ran into the water after the child too late.

In Florida there is one rule to remember... If there is water, there is a good chance there's alligators. Gators travel many miles a day from all kind of tributaries. It is not uncommon for people to come home to a gator on their porch or in their swimming pools in some areas. I went to the University of Florida and we had a small pond in front of my dorm. One semester a 3 foot alligator just showed up and made it his home. Hundreds of kids would walk and ride their bikes pass the pond everyday while he would often bask in the sun in the nearby grass. About a year and a half later that damn thing grew to about 5 feet and looked huge. I think kids were feeding him or something. Fish and wildlife eventually removed him but luckily no one got hurt.

I remember one time there was a giant gator walking right down university avenue. He was like 13 feet and prancing on his hind legs right in the middle of the street.

[Cuse0323]

Wow, that's awful. Poor kid, and damn, feel terrible for the family. Not sure how you move on from something so crazy like that shit happening.

[MoneyLineDawg]

Orlando can't catch a break lately unreal

[chico2663]

There were several witnesses including the mother who also ran into the water after the child too late.

In Florida there is one rule to remember... If there is water, there is a good chance there's alligators. Gators travel many miles a day from all kind of tributaries. It is not uncommon for people to come home to a gator on their porch or in their swimming pools in some areas. I went to the University of Florida and we had a small pond in front of my dorm. One semester a 3 foot alligator just showed up and made it his home. Hundreds of kids would walk and ride their bikes pass the pond everyday while he would often bask in the sun in the nearby grass. About a year and a half later that damn thing grew to about 5 feet and looked huge. I think kids were feeding him or something. Fish and wildlife eventually removed him but luckily no one got hurt.

I remember one time there was a giant gator walking right down university avenue. He was like 13 feet and prancing on his hind legs right in the middle of the street.

Have one cousin that wrestled gators. Had another cousin went to high school with one of the gator boys. She was val. of tebow's class then worked on my uncles ranch messing with deer piss . Got tired of that and got her mba from duke. She is sort of outcast because she is liberal. lol

[packerd_00]

I remember going to Gatorland when I was a kid,some of the Alligators they had were quite massive.

[Roadtrip635]

I am still no getting this, this is a Disney property where families gather to have fun, and there are alligators there? There are no fences or anything like that to keep the alligators in their own area?

If it would have been a Trump Resort property, you know he would have built a wall to keep them gators out.

[jtoler]

Orlando can't catch a break lately unreal

Uh huh.

[chico2663]

Uh huh.

As i previously stated 'bad luck runs in 3's

[sneakerhead]

Been living in south Florida for the Last decade or so, never seen a gator.... Heard stories like the one Mac mentioned above. Small gators in canals etc...

[shaunovery]

Terrible news , can't imagine the pain and suffering

[19th Hole]

Travesty.
Gators, Pythons and large reptiles should be shot on sight.
Evolution has rendered them meaningless.

Remember going thru the Everglades on a Miccosukee airboat...
We stopped at an island with gator wrasslars. Ridiculous,
Shoot those varmants into Tomorrowland.

[mets119218]

Living in south Florida these things are everywhere. We even had one in our pool. I see people every day walking their dogs without leashes near bodies of water or allowing their kids to get in the water near the edges. It's asking for trouble. Growing up in Tennessee I use to swim in lakes so this was a change for me when I moved here. This story is so sad and as a father of a 13 year old I can only imagine how seeing this happen in front of your eyes will effect you for the rest of your life. Horrible story

[mets119218]

Been living in south Florida for the Last decade or so, never seen a gator.... Heard stories like the one Mac mentioned above. Small gators in canals etc...

Wow you have been lucky I live west of Palm beach and we see them everywhere here. They just are part of life. Only animal that puts the fear of God in me

[ACoochy]

Wow you have been lucky I live west of Palm beach and we see them everywhere here. They just are part of life. Only animal that puts the fear of God in me

https://ourplnt.com/worlds-5-largest-crocodiles-ever-recorded/

I've actually had a closeup with number 5 haha

[daneblazer]

Ok, so there were not supposed to be any alligators there at all.

You can't have a mud puddle in Florida without a gator in it. My next door neighbor had a small one Under his driveway last week after the storm.

Awful story

[slayer14]

This is sad news

[slayer14]

Florida not a safe place to live then guys is it.

[mets119218]

https://ourplnt.com/worlds-5-largest...ever-recorded/

I've actually had a closeup with number 5 haha

That thing is huge and I can't image being in the area with bull sharks and that. You guys have every poisonous and dangerous animal know to man

Down here in the glades we have reports of the man eating Nile crocodiles. Something else that was brought here that we don't need

[brooks85]

RIP

this shouldn't have happened. The amount of negligence is pretty astounding. A resort mainly for children that has a lake with an alligator population, and apparently this area didn't have any signs warning of gators or fencing at the shore. They should have either made the lake an alligator exhibit or pay some crew to keep gators out 24/7.

[mikefan1034]

Disney will get sued for 100 million easily. No beware signs for alligator

[themike78]

How come there are no conspiracy theorists yet saying it never happened? Where are you guys? Rumor is the alligator was an actor.

[Mac4Lyfe]

I've been in the office all morning. Have they found him yet?

[Kermit]

I've been in the office all morning. Have they found him yet?

I heard they pulled 4 gators from out of the water to check their stomachs.

[jjgold]

hate to say it

not great parenting ..why is kid right near water at night??????????????

[pavyracer]

Ban wild beasts from private properties. People will never learn to put humans in harm's way.

[Auto Donk]

better ban gators. they're even more deadly than guns

now, just like the poor damn gorilla pays the ultimate price for dumb human activity, dozens of gators are now being slaughtered near the resort so the "authorities" can search for the remains of the kid whose dumbass parents wanted to take pictures of him swimming in a f'n pond.....

more stupid human activity and the resulting impact of such conduct being to kill animals for what they do........

[blackHIPPY]

Oh, there were plenty more than just this. One of my friends on Facebook made a similar comment talking about white privilidge at the zoo. Of course she deleted it after the truth came out. She still looked like a complete ass. though.

what truth came out?
i genuinely dont know

[jjgold]

so the parents knew their was a gator in water?