I have never heard of a gator within WDW. It seems like it would be too crowded and too much noise (especially massive fireworks every night) for gators.
Not to excuse WDW, but I bet they are shocked by this (??). At least I would think so.
Wildly speculative on my part, but I wonder if the Nile crocs (which are not native to Florida, obviously) could have migrated north from SoFlo. They are much more aggressive. I also wonder about gator/croc hybrids. ??
http://www.bradenton.com/news/state/florida/article34567527.html
This will come down to what Disney knew. Gosh. Horrifying.
We have been there so many times, and never given it a second thought. We live in Florida and watch for alligator areas thanks to our small dog.
Gators have been seen on Disney World property since it opened. This is also not the first attack on a child, although the other one I know of had a better ending as the child’s older siblings fought off the gator which had latched onto their little brother’s leg. That happened at the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds.
Tikiman runs a website and Fb page devoted to the Poly and has posted photos of gators along the shore of Seven Seas Lagoon. He has also mentioned trying to warn parents whose children were playing in or near the water’s edge about gators and was told in vulgar terms what he could do with himself.
Our family has been there dozens of times. I’ve only seen gators in outlying areas of the WDW property, but was certain I heard them a few times when at the Poly and at Port Orleans Riverside/French Quarter.
We had a gator behind our home in FL which Wildlife Control refused to move because I estimated its length just shy of their minimum size requirement. I waited a few weeks, called again and increased my length estimate. They came and relocated the gator. In the meantime, our kids were not allowed in the backyard without a parent. I’ve seen gators climb fences and was not taking any chances.
Wow @Silpat. 
I sure hope WDW was not intentionally suppressing this info.
I’ve kayaked a couple times in central Florida. LOTS of alligators drifting by our boats. I actually feared for my then 7-year old on one outing… Ever since, I’ve always assumed that any body of water throughout Florida, small or large, potentially has gators… Also, after hearing some news stories about dogs and cats being eaten in their yards, near water…
I can understand, though, how a young family from the Midwest might not even consider that a threat at WDW.
Knowing WDW and their penchant for climate control - the few times I’ve been, there seemed to be NO flying bugs, for instance - I’m really surprised that there was not some kind of prevention for this, especially on one of their properties. I realize alligators can get into any body of water or pool, but surprised that regular checks were not done, considering the proliferation of alligators in the area.
There definitely should be a sign warning of potential for alligators.
On the news this morning they said there is a tributary, which looks like it goes from the Bay lake to the lagoon. And it looks like there is a fair amount of undeveloped area around Bay lake where gators could roam and get into the water. http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/15/us/alligator-attacks-child-disney-florida/
@jym626 , you’re right, there is a lot of undeveloped property and much is swampy. Lots of gators. Disney could never remove them all.
@SouthFloridaMom9 , I don’t think Disney has suppressed anything. The attack at Fort Wilderness was years ago - maybe in the '80s (my memory is a bit hazy on the date.)
When I lived in Gainesville, there were always gators sunning themselves on the shores of lake Alice on campus. ANd even in the apartment complex next to ours. They’d occasionally walk up to people’s sliding glass doors!
The attack at Fort Wilderness was in 1986.
I have friends who work at Disney , and alligators have been present for years. I do believe that being from the Midwest probably did play a role in not thinking about the potential risk of alligators . Unfortunately , it was dark with poor visability in the water.
Then it feels like WDW should have many more signs.
We are always on the look-out for gators with our doggie in Florida, using reasonable care without being paranoid. But I never, ever considered them inside WDW. The whole atmosphere just doesn’t lend itself to thinking about that (like you would in most other parts of central FL).
The Grand Floridian is such a beautiful property, with a “beach-y” looking area. I could see how someone would be off their guard.
My guess is there are not signs because it wouldn’t lend to a "family friendly environment "
Alligators can climb fences?
I cannot imagine the horror of the entire event. Disney needs to get out the checkbook. If Disney didnt have signs posted, then they are negligent, and the family will get a big fat check.
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I don’t think Disney has suppressed anything
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You don’t know Disney.
They were outside for movie night. How awful.
I worked in an office complex with a few ponds. You couldn’t go in them, but there was a nice walking path around them, a few fountains in them. One day an alligator appeared, sunning himself on the fountain platform (so it looked lIke he was floathing on the water). The next day the signs appeared to ‘watch out for alligators.’ We assume the gator got there from one of the drains. We shared our building with Florida fish and wildlife department, and they just took a ‘be careful’ attitude. The gator stayed a few weeks and then was gone, i assume to another pond farther down the drainage system.
We also had a much smaller drainage pond in my backyard (townhouse, so surrounded by 30 or so units). NO WADING and there was no way anyone would wade in the ponds. Full of snapping turtles and other mean things, probably snakes. One boy did paddle around in his kayak, which I though was dangerous. People also swam and water skied in the St Johns river. No thank you.
I saw two women spread out a picnic blanket next to a pond in the Everglades. No sooner had they done this than an alligator shot out of that pond with unbelievable speed and the women took off fast. Alligators are very fast in short bursts.
I even question why Disney had an event at night next to an alligator pond.
Poor Orlando. It can’t catch a break.