Posted on 06/16/2016 12:43:50 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Lane Graves was not the first youngster to be attacked by an alligator at Disney World.
In 1986, 8-year-old Paul Santamaria was bit on the leg by a 7-foot-4 inch long female, which had been lurking in the shallows of a pond that was also located at one of the parks famous resorts and his parents later sued, charging the Happiest Place on Earth with negligence.
In the suit, they claimed that Disney had failed to warn visitors about the gator,
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Sorry but the alligators can’t tell the difference between a swimming beach and an alligator lagoon. In Florida, residents know that there can be alligators in any body of water, including swimming pools. Would you consider making everyone in the state liable?
I keep saying the state should put up signs at the border saying “Alligators sighted — enter at your own risk.” Or, “Alligator country, Keep Out” There are millions of gators all over Florida. Running into one is the risk you take whenever you go near a body of water.
Absolutely. Disney’s advertising alone gives families an expectation of safety, and happiness. The theme parks are able to create magic in almost every area of the facilities, they actually suspend belief with their attractions and I can see families, even if they think of alligators, as believing if Disney can do all they do, there is no way they would allow such a hazard in their park and not even giving it a second thought. A Beware of Alligators sign is the last think Disney wanted to post because it belies the image they want to project. This is pure and simple negligence, so much in fact, that Disney will beg to pay the family. If I were the family I would take it to court to make sure that Disneys negligence was exposed.
I have long lost any desire to return to Disney. I see it as a money trap, and the crowds often make it very uncomfortable.
Walt Disney would be so unhappy with what has happened to his dream .... for quite a few reasons.
This tragedy is more than heartbreaking for all of us. Disney knows there are alligators and the public has trusted that they are protected from this and other dangers. 100% responsible.
You're absolutely right...and a family from Nebraska would have no reason to expect an alligator attack at a beach like that if there were no proper warning signs.
30 years ago.
He was an import from the north.
Having a bad day, sweetie?
The existence of the incident is public knowledge.
The book "Disney: The Mouse Betrayed" relates the following incident: "On October 10, 1986, eight-year-old Paul Santamaria and his family were staying at the Walt Disney World campgrounds for a quiet vacation. Paul went down to the pond with some old bread to feed the ducks. An alligator lunged from the water and grabbed him by the leg. Paul desperately fought to keep from being pulled under the water and eventually freed himself, and survived. Paul's father asked the company to pay his son's medical bills from the attack. 'They flat out refused to admit that Paul had been bit,' says Orlando attorney, John Overchuck, who represented them. Only after he threatened to make an alligator tooth 'Exhibit A' in a civil suit did the company agree to pay up."The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - Mar 11, 2008
'GATOR NIPS BOY AT DISNEY WORLDThe Indianapolis Star - October 13, 1986 (p.3)
Eight-year-old Paul Santamaria of Bristol. N.H., was reported in satisfactory condition Sunday after treatment for superficial wounds left by a 7-foot-4-inch alligator at a Walt Disney World campground. The boy's mother. Roberta Santamaria, said, "It was frightening, but . . . we're very fortunate It wasn't worse." She said Paul was attacked when the alligator waddled out of the water as the boy watched ducks on a small pond where several canals end. The alligator was shot later by game commission agents, the Orlando Sentinel reported Sunday. Disney spokesman Bob Mervine said he thought it was the first such attack at the theme park in Orlando. Fla.
This is a pic of the lagoon, the sand beach in the center is where he was attacked.
A 2 year old from Nebraska knows there are gators there, really?
When you invite strangers onto your property, you incur liability should something happen to them, and why you buy insurance. It goes double when you are running a commercial operation.
The OP links to a 1988 story in the Orlando Times that discusses the suit. The suit itself is a public document.
Alligators are not endangered. They should have been hunting them 24/7 and killing them when they found them. Disney is going to be sorry they didn’t and yes you know they have insurance for anything that might happen to a guest.
Sanataria's parents apparently sued Disney.
Its nobodys fault, anything can happen at any time, he told CBS.
Yet he claims that it was "nobody's fault".
It happened to me, 30 years ago, he seethed. It was disheartening to hear.
The reason he spoke out is that authorities said it never happened before. It happened to him in 1986, and it's a fact that he wants people to know about. Facts are facts, and the authorities are white-washing away his ordeal.
Yes, I saw that it would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.
I don’t doubt that, but non-disclosure clauses in settlement agreements can be pretty restrictive. He may be taking a risk in speaking out, which I suppose makes it all the more admirable.
Growing up rattlers were all over the place..learned early on not to put my hand in holes and to always watch where I stepped
>>>> PUBLIC SERVIE ANNOUNCEMENT <<<<<
There are alligators in Florida (and all the other Gulf Coast states)
Consider yourselves warned.
It doesn’t happen often, but when it does here it’s hikers and amateur rock climbers who get bitten. Reaching up to grab that rock ledge, with a rattlesnake sunning just out of view, that sort of thing.
Solution is correct
When my daughter was growing up we always went to the beach at Monterey Bay. When the fishing boats went out I would have her get out of the water....when chum is tossed sharks will come around
Parts of Florida , Georgia, and South Carolina have water moccasin too
Situational awareness.
I guess too many folks have spent too much time in the city. I bet those folks know what parts of town to avoid
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