Those “no swimming” signs aren’t posted at every resort on that lake, just the ones where the water is shallow and turbid (i.e. it’s not a wildlife warning). I was at one of the others a couple of months ago. They advertise water skiing, wakeboarding etc at the resort where I was, which is on the same body of water. Plus, every one of those resorts has a nice sandy beach on the water.
I also read somewhere else today that in the time since the kid was pulled in, Disney staff has bagged 5 gators in that lake. Disney’s going to take a hit on this one. And I’d bet that the beaches and watersports get replaced by expanded (and fenced-in) pools in fairly short order.
I didn’t say that the no swimming signs were for critter protection. All I said was that the toddler was several feet into the water splashing with signs posted.
Let us assume that a gator did not snag the child. Let us assume that the child cut his foot and the water had some nasty bacteria in it.....the child catches the bacteria, gets horribly sick, and dies. My reaction would again be the same
No swimming signs are posted for a reason....ignore at your own peril
Incorrect. They are posted at the Polynesian and the Grand Floridian, and even at the Wedding Chapel and the Ticket Center as well as at the Magic Kingdom on the opposite side of the lake. In addition, the connected natural lake where the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness also has the same no swimming signs, and they are repeated all along the path from Wilderness Lodge to Fort Wilderness. Even on the far side of Fort Wilderness where the property ends, there are additional no swimming signs.
Outside of the large lake and lagoon area, I've seen no swimming signs at virtually every water feature from Disney Springs to Art of Animation. These have been in place since the 1980's when Disney shut off all recreational swimming in any of the water features on property.
I was at one of the others a couple of months ago. They advertise water skiing, wakeboarding etc at the resort where I was, which is on the same body of water. Plus, every one of those resorts has a nice sandy beach on the water.
They also advertise jet boat, wheel boat and pontoon boat rentals, all of which require you to sign a statement understanding that there is no swimming permitted within the lake. (Not quite sure how that works with water skiing, or wakeboarding, I did not see either option being offered when I was there; I wonder if perchance that is referring to the water parks and not the lake? I don't know.)
I also read somewhere else today that in the time since the kid was pulled in, Disney staff has bagged 5 gators in that lake.
Not an unusual population for the Seven Seas Lagoon, the only unusual part is the report that the gater was up to 7 feet long; as a matter of policy, gaters 4 feet or longer, or gators who seem unafraid of humans are relocated from anywhere on property.
Disney’s going to take a hit on this one.
8 kids since 1972 have been taken by gaters in Florida, this is the 9th. 15 adults (including the story recently of the criminal who was trying to escape police, started swimming across a pond and was consumed by a gater.) This type of thing ANYWHERE is extremely, extremely rare. In the previous ten years in Florida, 47 people were killed by lightning. I don't think they'll take that big of a hit, honestly, I think it'll just become some of the lore of Disney World.
And I’d bet that the beaches and watersports get replaced by expanded (and fenced-in) pools in fairly short order.
I'm sure that Disney will review all water access for guests after this incident; perhaps some stronger signage might be placed around the lagoon and lake, and it would not surprise me if non-supervised access to the lake (IE boat rentals) is ended. As for pools, there's at least two at every resort on property. I really don't see them expanding those any further. The last drowning at Disney World was at the Art of Animation main pool last summer, IIRC. (Whoops, there was apparently a drowning at the pool at the Contemporary earlier this year...)