Did Disney do enough to warn its guests about alligators?

[steve2470]

http://www.nola.com/pets/index.ssf/2016/06/disney_alligator_warnings.html

My answer is HELL NO, but here's the article:

Alan Sykes, a professor at Stanford Law School, said the Walt Disney Co. could be held liable for the incident if there is proof of negligence.

"The hotel owes a duty of care to its customers to take reasonable measure to make the premises safe," said Sykes, who stressed that he didn't know all the details about the incident in Orlando. "That would include if there are hidden hazards in a lagoon on the hotel property."

He said a key question would be whether the resort had prior knowledge of alligators in the water near the hotel and what it had done to mitigate that issue, or at least adequately warn tourists of the potential dangers. "A simple 'no swimming' sign might be deemed insufficient," he said. "If it gets litigated, it's most likely a case about reasonable warning."

Whatever the particulars, Sykes said the case is almost certain to attract the attention of lawyers seeking to sue the resort.

more at link

[yeoman6987]

1. Rules and laws are always written after tragedy

They will have signs everywhere from now on. Doesn't help this poor family but will help future families. One of the worst tragedies. That poor family will never be the same. A big possibility a divorce may even happen.

[steve2470]

4. This is almost the worst possible thing that could have happened to that poor family

You're absolutely correct. A divorce might happen from the overwhelming stress and loss. The worst possible thing would have been losing BOTH children, scant comfort.

[yeoman6987]

5. Honestly you are correct.

[PoliticAverse]

2. I don't think you have to be a law professor to know that Disney is going to be...

making a payout to the victim's family in this case (or their insurance company will).

[TeamPooka]

3. Two things are going to be written at Disney after this tragedy: the first are new signs

to go near all the lakes and bodies of water at the properties.
The second is the huge check they will write to the family of that boy.

[KT2000]

6. having seen photos of the "beach"

I am shocked their insurance coverage and legal department allowed this. It is an attractive nuisance to children. What child is not going to be attracted to water to wade in? This is supposed to be a resort for families with children. A fence is needed.

[Baclava]

17. Beach? - it's an "improved" swamp - there will always be gators where there are no signs

The area is huge, there is water everywhere - tell your kids, don't go splashing around near fresh water after dark in FL - or salt water for that matter, sharks also feed near shore in the evening.

[Xolodno]

22. In the past...

...the beach was used for swimming. At the Polynesian Resort they even had a wave maker so you could "surf".

Disney was very naive about the dangers of alligators. Perhaps they thought "can't be any in here! Its a man made lake!"

Somewhere down the line however, they may have recognized the danger as swimming in the lake was banned. They even shut down their waterpark River Country which connected directly to the lake.

Probably thought that was it.

You can bet they will have signs now of "watch out for alligators". Followed by slow removal of the beaches at any resort that still has them.

[global1]

7. Check Out The Comments On This Link.....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027918734

[steve2470]

10. yes I saw

I have a vigorous disagreement with some at that OP.

[avebury]

8. In order to avoid lawsuits? They didn't do enough.

There was some guy in a uniform talking on the news last night about Disney having a history of removing alligators so it sounds like they have been trying to keep their park safe. However, absent of spelling it out in big signs (watch out for alligators and so on) they might be opened up to suit.

You have to post signs to notify the clueless among us, those that you have to spell everything out to. They could still have posted alligator warning signs and an incident like this could still happen. Notifying the public will not stop stupid.

Personally, a reasonably informed person would know that places like Florida have a lot of alligators. Heck the MSM just had a huge news piece on the jumbo giant gator that was on a Florida golf course. It is not that unusual to hear of alligator-human or alligator-pet incidences. If I am going to Florida I go knowing that it is possible that I might come across an alligator. It makes sense to be aware of your surroundings. Like when I walk my dog I take a big stick with me because I know that some people let their dogs run free and not all dogs are safe. If I took my dog to Florida you had better believe it when I say that she would not be allowed anywhere near any pond.

[uponit7771]

21. 'a reasonably informed person"... is subjective, I've NEVER EVER seen an gator or crock outside of..

... captivity in Florida and I have family that live there.

They should've covered their ass's on this one, wouldn't stop me from going to DL

[Bluenorthwest]

9. Sufficient warning within the context of Disney's very active promotion to child visitors that they

are not in risky old Florida but in 'The Magic Kingdom, Happiest Place on the Face of the Earth' would need to be stronger warnings than those given outside such magical sales promotions. These are children, you tell them it is a Magic Kingdom, you really need to stress that the 'gators are real, present and not at all Magical.

[cbdo2007]

11. It's easy to look back and say that now...

yet there have only been 2 incidents of alligator attacks in the history of Disney World with the last occurring 30 years ago.

I'm wondering if we were having this discussion two weeks ago and you knew there had been no alligator incidents there in 30 years, if you think the current sign would be enough? What if there had been a sign warning of alligators and it was ignored, then who would we blame? Should there be signs around all bodies of water in FL warning of alligators or just those on Disney property?

Everyone is so quick to blame the parents or to blame the big evil corporation or to blame whoever and whatever...but unfortunately it's impossible to try to predict every random accident that is going to occur in an area twice the size of Manhattan, that has been visited by hundreds of millions of people, over the course of 30 years. Realistically, I'm guessing this wasn't even on any of the executives radar there at Disney World, because it was probably seen as such a low probability compared to all of the other security issues they deal with there on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, accidents happen and I'm sure the family will get a multi-million dollar settlement and Disney will add some signs warning of alligators, but looking back and saying "coulda shoulda woulda" is just as ridiculous in this case as it is in most of these random accidents.

[steve2470]

12. my answer is still yes

One human life is worth some of Disney's profits. Your mileage may vary.

Good day.

[scscholar]

13. If they told the truth about how uncomfortable that area is, ...

no one would ever go, so they have to lie. Have to lie.

[steve2470]

14. eh, if they give ACCURATE information about the risk...

Most people are still going to go. NO area on earth is totally risk free. There are wild animals everywhere, even in big cities. It's easy to avoid being grabbed by a gator: just stay far enough away from fresh and brackish water in Florida. Easy peasy. No big deal. However, MANY people from other states and countries have no clue about the gators here.

If someone decides to ignore warnings and signs...then....

[scscholar]

15. Also talking about the mosquitoes and humidity!

You never see Disney tell the truth about them. Tell the truth about them. They are a dishonest organization from top to bottom.

[steve2470]

16. eh, I'm not a Disney fanboy but humidity....meh....

Mosquitoes ? Unless there is an outbreak of mosquito-borne illness that is likely to strike park visitors, I'll give them a pass on that also.

[2cannan]

18. One article I read mentioned that resort staff say the problem is exacerbated by guests feeding the

alligators, sometimes throwing food off their balconies.

Talk about stupid.

[Iggo]

19. Nope.

[uponit7771]

20. no