Child missing following alligator attack

This is so sad. The parents allowed the child to wade in the water at night. They were obviously unaware of the danger of doing so. What a nightmare scenario. That poor baby...

This is so incredibly sad. Prayers for the family. I could not imagine.

Just watched a recording of the news conference. Very tragic for everyone. The parents had two other children there with them. Apparently both parents went into the water to try to save the child but couldn't do anything. The Disney spokesperson who was there could barely keep it together as law enforcement talked to the press. Can't imagine what the family is going through. What a terrible thing that entire family, as well as others visiting will have to remember. Definitely a nightmare scenario for everyone.

My heart breaks for this family. Such a terrible tragedy.

Prayers are with the family. How very terrible.

So very sad.

So sad. So many questions. Seems impossible. Must have been no one around at all. No one to help drag the gator back to the shore? Other witnesses? Deep water? Just literally unbelievable...

Tragic. Condolences to the family.

How very sad. It sure has been a horrible week for the Orlando area.

Now, along with the sadness over this tragedy for the family, my DD says "does this mean people won't go to Disney, so it will be less crowded this summer?". Ah kids!

How utterly tragic. Unfortunately, it is a reminder to all of us that when we travel away from home we must consider that there may be dangers that we are not used to. Whether it is aggressive wildlife in our national parks, venomous snakes along state and local hiking trails or alligators in Florida waters, we must assume that such dangers exist.

Those of us who live in Florida are well aware that any body of water, whether it be lakes, ponds, canals, creeks, etc., can contain dangerous creatures at any time of the year. This includes alligators, snapping turtles, water moccasins, and more. Just because a pond was free of alligators yesterday doesn't mean there are none today. Alligators can easily travel overland between bodies of water, especially during the spring mating season.

Some will blame Disney for this tragedy. But consider that WDW is located in or near to a vast area of still undeveloped land containing numerous ponds, estuaries and marshes. Disney does a good job in removing and guarding against harmful critters, but it would be an impossible task to keep all of the native creatures out of developed areas. I have personally seen alligators and water moccasins INSIDE the public areas of the Disney parks.

As of this morning they still haven't recovered the child's body. I would imagine all of the water taxis / ferry boats are being kept at dock at this point? You can't risk a boat full of guests seeing a child's body.

Something like this has to be a 100 million to 1 type of tragedy, but I would imagine there will be changes. Either fences put up on the beach around the lake or the 'beach' permanently covered in large rocks to keep people from going near the water.

WDWdriver;2486255 wrote: I have personally seen alligators and water moccasins INSIDE the public areas of the Disney parks.

As have I (alligators not the snakes).

During our trip last month, we saw alligators on two occasions - once in the waterway alongside the train ride in the Magic Kingdom and once in the Seven Seas Lagoon. We have seen alligators during other trips as well including one that was lurking under the boardwalk in Frontierland.

I agree - we've seen alligators at Disney, and they closed One Man's Dream while we were in it for a snake! Wildlife is indeed everywhere, no matter how hard you try (to quote Jurassic Park) "nature finds a way".

:( My heart, love & light go out to the parents. I can't even imagine.
And agree, Florida is 'wild'.
Whatever you do, do not read comments in news sources. People are heartless or clueless or both.
Calling for Disney to sued, to be closed, all alligators killed.

It's a reality of Florida, as WDWDriver said, this is Florida, you have to be careful, mindful. Living in Florida I don't even let my children swim in lakes, only pools. Even at the beach, I'm very fearful.
BUT I in no way blame the parents either. It is a horrible, freak accident. I hope they find some sort of strength to get through this terrible journey.

From CNN.com-

Lake Buena Vista, Florida (CNN)[Breaking news published at 9:54 a.m. ET]

Disney has closed all beaches in its resort area "out of an abundance of caution" after an alligator attacked a 2-year-old boy in a lagoon outside the Grand Floridian hotel Tuesday night, a Disney spokesperson said Wednesday.