Disney installs gator warnings, barriers after boy's death

Signs warn visitors of 'alligators and snakes in area' and also tell patrons to stay away from water

MIAMI: Disney World said on Friday it was installing alligator warning signs and temporary barriers at its Florida resorts following the death of a toddler who was snatched from the shore of a lake.

The signs warn visitors of "alligators and snakes in area" and also tell patrons to stay away from the water and not feed wildlife.

"We continue to evaluate processes and procedures for our entire property," spokeswoman Jacquee Wahler told reporters.



"We are installing signage and temporary barriers at our resort beach locations and are working on permanent, long-term solutions at our beaches," she said.

There was a no swimming sign at the lakeside beach at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa where the two-year-old boy and his family were staying. However there were no signs warning about alligators.

The toddler's father tried frantically to save the child when the alligator snatched him late Tuesday from roughly a foot of water, but could not pry his son from the animal's jaws.

Divers found the boy's body Wednesday in murky water about six feet (1.8 meters) deep just 10 or 15 yards (meters) from where he was taken.

Disney shut down all of its Florida resort beaches and marinas out of precaution after the incident.

"We are reinforcing training with our cast for reporting sightings and interactions with wildlife and are expanding our communication to guests on this topic," Wahler said.



Alligators are found in large bodies of fresh water across Florida, but they rarely attack humans.

Before this incident, there had only been 22 deaths from unprovoked alligator bites documented in Florida since 1948, according to the Florida fish and wildlife service.

The Grand Floridian is part of the massive Disney resort complex that includes several theme parks, water parks, hotels and golf courses.