Alligator Drags Toddler Into Lake At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort

[Raiden]

How big of a settlement can the family get? In a world where Erin Andrews can get 30 million plus from a hotel for a freaking peeping Tom, I think 100 million minimum is in order. There is no precedent for this unlike something banal like a sexual tape going public. What about theme parks where rides have gone awry leading to a fatality? Clearly, the family needs to get paid a massive amount.

They'll probably get a lifetime annual membership at any Disney resort of their choice, but I doubt the family will ever visit a Disney theme park again.

It's hard to put a number at an innocent life lost, especially a 2-year-old, but 100 million seems excessive. Then again, didn't Hulk Hogan get rewarded for his leaked sex tape for more money? This is the world we live in.

 

[Tilapia]

Whether they get 100 or 1 million dollars... does it really matter to the parents? What are those millions going to solve? Obviously I don't know their stance about this but I would guess the money is almost trivial in this situation.

They are said to be deeply pious Catholics and that money can go back into the church. Do you assume most people do not have worthwhile causes to spend the millions on? Maybe the settlement can be exactly that. Some millions for discretionary and the majority to the charity(ies) of their liking.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I won't get into how disgustingly slimy some people can get in situations like these, I'd very much like to see cases like this one prevented in the future.

also, why do Americans need signs for everything in order for them to survive?

For tourists not familiar enough with everything they need to know about the area.
What's common sense for a local familiar with the place is not common sense for a stranger new to the area.

 

[Greens]

On a side note.. British people, not Americans, are "known" for having signs all over the place and being obsessed with safety.

 

[Cobblepot]

As a parent with three young kids. I wouldn't want to have a dime. I can't imagine spending it, thinking every day about that one moment.

 

[Kelly]

As a parent with three young kids. I wouldn't want to have a dime. I can't imagine spending it, thinking every day about that one moment.

I agree....I would probably turn the money into a scholarship of some sort...

 

[DeadPresident]

On a side note.. British people, not Americans, are "known" for having signs all over the place and being obsessed with safety.

Oddly they're fortunate enough to have a lack of bears, snakes, alligators, or sharks though.

 

[Warhammer]

As a parent with three young kids. I wouldn't want to have a dime. I can't imagine spending it, thinking every day about that one moment.

Turning down the money? Why? I mean, they still have to eat though. Death comes for us all but for the remaining, life still goes on.

Oddly they're fortunate enough to have a lack of bears, snakes, alligators, or sharks though.

I hear cloudy skies can be deadly.

 

[terry78]

Oddly they're fortunate enough to have a lack of bears, snakes, alligators, or sharks though.

Their animals all have tea at the same time, so it makes perfect sense.

 

[danoyse]

Oh yeah......the family will not be the only people Disney will be dealing with.

I heard they comped rooms for other guests at the resort to apologize for the emotional distress for everything that went on last week.

We were talking about it yesterday and being careful not to say too much around my nephews so as not to scare them, I can't imagine actually being there with little kids when that happened.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

As a parent with three young kids. I wouldn't want to have a dime. I can't imagine spending it, thinking every day about that one moment.

I don't know if I would take the money or not, the idea of spending it would be depressing though.

I hear cloudy skies can be deadly.

If you're in India or that region, sure.

 

[danoyse]

They'll probably get a lifetime annual membership at any Disney resort of their choice, but I doubt the family will ever visit a Disney theme park again.

It's hard to put a number at an innocent life lost, especially a 2-year-old, but 100 million seems excessive. Then again, didn't Hulk Hogan get rewarded for his leaked sex tape for more money? This is the world we live in.

My guess is that Disney has already reimbursed their trip (including whatever it cost to get his remains back home), and they're covering funeral expenses and any counselling the family may need. I can't imagine they'll ever want to come back to Disney World, but if they do, I doubt they'll ever have to pay for it.

Honestly...the company's mission to their guests (besides, obviously, the direct line to their wallet) is to make them happy. I know the company and the parks well enough to know that they're devastated over this. Whenever a kid falls down and scrapes his knee, or loses a toy in one of the parks, they fall over themselves to fix it and make that kid smile. They can't fix this, and on top of what was already an awful week in Orlando, I can't imagine what the Disney staff is going through right now either.

I'm not sure what the company will pay out in damages, but I'm sure they will to stay out of court. I don't think Disney is necessarily at fault, but I do think they let their guard down as far as having proper warnings around the beaches at the resorts.

The other problem they have right now is that people are posting pictures and videos of their own families playing in the water at the same beach and saying how they were never told by cast members to stay out of the water. Some even said their kids got buckets and shovels from Disney cast members to make sandcastles with, and no one stopped the kids from going in the water to fill the buckets. Plus there are videos and pictures of gator sightings at the resorts (including people feeding them, which is illegal in FL). If Disney wants to argue that their signs were adequate and gator sightings were rare...here's all of this evidence that says the opposite.

That's why Disney said that in addition to the fences and better signs, they're also taking steps to re-train the staff to reinforce the rules on the beaches and how to handle whenever a guest reports that they've seen an alligator on property.

People may gripe and complain about signs and fences - and neither will keep a gator from getting through, or a careless guest from climbing over - but at least it's a clearer warning to stay out of the water completely.

 

[Erzengel]

I heard they comped rooms for other guests at the resort to apologize for the emotional distress for everything that went on last week.

We were talking about it yesterday and being careful not to say too much around my nephews so as not to scare them, I can't imagine actually being there with little kids when that happened.

We had a wedding photo session at the Grand Floridian close to that area. It's actually right next to the area.

We've been there since and actually love the restaurants there but it's going to be somewhat surreal when we eat there or eventually stay there.

 

[danoyse]

We had a wedding photo session at the Grand Floridian close to that area. It's actually right next to the area.

We've been there since and actually love the restaurants there but it's going to be somewhat surreal when we eat there or eventually stay there.

I've never stayed there, but my friend and I went over to check out the Christmas decorations during my last trip and walked around the grounds a bit. It's a beautiful resort - they even had a life-size gingerbread house in the lobby.

When that other mom posted the picture of her son playing in the water just before the accident, I recognized that spot right away.

Of course, some Disney fans are complaining now that they're worried the prices are going to go up at the park because of whatever this is going to cost Disney...

 

[terry78]

Always with the priorities.

 

[moviedoors]

I agree....I would probably turn the money into a scholarship of some sort...

I'd like to think I'd do something like that, but I'm afraid I might actually use it to become a shut in and to drown myself in booze. And I don't say that to be flip.

 

[danoyse]

Always with the priorities.

Always good to point out to them that if they had those fences and better signage around the beaches, they probably wouldn't be having this conversation at all right now.

They had to cut one of the jokes on the Jungle Cruise ride last week too - the one about "parents watch your children, or the crocodiles will". And I'm sure somebody is complaining about that too.

 

[terry78]

Iger is like, "see, we put a warning right there in the damn ride!"

 

[Erzengel]

Of course, some Disney fans are complaining now that they're worried the prices are going to go up at the park because of whatever this is going to cost Disney...

As someone who's been going to WDW since I was a kid, they don't need a reason to increase the prices because people will always be willing to pay.

We are trying to stay at all the resorts. Grand Floridian as a deluxe resort will probably be one of the hardest to do because it is probably one of if not the most expensive resorts. I think just this month, it's about over $500 a night.

 

[chaseter]

Oddly they're fortunate enough to have a lack of bears, snakes, alligators, or sharks though.

They have werewolves though.

Since this has gotten a lot of press, I think Disney will do something public for the family. Maybe Disney will start a scholarship as someone eluded to.

 

[danoyse]

As someone who's been going to WDW since I was a kid, they don't need a reason to increase the prices because people will always be willing to pay.

We are trying to stay at all the resorts. Grand Floridian as a deluxe resort will probably be one of the hardest to do because it is probably one of if not the most expensive resorts. I think just this month, it's about over $500 a night.

Exactly. Do you think anyone is not going to visit when the Star Wars stuff opens just because the price increased? It's not going to affect their bottom line.

But they will want to move on and not have visitors linger on what happened last week. They'll come up with permanent fencing for the beaches and adjust whatever activities they had there. Beyond the ugly publicity, they don't want to frighten the kids who visit who are inevitably going to hear about that story.

Even when I had cast member discounts, I couldn't manage Grand Floridian. Beautiful resort...but yikes.

 

[terry78]

Disney doesn't comp their employees? Happiest place on Earth my ass.

 

[danoyse]

Disney doesn't comp their employees? Happiest place on Earth my ass.

We got into the parks for free, the hotels were 50% off. Currently the rooms at GF start at $569 per night and go all the way up to $1942 per night.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/grand-floridian-resort-and-spa/rates-rooms/

As nice as the resorts are, we always figured we spent so much time at the parks that we'd splurge on a 'nice' room, but it wasn't worth going the whole luxury resort thing, since we'd barely be at the hotel anyway.

Although I stayed with my friends who are DVC members, so I've stayed at the Boardwalk and the Contemporary, which are really nice too. We could see almost all of Magic Kingdom from our balcony at the Contemporary...we didn't want to leave.

 

[Erzengel]

danoyse knows all this but to everyone else:

I usually tell people that if you want to stay at Disney, just do the value resorts (which I remember use to be under $100, not it's slightly over depending on the time of year) especially if you just want to sleep and shower in there.

However, there are nice amenities for staying at some of the resorts. If you stay at the Boardwalk, you can walk to Epcot and take a boat to Hollywood Studios.

If you stay at the Grand Floridian, Polynesian and Contemporary you have a monorail to Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

Then there's the conveniences of restaurants and shopping. The value resorts usually have cafes while the moderate and deluxe have more shops, and selection of restaurants.

I did stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and that was nice because you got to see the animals outside your bedroom window. That was an experience.

I still have passes with no expiration (of course, Disney put a kabosh on those passes) that I'll be able to use probably for at least 3-4 more visits there. We just have to find a place to stay and staying the park has always been easier than driving in and out everyday.

 

[danoyse]

The very first time I stayed at Disney, we stayed at the value resorts. They sound like they're the 'cheap' resorts, but they're fine. It doesn't have any of the fancy amenities, but they've got a food court, pools, a big gift shop (of course), and they're perfect if you're just planning to spend most of your time in the parks anyway.

Usually I go for the moderate resorts - I've stayed at Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and Port Orleans Riverside (my favorite). They're a nice step-up from the value resorts and not budget-destroying if you get a decent deal. My friends' kids loved the pool so much we probably could have skipped the parks.

When I mooch off my DVC friends (hey, I let them use my discount, it evened out)...I've gotten to do the luxury hotels, and it's awesome. Being within walking distance of a park is great, especially after the fireworks or parades at night, since you can avoid the crush of people trying to get on a monorail or bus and just walk back to your room. And the Boardwalk has that piano bar that my friend has an unholy obsession with.

Last time I went, we spent the first two nights at the Contemporary, then stayed at Universal for one night just to get the early access to the Harry Potter stuff, then came back that night and stayed the rest of our trip at the Boardwalk. Moving around was a pain, but we got to see everything that week.