Disney Currently Building Fence at Grand Floridian Lagoon Edge - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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CNN's reporter just said Disney specified this is only temporary fencing mostly to encourage people to stay away from the water.
Also, detailed signs stating "DANGER Alligators and snakes in area" with pictures of an alligator and snake are going up at all resorts on the lagoon and near walkways. The bottom of the sign says "Stay Away From The Water. Do Not Feed Wildlife."
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
Last edited by Her Dotness; 06-17-2016 at 04:38 PM..
I think we all knew that new signage would be the very least Disney would do. As for the fences, I wouldn't be surprised if they determine to add some sort of permanent barriers around those lakes of theirs. Even if an alligator climbed it, that kind of thing would take more time and be more noticeable than nothing at all. If physically feasible, I think fences will go up.
I do hope it is temporary, that will be an eye sore. Unfortunately, as seen with the whole Harambe gorilla situation, fencing does not keep people out. The same people who will wade out into the water will also see no problem scaling half way up the fence to get a better look over it. Also, I just saw this clip on the news of an alligator having no trouble at all climbing a fence and if that happens the last place I would want to be is on the beach with an animal now facing people it may want to turn and flee from only only to find the fence is trapping it from the water and it feels the need to fight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qp_bUYPrTg
An alligator is not James Bond or a burglar creeping swiftly and silently up a fence. Nor are they capable of leaping over one. I'd bet if an alligator started up a fence, people nearby would get away swiftly.
I think the signs are a huge improvement. I'm hoping that Disney will devise a means to police areas where guests have been rumored to be feeding alligators and will deal with any found to be doing that.
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“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.” —Winnie-the-Pooh
That's where I would caution, thinking they make a lot of noise. I took a Subtropical Ecology course during my undergraduate years as part of my Biology minor where our lab was over the entire winter break camping and exploring various locations within Florida from St. Augustine to Key West. We had a lot of observation and study of alligators as part of the lab, we also encountered one crocodile, an extremely lucky chance for us as they are so very rare. Alligators are very stealth, except when they attack, but they run out of energy quickly which is why they are able to move and hunt so quietly, reserving that quick burst for the last moment when attacking. So as slow as they move while positioning, and quietly, I may add, combined with the level of noise from people enjoying their vacation, people may not realize one is there until it is too late unless they are paying attention.
That clip I provided is labeled Ninja Alligator and is fairly accurate.
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Angela
Last edited by Angela531; 06-17-2016 at 05:55 PM..
The bigger issue is not Disney and what they can and cannot do (or should and should not do). It is that they cannot control every guest. What they need to do is make it unpleasant for guests who violate rules. Make it clear animals are not to be fed and then fine anyone who does it. While some animals, alligators and bears come to mind. learn to associate people with food and can become dangerous, it is never a good idea to feed wildlife. Even feeding birds/ducks is not good. They need to eat what nature intended them to eat, not popcorn, donuts and bread.
Let it be known that violating the rules will result in a fine and possible expulsion from the resort.
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Charlie
Last edited by Huntermom; 06-17-2016 at 06:04 PM..
The bigger issue is not Disney and what they can and cannot do (or should and should not do). It is that they cannot control every guest. What they need to do is make it unpleasant for guests who violate rules. Make it clear animals are not to be fed and then fine anyone who does it. While some animals, alligators and bears come to mind. learn to associate people with food and can become dangerous, it is never a good idea to feed wildlife. Even feeding birds/ducks is not good. They need to eat what nature intended them to eat, not popcorn, donuts and bread.
Let it be known that violating the rules will result in a fine and possible expulsion from the resort.
Agreed.
Regarding birds: I have a very strong memory of when I was about 7 and my Mom, sister and I were visiting a city park that had a pond that had a bunch of Canadian Geese that lived on it. People often fed the geese, and the geese were aggressive when they wanted people food.
I was happily and quietly eating some french fries -- and NOT feeding the birds -- when one goose came up to me presumably looking for its share of my fries. When I refused to give it food by moving away it actually came after me, "biting" at my hand with it rather powerful beak. My mother was able to scare it off and we left the park never to return.
Now, Canada Geese can be aggressive critters anyway, as anyone who has gotten too close knows, but when they are habituated to human food they add the aggression of wanting the food too, not just protecting their turf or young. For some that will even mean going after the desired food, regardless of the presence of people.
The bigger issue is not Disney and what they can and cannot do (or should and should not do). It is that they cannot control every guest. What they need to do is make it unpleasant for guests who violate rules. Make it clear animals are not to be fed and then fine anyone who does it. While some animals, alligators and bears come to mind. learn to associate people with food and can become dangerous, it is never a good idea to feed wildlife. Even feeding birds/ducks is not good. They need to eat what nature intended them to eat, not popcorn, donuts and bread.
Let it be known that violating the rules will result in a fine and possible expulsion from the resort.
I'm sure that if fences go up on a permanent basis, it will be done tastefully as Disney does everything else. It is sad to say though but when they do, I hope it's not right on the water because unless it's posted "don't sit on the fence" (which I'm sure some people would ignore anyway) I have no doubt that people will sit their kids up on it and I have seen enough shows where the gators do jump out of the water for food. Kids sitting, most likely swinging their feet could still attract attention especially if it's someplace where people feel it's okay to still feed them.
As for that "ninja gator" I watched that video and it clearly didn't like being chased by the guy filming. Yes, it did clearly climb the fence but I don't think it's a natural behavior meaning a gator isn't going to just come across a fence and decide to climb it just because it's there in the way - it's got to have a reason to climb it.
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I think what a fence does it take away an alligator's ability to attack it's prey from underwater. If it is climbing over a fence you can see and move.
And it may be unDisneylike but if people break the rules tell them. Just that would make a good portion rethink what they are doing. And maybe out a fine notice on the signs.
I would expect a fence might slow a hungry gator down a bit if it is constructed in a way that blocks its along-the-ground movement.
It is more for the humans though, probably -- a visual reminder of "do not go past here", though I am pretty sure some people will ignore it.
One thing I wonder if we might see as a permanent solution:
At the beach at WL when we last watched the electric water pagent, we had some time before the parade started while we were sitting on our lounger. so I looked around. And noticed that the beach at WL actually ended with a low metal barrier that dropped into the water -- herhaps a foot or so ? So the "beach" was actually contained and elevated above the waterline, it was not "zero entry" into the water. Wish I had pictures to help explain. Perhaps it was just that stretch of beach, I don't know.
I wonder if a metal "wall" and rise like that from the waterline to the actual beach would help prevent gators from coming onto the beach (at least directly) or at least make it much more difficult for them. And hopefully "more difficult" means "follow path of least resistance and go elsewhere".
Such a barrier is also a clear signal to humans to not go in the water, esecially when combined with signage.
I wonder if something like this, plus more signs, and possible some kind of barrier on the beach, is what we may see at the other resorts when they implement their permanent solutions ?
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