ORLANDO – After an alligator attacked a 2-year-old at one of its resorts, Walt Disney World plans to install signs specifically warning guests about their presence.
The Orange County Sheriffs Office posted this photo of Lane Graves.
Previously Disney had signs prohibiting swimming, but they didn’t mention gators.
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The search continued Wednesday by boat and plane at the Grand Floridian Resort. The remains of 2-year-old Lane Graves were discovered later in the day. Photo: Jennifer Brett
Nick Wiley, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said gator attacks on people are rare, but noted that Florida waterways are home to many of them. There’s no way to know their whereabouts.
“We have alligators in freshwater throughout Florida,” he said during a news conference at dawn. “They move around.”
He has said repeatedly during news conferences providing updates in the sad case that Disney is very proactive about dealing with potentially problematic alligators. Still, the park has faced scrutiny in recent days over whether its “no swimming” signs adequately informed guests about potential threats.
In response, the park plans more explicit verbiage.
“We are conducting a swift and thorough review of all of our processes and protocols. This includes the number, placement and wording of our signage and warnings,” a Disney spokeswoman said in a statement released to the Orlando Sentinel and other outlets. It wasn’t clear when the new signs would go up.
