Jacquee Wahler, a vice president of communications with the company, said in a statement Thursday evening: “We have closed all of our beaches and have made a decision to add signage, and we are also conducting a swift and thorough review of all of our processes and protocols”.
Advertisement
Around mid-morning Wednesday, Disney closed all beaches in the Florida resorts “out of an abundance of caution” following the alligator attack, according to a representative.
No one was hurt, but after her experience, this week’s fatal alligator attack didn’t surprise her.
During the search, at least five alligators were removed and officials said there is a “good chance” one of them was the culprit.
Rose Silva, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, said yesterday that a probe into the toddler’s death was ongoing, but was not criminal in nature.
Disney released the following statement.
Our Matthew Smith is in Orlando where he spoke with guests who said Disney could have done more.
Mum Jennifer Venditti has posted pictures of her son standing in the same spot where a two-year-old boy was dragged off by an alligator in Florida, an hour before the incident took place near the Grand Floridian resort. The cause of the child’s death remains under investigation by the county’s medical examiner’s office.
“We knew that Disney was aware that this was a problem, and yet they encourage people to be there”, Whalen said Thursday in a telephone interview.
Experts say the question is focused on whether “no swimming” signs placed around the Seven Seas Lagoon were enough of a warning to guests, or whether Disney should have specifically warned about the dangers of alligators. “To all of the local authorities and staff who worked tirelessly these past 24 hours, we express our deepest gratitude”, the statement read.
Workers began installing a fence around Seven Seas Lagoon Friday.
“They’re doing this at all the [Disney] beaches today”, he said. He said they are searching all day, but especially at night when alligators are more active because of cooler temperatures and less human activity.
Advertisement
He has said repeatedly during news conferences providing updates in the sad case that Disney is very proactive about dealing with potentially problematic alligators.
