Disney has been discreetly making some changes around the theme park and resorts following an incident that took the life of Lane Graves, the 2-year-old that was attacked by an alligator. Apart from beefing up its warning signs, the management has been removing any references to alligators and crocodiles at Disney World. The management has also limited fishing activities at the lagoon and beaches.
Miami Herald reports that Disney has been removing sights, attractions and characters depicting predator animals in the parks even if these are only caricatures and references. Among those that visitors will no longer see in their Disney World visit include:
- Tic Toc Croc, the crocodile from "Peter Pan," from the Magic Kingdom Festival of Fantasy parade.
- Louis, the alligator that plays the trumpet in "The Princess and the Frog," which can be seen at the Friendship Faire castle.
- References or jokes about alligators and crocodiles in the running gag and script presented during The Jungle Cruise.
- References to alligators and crocodiles in the Kilimanjaro Safari ride.
However, the animals -- real and caricatures -- are still preset at the Epcot Center inside the Disney parks. The management expressed that it is slowly rolling out the changes while it evaluates the "entire property."
Additionally, Disney employees have been tasked to undergo training that will help them become more proactive with visitors and wildlife interactions. The staffers are being trained to properly let Disney guests be more aware of the safety measures in the parks. It is unclear if Disney will bring back the characters and references in the future. For now, the focus is public safety.
Meanwhile, Disney is also putting limitations on fishing activities especially in their outdoor spa, resorts and campgrounds like Fort Wilderness, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Old Key West Resort, per Click Orlando. There are currently eight hotels at Disney World, all within near distance to the beach. Hotel employees are also strictly closing the beaches at night, except when there are fireworks displays. Rope fences have also been installed on the site where Lane Graves was attacked.
Have you been to Disney World recently, or planning to visit the site? Do you think removing any references is a good move? Share your thoughts in the comments below!