Walt Disney World will be looking at how it warns guests about wildlife at its parks and resorts following the death of a boy attacked by an alligator Tuesday night.

  • 2-year-old boy dragged into water by alligator
  • Disney to warn guests of wildlife at parks
  • All Disney beaches remain closed

A source with inside knowledge of the decision confirmed to News 13 on Thursday that signs will be posted warning guests of alligators at Disney parks and resorts. Specifics of when the signs will go up and where haven’t officially been announced.

At 9 p.m. Tuesday at Disney World's Grand Floridian Resort, 2-year-old Lane Graves was at the edge of the water of the beach on Seven Seas Lagoon when an alligator attacked, according to Jeff Williamson of the Orange County Sheriff's Office. Several bystanders and the boy's father tried to rescue the boy before he was pulled under the water.

Jacquee Wahler, a spokesperson for Walt Disney World, issued this statement Thursday.

"All of our beaches are currently closed, and 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."

Also on Thursday, the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office released the boy's cause of death as drowning and traumatic injuries.

Disney World closed all of its beaches Wednesday morning and said the ferries would not be running out of an abundance of caution. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says there are signs that say no swimming in the water in that area. But there are no signs that warn of alligators.

Demings thinks the gator drowned the boy.

The Graves family asked Demings to relay that they appreciate all of the prayers, and are thankful to law enforcement.

The Sheriff's Office said they have no record of anything like this happening before at Disney World, and they know of no reports of nuisance gators in the lagoon.

Demings said the family of five was vacationing from Nebraska at the Grand Floridian. They were relaxing on the beach area, wading in the water on the edge of Seven Seas Lagoon.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has euthanized six gators found in the body of water. Officials have not said whether one of those gators is responsible for taking the young child. They used sonar and alligator traps in their search efforts. 

Wiley said it's very rare for alligators to attack people. According to a FWC statistics report, nine people have been attacked by alligators since 2015. And between 1948 to April 2016, a total of 383 attacks have been recorded by the FWC.

Demings said Disney is cooperating with the operation. FWC said that Disney has a wildlife management system in place, and the agency is called when gators are found on property.

George A. Kalogridis, president of the Walt Disney World Resort, released this statement Wednesday:

"There are no words to convey the profound sorrow we feel for the family and their unimaginable loss. We are devastated and heartbroken by this tragic accident and are doing what we can to help the family during this difficult time. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we offer our deepest sympathies."

Robert Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, released a statement Wednesday as well:

“As a parent and a grandparent, my heart goes out to the Graves family during this time of devastating loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them, and I know everyone at Disney joins me in offering our deepest sympathies.”


One of The Grand Floridian's pool areas backs up to a beach and the Seven Seas Lagoon. (Christian Menard, via Twitter)


Crime scene tape is up at Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, where a toddler was dragged into the water by a gator. (Shawn Powers, via Twitter)


Spotlights are brought in to assist with the search for a child dragged by a gator at Grand Floridian Resort. (Katherine Popp, via Twitter)