abusing animals at AK

[Magic Maker]

It surprises me too. All of the animal areas of the park have cast members there to answer questions and such, and those are exhibits that are so big it would be hard to harrass the animals. This one is so small, and right across from the McDonald's (osaurus) restaurant that would would think there would be someone there for just that reason.

There is someone there from 8:30 am- 11 am. Otherwise they are not needed, financially it does not make sense. All of the animals area around the ENTIRE Animal Kingdom do not have cast members there attending to them. About 70% of all the animal areas in the park have a cast member there all day long.

 

[orlandorealtor]

There is someone there from 8:30 am- 11 am. Otherwise they are not needed, financially it does not make sense. All of the animals area around the ENTIRE Animal Kingdom do not have cast members there attending to them. About 70% of all the animal areas in the park have a cast member there all day long.

I'm not saying that they need them there. But I'm sure we can all agree that Disney sometimes over populates areas with cast members. I'd rather see a cast member in front of the Croc exhibit than standing in a random walkway smiling and trading pins.

I'm sure this type of thing doesn't happen all the time, but I think one time is once too many. Honestly, you can't even step out of the Jungle Cruise boat without a cast member holding your arm to make sure you don't fall...yet there is a Crocodile exhibit where parents are freely putting their children over the fence (granted there are two fences) but still. Not that I think there SHOULD be a cast member there...but I think you get my point.

 

[Magic Maker]

Actually no I don't get your point.

What I am now understanding is that there should be less Cast Members out having fun with the good Guests, creating memories and making a more enjoyable experience. Those Cast Members should be taken away and placed everywhere there is a chance of something bad happening, in which case there would need to be a Cast Member about every couple of yards.

I am having trouble understanding your point.
I would rather see a Cast Member being paid to pin trade and Merchantain as we say, then to stand around in a slower traffic area guarding the croc when it just is not needed. If that area was more attended and more popular then yes put a Cast Member there, which is done during busier seasons.

 

[orlandorealtor]

I'd love to live in a world where we didn't have to have 'cast members' at every corner telling us what we should already know not to do. But we don't live in that kind of place.

My point is, I'd rather see a cast member interacting with guests in front of an animal exhibit where I saw people throwing objects at an animal than standing in some random area.

You may not have ever seen anyone doing that sort of thing, and maybe I was the 'lucky' one that caught it...but it only takes one rock in the eye to put that Croc backstage for a long time.

I'm not saying that Disney NEEDS to have people at every corner, watching and waiting for stupid people to do stupid things. I was just making a point that if this kind of things continues then maybe one of the many cast members that are there to 'guide' people through the park could be stationed a little closer to the smaller exhibits to make sure no harm comes to the animals. NOT having a cast member next to a living, breathing animal is like NOT having a cast member next to a character walking around the park. You wouldn't let Tinkerbell out on her own in the middle of the Magic Kingdom in a crowded day. Sure it would make more sense to have someone in the middle of a crowded walkway, directing people to the nearest bathroom and teaching others how to read a map...but you need that person AND the cast member making sure that little Johnny's Dad doesn't grope the Princess...or that young Suzy doens't pull the tail off of Tigger. But atleast the Pricess can fend for herself...she isn't helpless and behind a cage.

 

[scottnj1966]

Frankly I could care less about the kid, but to abuse a caged animal!?

As much as I would not like an animal to be abused, this comment really scares me. You actually didnt care that the child may have fallen? Some parents dont have much in the brain area but to blame the child and not care if he/she was hurt just shocks me.

I took a quick trip to Animal Kingdom today. On the way out I was walking past the Alligator exhibit in Dinoland. Although this doesn't surprise me, seeing it in person infuriated me.

There was a group of people that found it appropriate to throw things at the alligator to make it move or 'see if it was real'. I watched for a moment as the crowd threw whatever they could find at the animal to make it move.<O

One parent actually put their child OVER THE FENCE to get a better shot!!! The shock/Anger was incredible. Frankly I could care less about the kid, but to abuse a caged animal!? The adult of the crowd was a scrawny poorly dressed man with a mullet (I'm apologize for the generalization...but I believe this situation calls for it). I know myself enough to realize that confronting this person, with my temper, would result in some sort of altercation. I wasn't about to lose my annual pass over some .... some type of person. <O

The nearest cast member was at the DVC booth right behind the exhibit. As calmly, and with as little words as I could, explained what was happening just across the walkway. He walked over to them as I left the area. <O

I contemplated calling 911 on my cell phone, which would put me in touch with the OC Sherriff...and merely saying that someone put a child over the fence of the Alligator pit at Animal Kingdom. Hoping that the police would confront that parent and take appropriate measures. But I knew that by the time they got there, everyone would have already had their fun and left. <O

So sad and horrible how people act. This certainly isn't the first time this has happened and I'm sure it isn't the last. I shot an email off to Disney about this...but I'm sure it will end up with the rest of the 'creative criticism' e-mails.


I'm really at a loss for words.

 

[orlandorealtor]

Frankly I could care less about the kid, but to abuse a caged animal!?

As much as I would not like an animal to be abused, this comment really scares me. You actually didnt care that the child may have fallen? Some parents dont have much in the brain area but to blame the child and not care if he/she was hurt just shocks me.

I've already defended my comment. The 'kid' was old enough to know what was going on (i.e. over the fence in a bad place). Also, there are double fences and there was really no way he could have fallen in...unless the parent in question went over that fence too and then hoisted the kid over the second fence. Frankly the kid could have just climbed over himself...I dont really know why I assumed the parent lifted him over. Lifted over/allowed to climb...it's all the same in my book.

My comment shouldn't 'scare' you. Atleast I noticed what was going on. It's not like this is a secluded walkway. MANY more parents saw what was going on. What should scare you is that no one else reported this and that other people, parents, weren't shocked by what they saw.

 

[scottnj1966]

I was commenting on you saying you could care less what happened to him.
The rest of the story was not important or your reasoning.
The point I was making, if more people started not caring that another person could be hurt, then the world is getting pretty bad and yes your comment does scare me because I really think you care more about the gator then if anything happened to the kid. Just ask them to get down so they dont get hurt. I have done that before. Sometimes yes you get the bad look or something said, but guess what, they are stopping what they were doing.

I've already defended my comment. The 'kid' was old enough to know what was going on (i.e. over the fence in a bad place). Also, there are double fences and there was really no way he could have fallen in...unless the parent in question went over that fence too and then hoisted the kid over the second fence. Frankly the kid could have just climbed over himself...I dont really know why I assumed the parent lifted him over. Lifted over/allowed to climb...it's all the same in my book.

My comment shouldn't 'scare' you. Atleast I noticed what was going on. It's not like this is a secluded walkway. MANY more parents saw what was going on. What should scare you is that no one else reported this and that other people, parents, weren't shocked by what they saw.

 

[PintoColvig]

Actually, I was at the AK and happened to see the man with his child at the croc enclosure. I also happened to have my camera handy...

<img src="http://www.smh.com.au/ffxImage/urlpicture_id_1073267961555_2004/01/05/0105_steveirwin.jpg"/>

 

[Mimi]

Frankly I could care less about the kid, but to abuse a caged animal!?

As much as I would not like an animal to be abused, this comment really scares me.

I'm with you on this. Children do dangerous things all the time; and they don't necessarily deserve what they get (especially being mamed by a croc). Bad choices are a part of childhood - that's why they have parents to teach and protect them, which this parent was obviously not doing. It was a very scary scenario... Orlandorealtor, I take it you have no children??

 

[orlandorealtor]

I was commenting on you saying you could care less what happened to him.
The rest of the story was not important or your reasoning.
The point I was making, if more people started not caring that another person could be hurt, then the world is getting pretty bad and yes your comment does scare me because I really think you care more about the gator then if anything happened to the kid. Just ask them to get down so they dont get hurt. I have done that before. Sometimes yes you get the bad look or something said, but guess what, they are stopping what they were doing.

Well, my point was that I was there to have a relaxing afternoon and not get in an altercation or to play supervisor. I got a cast member involved because I know that whatever I say to them wouldn’t come out very polite and thus would not serve my purpose very well.

I’m sorry that all you took from my post was that I didn’t care what happened to the kid that climbed over the fence. Maybe I shouldn’t have used “kid”. When I see a crowd throwing objects at an animal and cheering I don’t really care too much about the crowd…my attention is on the animal.

Maybe tomorrow this “kid” may go to school and pick out some other helpless animal and torment it…maybe it won’t be an animal…and maybe it won’t be a rock he uses.

I should have chosen my words more carefully. Forget I said child or kid, let’s use “youth” and we’ll throw in “expressing violent behavior”. That’s probably more accurate, I didn’t realize I’d have to elaborate so much. This wasn’t a 4 year old that last his way and ended up on the wrong side of a fence.

 

[hrmom26]

unfortunately there are stupid people everywhere anyone who would throw things at any animal is in that category. as for the comment that the child should have known better or that he may be mentally challenged as a mom myself i can say children are a reflection of how they are raised. they only no what there parents teach them you can't look at the child like he was stupid or mentally challenged because they didn't no better a child looks at there parents for a guide to whats right or wrong and will model themselves after that he just didn't no any better its that simple when he gets to be a adult hopefully he will realize that kind of behavior is wrong and hopefully the parent will not just pass his stupidity on to anther generation. i do think you did the right thing by not saying something to the person and went to a CM you just don't no how someone will react to something anymore it could have just been an argument or the person could have become violent toward you.

 

[pinkrose]

I've already defended my comment. The 'kid' was old enough to know what was going on (i.e. over the fence in a bad place). Also, there are double fences and there was really no way he could have fallen in...unless the parent in question went over that fence too and then hoisted the kid over the second fence. Frankly the kid could have just climbed over himself...I dont really know why I assumed the parent lifted him over. Lifted over/allowed to climb...it's all the same in my book.

My comment shouldn't 'scare' you. Atleast I noticed what was going on. It's not like this is a secluded walkway. MANY more parents saw what was going on. What should scare you is that no one else reported this and that other people, parents, weren't shocked by what they saw.

The question is though, has the kid been taught that it's wrong? A child isn't going to know any better if that child hasn't been taught. Children tend to believe that things their parets tell them are "ok" to do, really are "ok" to do.

 

[wannab@dis]

The question is though, has the kid been taught that it's wrong? A child isn't going to know any better if that child hasn't been taught. Children tend to believe that things their parets tell them are "ok" to do, really are "ok" to do.

I agree.

I also find it sad that the first thought is for an animal and not a human life. But, that seems apropos for today's society.

 

[pinkrose]

I agree.

I also find it sad that the first thought is for an animal and not a human life. But, that seems apropos for today's society.

I find that sad as well.

 

[jesserin]

I've already defended my comment. The 'kid' was old enough to know what was going on (i.e. over the fence in a bad place). Also, there are double fences and there was really no way he could have fallen in...unless the parent in question went over that fence too and then hoisted the kid over the second fence. Frankly the kid could have just climbed over himself...I dont really know why I assumed the parent lifted him over. Lifted over/allowed to climb...it's all the same in my book.

My comment shouldn't 'scare' you. Atleast I noticed what was going on. It's not like this is a secluded walkway. MANY more parents saw what was going on. What should scare you is that no one else reported this and that other people, parents, weren't shocked by what they saw.

flame away - but I'm going to have to agree here, The croc was in a cage - he had no where to go, the flippiant remark about the kid wasn't so much sad as it was just a matter of fact that the kid could walk away or step down easily - the animal however was stuck... he was in harm's way and there was no where to go... I'm not exactly an animal rights activist... but it angers me that someone would try to hurt or "get the attention" of a caged animal with no where to go. I too wasn't so much worried about the kid, as stated above he was old enough to take care of himself, if the croc had reacted, it would have been purely a defensive mode - and that's sad. It's not a society thing - it's about respecting people AND animals... I have no desire to see a person get hurt any more than an animal.. but the point of the thread was that the Animal was the one in potential danger... not the kid... with 2 fences and an ounce of common sense the kid wasn't in any real danger... just my .02...

okay - now flame away...

 

[bhg469]

I agree.

I also find it sad that the first thought is for an animal and not a human life. But, that seems apropos for today's society.

Darwinism. That kid is most likely doomed anyway. Sorry to say it but if its not an alligator its most likely going to be something else.

 

[ThumpersThought]

The question is though, has the kid been taught that it's wrong? A child isn't going to know any better if that child hasn't been taught. Children tend to believe that things their parets tell them are "ok" to do, really are "ok" to do.

This reminds me of what a college professor of mine said was the problem with Sociology. He said, "In Sociology, if a kid steals a hubcap, you look at why -- was it his upbringing? Peer pressure? The economics of his surrounding? -- Give the kid credit! He thought of stealing the hubcap, he did the act; peer pressure, economics or not. To say someone else is at fault discounts the capability of the kid." So yes, child misbehavior can usually be pointed back at the parents, at the same time, you can be a reasonable person without reasonable parenting (and counter).

 

[nyfrenchy]

The adult of the crowd was a scrawny poorly dressed man with a mullet

As ticket price increases, I thought we would see less often this type of guest. Sadly, I was mistaken...

 

[wannab@dis]

As ticket price increases, I thought we would see less often this type of guest. Sadly, I was mistaken...

I didn't realize disney fans were such elitist snobs.

 

[nyfrenchy]

4. Your comment about the mullet is irrelevant.

If you had dealed with people with mullets, you would realize how relevant it is.

5. For the life of me, I can’t remember seeing an alligator exhibit in Dinoland.

Can't blame you for not noticing it. It's a tiny pond with one alligator in it, in front of breakfastosaurus I believe.