Sad News: Three-year-old drowns at Art of Animation Pool

[Tonka's Skipper]

Prayers for the family.

AKK

 

[ToTBellHop]

How tragic. My heart aches for the family.

 

[MMFanCipher]

This is a worrable thing to happen. Pray for the family.

 

[Hakunamatata]

There IS a fence around the pool that this happened at. The AoA Main pool, which is said to be the pool where the tragedy occurred, has a fence surrounding the rather large pool (largest on property).

And it is key card/magic band required for access.

 

[NMBC1993]

And it is key card/magic band required for access.

It's funny that you mentioned the very thing I was about to respond on. First of all, it is very sad to hear of a situation like this. With that being said, my question is what will become of Magicband access? Yes, the pool comes complete with a large fence but the pool is easily accessible to ANYONE with a active MagicBand. So, anyone (at any age) can access the pool during operating hours, even during times that lifeguards may not be on duty. I wonder if in the future, will Disney re-program Magicbands to only work on certain things if someone is a certain age? Because in reality, the giant fence really does nothing in the way of safety excluding preventing people from swimming after hours (in fact, I thought the original reason it was installed was just to prevent locals from "pool hopping").

 

[LAM378]

All the pools at AoA are gated and have MB readers, but the laundry rooms are inside the pool areas, and you can get in any time of day or night if you want to. The gates aren't locked for good once the pool closes.

Regardless, this happened around 7 pm (according to a poster on another forum who was there). The pool was open and the lifeguards were on duty.

 

[ToTBellHop]

It's funny that you mentioned the very thing I was about to respond on. First of all, it is very sad to hear of a situation like this. With that being said, my question is what will become of Magicband access? Yes, the pool comes complete with a large fence but the pool is easily accessible to ANYONE with a active MagicBand. So, anyone (at any age) can access the pool during operating hours, even during times that lifeguards may not be on duty. I wonder if in the future, will Disney re-program Magicbands to only work on certain things if someone is a certain age? Because in reality, the giant fence really does nothing in the way of safety excluding preventing people from swimming after hours (in fact, I thought the original reason it was installed was just to prevent locals from "pool hopping").

Disney cannot prevent everything. At the end of the day, pools present an inherent danger of drowning.

 

[NMBC1993]

Disney cannot prevent everything. At the end of the day, pools present an inherent danger of drowning.

Well, looks like Disney better put a ban on pools then. Pave all of them with concrete and just put some of those misting fans around the area

(The next evolution in MagicBands)

 

[Incomudro]

I have never seen lifeguards as vigilant as Disney lifeguards are anywhere, ever.
They positively prowl the shoreline.
If indeed this child was only three years old - a toddler - where were the parents?
I have twins (now 13) and I wouldn't let them be more than a couple of feet from me at that age.
Around a pool? Arms length.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Disney cannot prevent everything. At the end of the day, pools present an inherent danger of drowning.

Absolutely. As tragic as this is, it doesn't justify a knee-jerk "get 'em" reaction. Sometimes a tragedy is just a tragedy and it's nobody's fault.

 

[jaklgreen]

I wondered the same thing. I know not everyone is a Helicopter Mom/Dad but I am so paranoid my kids would run off they're never outside of 5 feet from me at all times when we go anywhere. I did see, though, a little boy who got out of his room while his parents were napping when we were at Shades of Green last trip and got lost.

How does a little kid reach up and move the bar latch to then be able to open the door? We always put that latch on the door as soon as we get into the room for safety reasons. This is just so sad. Little extra steps to keep your family as safe as possible is such a small thing that can prevent such tragedies.

 

[Incomudro]

Som

Absolutely. As tragic as this is, it doesn't justify a knee-jerk "get 'em" reaction. Sometimes a tragedy is just a tragedy and it's nobody's fault.

Sometimes it's the parents fault.
That's right.
I can't begin to tell you the things I see parents do almost daily.

 

[britdaw]

How does a little kid reach up and move the bar latch to then be able to open the door? We always put that latch on the door as soon as we get into the room for safety reasons. This is just so sad. Little extra steps to keep your family as safe as possible is such a small thing that can prevent such tragedies.

I'm guessing people forget to put the latch on. :\
The whole situation is just heartbreaking. No one is perfect, and sometimes people lose track of their kids. But to have something like this happen on what's supposed to be one of the happiest times in your life just makes my heart hurt.

 

[Seanual757]

We did have storms and lightning in our area (Ocoee/Winter Garden) last night so it is possible that the pool was closed due to weather. During that time when the pools are closed the fences are up and the area cleared. Normally the lifeguards are in the general area in case the weather clears and they re-open the pool but they are normally under cover and cannot see all of the pool area.


I will say I have seen many times kids and parents not obeying the signs and trying to go into the pools. We witnessed over July 4th two kids going around the fence at the main pool at the GF. Both made it in the pool before a lifeguard could get to them and tell them to get out.

 

[Master Yoda]

Som

Sometimes it's the parents fault.
That's right.
I can't begin to tell you the things I see parents do almost daily.

If history is any indication, it will not matter one bit. All it will take is for them to find one minor in the armor and Disney will be held liable.

 

[Incomudro]

I'm guessing people forget to put the latch on. :\
The whole situation is just heartbreaking. No one is perfect, and sometimes people lose track of their kids. But to have something like this happen on what's supposed to be one of the happiest times in your life just makes my heart hurt.

Lose track of their kids???
Are you kidding me?

 

[jaklgreen]

The drowning a few years ago at PoP involved a teenager, so the circumstances are a tad different (I was unfortunately involved with that litigation via one of my clients).

This one will without a doubt bring another suit against them (and I hate to say it, rightfully so). Pools (Private AND public) should have fences around them to prevent exactly these types of situations. I have lost count over how many child drowning cases I have worked on in the last 5 years alone that could have easily been prevented with the addition of fencing.

I don't think that anyone has basis to sue Disney for this. The child was not in the care and custody of Disney(I am assuming they were not in any Disney child care). It was the parent's(or whoever had the children) responsibility to keep an eye on their child. What did Disney do wrong here? I have kids and have been taking them to Disney since they were 1 & 2 years old and have never lost them. Our first thoughts are always of our children, especially when they were that age. This is very very sad and I would not wish it on anyone. But to try to blame someone else for your neglect is not morally right in my book. There are all kinds of dangers in the world and it our job as parents to keep our kids safe and teach them how to be safe themselves.

 

[britdaw]

Lose track of their kids???
Are you kidding me?

Dp you have kids? If so, then YES, you'd know it's possible for people to lose track of them... It's never happened to ME on vacation, 'cause I am too paranoid to let my kids get further than a couple feet from me. But it does happen.

 

[Incomudro]

I don't think that anyone has basis to sue Disney for this. The child was not in the care and custody of Disney(I am assuming they were not in any Disney child care). It was the parent's(or whoever had the children) responsibility to keep an eye on their child. What did Disney do wrong here? I have kids and have been taking them to Disney since they were 1 & 2 years old and have never lost them. Our first thoughts are always of our children, especially when they were that age. This is very very sad and I would not wish it on anyone. But to try to blame someone else for your neglect is not morally right in my book. There are all kinds of dangers in the world and it our job as parents to keep our kids safe and teach them how to be safe themselves.

I can't tell you the number of parents I have seen at Disney pools paying no attention as to where their little, little kids are.
None.
Hands and eyes off, they're on vacation - and Disney's got 'em!

 

[ToTBellHop]

Lose track of their kids???
Are you kidding me?

It does happen with 3-year olds. They are not known for their listening ability and unless you keep them in an infant carrier, yes, they can get away.

Sometimes kids just die and it's tragic but no one's fault.

On the other hand, it is ALWAYS tacky and distasteful to start attempting to attach blame immediately after the tragedy occurs. You have no idea what the circumstances are, only the result. And it's awful.

My kid almost killed himself in the Wilderness Lodge room in May because my back was turned (I was pouring him a milk) and he jumped up and pulled the cabinet that holds the fridge on himself. We were lucky and he was completely fine. He could have been crushed to death. Feel free to judge me for negligently pouring milk for my kid and taking my eyes off him for 10 seconds. I'm sure your children were attached to you like a tumor until they turned 18.