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

[PhotoDave219]

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.

I mean I've got video of people in the AS Sports pool during hurricane Charlie ... And WL during Frances.

Point being, guests seem fine going in the pool during a storm.

As for this instance? Awful for the family. Just takes an instant with your back turned....

 

[ToTBellHop]

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!

Did your parents pay 100% attention to you? I know mine didn't. Most parents nowadays are more attentive than in the past. And yet humans have always drowned.

 

[HolleBolleGijs]

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.

Well there was this case back in 1977 when a boy drowned in the moat around Cinderella Castle (quote from Wikipedia):

On August 11, 1977, a 4-year-old boy from Dolton, Illinois drowned in the moat surrounding Cinderella Castle. The family sued Disney for US$4 million and won; however, the jury found the plaintiffs 50% liable for allowing the boy to climb over a fence while playing and reduced the award to US$1.5 million.

The parents were found only 50% liable. Obviously times have changed and the cases are different, but just some food for thought.

 

[Incomudro]

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.

I have twins.
Twin 13 year old boys who have been to WDW six seasons in a row since they were six year old.
You don't lose track of them when they're little - that's your job.

 

[Incomudro]

Did your parents pay 100% attention to you? I know mine didn't. Most parents nowadays are more attentive than in the past. And yet humans have always drowned.

Huh???
By water, at three years old?
You bet they did.
We had a local swim club at the pond and my mother always made sure she watched us, and never simply left it up to the lifeguards.
She hated when parents did that.
I guess that trait got passed down.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Well there was this case back in 1977 when a boy drowned in the moat around Cinderella Castle (quote from Wikipedia):

The parents were found only 50% liable. Obviously times have changed and the cases are different, but just some food for thought.

These cases are often decided by emotion, not reason. If I were to lie down under a bus tire at WDW and got my leg crushed, I could probably sue Disney and win. The poor guy with the crushed leg is much more sympathetic than the faceless media conglomerate with an army of lawyers and billions of dollars.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Huh???
By water, at three years old?
You bet they did.
We had a local swim club at the pond and my mother always made sure she watched us, and never simply left it up to the lifeguards.
She hated when parents did that.
I guess that trait got passed down.

LOL. I guess you get the Perfect Parent Medal then.

 

[Nemo14]

Blaming the parents is pretty lame right now, whether or not they were negligent. I know how fast things can happen with a determined 3 year old, and it's just painfully tragic that the outcome was so unfortunate.

 

[jaklgreen]

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!

I know, I have seen this too. And usually it is when you get the whole extended family. Too many adults talking to each other and no one watching the kids. My kids are 13&14 and I still go to the pool and watch them swim. Maybe I am too over protective but I could not live with the alternative.

 

[Incomudro]

LOL. I guess you get the Perfect Parent Medal then.

Damned straight.

You don't lose track of your babies in crowded amusement parks, and particularly by water.
By water, if you are not holding your kid by the hand or body, that kid better have a flotation device on him or her, and you better not take your eyes off.
Kids can go under in a second.
That's the way it its.

 

[NowInc]

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.

There certainly are grounds (even tho you don't need grounds to file a lawsuit, regardless). The pool was open when this occurred. No one working for Disney was able to see a child of this age near or in the water, which will be filed as negligence. Do I think its a GOOD case? No, but its got some reasoning behind it. Child Drowning litigation is a MAJOR wing of the legal world, and having worked for too many lawyers in my life, I can tell you they will build a compelling argument that will get this settled.

 

[Incomudro]

Blaming the parents is pretty lame right now, whether or not they were negligent. I know how fast things can happen with a determined 3 year old, and it's just painfully tragic that the outcome was so unfortunate.

No it isn't.
Yeah, I feel strongly about this.
I get annoyed when people say "oh, how tragic... "
Yes, it's terribly tragic.
Where were the parents?

 

[rt06]

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.

Assumption of risk?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

My kids are 13&14 and I still go to the pool and watch them swim. Maybe I am too over protective but I could not live with the alternative.

Maybe.

 

[jaklgreen]

Maybe.

I can live with that. That way I know I did my best to raise my kids and give them the skills to live the best that they can.

 

[lifeguard1020]

Well, let's see. This is kind of my department...
The lifeguards at Disney are EXTREMELY well trained. Their Lifeguards are trained through Ellis & Associates. That company defined the modern lifeguard and training system. I was an instructor trainer for them for a number of years in the late 90's.
The most important rule for the guards is called the 10/20 rule. You have to scan/view every part of your "zone" every ten seconds, and be able to reach and location in it within 20 seconds. This is because it only takes 30 seconds from someone to go from struggling to unconscious.
I can tell you, in my times viewing/swimming in nearly every pool down there, if I had to pick, the typhoon lagoon wave pool has to be most difficult to guard. When it is packed, it is incredibly difficult to see the bottom.
The guards are trained to "scan" from the bottom up...
Any lifeguard questions, let me know...

 

[wdwfan22]

Did your parents pay 100% attention to you? I know mine didn't. Most parents nowadays are more attentive than in the past. And yet humans have always drowned.

I know I was never out of my parents site when I was that young so yes my parents did pay 100% attention to me. I also have a 3 year old niece and I can tell you that she wouldn't even make it to the pool gate without one of us present. We are over protective for a reason, because accidents happen when you are not paying attention.

 

[rt06]

I know I was never out of my parents site when I was that young so yes my parents did pay 100% attention to me. I also have a 3 year old niece and I can tell you that she wouldn't even make it to the pool gate without one of us present. We are over protective for a reason, because accidents happen when you are not paying attention.

You have an excellent memory, and to be able to connect certain events to the exact age is impressive.

 

[wdwfan22]

You have an excellent memory, and to be able to connect certain events to the exact age is impressive.

Well I know how my parents were. They watched us like Hawks wouldn't let us go far from them at any time. So at 3 I'm pretty darn sure they had an eye on me.

 

[jaklgreen]

You have an excellent memory, and to be able to connect certain events to the exact age is impressive.

Is this what the world is coming to? Attack the people who are doing the right thing? For what reason? To justify some one else's lack of parenting? Since when is doing right by your child and being a good vigilant parent become the bad thing? There was a time where never taking your eyes off of your child(especially at dangerous places like a pool) was what all parents did. Now its ok just to let your kids get away from you and blame someone else? I don't get it. Attacking a person who is doing the right thing is not going to make a person who is not vigilant look better. And saying that it is not possible to keep an eye on your kid all the time is poppy , since there are plenty of people who do still watch their kids like a hawk. I am so sorry for that poor baby that died and for his parents. They will suffer the rest of their lives and will always think "what if". There are parents who know how fast a life can be lost and do everything they can to prevent it. There is nothing wrong with that.