Disney removes gator references from its parks

By: 8 years ago

In the shadow of the Magic Kingdom Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers search for the body of a young boy Wednesday, June 15, 2016 after the boy was snatched off the shore and dragged underwater by an alligator on June 14 at Grand Floridian Resort at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. AP

In the wake of this month’s fatal alligator attack at one of its Florida resorts, Disney is distancing itself from most of the gator-related attractions found inside their theme parks.

According to a New York Post report, the amusement park group is quietly removing memorabilia referencing the reptile—including most of cartoon depictions from all park shows and displays.

As of this writing, the following alligators references have reportedly been written off at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park in Lake Buena Vista, Florida:

A model of Louis, the trumpet-playing gator from “The Princess and the Frog” movie, which is no longer part of the Friendship Faire Castle show.
Tic Toc Croc, which chases Captain Hook in “Peter Pan,” which has been yanked from the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom.
A voice over from the Jungle Cruise boat ride, which no longer advises parents to “watch your children, or the crocodiles will”.

The changes come after a 2-year-old Nebraska boy was snatched and killed by an aligator at the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on June 14. The incident prompted resort officials to apply a new anti-alligator policy. Khristian Ibarrola