Walt Disney World Resort has started to install new warning signs and barriers on resort beach locations after a two year old boy was dragged by an alligator into the water at the Grand Floridian Resort this week.
In a statement released to PEOPLE, Disney said “We are installing signage and temporary barriers at our resort beach locations and are working on permanent, long-term solutions at our beaches. We continue to evaluate processes and procedures for our entire property, and, as part of this, we are reinforcing training with our cast for reporting sightings and interactions with wildlife and are expanding our communication to guests on this topic.”
The new warning signs, which appear in red, read: “DANGER. ALLIGATORS AND SNAKES IN AREA. STAY AWAY FROM THE WATER. DO NOT FEED THE WILDLIFE,” and feature images of an alligator and a snake.
A source has told PEOPLE that Disney employees attended meetings on Thursday to discuss precautionary measures being taken to prevent further incidents with gators on resort property.
Employees were told they should feel empowered to take action if they see anyone wading in lagoons or lakes on Disney property (and if guests refuse to leave, they will be asked to leave the property) and should tell guests to get out of the water and notify security. If guests refuse to remove themselves from the water, they will be asked to leave the property.
“They are not messing around. They’re taking this really seriously,” the source tells PEOPLE. “They’re trying to tell us that each of us is responsible for keeping our guests safe from gator attacks. We can get in a lot of trouble if we don’t report what we see. They kept telling us ‘This is your job. This is your responsibility.’ We aren’t allowed to say that this isn’t up to us.”
At the same meeting, employees were told guests seen throwing food or chum into the lake or lagoon water will be asked to leave the property.
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