Disney World closed all beaches on its Lake Buena Vista, Florida property after a Nebraska toddler was drowned by an alligator on Tuesday.
Divers found the “completely intact” body of 2-year-old Lane Graves in about 6 feet of water on Wednesday.
The body was recovered just 15 feet away from where an alligator snatched Lane as he waded in a man-made lagoon with his parents and siblings at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
A lifeguard said the boy waded 10 feet out into the murky lagoon water.
Unlike the outcry when a gorilla was killed to rescue a black boy at a Cincinnati zoo last month, the same public has been highly critical of Disney World.
Zoo officials shot and killed rare silverback gorilla, Harambe, to rescue 4-year-old Isiah Gregg who fell into the enclosure on May 28.
There was a massive public outcry as animal lovers circulated petitions and sent death threats to the boy’s mother, who is black, for not monitoring him.
No such outcry has been directed to Lane’s parents, Matthew and Melissa Graves, who are Caucasian.
Despite the “no swimming” signs all over the place, the Graves allowed their toddler to wade 10 feet away from them at night.
But many criticize the theme park and resort for not warning guests about alligators lurking in the waters.
It’s hard to reconcile the public’s empathy toward one set of parents with the outrage directed at another set of parents under similar circumstances.
Is Disney really at fault for little Lane’s tragic death, or is it his parents’ fault for ignoring the signs?
