Disney Dumps Alligator And Crocodile Characters After Child’s Death

Disney World has removed all references to crocodiles and alligators throughout its parks, after a gator snatched and killed a two-year-old boy who was standing in six inches of water. 

Now park officials have removed Tick Tock the Croc  from Peter Pan from the Festival of Fantasy parade to avoid upsetting parents and younger visitors.

The Miami Herald reports that Louis, the alligator from The Princess and the Frog has been taken out of the Friendship Faire castle show, while tour guides on the Jungle Cruise tour guides skip the usual jokes about crocodiles eating children during the boat tour. Employees working on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride have also stopped using any references to a crocodile pit.

As guests at Disney’s five-star Grand Floridian Resort & Spa enjoyed an open-air movie, Lane Graves was playing in the shallow water with his big sister Ella (4) under the supervision of their parents, Melissa and Matt Graves when the animal attacked. His body was recovered from the water 16 hours later. Orange County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed the cause of death as drowning and traumatic injuries.

“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,” vice president of Walt Disney World Resort Jacquee Wahler said in a statement last week.