It’s been nine years since a heartbreaking moment forever changed the conversation around safety at Walt Disney World Resort. On June 14, 2016, 2-year-old Lane Graves was killed by an alligator while playing along the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando. The incident drew national attention and sparked a wave of scrutiny over how theme parks manage guest safety in areas near wildlife.
Tragedy Sparks Safety Changes
Lane had been near the lagoon with his family when the unthinkable occurred. In the aftermath, Disney faced widespread questions about how such a tragedy could happen on resort property—and what steps would be taken to prevent anything similar in the future.
In the weeks that followed, Disney rolled out sweeping safety measures across all of its resort locations. New fences and rock barriers were installed along lagoon and lakefronts, and highly visible signage warning guests of potential wildlife was added. Direct access to certain waterfront areas was also restricted. The safety upgrades were implemented quickly and remain in place today.
How Disney Improved
But beyond the physical changes made to Disney property, Lane’s family found their own way to turn pain into purpose. Matt and Melissa Graves went on to establish the Lane Thomas Foundation, a nonprofit that helps families of children in need of life-saving organ transplants. “Lane’s legacy is love,” the Graves family has said in previous public remarks. Their foundation now provides financial support, spreads organ donation awareness, and advocates for pediatric transplant needs across the United States.
While Disney has never held a formal public memorial at the resort, the spot near the Grand Floridian has become a quiet place of reflection for many who remember what happened. Each passing year, the date serves as both a moment of remembrance and a signal of how one family’s strength led to life-saving changes in the real world.
To learn more about the Lane Thomas Foundation or to support its mission, visit lanethomas.org.
