Disney ditches gator characters after attack

ORLANDO (FOX 13) - Disney World is quietly removing alligator jokes and characters from its Orlando theme parks, after a gator killed a 2-year-old boy at a Disney resort earlier this month.

Since the tragic death of 2-year-old Lane Graves, signs warning of alligators and temporary barriers now surround Disney resort beaches. The theme park's latest push, however, is to keep guests away from gators is more about sensitivity than safety.

From the Tic-Toc Croc in “Peter Pan,” who helps take down Captain Hook - to Louis, the jazz-loving gator from “Princess and the Frog” - alligator and crocodile references are disappearing from new and decade-old attractions at the parks.

Days after the deadly alligator attack, cast members aboard the Disney Jungle Cruise reportedly axed a joke referencing crocodiles and children from their scripts.

An employee working on one such attraction can be heard on a video, posted to Youtube long before the alligator attack, saying "watch your children. If you do not, the crocodiles will." 

Representatives at Disney did not want to comment on which rides and attractions are doing away with the reptiles, adding there is no time frame for when they plan to bring back those alligator references.

They said the changes made are out of respect for the Graves family.

Reportedly, both the fake and live gators kept at the Epcot zoo exhibit are still on display. It was unclear if other attractions will be altered in the coming weeks.