Were e 24 million people on that beach? No. 2.4 million? Not even that. I am sure the parking lot alligator death rate is pretty low, but this kid was not in the parking lot. BTW, the new signs do have a snake on them. It is not that tough or that costly to warn people. They only have to put the signs on the beach, not everywhere those 24 million people go.
Somewhere somebody already told Disney to change those signs before this happened. THAT is why they will settle--because some working mom who rakes sand on that beach saw a gator and warned them to warn others, and they never did it. They will pay because that story is out there and they know it. It may even be in writing--which means they will settle.
Remember PSU is estimated to have paid 20 million to one victim, not because he was the most injured, but because he was about to get his hands on the Freeh source docs. Money to hide the truth, that is what they will pay.