The two-year-old boy was paddling in a foot of water on a beach beside the Seven Seas Lagoon at 9pm when the animal attacked and dragged him away.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said: "The father was there nearby and the alligator came up and attacked. The father struggled and tried to get his son and was not successful and he alerted others nearby to assist him."
The mother also tried to rescue the boy and a nearby lifeguard was told of the attack, Demings said.
"As a father and a grandfather, we are hoping for the best in the circumstances but, based upon my 35 years of law enforcement experience, we know we have some challenges ahead of us."
Police have cordoned off the area near the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa while boats and a helicopter search the 14ft-deep man-made lagoon which is bordered by three holiday resorts and sand beaches.
Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Wahaler said everyone at the resort was devastated and that Disney is helping the family.
When asked if the resort was aware of alligators on the property, Ms Wahaler advised there were signs that said "no swimming".They're saying that a 2 year old was eaten by an alligator... Jesus. pic.twitter.com/Pn6baw4WGQ— ChristianTheMagician (@Menardness) June 15, 2016
Sheriff Demings said there had been no other recent reports of similar alligator attacks on the lake.
"We have no record of this happening before," he said.
It is not clear if the child's family, who are from Nebraska, were staying at the resort.
Magic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks in the Walt Disney World Resort.
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