Have you visited Gatorland? It’s one of my family’s favourite places in Central Florida and here’s why I think you should consider adding it to your Orlando itinerary.
Florida has some unique and amazing natural flora and fauna.
Not least the American alligator.
And it is to this beast that Gatorland (the clue is in the name!) is dedicated.
It offers you a rare (and safe!) opportunity to get up close and personal with some of Central Florida’s scariest natives!
Possibly the most hair-raising way to see the gators is the aerial view from the park’s new zipline. This is definitely not for the faint-hearted though… It gave me the heebie-jeebies just to watch people zipping over the toothsome creatures!
The more sedate way to take them in is the stroll over the creaky wooden boardwalks of the alligator viewing walkways.
There’s is plenty to do and to learn. The alligator wrestling has to be seen to be believed. Not one to try at home folks!
The alligator feeding station is also an amazing sight. It is fascinating to watch the alligators jump out of the water to get food.
You can see rare white alligators and there are other animals too, including snakes.
My kids love to feed the giant tortoises – you can buy food to feed them for just $5 extra.
You could definitely while away a few hours here. It’s billed as a half-day out, although you could spend longer if you pack your cossies and towels and use the small water park attached too.
It is good value at the $26.99 (adult) / $18.99 (kids: 3y – 12y) ticket price.
We like to go early and then have lunch at the nearby Florida Mall. That way we can fit in a little leisurely shopping in the afternoon too.
Gatorland is located 14501 S Orange Blossom Trail, just off Highway 600, north of Kissimmee. It is approximately a twenty-minute drive from our homes on Seasons, Indian Point, Emerald Island, Lake Berkley and Terre Verde. If you’re staying at one of our properties in Davenport (the Hampton Lakes, Encantada or Watersong) it is around a thirty-five-minute drive.
If you have been to Gatorland we’d love you to share your views with us in the comments below… do you have any top tips to get your most from the visit or any gator stories you’d like to share?
