We visited Gatorland in early this year when we were staying in Orlando. It is a 110 acre Alligator park and wildlife preserve situated about a 10 minute drive from Orlando on the Orange Blossom Trail. It was founded by the late Owen Godwin in 1949 and is still privately owned by his family ... Read review
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Advantages: A change from the big parks Disadvantages: You have to like alligators
We visited Gatorland in early this year when we were staying in Orlando. It is a 110 acre Alligator park and wildlife preserve situated about a 10 minute drive from Orlando on the Orange Blossom Trail. It was founded by the late Owen Godwin in 1949 and is still privately owned by his family today.
Gatorland makes for a different experience from the Theme parks and is generally a more relaxing half day out. I wouldn't plan on staying ... .../>
The shows start at 9.30 am and apart from one show are repeated throughout the day until 4.30pm
The admission price when we went was $19.95 for a adult and $9.95 for a child, but if you look in one of the many discount books that you can pick up either in your hotel or various other places, you can save about $2.50 each with the coupon.
We visited Gatorland in early this year when we were staying in Orlando. It is a 110 acre Alligator park and wildlife preserve situated about a 10 minute drive from Orlando on the Orange Blossom Trail. It was founded by the late Owen Godwin in 1949 and is still privately owned by his family today.
Gatorland makes for a different experience from the Theme parks and is generally a more relaxing half day out. I wouldn't plan on staying all day as you can get around fairly quickly.
The shows start at 9.30 am and apart from one show are repeated throughout the day until 4.30pm
The admission price when we went was $19.95 for a adult and $9.95 for a child, but if you look in one of the many discount books that you can pick up either in your hotel or various other places, you can save about $2.50 each with the coupon.
The shows ************
9.30am Upclose Encounters show - an interactive experience with snakes, insects, birds and animals from all over the world.
**********
10.00am Gator Wrestling Show - In the Gator wrestling arena a daredevil wrestles with a 6-8 foot crocodile. Join in if you dare. At the end of the show there is an opportunity for the bravest to have their photo taken astride a 7 to 8 ft alligator. Gave that one a miss!
**********
11.00am Gator Jumparoo show - a show where the alligators are fed chicken (expired ones of course) hung on lines above the water. We were looking forward to this show as we expected hungry alligators to be leaping out of the water and competing with one another for food. But in reality either the alligators were too well fed and not hungry or just too lethargic. Only a couple of them entered the feeding pool and really couldnt be bothered to put on any sort of show (good luck to them). Even dangling the chicken in front of their noses didnt whip up any sort of reaction and they just halfheartedly opened their mouths in the direction of the chicken and didnt care if they missed. Maybe if one of us had fallen in it would have been different!
Gatorland is very geared for children and my teenagers found it a bit too <uncool> they had already been spoilt by the BIG Theme Parks.
One thing that did surprise me is that you could touch a small alligator and expecting it to be hard and tough skinned it was quite a shock to find it was very soft. We all weren't too keen on that experience as the alligator had its mouth taped together which although much safer for us did seem cruel.
Other attractions are the petting zoo where you can feed the goats and llamas (you have to buy the food of course), a train ride where you can get off and walk through a natural breeding marsh and you almost feel sorry for the big boy who reputedly ate 5 dogs in his neighbouhood before being caught and bought to Gatorland to save him from the wrath of the residents!
There is also a childrens play area, which we didnt try out, nor did we try out the eatery Pearl's Smokehouse as we had already had a big breakfast at Sizzlers and normally find eating places in parks are too expensive.
SBROWN487 06.06.2005 (06.06.2005)
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Review of Gatorland, Orlando
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Quick review of Gatorland, Orlando
It is a lovely place tvisit but I urge you to leave before the 'show' begins. I found it very upsetting to see these scary but magnificent creatures jumped upon by members of the audience. The reason people could do this is obvious but I'll tell you. The alligators mouths are TAPED SHUT. This I'm afraid I found barbaric! ! ! ...
rose72 06.06.2007
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Advantages: Provides to knowledge to people Disadvantages: not best environment for the alligators - lots of mosquitoes
I first went to Orlando when I was 21 (18 years ago!!! arghh!!) and Gatorland was one of the places we visited. It was a great change from the big parks. I do remember though that there were lots of mosquitoes.
I think that the best way to get full advantage out of visiting Orlando is to alternate busy and quieter days. The big parks would constitute a busy day and shopping malls, relaxing round the pool, walk up International Drive, or somewhere ... ...people I would recommend this as being the best way to survive the Orlando experience.
I must admit that looking back on my Gatorland experience there were elements which by todays standards would appear cruel - such as photos with a baby alligator with its mouth taped. Not something that would have been given a second thought by most 18 years ago - but not something that would be condoned today - as it was probably most distressing for the poor ...
munchy22 01.09.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Gatorland, Orlando
Advantages: Laid back, natural attraction, Gators Disadvantages: None really - could be a problem if you dont have a car
Gatorland is known as the "alligator capital of the world". Whilst it says what it is on the tin, there is so much else to do and see at this laid back attraction away from the madness of the major theme parks. Gatorland boasts of course hundreds of alligators, as well as a breeding marsh, petting zoo, aviary, nature trail, reptilian shows and other animal exhibits. Last year they opened Gator Gully, a cute splash park where the kids could cool off ... ...out at Gatorland. Gator Gully is located within the existing Gatorland park, and is free with your regular Gatorland ticket.
TIP: We took advantage this year as we always do of shopping around for tickets in advance, for all of our theme park days, and this year bought a Go Orlando Card which included Gatorland as part of its admission. It also included Kennedy Space Center, Boggy Creek Airboats, Silver Springs (which was lovely and a best kept ...
Littlegator 06.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Gatorland, Orlando
Advantages: Something for all the family Disadvantages: None
Situated on the side of a busy main road there is surprisingly ample parking at this family run adventure. The minute you enter via the huge green alligator mouth into the tropical decor of the lobby you know you are in tourist heaven. The staff were amazingly friendly, knowledgeable and helpful and we felt welcomed by our greeter. We opted for the admission with the train ride which was on a bit of a bone shaker but was great fun nonetheless.
The ...
miawriter 08.01.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Gatorland, Orlando
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Advantages: Prices, Fast Delivery, Various Payment Methods Disadvantages: None I Can Think Of
will receive your tickets within 7 days of booking, guaranteed!
Customer service lines are open 9am to 9pm, 365 days a year (0845 130 3876).
Their website is very easy to use - Your pick you destination from the left hand side of the page, be it Florida, Las Vegas, Toronto, Deep South, the UK, and various other places throughout the world. You are then provided with a list of every single place within your destination that they sell tickes to. For example when picking Florida I was given a menu that consisted of:
Walt Disney World Resort
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Universal Orlando® Resort
Discovery Cove®
Seaworld® Orlando
Busch Gardens®
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Go Orlando Card
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Advantages: Wonderful Weather, Friendly and Good Mannered Locals Disadvantages: None
Kingdom is as the name suggests - pure magic kids love it, there are parades daily featuring all of your favourite Disney characters,, there are also some excellent rides for the younger members of the family like the Peter Pan ride but don’t worry, Mum Dad and Granny can also go with you.
There are other non Disney attractions in the Orlando area, Gatorland is a fun day out, but it is more of a half day attraction that a full day thing. Gatorland is just what the name say’s it is, lot of Alligators for you to look at and feed and even touch (don’t worry it just a baby, its mouth is tapped up and someone is there to hold it so it wont run away). There are Alligator Wrestling shows, plus snakes in tanks for your viewing pleasure. There is a nice gift shop and a few nice places to grab lunch.
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Snoogans 12.12.2001
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Advantages: Lots to do/see and handy for major attractions Disadvantages: Highway 192 which runs the length of Kissimmee can suffer bad traffic jams at rush hours
times though, as they vary - I find they can be better value than the other flea markets in central Kissimmee
> Florida Mall - is on the corner of South Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road in Orlando - great selection of US wide shops
> West Oaks Mall - This up on West Colonial Drive in Orlando
> Altamonte Mall - North of Orlando in Altamonte Springs
ATTRACTIONS
I'm not going to bang on about the major attractions - they have websites that will sell themselves.
> http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/waltdisneyworld/index
> http://themeparks.universalstudios.com/orlando/website/
> http://www.buschgardens.com/seaworld/fla/
> http://www.gatorland.com/
> http://www.wetnwild.com/Orlando/Main/Main.asp
> http://www.medievaltimes.com/
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