Florida Guide > Other Parks
Gatorland (1)
This was recently reviewed on ITV holiday show as the best value attraction!
It is inexpensive to enter and if you mention you are villa owner, they are very
good with discounts. This will, in reality, only take up half a day - very
interesting if you are into alligators and animals (my eldest loved is but my
5yr old niece said it was "too much information", she doesn't like zoos and
things).
You really can get up close with the crocodiles and alligators at this park
and after all this is what Florida was famous for originally before Mickey
arrived. There were some hundred and thirty alligators on the Breeding Marsh
when we visited, several hundred adult animals in the front lake areas and
another several hundred young alligators in the display pools and the nursery
for a total of over one thousand alligators plus around 200 alligators. You
don't get to see them all but the Breeding Marsh was a site to see when we went
to feed them. Everyone buys the food (frankfurter sausages which are quite
expensive at $3 for 6 but a must) and goes straight to the front lakes, so these
alligators/crocs are quite uninterested so nip off to the Breeding Marsh and you
will see a feeding frenzy as I think most people have run out of food by the
time they get here! Be careful around here as there are lots of ants and bugs
around and I did get bitten so my advice is to take your anti-histamine before
you go and some cream to rub on just in case but this did not distract from the
fantastic view you will see here when feeding. Also walking along the bridges,
spot the crocs just below your feet with their huge eyes gazing up at you! Can
be a bit frightening.
Definitely see the shows - watch as an alligator jumps some 8ft out of the
air to swipe a chicken from the trainer’s hand - it was amazing. This live show
is funny and educational at the same time. Another great show is in a small
arena where you can watch the trainers wrestle with the alligators and play with
snakes - if you are brave enough you too can sit on the back of a croc and hold
their jaws tightly shut - not a very large one but you won't see me trying!!
There are many "guides" to answer any questions all over Gatorland and you can
spot them in dirty swamp explorer outfits! - I'm sure they start the day clean.
Take the $1 train ride around the park which gets your bearings and stop off
and see the huge brown bear that was rescued recently and they are looking after
him – he’s gorgeous!
Have your photo taken in the jaws of an alligator (not a real one!!!) and
have it put into the usual key ring etc but the T-shirts were fab!
A small play area for the younger children but definitely a park not to be
missed but many people do – it took us 15 years to visit but it won’t take
another 15 to go back.
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