Gators, and Panthers, and Snakes, Oh My! - Gatorland, FL

Historic entrance to Gatorland

I grew up in the Florida swamp, so I initially did not see the appeal of Gatorland. I have seen plenty of alligators in the wild, so what does this place have to offer besides seeing alligators?

I discovered there is much to learn and experience at Gatorland. We did not have the time to see and do everything the place has to offer in just one day. I quickly started making plans to visit again. I am particularly interested in the zipline tour, but there are several other tour options if ziplining is not up your alley. 

Gatorland provides a home for alligators that will not survive in the wild.  Its newest resident is Jawlene the little alligator missing it the top of its snout. You can also see Albino and Luecistic alligators. Because of their lack of pigment, they do not have the camouflage they need in the wild. 

  

Demonstration of the the alligators' lower jaw lack of strength

A snake making an appearance at Up Close Encounters

There are three unique shows throughout the day: 2 educational and 1 just for fun. The shows weave education in with silliness. At “Alligators: Legends of the Swamp” I learned you can’t poke a gator in the eyes because they sink into the head when they sense a threat. It is like blinking for humans. “Up Close Encounters” shows off creatures like snakes and spiders. These two shows are both educational and fun. They utilize audience participation, so get ready to volunteer if you want to participate. Both shows have photo opportunities with the animals after the show for a cash donation that goes towards feeding the animals. “Gator Jumparoo” was the last show of the day for us and it was silly, fun entertainment that showed the jumping power of alligators.  The Entertainers played double and triple duty all day. We continued to see guys from the first show in the other shows throughout the days and one was also our train conductor.

The surprising highlight of my day was feeding an emu! For only a quarter I was able to get a palmful of dried corn, and after patiently waiting, an emu ate the corn straight from my hand! The beak was not sharp, and the pecking was surprisingly gentle. Groups with children placed their corn on the railing for the emus to eat because it does look scarier than it is. 

Cuddles is a fun photo opportunity and he is not real 

There is also an aviary with birdseed sticks for sale and a petting zoo. You can also feed the gators in several areas of the park.

  

An alligator relaxing in position to catch flies

For children, there is a splash pad and playground. Since Florida is hot year-round, I recommend planning some splash pad time to cool off.

If you are visiting from out of town and want to experience a slice of Florida swamp, there is a boardwalk on the far south side of the property with informational signs on the plants and history of the area. The boardwalk is a loop and has a sign of estimated walk times based on your typical walking speed. We overestimated how long it would take us because we were enjoying the quiet nature. The road noise was surprisingly diminished, and the place has a feel of being out in the middle of nowhere. There are benches and gazebos throughout the boardwalk.   

Peaceful boardwalk through the swamp

There is a train that loops around the back part of the park. There is only one station in operation, so it is a ride, not just transportation. One criticism about the train: it is squealy, so if you have ears sensitive to high pitched sounds, it will not be enjoyable.

Us on the Train! Benches fit 2 adults.  

Cost

There are Child, Adult, and Senior prices for Day Passes and Annual Passes. Current costs:

·        Child (ages 3-12 years): $22.99 + tax

·        Adult:  $32.99 + tax

·        Senior (60 years and up): 31.98 + tax

If you plan on spending more than 1 day at Gatorland, it is worth it to pay for the Annual Pass because it is $12 more than a single day ticket without any specials. Plus, you get discounts with an annual pass.

There are many photo and animal encounter opportunities that take cash. Each opportunity is relatively inexpensive, $5-$10, but it can add up. I recommend bringing small bills and making room in your budget.

The train is $3 for unlimited rides.

Coming up in October, is "Gators, Ghosts, and Goblins." Costumes are welcome and it is free with admission. Check out their website for more information: https://www.gatorland.com/gators-ghosts-and-goblins-halloween-2023/ 

There are a handful of pressed penny machines that each have unique designs. They are the new kind that take a credit card. There is also a wax sculpture machine like the ones that used to be popular growing up in the 90’s.          

One of the many pressed penny machines in the park. Each one has different designs

                                                                                                                                                                    

Accessibility

The Gator Gauntlet zipline is an accessible zipline that participants lay in` a hammock like harness. The website has an informational video: https://www.gatorland.com/experiences/gator-gauntlet/

Gator Jumparoo has an area for wheelchairs that give an unobstructed view of the show by using plexiglass instead of railing.

I believe the train had a car that accommodated wheelchairs. 

There is a boardwalk throughout the park that may be difficult to roll wheels over. I don’t believe my sister had any trouble with her stroller on the boardwalk.  There is also a tower that overlooks the swamp that is stairs only.

The Wheelchair and Stroller view of Jumparoo

Gatorland Website:

 https://www.gatorland.com/