Airboat rides.

[Suzie&Stuart]

I know many Dibbers have experienced the Boggy Creek Airboats.
But has anybody ever been on the Glades Adventures Airboat Tours.
They have an ad in the SEE ORLANDO freebie map and voucher booklet.[picked up last November]
They are based on Kissimmee Park Road [wherever that is].

If anybody has been on these boats,are they any good compared to Boggy Creek.

[BONZO]

Hi,

I've no idea but here is a link Glades Adventures (http://hometown.aol.com/gladesadventure/)


(Not the greatest website in the world but functional)

[Suzie&Stuart]

Thanks for that Shaun.
I see its based in St Cloud which is a couple of hundred miles from the Everglades boat ride they offer lol.

Think we will stick with Boggy Creek.

Stuart

[desperate]

TrY www.airboatrentals.com on the 192 , you drive them as well I have not used them so have sent an email with a few questions. They also hire out canoes which might be fun when the parks are busy.

I can paddle roun doing my steve irwin impression

"it's allwight mate I ain't goner hurt yer"

Chris

[mte1970]

Midway Airboats on the US50 towards the Space Center give a great ride for only $15.00.
Their site:

http://www.midwayairboatrides.com/

[sr964]

Just fount this site and I think it's great! I do have some info that some of you may find useful though, regarding Airboat rides in Florida. Years ago when we first started visiting, we did the airboats in the South part of the Everglades on several visits (Everglades City, Naples, Ft.Lauderdale, and Billie Swamp Safari). While they are better than the airboat rides in the U.K. ;) we ultimately started trying the ones in the Orlando area. Like most visitors, we were not exactly very knowledgeble about the Everglades, knowing only what we've seen on the tele. Since then we have learned quite a bit! When most visitors think of the Everglades, they are picturing Everglades National Park only. And while that may very well be a couple hundred miles from Orlando, it is only a VERY SMALL part of the Everglades eco-system as a whole. In FACT, the Glades eco-system actually begins in the "Headwaters" Kissimmee River Basin (Kissimmee/St.Cloud area), and flows south all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. We found the Southern rides not nearly as nice as the Orlando ones, or at least it was not what we were expecting, as most are in Mangrove hardwood islands in salt brackish water. (alligators live only in fresh water.) Billie Swamp was a little better but quite "touristy", and they take you out to an "Old Indian Village" which is obviously a facade. On to the Orlando area...No mangroves...no brackish water...the grassy marshes and cypress swamps that we were looking for. A much better trip to be had there by far, and without the 8 hours drive. In Orlando you have (3) options, and we've done them all. (1) is the "U-Drive" airboats on Hwy192 in Kissimmee: Firstly, your in DOWNTOWN Kissimmee, in a canal behind the Sonny's BBQ. How much wildlife do YOU think that you'll find right in the middle of a major metropolitan area?? The boats are not really the airboats that one pictures..they are approximately 5 horsepower, and have a top speed about as fast as I walk. Great for letting the kids drive, but not a serious airboat outing BY FAR... (2) "Boggy Creek" getting better here, as these have big engines and go faster, however their adverts show a 5-6 passenger airboat and when you arrive, guess what? You ride on a crowded 20+ passenger boat (not one like in the ad's) Their rides are 30 minutes. When asked about the boats pictured, we were advised that (when available) they are $45 per seat Adult or Child (same price!) and the trip would be 45 min. (3) "Glades Adventures" we finally found this one two years ago now and we've been back several times. This is what the airboating experience is supposed to be! They run only 6 passenger hot rod airboats (that are capable of going where the big boats can't), so it is a more private, intimate type of experience, and their trips are a full hour, so you actually have time out there to find wildlife (and these guys are pro's- they know how to do it), and ask questions. This is more of a classy, educational operation, as opposed to a "quicky" ride. Also, they are the only ones that we've found that have alligators that you can handle yourself for photos, a nice touch! They are about $5 more than Boggy Creek, but when you consider the differences, it is really a much better value. (And they are close to WDW) I'm going to quit my insistant rambeling now, but I would like to leave you with a couple thoughts to ponder, something that we've learned from the airboat guides that we've ridden with...and we were guilty of this as well; Most tourists go airboating just because they want to look at an alligator..OK fair enough...but (A) an airboat trip is NOT an ALLIGATOR HUNT..they are wild animals, and are subject to heat, cold, and other conditions. An airboat trip is NOT a Disney ride..it is the real world. You should consider alligator sightings a bonus. (B) There is a lot more to Florida than just alligators...the people at Glades Adventures actually took the time, once we got the alligators out of our system, to show us what we've been missing all along, there's a lot more beauty out there, if we just open our eyes...and our minds. I hope this helps at least someone with making an educated decision when it comes to this holiday experience. S

[sr964]

P.S, forgot to include: G.A.'s price is around $25 for the 1 hour tour, as opposed to $45 for B.C.'s 45 min ride, and the website gladesadventures.com. Good Luck and choose wisely!

[disneydaft]

Originally posted by mte1970
Midway Airboats on the US50 towards the Space Center give a great ride for only $15.00.
Their site:

http://www.midwayairboatrides.com/

Another recomendation here for Midway Airboats.

We rode one in November and it was fantastic, the ride itself lasted about 45 minutes and we actually managed to see 2 aligators and a load of sea cows (which was pretty strange).

They also had a real tiny baby aligator that they let you hold.

For any one in to American history Fort Christmas is just down the road from them.

I will post some pics later today.

[Suzie&Stuart]

sr964,thanks for the info,much appreciated.
We have done the U-Drive boats,in fact done both the airboat and the electric motor boat.Thought the electric boat was much better as you go down river,opposite direction to the airboats.Much more like a real swampland and very scenic compared with the other end of the river.
Only problem I found was having to keep pulling the grass stuff from the propeller,but it all adds to the experience.

Disneydaft,that airboat ride looks pretty good too,and at a very good price as well.

Stuart