Gatorland?

[MattF]

We're planning to visit Gatorland as a change of pace from Disney and Universal. Has anyone been? Any views? We've read the Beyond Disney Unofficial Guide and had a look at the website but wanted other opinions if possible. Is it worth the trip?

Thanks
Matt & Claire

[Rafi Cat]

Id be interested to hear too.

We have plans sketched in as a possible visit in August.
I believe they do airboat rides too or am I confusing it with something else??:confused2

[MattF]

Rafi Cat,

I don't think that they do airboat rides there, but I think they are nearby.

[traceytids]

We were there in December on our first full day in Florida....we only spent half a day there...the info is on my trip report.

It is ideal as a rest day as there are no rides...if you want photos...please PM me with your email address and I will gladly send you some pics

[tonio]

its ideal for a half day attraction, we all enjoy it, the airboat ride is about 10 minutes drive.

toni

[Sooty]

We didnt like Gatorland one bit !!!!!! A total waste of a half day and a waste of money IMO.

Christine

[kazandlooUK]

We thought gatorland was a real relaxing treat and both my children loved it ..

[MrB]

The advice given to me was not to bother. The people I know wree there just over half an hour and got fed up at looking at 'handbags in waiting'. Not my term.

Any other views are welcomed

[Sooty]

The worst thing I found was the gator wrestling they were using very small gators and taping up their mouths which was not very nice.
To me they are exploited, If you want to see gators go on the Airboat ride at Boggy creek or Poincianna and see them in their natural environment.

Christine

[MattF]

We didnt like Gatorland one bit !!!!!! A total waste of a half day and a waste of money IMO.

Christine


Any reason why you didn't like it?

[Sooty]

Any reason why you didn't like it?

As stated above

Christine

[MattF]

Sorry Sooty - helps if I read the whole thread!!:blush:

[foodie]

This was the hottest place i have ever been in my life ! Don't quite know why maybe the swamp rectreation setting and unless your kids are into gators BIGTIME i would'nt bother ! Not at all like any disney universal thing at all I found it quite low grade and dirty in some parts and they just try and sell you anything to do with gators !

[onlyholly]

A waste of time and money - boring and dirty.

Catriona

[budgie]

we spent half a day there last August and both my sons enjoyed it (14 and 12)
theres lots to see - not just gators , but yes it was very very hot!
this is also where my youngest meet a bearded dragon and fell in love with them and now has one as a pet!

ps i visited a park in jamacia years ago ( the one in the james bond film) and the only thing between you and the gators was a bit of chicken wire - i felt much safer at Gatorland

[metalguru]

Visited a few times over the years and enjoyed it.

[teabag]

We went on our last visit and really loved Gatorland, made a nice relaxing few hours on a rest day from the main parks - my young children loved it, and also their grandparents. I did not find it to be commercial, but very good value although in my own opinion the extra for the train ride isn't worth it - blink and its time to get off if you know what i mean! But I won't be including it on my next visit, just go to their website and they now have a live webcam on the gators!

[MattF]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.:) We're going to go and see.

[Grandimar]

The worst thing I found was the gator wrestling they were using very small gators and taping up their mouths which was not very nice.
To me they are exploited, If you want to see gators go on the Airboat ride at Boggy creek or Poincianna and see them in their natural environment.

Christine

We thought exactly the same - wouldn't go back!

[smiffy33]

There are plenty of vouchers to be found for discount of entry fees, and we loved it and had a great time there. Where else would you see alligators in the hundreds at such close range and you can actually hold a small one. Kids loved it

[batleyboy26]

We've been twice in 1991 & 2000 and enjoyed it both times. We will probably visit again this year as our youngest DS has a thing about gators. It is a different way of spending an afternoon and it is just a nice, steady walk round.

[batleyboy26]

look at this http://www.gatorland.com/webcam/ now. I have never seen that camera angle before nor the human interaction!

[MattF]

Thanks. The camera is great!!:)

[Suzie&Stuart]

I personally think its a nice change from the cleanliness and excellent presentation that is Disney.
One thing to remember, it isnt just a tourist attraction, its main priority is as a gator farm. If you want to see Gators, this is the best place to go to see them, especially from the tower on the breeding lake. Weve been the once for a half day visit and enjoyed it, but probably wouldnt pay to go again , basically because weve already been, not because of what it represents or the condition of the place in general.
As for "handbags in waiting", probably very true, thats life as we know it no matter where we go. Next time you see a cow, sheep or goat on a farm, thats "Sunday lunch, woolly jumpers and most leather goods in waiting".
How many people would refuse a trip to Australia just because the eat those cuddly Kangaroos?

Stuart

[knobbyknowles]

We've been about 4 times now and love it. We didn't go on our first 3 trips and it was recommended to me as a change of pace. Try feeding the gators with the hotdogs you can buy, its really good fun. I bought an annual pass and with a coupon its cheaper than going twice.
As for all the its cruel and handbags etc. then i'm with Suzie&Stuart on that.I didn't wrestle a gator but i've sat on the back of a horse,donkey,camel etc. and its no more cruel as the weight isn't actual on the gator its on your knees which are on the ground. I also like to eat cow as much as possible in the USA (preferably medium rare) and don't feel guilty doing that either.
Knobby

[metalguru]

Right on Knobby I down as much Prime Rib as I can when I am in the US, it's awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sooty]

We've been about 4 times now and love it. We didn't go on our first 3 trips and it was recommended to me as a change of pace. Try feeding the gators with the hotdogs you can buy, its really good fun. I bought an annual pass and with a coupon its cheaper than going twice.
As for all the its cruel and handbags etc. then i'm with Suzie&Stuart on that.I didn't wrestle a gator but i've sat on the back of a horse,donkey,camel etc. and its no more cruel as the weight isn't actual on the gator its on your knees which are on the ground. I also like to eat cow as much as possible in the USA (preferably medium rare) and don't feel guilty doing that either.
Knobby

I dont think the word cruel was mentioned, I said it was exploitation the whole thing was about money. If someone wants to "wrestle" with a gator then wrestle one dont do it with their mouths taped up, whats the point?
and as for it being the best place to see them, I dont think so. The best place to see them is in their own natural habitat IMO.

Christine

[Suzie&Stuart]

Sooty, the pic on the website "Shows" page shows a "Cracker" with Gator at the wrestling show. No tape there I'm afraid, and there wasnt when we where there either.
Animal exploitation for monetary gain is everywhere. Turn on the telly on Saturday afternoon and you have horse racing, dog racing etc etc.
Go to Blackpool at the weekend and you are sure to find a few donkeys on the beach, and they aint there just for the fresh air.
Humans will always exploit animals, and, other humans, always have done, always will. Thats just the way of the world.

Disney have Animal Kingdom. Are they also guilty of animal exploitation for monitary gain?.

[Sooty]

Sooty, the pic on the website "Shows" page shows a "Cracker" with Gator at the wrestling show. No tape there I'm afraid, and there wasnt when we where there either.
Animal exploitation for monetary gain is everywhere. Turn on the telly on Saturday afternoon and you have horse racing, dog racing etc etc.
Go to Blackpool at the weekend and you are sure to find a few donkeys on the beach, and they aint there just for the fresh air.
Humans will always exploit animals, and, other humans, always have done, always will. Thats just the way of the world.

Disney have Animal Kingdom. Are they also guilty of animal exploitation for monitary gain?.

There was tape on the mouths of the gators when I visited two years ago, yes I agree there are donkeys on the beach at Blackpool although I believe only children are allowed on them, and as for Horse racing no opinion except I hate the grand national because of the horses that fall. I was only answering a question and I did only state my opinion.

Christine

[dazjo]

We went to Gatorland last October and loved it!! The other family with us however hated it. It does all depend how much you enjoy zoo's etc. They do charge you for everything but hey you're on holiday!! We paid the extra to feed the gators by hand which was awsome but the other family with us didnt think it was worth the extra money so they didnt do it. Like I say each to their own and dont say you dont like it 'till you've tried it

[doreen]

We went to Gatorland last October and loved it!! The other family with us however hated it. It does all depend how much you enjoy zoo's etc. They do charge you for everything but hey you're on holiday!! We paid the extra to feed the gators by hand which was awsome but the other family with us didnt think it was worth the extra money so they didnt do it. Like I say each to their own and dont say you dont like it 'till you've tried it

I agree with the above reply. Everyone has thier likes and dislikes. We never saw any gators with tape around their mouths when we visited 2 years ago or 12 twelve years ago for the matter, in fact the chap made a point of opening the gators mouth to show you the teeth!!:omg: We personally found it a relaxing day. We wouldnt pay a visit everytime we went to Florida and only went last time to see if it had changed in the 12 years and our son (12)had never been before. He really enjoyed it.

[shaunM]

we always visit gatorland on the way back to the airport,as it seems a nice way to unwind and kill a couple of hours.

[tiggermeister]

We didnt like Gatorland one bit !!!!!! A total waste of a half day and a waste of money IMO.

Christine
Concur with this! not worth bothering with unless you want to see overfed gators! that do nothing

[loopydiamond]

went once on my very first visit to Florida back in 1993 my children then 7 and 8 yrs old liked it, had their pic's taken holding a baby gator and small snake, also a pic of them sat on a huge tortoise (i think).... we've never been back since, not that we didnt like it, just for us, one visit was enough....