Few things are as emblematic of Florida as alligators. And few things are as emblematic of Orlando as theme parks. So, it should come as no surprise that Orlando has its very own alligator-themed theme park. It’s called Gatorland, and it’s been around since 1949.
Gatorland covers 110 acres (including an expansive wildlife preserve) in the Hunter’s Creek area of south Orlando, on Orange Blossom Trail (US 441). It’s about 20 minutes from Dr. Phillips, a little further from Windermere, and half an hour from Winter Garden. It’s considerably cheaper than a visit to the big-name theme parks, and far less hassle with much smaller crowds. The park is well shaded and has lots of mist fans all around, and there’s plenty of educational subject matter in addition to fun.
All in all, Gatorland is a great alternative to the major theme parks when your family is looking for a more relaxing, lower-key, but fun experience that can last a few hours or all day. It’s good for the whole family, too; young children, teens, and adults all get a kick out of this place—and even the grandparents will if they’re in town for a visit.
About Gatorland
As you might gather from the name, Gatorland is primarily devoted to gators. It even bills itself as “The Alligator Capital of the World.” But this attraction also features crocodiles, tropical and Florida-native birds, and more. In addition to live animal exhibits, there are a variety of shows and activities.
Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the main things to see and do at Gatorland:
- Thousands—literally—of alligators and crocodiles in a variety of exhibits
- Four very rare leucistic white alligators
- An alligator breeding marsh
- The chance to feed a group of gators at the marsh—without any barrier between you and the hungry reptiles (requires extra fee)
- Many species of tropical and Florida-native birds, including a lake and dock where you get up close to gorgeous wading birds
- A visitor-accessible aviary in which you can feed parakeets that perch right on you
- Various highly entertaining live animal shows
- The opportunity to wrestle a live gator (requires extra fee)
- Petting zoo full of young and adult goats you can hand-feed
- A guided train tour around the park
- The Screamin’ Gator Zip Line, a 1,200-foot zipline track run between 7-story-high towers, directly over the park animals and guests (requires extra fee)
- Pier paths that wind through natural Central Florida swampland
- A few kid-friendly places to get food and drinks, and Gator Jake’s Fudge Kitchen is the place to go for dessert
A Unique Venue
Gatorland also throws birthday parties for the kids. It’s a fun, educational, memorable alternative to the more usual locations. The park also has 700 square feet of meeting space and hosts casual to upscale corporate and private events, as well as teambuilding outings. Consider it for a cool way to get away from business as usual for your professional events.
Gatorland Information:
14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, Florida 32837
Phone: (407) 855-5496 or (800) 393-5297
Email: customerservice@gatorland.com
Hours: Open 365 days per year from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Website
Gatorland sells annual passes that more than pay for themselves in just two visits.
