If your kids love the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine, they will love Gatorland in Orlando. A two-hour drive south is another opportunity to see gators and huge crocs, watch thrilling shows, ride through the swamp on an off-road monster vehicle, zipline on the Gator Gaunlet, and even meet a capybara!
Florida residents receive half off through March 31 — perfect timing for spring break!
Gatorland is referred to as “The Alligator Capital of the World.” Their website says they have the largest collection of extremely rare white leucistic alligators, along with 14-foot monster crocs. We were in awe when we saw how massive these creatures were — photos did not do them justice; you have to see them in person — thankfully through a protected barrier.
But there is much more to do than just look at gators from a safe distance.
READ: On the Road: Jax to Orlando (No Theme Parks!)
The shows are hilarious. They cater to adults, and I laughed out loud a few times while my son didn’t take his eyes off of the gators jumping out of the water for whole chickens in the Gator Jumparoo show. Legends of the Swamp is more educational, and a gator expert is in the arena with 6- to 8-foot gators, demonstrating survival features of the animals. After the show, you can pay to get your picture taken sitting on top of a gator (included with the Greater Gator Package). Don’t worry, his mouth is taped shut.
The Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure is not to be missed. Guests climb aboard a 12-foot-high monster truck for a 15-minute ride through the marsh and even through a little swamp. This was a lot crazier than we expected. My 6-year-old held on to my husband for dear life over bumps and little hills. He liked it in the end — but he had never been on something this adventurous before. The tour guides stop along the way to point things out, which gives you a little break in between the action on one of three trucks named after real crocs at the park: Bonecrusher, Cannibal Jake, and Swamp Ghost. Children must be 36” tall to ride. This is an additional purchase.
If ziplining is your thing, Croc Rock will get your adrenaline going. Guests ascend 32 feet and cross a 150-foot swinging cable bridge to ride a 350-foot zipline. The Screamin’ Gator Zipline takes you along 1,200 feet and five intense zip lines — including a fly over gators and crocs at nearly 30 miles per hour. Cost is $69.99 and includes all-day admission to the park.
There are other animals to see as well including birds and an aviary with hundreds of budgerigars hungry for birdseed sticks ($2 cash only), wild cats, snakes and other critters, three of the largest tortoise species in the world (my son wanted to meet Dean, a Galapagos tortoise who is over 100 years old and weighs 600 pounds) and even capybaras named Mochi, Boba and Latte. For $12, you can meet them Thursday through Tuesday at 2:15 p.m. My son wanted to meet Dean, a Galapagos tortoise who is over 100 years old and weighs 600 pounds.
READ: Kid-Friendly Day Trips from Jacksonville
Be sure to grab some gator chow to feed the gators in certain areas of the park. This includes a “fishing pole” to drop pieces of meat down in a cage area. The little gators fight over it!
You can purchase single-day admission starting at $21.99 or the Greater Gator Package starting at $33.99, which includes three experiences including meet-a-gator, Gatorland Express Train, and Gator Chow.
The park is open daily, holidays included, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
