Is Gatorland worth a visit?

Jnbm63

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jul 22, 2014

• Jul 28, 2015

• #1

We were going to go to Gatorland the day before we checked into Disney, but now, I was able to add a day to our trip and can't imagine going to Gatorland is worth missing out on park time for. Is it worth the time to visit? Should we try and stop there after Disney World, sneak it in before, or in the middle of the trip or forget it all together? I would love any feed back. I have 3 small children who do love animals. My husband has a co-worker who recommended it. Thanks!

 

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina

Life is short. Live it well.

Joined

Sep 12, 2008

• Jul 28, 2015

• #2

We loved it. Its just about everything Disney is NOT ... rustic, relaxed, uncrowded, and very "old Florida". We went at Christmas 2012, and are returning again this December for a second visit.

You can check out my full review of the park, with lots of photos, at my trip report here (beginning at post 60, all the way at the bottom the page, and continuing into post 61 on page 4):

http://www.disboards.com/threads/we...ristmas-in-the-sun-tr-complete.3041415/page-3

While we love the big theme parks, we also adore the chance to explore all the other awesome attractions that the Greater Orlando Area has to offer. If Disney is the sole focus of the balance of your vacation, why not try something new and see what Gatorland has to offer?

 

Jnbm63

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jul 22, 2014

• Jul 28, 2015

• #3

Thank you! Great trip report. How much time do you normally spend at Gatorland?

 

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina

Life is short. Live it well.

Joined

Sep 12, 2008

• Jul 28, 2015

• #4

Jnbm63 said:

Thank you! Great trip report. How much time do you normally spend at Gatorland?

Click to expand...

We filled about half a day there (with small kids, you could do more......there was a petting zoo and a splash area that we didn't spend time at with our teenager). We combined Gatorland with an airboat ride for a full "Gator Day", which worked out awesome as neither were full day activities but both were super experiences!

 

jm106

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jan 3, 2009

• Jul 28, 2015

• #5

We did it a few weeks ago and IMO no not at all worth missing WDW for. It was ok, we stayed abut 2 hours, saw the wrestling show and walked the gator exhibits. My ods liked it more then yds. They loved the parakeets. Gators don't do much lol.
My kids liked the splash area but we were driving to friends and didn't plan for water activity so didn't want them to get back in car soaked.

 

W

Wish I lived in Fl

DIS Veteran

Joined

Jan 31, 2004

• Jul 28, 2015

• #6

If you haven't done Disney much then I would make sure to take your time at Animal Kingdom and do the safari twice at least-at beginning and end of day.

If your kids love animals and have done Disney before then I would pack swimsuits and towels for the splash area and take them to Gatorland. My DD14 is Disneyed out. We went to EPCOT a week ago and what captivated her were the ducks and rabbits running loose in the gardens.

Gatorland is about $27 per adult, $70 if doing zipline which includes park entrance) but save zipline until they are older. We fed the fish(25 cents a handful) the tortoise ($5 for a stick which allowed 1 or 2 people in to feed tortoise) the farm animals ($2 for an ice cream cone of animal kibble or 3 cones for $5). There was also turkey dogs to throw to gators which we didn't have time to do.

 

wolf29

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 15, 2005

• Jul 28, 2015

• #7

Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina said:

We filled about half a day there (with small kids, you could do more......there was a petting zoo and a splash area that we didn't spend time at with our teenager). We combined Gatorland with an airboat ride for a full "Gator Day", which worked out awesome as neither were full day activities but both were super experiences!

Click to expand...

We also did a "Gator Day" a couple of years ago and loved it. We do go to WDW for 10 days, so it's easy to have time to do 1-2 small side trips without feeling like we have missed out on things. It's certainly not worth skipping something in the Parks, but it is fun. There are always coupons/Groupons around for either or both. My favorite part of gatorland is the fact that they have a Mold-A Rama machine, an absolute favorite from my childhood!

 

Mr & Mrs DD

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 10, 2015

• Jul 29, 2015

• #8

We love Gatorland.

 

K

kathy884

DIS Veteran

Joined

Sep 26, 2009

• Jul 29, 2015

• #9

It's fun and usually is a three hour place for us. My son and I, although we like it are more into doing the World Class theme parks -- more time at SeaWorld, Disney, and Universal would be our pick. DH though loves Gatorland, so if he is along we have to go. He likes it that alligators are native to the area, so it fits in for him. It's more of an ole time Florida attraction. He thinks it's cool to have alligators jumping for frozen chickens, alligator wrestling. He loves it that the most exciting thing that happened here was some filming of an old Indiana Jones movie years ago and that they are still talking about it today. It's a little cheesy and he finds that to be such a refreshing break after all the other things in Orlando.