Airboat Tour recommendations?

[o2bnoz]

Hi,
Thinking of doing this one day... see several in Kissimmee.. Tom and Jerry's, Big Toho, Boggy Creek, #1 Airboats..

Just looking for some feedback. If it's completely not worth the $35 price tag, want to hear that, too. Any other ideas of non-disney activities for an afternoon? I don't want a full day activity.. just something for an hour or so.

Thanks everyone!

Dee
(unveiling this surprise in one week! Hard to believe.... )

 

[Orlando Vic]

They are not all $35. For example, Boggy Creek Air Boats has several prices on their website: http://www.bcairboats.com/tickets.shtml

Again, I'm not sure I know what you are looking for in an airboat ride. Gators? Your best bet is to go during dusk (or dawn). During the middle of the day, you will most likely see some birds and interesting marshes and plant life...but no gators.

The BC airboats are quite large compared to the ones at the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp, on SR 520 at the St. Johns River. Their (Lone Cabbage) rides are a little farther away, cheaper and more fun (IMO) because they are smaller. Check out their website: http://twisterairboatrides.tripod.com/rides.htm

 

[formill]

http://www.wildwillysairboattours.com/ We went on Wild Willy's a year ago and loved it- beautiful scenery - we did see many baby alligators/lots of birds and they have a small alligator in their store/office that you can hold and have your picture taken with. We had a group of 11 people and we went out at the same time in two boats- kids ranged in age from 7-17 and all enjoyed.

 

[Otter49]

Don't know your dates, but something to keep in mind beginning May 31.

From today's O'Sentinel:

Kissimmee merchants fear fallout from possible ban on airboat rides

 

[Dax]

Don't know your dates, but something to keep in mind beginning May 31.

From today's O'Sentinel:

Kissimmee merchants fear fallout from possible ban on airboat rides

This is just from one lake...and the tours run out of Historic Downtown Kissimmee. The companies mentioned above would not be affected by this ban(except Big ToHo) as they run on different lakes/rivers.

OP - I have done BC Airboat before, and I LOVED it. It was a short 30min, and we did not see a lot of gators because it was Nov, cooler and overcast, so the gators were all hiding, but we had a GREAT time, and will consider doing it again in the future. Its a fun way to see the wildlife in this area, including bald eagles(we saw 2), egrets, turtles, and other wildlife(armandillos!)

 

[o2bnoz]

Thank you everyone! This is all very helpful. And interesting! I would hate to add to the problem of the noise pollution on the lake. I can understand why the homeowners would not want to hear that from morning til night.

I think we may do one of the 30 min. rides. I like the $20 price tag a bit better! haha I think we'll play it by ear and see what the weather is doing on the day that I am thinking of doing this. If it's really nasty, we probably won't. However... hard to imagine Florida being nasty when I'm currently in snow covered Ohio!

Again, appreciate all of the info and I will report back on which one we use and my thoughts. THANKS!!

 

[o2bnoz]

Oh... and I would love to see an armadillo!!!!!!