Alligator tours?

[Singinglizzie]

My sister wants to do an Alligator tour (not really my thing) but I have read about some air boat tours lasting 1/2 to 1 hour that might be fun to do? Any suggestions for us? I personally don't want to go to Gatorland (sounds like a zoo). We will be there in Sept. when it is HOT, so any advice on the best time of day to do the tour? Thanks.

 

[shocker]

Bump, I need advice too. We'll be there in June and will be traveling up to Jacksonville area, Orlando area, and Tampa/Sarasota area so all reviews would be helpful. Would prefer a 1 hour tour over a 1/2 tour but not sure we could afford it. There's too many choices and not enough discounts. Anybody, anybody out there?

 

[LindaBabe]

WILD WILLY! http://www.wildwillysairboattours.com/

Not far from Kissimmee on the edge of St. Cloud.

I'm a little old lady and felt perfectly safe and had an AMAZING experience.

A private 1 hour tour was about $60, The group tours are a little less per person.

 

[KIMZKIDZ]

Try Spirit of the Swamp airboats..

Fun...ALWAYS PRIVATE tours....about $35-45 child/adult pricing. Very fun and very awesome. Their website has a TON of info about their business...

www.spiritoftheswamp.com


We went last month and my kids LOVED it! If you look on the blog pages- I'm the mom with the kids that had the bass jump in the boat--pics are even there!

 

[smeecanada]

We're considering taking a tour. Anymore recent experiences?

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

If you just want to see Aligators, go to Gatorland!

http://www.gatorland.com/

its kind of fun. Reminds me of the old "side of the road" type of attractions!

 

[smeecanada]

If you just want to see Aligators, go to Gatorland!

http://www.gatorland.com/

its kind of fun. Reminds me of the old "side of the road" type of attractions!

Rather see them in their natural habitat - not performing thanks.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Rather see them in their natural habitat - not performing thanks.

well, they are in water.

and you know that the "swamp boat" tours have wranglers that make sure there are alligators there before a tour boat comes around, so the tourists are not disappointed..

 

[KIMZKIDZ]

The comment about alligator wranglers is absurd.. There's NO guarantee that you'll see a gator. I think the person who asked was inquiring about recent experiences....just look at various review sites- you'll get the answers you'll need..

We loved www.spiritoftheswamp.com Daily blog,, pics, etc..

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

The comment about alligator wranglers is absurd.. There's NO guarantee that you'll see a gator. I think the person who asked was inquiring about recent experiences....just look at various review sites- you'll get the answers you'll need..

We loved www.spiritoftheswamp.com Daily blog,, pics, etc..

AHHH nope, Watched a (animal planet?) (Discovery show?) several years ago about them and they have a crew that goes out to various "locations" and puts out food (chickens) so mr gator just happens to be in the area for the tourists to take snapshots of!

The gators associate the airboats with food. Don't fall overboard!!!

I remember several university naturalists were fighting to get the practice terminated, because it caused aligator deaths, but I think the tourist industry won, and no laws were passed.

 

[Swamp Girl]

Just wanted you to know that it's illegal to feed alligators in Florida. Feel free to check the Florida Fish and Wildlife website to confirm

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Really? so Gatorland is in violation of the law?

who knew!

and the poachers that track down and kill gators, the are also in violation!

but yet they still do it,

as do the tour operators that want the tourist bucks to see a real live gator in its natural habitat, as long as the ride in the boat is not more than an hour or so, and they can go fast so they wont get really hot and sweaty in the flordia swamp.

at least Gatorland is more honest, and they take care of their gators by feeding them.

NEW poster, welcome, interesting that your screen name and first post is on a thread that is very close to the subject, you do know that you are not allowed to create more than one screen name here, right?

 

[Swamp Girl]

Well, yes, it is illegal to feed gators in the wild.

Gatorland is an attraction, thus the gators are not in the wild. Alligator trappers apply for permits and are strictly regulated in their practices. Poaching gators is also illegal.

And yes, this is my second post. Just keepin' it real