Gatorland

[leanan]

I had not been to Gatorland since I was 8 years old. Lets just say that was a long time ago. Well I went today because my brother and his wife wanted to take their son. The gator wrestling looked like the gators had been drugged. No self respecting gator lets you grab it by its tail. It was just too docile.

Gatorland is still the same hoakie little pit stop it was all those years ago. If you really want to see a gator up close then go. I promise you that this is not the way the wild gators in my town behave.

Also one note to disabled visitors they own one ECV for rental and today it was out. Do not count on being able to rent an EVC if you attend.

 

[Amity 3]

I had not been to Gatorland since I was 8 years old. Lets just say that was a long time ago. Well I went today because my brother and his wife wanted to take their son. The gator wrestling looked like the gators had been drugged. No self respecting gator lets you grab it by its tail. It was just too docile.

Gatorland is still the same hoakie little pit stop it was all those years ago. If you really want to see a gator up close then go. I promise you that this is not the way the wild gators in my town behave.

Also one note to disabled visitors they own one ECV for rental and today it was out. Do not count on being able to rent an EVC if you attend.

if you were fed chicken on a schedule, you wouldn't put up much of a fight either.

post your favorite areas to see wild alligators.

 

[leanan]

My front yard. Hahha. Yeah I live in the middle of three lakes that are right on top of one another. My front yard is actually part of the migratory path of the gators in my town. For the tourists I think I would recomend the green swamp. Admitedly I have not been down there in about 12 or more years.

The gator today was too docile for even the regular chicken diet. I am not sure what was up with it if not drugs. My Akita is snappier than that gator was. I know that almost all of those gators were bred at Gatorland. I know they are used to the handlers and all. It still baffles me. Way docile for a gator. I hate for the tourists to think that is how gators really behave.

The ones on my street kind of run when they see you comming. I happen to have a nice privacy fence that I can hide behind to watch them. If they stay in my yard too long I give Animal Control a heads up. We rarely need to do that. They want very little to do with humans. My dad had the same experience when he worked out in an area with a lot of swamps.

 

[CarolA]

To me the whole idea of Gatorland is bad. These are wild animals not "pets" and Gatroland strikes me as not exactly a MODEL of conservation efforts. SeaWorld and AK do a good job on the balance between enteraintment and animal conservation. Gatroland strikes me as one step from cruelty... I mean
"wrestling" a gator...

Sorry, but the best thing would be for that tourist trap to go out of business IMHO. (I am doing my part, I don't plan to ever spend any money there)

 

[leanan]

It gets worse than that. The local petshop in my town was actually selling baby gators for people to buy and export out. In Florida you need a special liscence to keep them as "pets". I think the $99 price tag was too cheap to not attract stupid tourist's attention.

As far as Gatorland goes, it should have perished by now. The main building burnt down a few years ago. A lot of other old florida attractions have perished. Ones that should not have perished. Cypress Gardens has been in trouble time and again. Weiki Watchi is another one. Both wonderful traditional predisney parks. Not to mention Busch Gardens and Seaworld are both so desperate they offer free entrance to military personel supposively and offer $65 annual passes to residents.

 

[DaddyDon]

Let me tell you in south Ga we give heed to the gators,Down here we dont play with them,we have lot's of respect for a creature thats been around for a thousand or so years!But there are some from around here that think its cool to catch rattle snakes....not me!

 

[Mari annie]

We went there years ago,it was pathetic then. Over 12 years ago, just driving by the place is pathetic, that whole area! The shop owners, the motels, seems like since the last big Hurricane there a few years back, that place is not so good!

We decided to try another Gator place last year in St Augustine, that was better than Gatorland, but not worth the price of admission.

I have high expectations.
Another place stay clear away from in St Augustine is MarineWorld.
Cheap admission, but you see nothing..........3 dolphins swimming around..........then the show is watching people spend almost 100.00 a piece to swim with the dolphins, we left.......then the path to exit takes you right through the gift shop and the big sign as you first open the door is
"All sales Final, no refunds"............gee I wonder why?!
I was in the Travel industry for over 12 years, my expectations for money is very high, and when I pay for something is very run down or hokey, I'll call them on it!

May all your adventures be good ones!!

Happy Trips to all!

4/10 FL bound!!!

 

[zenkatt]

I had not been to Gatorland since I was 8 years old. Lets just say that was a long time ago. Well I went today because my brother and his wife wanted to take their son. The gator wrestling looked like the gators had been drugged. No self respecting gator lets you grab it by its tail. It was just too docile.

Last time i was at gatorland i saw 2 gators smoking dope in the parking lot...that explains it and their lack of self respect!!!

 

[TupperMom]

My Mom and I visited Gatorland back in 1979 before they made all the "improvements". We road on a very rickity little train through the gator encampments. The gators were growling and grunting at each other and we were scared that the train was going to plunge off the track and we'd be their lunch! It was a true gator encounter and we were impressed as this was the first time either of us had even seen an alligator live.