How is Cypress Gardens?!!

[Debs Hill]

Would love to hear from anyone who has been to Cypress Gardens since it has it's rehab..........I have never been and so have nothing to compare it to! What rides/attractions are there? Would there be enough to interest a 5 yr old as well as mum and dad?
Please help!
Debsxx

 

[Pigletlover]

My husband and I went in December and loved it. Much bigger and better than it used to be. There is plenty of stuff for all ages.

They now have a huge area with LOTS of rides, including an area with many rides designed just for small children. A cute train ride for all ages too. There is also a water park beside the rides area, but I think that has a separate admission price.

They have a water ski show, ice skating show, bird show, reptile show, pirate comedy show, and more. Some days they have a beautiful "living statue" woman who turns into a fountain, complete with music. Her show was called "The Living Garden".

There is a zoo area with animals, and also a boardwalk by the lake where you can see even more animal enclosures. I think there was a petting zoo area too. The walk-through aviary and the butterfly house are lovely. You can feed lorikeets cups of nectar. They have heaps of beautiful butterflies to see up-close.

The botanical garden area was a little rundown after the hurricanes, but still nice. It closes earlier than the rest of the park, so check with an employee and don't leave it too late if you want to walk through it. I think the zoo area with the animals and the butterfly house close earlier too, so make sure you check what time.

There are also formal plantation gardens near the butterfly house, and another area with several wonderfully designed huge animal topiaries. Very cute!!

You can take a ride up the sky tower for a nice view of the park and surrounding area, and they also have boat rides on the lake.

It takes about 45 - 60 minutes to drive from Orlando. We rented a car because it was much cheaper than paying one of those tour companies to take you for the day.

We actually went there twice because they were offering a second day free. You can check their hours on the website. We found we needed more time to see everything than we originally thought, so if you only have one day then make sure you pick a day with long hours just to be on the safe side.

http://cypressgardens.com/welcome.asp

The site has a map to give you an idea of how big the park is now.

 

[jlovesee]

I absolutly agree about Cypress Gardens, its a wonderful "little" park, a lot of guests refer to the rides section as "carnival-like" and while the rides are not disney-themed they are very well kept, the area is just beautifully landscaped and the ride selection is plentiful and perfect for the age group you mentioned.

What has really earned CG brownie points with me is that they are moving the Starliner from the now-defunct Miracle Strip amusement park in Panama City (a moment of silence please.... such a waste of a wonderful little amusement park ) to Cypress Gardens the track is there now, and from what I've heard ground breaking is scheduled for this summer sometime.

They currently have several wonderful family rides, there roller coaster collection includes:
Triple Hurricane (named after the 3 hurricanes that hit the area a year ago), a small wooden coaster, like what you would have found at a classic amusement park years ago, but a little smaller, and it is brand new, height requirement is 36"

Swamp Thing
Steel inverted coaster by Vekoma (same company that made Expedition Everest/Rockin Roller Coaster) you hang below the track, might be a little large for the five year old, but it is a family-style coaster, no loops, no big drops, but it is ROUGH, think like Rockin Roller Coaster. Height requirement 44"

Okeechobee Rampage
Another Vekoma ride, but this one is smaller, and you ride in traditional style cars, this is almost exactly like Goofy's Barnstormer, its the same type of ride.
but I think this is a little smaller, and being that it is newer and it is smoother and has more comfortable restraints (a lap bar). Height requirement is 36"

Fiesta Express
The most tame of Cypress Garden's Coasters, this is a small train-like ride that slowely meanders down a zig-zag track, nothing fast or scary about it, but as it does work only on gravity that classifies it as a roller coaster. Height requirement is 36"

Galaxy Spin
Cypress Garden's newest operating coaster, its very similar to the spinning coaster at Animal Kingdom that's name has escaped me at this moment. Spinning 4 seat cars travel around a quick, speedy course with tight turns and small drops. Height requirement is 42"

In order of thrill level: (from mild to the most thrilling)
Fiesta Express
Okechobee Rampage
Triple Hurricane
Swamp Thing
Galaxy Spin
(when Starliner is added it should have a height requirement of 48" and it will be the most thrilling of all of Cypress Garden's coasters, but its still classified as a family-style coaster as its main drop is 80 feet I believe, very much like Blue Streak at Cedar Point if you have rode it, but much MUCH better)

I would also take a ride on Rockin' Tug this ride was only first introduced I think 2 years ago PERIOD (meaning never been at any amusement park before that point) and its really very fun, even for adults, but its not really scary. Fire Brigade is another NEW ride, introduced only a few years ago that looks like a lot of fun (kids only). Tons of other family/kids rides. Very good atmosphere.

As the above poster mentioned the animal attractions are worth a look, but definitly DEFINITLY walk through the bontanical gardens all the way (just past the ski show), they are an 800 year old banyan tree there, which is just AMAZING.

Jennifer