The first thing that pops into most peoples’ heads when they think of Orlando attractions is the big three: Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. However, one of our tasks as “The Orlando Duo” is to shed some light on Orlando’s other attractions. Topping the list of these hidden gems is Gatorland. Living in Orlando since 1949, Gatorland Orlando is the alligator capital of the world and a whole lot of fun.

What is Gatorland Orlando?

Gatorland is a unique attraction in Central Florida because it is a family-run business and wildlife preserve that is actually Orlando’s first theme park, beating Disney by over 20 years! It’s half theme park, half zoo, and all silly. 

The silliness is our favorite part about Gatorland and a big part of its charm. The best way to describe it is that Gatorland knows exactly what it is. There are plenty of “we’re not Disney” jokes, lots of silly humor and prevalent attitude of being the scrappy little guy. Almost every bit of signage and piece of information is presented with a twinge of country-bumpkin humor. 

Starting Your Day at Gatorland

A trip to Gatorland Orlando is super reasonable and affordable, and that starts with parking. Unlike a lot of the local activities, parking at Gatorland is completely free. Pavement parking is a bit limited, so if you’re going to visit the park, plan on getting there early.

The affordability doesn’t stop there! Admission to Gatorland Orlando is one of the cheapest you’ll find in the city; and if you are a Florida resident, you can usually get half-priced admission to boot. There isn’t any formal restaurant at the park, but you’ll find typical theme park food at Gatorland’s food stands and even the food is cheaper than your average meal at the Big Three.

The Animals

The real stars of the show at Gatorland Orlando are, of course, the gators. There are tons of gators on the park grounds in a variety of different environments. Some have their own pens, but most are just swimming around various ponds. There are a few different walking paths to follow on raised boardwalks and you never know when there’ll be a gator underneath you. It can be a lot of fun trying to spot some loner gators by themselves in the marshes. Be sure to purchase one of the park’s hot dog bundles so you can feed the gators yourself!

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Aside from gators, you’ll also see tortoises, flamingos, wild birds, parrots, crocodiles, Florida panthers and more!

But the animals aren’t all you can experience at Gatorland. 

The Shows

Gatorland Orlando’s shows are where you can really see their employees’ expertise and love for these animals. Each show is overflowing with the park’s signature silly fun and is a can’t-miss part of your day. After each of the shows, there is an opportunity to participate in a separate activity for an upcharge. They all involve some sort of photo opportunity. You can pay for them in advance as part of a package or you can pay for each individually (with cash).

Gator Jumparoo Show

One of the most fun shows at Gatorland is the Gator Jumparoo Show. As the name suggests, it’s all about watching gators jump out of the water. 

This show shows off the charm and humor of Gatorland as two contestants – Bubba and Cooter – “compete” for a job at Gatorland. Hijinks ensue and it’s really just two guys having fun and throwing frozen chickens to gators.

This show can get pretty crowded, so it’s not a bad idea to try and get a spot at least 15 minutes ahead of time. If you have little ones or if someone in your party is in a wheelchair or scooter, they have a designated spot for viewing. There are two sections with large windows that allow for easy viewing. Both sections have a large yellow box painted on the ground.

Up Close Encounter

This show gives you an up-close look to some exotic creatures like snakes and spiders. There are about three different creatures featured during each show. They do take volunteers from the audience, so there’s a good opportunity you could be called up to assist in the show. 

Alligators: Legends of the Swamp

This show is also known as the gator wrestling show and although you don’t see a lot of gator wrestling, you do get an opportunity to understand a bit more about how to wrangle an alligator.

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The “gator wrestling” is really just an opportunity to educate the audience on gators. After picking a gator, the host will talk about a gator’s diet and do cool things like show off the gator’s mouth and teeth and do some pretty daring stunts! The photo opportunity at the end is especially cool because you get to sit on the back of a real, live gator!

Food

There are a few places to grab a bite to eat at Gatorland, with the biggest area being Pearl’s Smokehouse. The restaurant is pretty reasonably priced and offers a lot of no-frills family favorites like hamburgers, hot dogs and even fried gator nuggets.

This is one of our favorites because there is a ton of seating. There’s a separate section of picnic tables across the pathway right by the emus.

There are also a few other stands where you can buy soft drinks, chips, ice cream and even beer. If you skip out on breakfast, the snack bar has you covered with breakfast burritos and sandwiches until 11 a.m.

A tip? Buy the souvenir cup. Refills are super reasonable and it’s a great option if you plan on being there a while or if it’s really hot. Another plus is you can use the cup on repeat visits!

Gatorland’s Extra Attractions

Not content with just being a destination for gator watching and education? Gatorland Orlando ups the ante with some original attractions.

Ziplines

This is one of the activities we haven’t done yet and we want to do it the most! There are about five lines and a swinging bridge and the entire experience lasts about two hours. Walking around the park you can always look up and see guests above you ziplining over the gators. One of the longest ziplines takes you over the breeding marsh – home to more than 130 gators!

Gatorland also features an accessible zipline! Accessibility is really important to us, so we’re always really excited when we can see inclusivity in our area’s attractions.

Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure

The newest experience at Gatorland, the Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure puts you on the back of a monster truck for a tour of a part of the park off-limits to other guests. Since you’re offroading, you can expect mud puddles and hills and a lot of Gatorland fun and humor along the way.

The Train

Like most theme parks, Gatorland Orlando has its own train. This is a separately ticketed ride that takes you around the park and provides a little information and entertainment along the way. While on the train you’ll be able to spot gators, birds and…bigfoot?

Gator Night Shine

This nighttime guided tour takes guests through the wooden walkways of the breeding marsh armed with a flashlight and gator food. 

Photographers Pass

If you love nature photography and are looking for a fun, new place to shoot you may want to try Gatorland Orlando. There are a few different packages available, but basically, they allow you early entry to the park or access after the park closes.

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The boardwalk features a sanctuary for birds. About 20 species of birds, many of which are on the endangered species list, can enjoy a large area of protected space.   

The Verdict?

Gatorland is hands down one of our favorite attractions in Central Florida. It doesn’t take itself seriously and you can really learn a lot about gators and Florida’s natural history. The park is extremely affordable, a lot of fun and a great way to spend a day doing something a little different. It’s also a really great rainy day activity because even though it’s an outdoor park, 75% of it is located undercover. 

You should definitely visit Gatorland, or as the park might say, “If yer lookin’ for a good time where you can see some critters, git some grub and hang out with some of them there gators, git on down to Gatorland right quick!”