Long before Walt Disney World, there was Gatorland. Through the monstrous aqua, gator-jaw doorway (a definite photo-op) lie thrills and chills in the form of thousands of alligators and crocodiles, swimming and basking in the Florida sun. In addition to the gators and crocs, there is a zoo that houses many other reptiles, mammals, and birds. A free train ride provides an overview of the park, and a three-story observation tower overlooks the breeding marsh, which is swamped with gator grunts, especially come sundown during mating season.

Don't miss the Gator "Jumparoo" Show, in which gators leap out of the water for their food. The best is the first one in the morning, when the gators are hungriest. There's also a Gator Wrestling Cracker-style Show, and though there's no doubt who's going to win the match, it's still fun to see the handlers take on those tough guys with the beady eyes.

In the educational Snakes of Florida Show, high drama is provided by the 30-40 rattlesnakes that fill the pit around the speaker. Don't look for scrupulous Disney-style cleanliness here, and the personnel aren't polished with pixie dust either. This is a real Florida experience, and you'll walk out those aqua gator jaws knowing the difference between a gator and a croc.

Opening Times
Open daily from 9:00am through till 6:00pm.

Tips for Guests
We recommend that guests plan a visit to Gatorland as a half day excursion - maybe with a nearby Disney Water park for the other half. The attraction is worth a visit, and is good value for money - but we don't feel it's a full day trip, and neither do Gatorland.