Gatorland

History

It’s 75 years since Owen Godwin opened his first roadside gator attraction for tourists coming down to Central Florida from the North. The good news is they’re still coming, and more than ever before.

The self-proclaimed ‘Alligator Capital of The World’, Gatorland is home to hundreds of Florida’s original residents (the long scaly kind!). Although some of the tourist kitch remains, the family-owned park has gotten very serious about conservation of these remarkable animals and their crocodile cousins.

Breeding programs are used with great success to ensure the reproduction of not only Florida’s alligators but also endangered species like the ferocious Cuban Crocodile. The focal point of the park is the Breeding Marsh, a natural Cypress swamp, where the main population of swamp dragons resides. A scenic wooden boardwalk gets you within snapping distance of these scaly sunbathers. Be sure to climb the observation tower for an excellent view of the park and surrounding area.

 

Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure

On the all-new Stompin’ Gator Off-Road Adventure Gatorland guests can now board one of three, 12-foot-high custom-made, off-road monster vehicles for a 15-minute rugged and hilarious adventure like no other theme park ride anywhere. This exciting ride is chocked full of wacky new Gatorland characters, singing tour guides, swampy adventure, and, of course, lots of alligators. Each vehicle is specially branded and named after iconic real alligators and crocodiles at Gatorland, including Bonecrusher, Cannibal Jake, and Swamp Ghost.

Screamin’ Gator Zip Line

Clip-in and zip off on an exciting outdoor adventure on the thrilling Screamin’ Gator Zip Line at Gatorland. Your journey will take you along 1,200 feet of high flying, heart-pounding adventure from some of the finest zip line towers in the world. Standing over seven stories tall, these amazing towers feature multilevel launch pads and breathtaking views from high above the treetops. Soar through the air over some of the park’s star attractions, including Cuban and Nile Crocodiles, before flying over the Alligator Breeding Marsh complete with 130 giant alligators below!

Croc Rock Adventure

The Croc Rock climbing wall is different from any other climbing activity in Florida due to its amazing replication of real rock.  Artists mimicked local sandstone, carved natural hand holds, and gave the structure an incredibly natural appearance. Guests ascend the 32-foot Croc Rock while hooked and secured into an auto belay safety system, then they will cross a 150ft swinging cable bridge, and finally, they’ll ride a 350ft zipline.

Capybara Encounter

The Capybara Encounter takes visitors to see Mochi, Boba, Chai, and Latte Gatorland’s resident Capybaras! Take part in this unique encounter at Flamingo Island where they swim, lay on the beach, and enjoy the company of waterfowl, turtles, and flamingos. The giant rodents are known for their friendly and social nature. Capybaras are the largest living rodents in the world! Native to South America, they tend to live in dense forests close to lakes, rivers, swamps, or other bodies of water. They are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to 5 minutes!

Adventure Hour

Venture into the Alligator Breeding Marsh for this behind-the-scenes tour you’ll never forget.This area is closed to the public except for those who take part in this daring trip into the swamp! Home to hundreds of alligators, you’ll have the opportunity to safely venture within a few feet of hungry, giant alligators and create a thrilling feeding frenzy. Then pose for the cameras in front of your dinner companions, and be glad you weren’t dinner.

Gator Night Shine

Your Gator Night Shine adventure takes you deep into the domain of Florida’s most famous reptile, the alligator! Armed with only a flashlight and a few hot dogs, you bravely make your way along the winding wooden walkways of Gatorland’s Alligator Breeding Marsh. The sounds of the night come alive around you as the rustle of feathers overhead and the splashing of water nearby signal that you are not alone Turning your flashlight towards the water, you suddenly become aware of hundreds of hungry, glowing, red eyes slowly making their way closer… it’s now your turn to experience the “Real Florida.”

Trainer For A Day

Shows & Encounters

Learn all about these majestic and amazing reptiles as one of Gatorland’s brave gator experts enters the Legends of The Swamp arena with live 6-8 foot alligators. They’ll demonstrate the amazing survival features of these incredible creatures! This educational exhibit is not to be missed!

By far the most unique show is the Jumparoo. Hungry gators leap for chicken appetizers encouraged by the cheers of a fascinated audience. Note that the feeder is chained to his podium to avoid becoming dessert!

Visit some extremely rare, giant white alligators at the White Gator Swamp, where you’ll see leucistic brothers Feros Zonbi, and Trezo Je. They’re two of only 12 leucistic alligators known to exist in the world today.  And don’t miss beautiful albino alligators, Cottontail, Moonshine and the YouTube sensation known as Pearl!

Panther Spring is where you can get up close with Neiko and Lucy, two stunning examples of this beautiful and endangered species.

Make sure you see Upclose Animal Encounters Show, featuring snakes, spiders and lots of toothy grins (that’s just the handlers)! Befriend fascinating creatures from around the globe, including some of the most interesting snakes alive!

 

Our Favorites

• Breeding Marsh – it’s very pretty in a ferocious kind of way!
• White Gators – freaky and fascinating!
• Up close Animal Encounters Show – as close as you want to get!
• Jumparoo Show – you can’t escape without seeing this!
• Gator Wrestling – getting to grips with some of the locals.
• Stompin Gator Off Road – rocking and a rolling!
• Screaming Gator Zipline – you have to do it!
• If you’re a keen birdwatcher, March through August a large nesting colony of egrets and herons are in residence as the gators protect the nests from raiding raccoons. You can get some great photos.
• Take 30 minutes and let your kids cool off over at Gator Gully, a gator free water playground.

Is it suitable for kids?

Yes Gatorland is perfect for kids and young children, with the attractions being child-friendly, and the enthusiastic staff always going the extra mile to make your visit special.

The park has an excellent rating at Minitime.com, which lets families review their experience of bringing kids to attractions.

Great family fun.

What is Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins Event?

This is the Halloween event located at Gatorland in October. The areas included the “Graveyard of the Darned”, have an encounter with Skunk Ape “the Florida Bigfoot” at the Cryptozoo, then grab your Lederhosen for Frank & Stein’s Ooky Kooky Octoberfest, featuring live music from an undead polka band as well as German beer and food for purchase!

What animals are located in the park?

The animals located at Gatorland are: Alligators, Crocodiles, Wild cats, birds, snakes, critters, and tortoises.

What is the White Alligator Swamp?

This is where Gatorland houses their leucistic and albino alligators (white looking alligators) in a filtered sunlight location because these breeds of alligators are very sensitive to sunlight.

Hotels Near to Gatorland, Florida

Here are the main hotels close to Gatorland:

The top-rated local hotels are:

1. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grand Lakes
2. Marriott’s Cypress Harbour
3. Embassy Suites by Hilton
4. Terra Verde Resort

FAQ’s on Gatorland

Here are answers to some common questions about the home of gators in Florida:

Where is Gatorland?

Gatorland is located in central Florida, just south of Orlando city. The full address is 14501 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32837, United States.

What is Gatorland?

The Aligator Capital of the World of course! It’s an attraction, adventure park, dedicated to alligators and crocodiles. It also contains other animal attractions, and helps you get up close and personal with dangerous animals like no other place on the planet.

How far is Gatorland from Disney World?

Gatorland is 12 miles from Walt Disney World Resort, which takes roughly 16 minutes by car.

How long does it take to visit Gatorland?

All in all you want to give yourself at least 3 hours to enjoy all that Gatorland has to offer, and 4 hours will be the perfect amount of time to make sure you do everything in the park.

What is an Alligator? Gator?

An alligator is a large reptile, part of the Crocodylia family. It has a wide, round snout and a black colour. The two main species are the American and Chinese alligator. The average weight of an alligator is 360 kg. The average length of an alligator is 4 m.

What is a Crocodile?

Crocodiles are large reptiles that live in tropical conditions around the world. There are currently 16 known species of crocodile on planet earth, located in the Americas, Africa, South America, Asia, and Australasia.

What is the difference between an Alligator and a Crocodile?

The main differences between Alligators and Crocodiles are the Snout Shape, the Teeth showing, and Habitat. Alligators have a wider, U-shaped snout, while crocodiles front ends are more of a V-shape. Crocodiles show their 4th tooth when they have their mouth closed (appearing to have a toothy grin) whereas Alligators cover their teeth. Crocodiles tend to live in saltwater locations, whereas Alligators prefer freshwater.

How far is Coco Key Hotel Orlando from Gatorland?

Coco Key Hotel and Water Resort is 11.7 miles from Gatorland, which takes approximately 22 minutes to drive.

What city is Gatorland Florida in?

Gatorland Florida is located just outside the city of Orlando.

How warm is it in Gatorland?

The temperature in Gatorland varies throughout the year, but you can see the varying graph on Google here.

How much is Gatorland admission?

The general admission to Gatorland costs around $30 / £23 for an adult and around $20 / £15 for a child. There are other options such as the Zip lin which may be more expensive.

When did Gatorland first open?

Gatorland first opened in 1949.

How far is Gatorland from Orlando?

Gatorland is roughly 31 miles from Orlando city centre, which takes approximately 32 minutes driving in a car.

How far is Gatorland from Florida Mall?

Gatorland is approximately 6.7 miles from The Florida Mall in Orlando, which takes roughly 19 minutes to drive in a car.

How far is Gatorland from Panama City Beach?

Gatorland is 375 miles from Panama City Beach, which takes approximately 5hrs 50 minutes to drive in a car.

What is the grunt package at Gatorland?

The Gatorland grunt package includes admission, alligator meet n’ greet, unlimited train rides, and the Gator Chow.

Which is better, Gatorland or Gator World?

The main difference is that GatorWorld is a drive-thru attraction (like a safari) whereas Gatorland is a full theme park.

How far is Gatorland from Daytona Beach?

Gatorland is 84 miles from Daytona Beach Florida, which takes roughly 1 hr 20 minutes in the car to drive there.