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You had much better crowds at your MNSSHP. No line for anything but characters?! Sounds good to me!
Glad you enjoyed CMC. We're trying it in September.
ANd that pic of the boys on the gator does say it all!
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I think my parents took me here when I was really little because that wrestling thing look familiar. I am not a fan of alligators or crocodiles. I would never hurt them, but I don't want to go near them either, and forget about sitting on top of that thing...even if his mouth is taped shut. I give so much credit to the boys for being so brave.
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It seems like Gatorland was a lot of fun! David and I have thought about renting a car to drive over to see it. David wants to try the gator nuggets. I think it's twisted that they sell those in a park full of alligators.
Glad you had a great time at CMC and at Gatorland! Love the pics!
Thanks so far so good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Look how Evan is, sitting on a gator!! Love it! Friends of ours went there after our cruise (we got back on the ship & cruised again, so couldn't join them ). Their kids loved Gatorland.
If given the choice I'd take the cruise
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauriep
Wow, Evan will remember that--- sitting on a gator and holding its mouth!
I was so proud of him
Quote:
Originally Posted by mcc0313
Sorry about the rain but it sounds like you and Evan had a wonderful time anyway...glad that everyone made some sort of peace, hopefully that will make the rest of the trip easier.
It does - things get better as the days progress
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
Sounds like you had a great time at Gatorland!!! How cool that the boys got to sit on an alligator and have their picture taken!!
I was hoping hw would get his courage up.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
Nice time at Cape May and Gatorland! I love the picture of the boys on the back of the gator! Priceless!
I was nervous at first but they did great
Quote:
Originally Posted by OhToodles!
You had much better crowds at your MNSSHP. No line for anything but characters?! Sounds good to me!
Glad you enjoyed CMC. We're trying it in September.
ANd that pic of the boys on the gator does say it all!
You'll love CMC
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
What a fun time at Gatorland!
It was a really nice day
Quote:
Originally Posted by honeybee723
I think my parents took me here when I was really little because that wrestling thing look familiar. I am not a fan of alligators or crocodiles. I would never hurt them, but I don't want to go near them either, and forget about sitting on top of that thing...even if his mouth is taped shut. I give so much credit to the boys for being so brave.
Yea don't give him too much credit as in the next post he is scared of a little bird.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JKnott17
How the boys look on top of that gator! Glad they conquered their fears and gave it a try!
me too - made for a great picture
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jessie092408
It seems like Gatorland was a lot of fun! David and I have thought about renting a car to drive over to see it. David wants to try the gator nuggets. I think it's twisted that they sell those in a park full of alligators.
Never thought of that but it is twisted. It is a very nice diversion. If you are inclined to try it - I'd recommend it.
After the wrestling show there was time before the croc feeding show so we explored around a little. There is a place to explore the swamp. They have a boardwalk that allows the visitor to walk out into the swamp but not be actually in the water. I thought this was really cool. We have nothing like this around my house. Evan and Eric had never seen a swap so it was a learning experience. We walked a little bit, maybe ¼ mile on the boardwalk and then headed back. Along the trail there were trees that crossed over the walkway and you would have to duck around them. There were a few trees that had been uprooted during a hurricane and you could see the root ball half in the ground, half out. Wandering around we saw a snake sunning himself too. It really was something special to just let the kids be curious and see something new.
After the swamp walk we checked out some of the other areas. I had brought a snack with us so we got the boys a drink and had some goldfish crackers. There were lots of areas to explore many which we just didn’t get to. We did however want to see the alligator feeding show which was coming up so we headed back that way.
The ripple in the water is another gator swimming over and there was on right behind the outcrop of the bush in the water but you can't see that one in the photo
After a bathroom break we found a spot. It wasn’t the best viewing area. Everyone had to stand around a giant pit. We managed to get the boys up against the glass but the hand rail was petty much in Evan’s line of vision so he balanced against the railing with his feet and I held him up as he leaned against me, hence no real pictures of the show. It was the same 2 guys who did the wrestling show and now they were like 2 country bumpkins who were feeding the gators. I got a few pictures after the show of the gators which were right in front of us but they must not have been hungry as the gators eating were out in the water.
After the feeding show they were going to feed the giant tortoises and you could view that. We walked over and the keeper was talking about the turtles and then you could go into the pen to feed them. We bought the boys a stick of food (raw fruits and veggies). As we were heading in the guy saw Evan’s birthday pin and gave him a second skewer of food – score another one for the birthday button.
In this area is the kids play area and water zone. None of the water things were running as that is only seasonal but the kids had fun on the playground. It was a little muddy from the rain last night and we didn’t want them to get too dirty (they are boys, dirt comes standard after all ). We decided to go ride the little train that circles round/thru the park and then some silly photos.
We were thinking of heading out now but realized we still had passes to feed the alligators. I really wanted to stay for the reptile show but the next one wasn’t for a few more hours and I doubted we would be there that much longer. We could have as there was still plenty to see and do but we wanted to also have a swim and rest at the hotel as well.
We got our alligator food – 4 raw hotdogs each. Oh yum. And was told we could go anywhere and feed any of the alligators. Of course we went to the closest spot. There was a mish-mash pile of gators in the water and all around were birds – big birds like storks or something
I don’t know birds very well. And there were signs about to be careful of the birds – they steal. I broke a hot dog into 3 or 4 pieces to make it last longer and Evan began to toss the pieces to the gators. It was hard for him because there was a deck with railing and wire fencing so he had to throw the pieces up over the railing. I picked him up so he could throw some more pieces. Then put him down to break up another hot dog. I placed the last hot dog on the railing next to me about 3 inches from my hand. I saw a bird there and thought “he won’t try to eat this, I’m right here!!” Wrong! That little SOB took the hot dog and just stood there with it hanging out of his mouth ~ mocking me! I was like Hey! Give that back! Honestly he was so close I almost grabbed at it like it was my dog at home. Then I thought I had better not get into a fight with a bird over a hot dog overtop of an alligator pit. It really wasn’t that important. I think Evan got a bigger kick out of the bird stealing the food than he did actually feeding the alligators, at least he wasn’t upset.
We started to make our way to the exit and scooted into a small aviary. It was this room that had skeen-teen little birds in there – again not a bird person but I want to say finches. And they were flying all over and you could feed them and they would land on you. We go in and start to walk around and I feel something on my shoulder I look over to see what it was and it was a bird. DUH! I don’t know what I was thinking but it startled me. Then I had to laugh at myself, what an idiot. We bought each of the boys a stick of food - peanut butter rolled in bird seed. Evan dropped his on the ground when the first bird landed on him and that was it, he was done. He did NOT like it in there. So I took him out and waited for Mom and Eric.
In that area are a few small viewing tanks with various reptiles on display. Evan wanted to see a rattlesnake so we located a tank and we talked about what the rattle sounds like. A British couple was looking at some of the displays as well and trying to get a nice photograph of the snake. Evan is yapping away at them telling them about the rattle. They were very nice to him and I told him to back up. He asked why. I told him because they are trying to take a picture and didn’t need his big head in the photo. With that he jumps in front of the snake with a big grin on his face. The couple started laughing and actually took a photo of him with the snake. I thought about Cheryl and Mark and all the wonderful photos they take on their trips and how funny it would be to see Evan’s smiling face in there. After that I shushed him away so they could get a nice picture.
Now it really was time to leave. We headed out through the gift shop and we let the boys make a purchase. I bought Evan a t-shirt which he is wearing today as it is so nice outside (feels like May not March). I wanted to look for a video too but they didn’t have any.
My overall impression of Gatorland was really, really nice. It was the perfect down day. It was quiet and small but still educational and entertaining. I wouldn’t go there if someone doesn’t like reptiles (alligators, crocodiles, snakes, turtles) because that is really all there is. However if you are looking for a slower pace and not spend a ton of money (WAY cheaper that Sea World or US/IOA) I highly recommend the park. There are gators all over the place – Evan couldn’t get enough of them. Here is there web site Welcome to Gatorland, the Alligator Capital of the World and Orlando's Best Half Day Attraction!
As we left Gatorland we were all hungry. We hadn’t passed too much on the way there. We pulled into a supermarket. Tomorrow was Bryson’s birthday and we were going to pick up a cake for him. We decided to order a few sandwiches for lunch and the boys got chicken strips with mac and cheese and we ate in the car. Not the most glamorous but it was just as good as McDonald’s.
Then it was back to the hotel for the afternoon rest and swim.
Coming Up Next
“Chalk another on up to the Birthday Button”
This is a great update, Holly! Really made me want to visit Gatorland and had me at several points also! Your description of the bird taking the food and you considering taking the food back-- hilarious! I'm a big fan of tortoises and would love that section.
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I would never hurt them, but I don't want to go near them either, and forget about sitting on top of that thing...even if his mouth is taped shut. 
I give so much credit to the boys for being so brave. 
the boys look on top of that gator! Glad they conquered their fears and gave it a try!
I think it's twisted that they sell those in a park full of alligators. 
Holly: 
There is a place to explore the swamp. They have a boardwalk that allows the visitor to walk out into the swamp but not be actually in the water. I thought this was really cool. We have nothing like this around my house.
Everyone had to stand around a giant pit. We managed to get the boys up against the glass but the hand rail was petty much in Evan’s line of vision so he balanced against the railing with his feet and I held him up as he leaned against me, hence no real pictures of the show. It was the same 2 guys who did the wrestling show and now they were like 2 country bumpkins who were feeding the gators. I got a few pictures after the show of the gators which were right in front of us but they must not have been hungry as the gators eating were out in the water.
Honestly he was so close I almost grabbed at it like it was my dog at home. Then I thought I had better not get into a fight with a bird over a hot dog overtop of an alligator pit. It really wasn’t that important. I think Evan got a bigger kick out of the bird stealing the food than he did actually feeding the alligators, at least he wasn’t upset.
Then I had to laugh at myself, what an idiot
. We bought each of the boys a stick of food - peanut butter rolled in bird seed. Evan dropped his on the ground when the first bird landed on him and that was it, he was done. 
He did NOT like it in there. So I took him out and waited for Mom and Eric.
I thought about Cheryl and Mark and all the wonderful photos they take on their trips and how funny it would be to see Evan’s smiling face in there. After that I shushed him away so they could get a nice picture.
). I wanted to look for a video too but they didn’t have any.
. I wouldn’t go there if someone doesn’t like reptiles 
(alligators, crocodiles, snakes, turtles) because that is really all there is. However if you are looking for a slower pace and not spend a ton of money (WAY cheaper that Sea World or US/IOA) I highly recommend the park
and we were going to pick up a cake for him. We decided to order a few sandwiches for lunch and the boys got chicken strips with mac and cheese and we ate in the car. Not the most glamorous but it was just as good as McDonald’s.
at several points also! Your description of the bird taking the food and you considering taking the food back-- hilarious! I'm a big fan of tortoises and would love that section.
bird! Birds scare me. I hated the avairy at the old Discovery Island At WDW. Got pooped on twice in there...
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