GATORLAND: Florida's Wildest Theme Park

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  • Опубликовано: 19 апр 2022
  • When you think of Florida theme parks, you're most likely to first think of Disney and Universal. Perhaps even SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Legoland may come to mind. Yet, people often overlook Gatorland, a themed zoological exhibit that offers a variety of experiences off of the beaten path. Today, I'd like to cover the history of the park, as well as providing an overview and addressing concerns about the ethics of running zoological exhibits for profit.
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Комментарии • 307

  • @StrawberryCelebi
    @StrawberryCelebi 2 года назад +472

    As a Florida native- gators are really just giant stoners. If they’re well taken care of and the handler is aware of their stress level and safety precautions are taken, the gator does not care at all if you’re sitting on it. I don’t agree with forcing it out of the water though, that seemed a bit unnecessary. The gators jumping for chicken honestly seemed like a fun enrichment exercise, as it encourages natural behavior. Gators (mostly younger ones) also often like to lie all over each other in the wild, so no problem there. HOWEVER, old humor aside, my main issue is unnecessary breeding. Gators are no longer endangered, and are considered pests by many neighborhoods. Plenty of gators every year have to be removed and euthanized because tourists start feeding them. The gators living in the pond behind my house are super chill and never bother anyone, but these tourists keep renting houses here and throwing them marshmallows, meditating by the water edge and walking their small dogs without a leash… just asking for trouble. No one seems to understand that ANY body of water deep enough for a gator to be submerged can absolutely have a gator in it. Danger signs are literally assumed to be jokes! The gators that have lived here for years may have to be euthanized because of their negligence. Some of the small ones are adopted by local attractions like mini golf courses. But the adults are often euthanized as their relationship to humans is far too dangerous for them to be rereleased. Misinformation and a lack of public knowledge about gators is what leads to tragedies like what happened at the Grand Floridian a few years ago.
    TLDR, I wish Gatorland focused more on taking in gators that have been removed from local communities and explaining to tourists why unhealthy interaction is death sentence for the gator in most cases, rather than just breeding more. I’m sure they must take in some, but really breeding is totally unnecessary unless they just want cute baby gators for tourists to hold… Meanwhile my local gator mama’s latest babies had to be removed and likely euthanized because some Canadian family started feeding them. :(

    • @nox5555
      @nox5555 2 года назад +4

      you sure they arent breeding them to make food out of them?

    • @StrawberryCelebi
      @StrawberryCelebi 2 года назад +19

      @@nox5555 You make a good point; there’s definitely a chance of that happening. however, I feel like purpose built gator farms are more reliable and efficient (not to mention cleaner) sources of gator meat.

    • @nox5555
      @nox5555 2 года назад +2

      @@StrawberryCelebi well having some contact to animals you eat is very important for children(and Adults).

    • @StrawberryCelebi
      @StrawberryCelebi 2 года назад +19

      ​@@nox5555 Oh I totally agree! Only thing is gator meat is really only used as a tourist attraction here in Florida. No one actually eats it on the reg that I know of. Gatorland sells meat and hides in its gift shop, but they don’t harvest their own gators. And I doubt a campy place like Gatorland has the ability to explain animal harvesting in a mature way anyway. Best stick to 4H fairs for that sorta thing.

    • @rrsaga
      @rrsaga 2 года назад +22

      Hey, I’m a native too, totally agree. They’re almost overpopulated but at least if they are hunted you have to use every piece of the gator. Wonder if the handbag will come back in style, jk. Still a problem due to all the swampland being renovated for houses. Who’s overpopulated who?

  • @MrReverbdeluxe
    @MrReverbdeluxe Год назад +8

    My dad was born in '52 and lived in southern Florida during his early childhood. As a kid, he would always tell me about Gatorland and how before Disney World was built it was one of the most popular attractions around. On our one and only family trip to Disney World in the mid 90's, my dad made sure to set a day aside just to take me to Gatorland. Maybe it's because I've always been interested in animals and nature, but I am one hundred percent not joking when I say that my fondest memories of that trip are from our day at Gatorland. A billion dollar amusement park right up the road, and Gatorland was what made the biggest impression on my 10 year old brain.
    The nostalgia for it was so strong that when my fiance's family invited me to go on a trip with them to Disney World, I jokingly said only on the condition that we go to Gatorland. We did, and it was just as awesome as I remember it being. Thanks for the video and triggering my nostalgia!

  • @mrWendybird
    @mrWendybird 2 года назад +225

    Having visited Gatorland a few times in my life, I will say that is a pleasant enough place to visit, and its focus on edutainment and wildlife conservation is indeed commendable. Then again this was the first place I ever tried grilled gator. As tasty as it is, I always thought serving gator at a place called GATORland was rather... unsettling? .3.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +46

      I thought it was a bit odd as well. To speak about the conservation of alligators and then to serve them...
      I don't think it's an ethical issue, but it is a bit off-putting.

    • @dominantwolf4593
      @dominantwolf4593 Год назад +10

      @@PoseidonEntertainment conservation is the matter of maintain the wildlife, nurturing its growth and harvesting an appropriate amount to ensure healthy growth without overpopulation. Preservation would be to be hands off and allow overpopulation of the species. Serving gator at the park feels to be a natural extension of its conservation activities, especially from a hunting background.
      As for the gator wrestling, if you listen to old Steve Irwin interviews and current stuff out of his families zoo, handling crocs and gators like in the show, while stressing to the animal won’t cause it undo burden or harm. They are extremely tough and muscled creatures and take far greater abuse when they are in their natural envoriment from other gators

    • @curlypuff
      @curlypuff Год назад +8

      @@dominantwolf4593 some people care about causing unnecessary stress to animals for a few seconds of entertainment

    • @dominantwolf4593
      @dominantwolf4593 Год назад +3

      @@curlypuff hug a tree hippie

    • @curlypuff
      @curlypuff Год назад +2

      @@dominantwolf4593 yes daddy

  • @thisisbpayne
    @thisisbpayne 2 года назад +116

    I drive by Gatorland almost every day for work and I’ve never been. You swayed me to take a Saturday off and go check out something that’s literally 5 miles from my house

    • @v6stang
      @v6stang 11 месяцев назад +1

      Did you end up going it was on my list to do during my vacation last month and it was amazing i enjoyed it 🇨🇦

  • @littlemisstfc
    @littlemisstfc 2 года назад +115

    Been at this park in January 2020 before the world went into chaos. It’s perhaps one of the most Florida things in existence lol.
    My favorite part was going to the bird feeding exhibit (the birds are just so cute) and seeing the alligators themselves.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +8

      The parakeets? I thought about going in there but the line was quite long.

    • @littlemisstfc
      @littlemisstfc Год назад +4

      @@PoseidonEntertainment it was a short line when I went. It’s fun seeing them walk on your arm and feeding them.

  • @christianbontempo8859
    @christianbontempo8859 2 года назад +33

    You should talk about more zoos and aquariums on your channel. Since zoos and aquariums do a lot for conservation. Florida might just be the best state for Zoo fans too, since a lot of great animal attractions are found in Florida.

  • @femmefuntime
    @femmefuntime Год назад +3

    I remember gabriel iglesias taking about this place “I don’t speak spanish, but you’re gonna love this park”

  • @Jay-hh8ld
    @Jay-hh8ld 2 года назад +90

    Since you just Uploaded ,let me tell you that your Videos are top notch, it's clearly visible much effort you put into your research. Greetings from Germany

  • @PoseidonXIII
    @PoseidonXIII 2 года назад +27

    I like the park's attempt at mixing education with thrill seeking. It's a great way to appeal to the general public while then sparking interest in preservation efforts. Tough to balance those two factors, but commendable when done right.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +5

      I think that it's the right direction to take the park to keep it relevant and appealing among its competition. I was surprised by how many people from the UK were there when I went. I didn't think it could really reach anyone beyond locals, but it seems to have been successful.

    • @PoseidonXIII
      @PoseidonXIII 2 года назад +3

      @@PoseidonEntertainment really? That's interesting. Guess for international visitors it's a chance to get up close with an animal they never get to see otherwise.

  • @thepokeybird
    @thepokeybird 2 года назад +13

    6:15 Anyone else find this clip absolutely hilarious? I just like how the gator got startled over another diving into the water. The chain reaction just makes it funnier

  • @june_c4970
    @june_c4970 2 года назад +49

    I think this is really well done!!! Touching on animals in captivity can be a hard subject to cover. Very informative and respectful 💚

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +5

      Thanks, I appreciate the feedback. I was unsure of how to address it (especially since I'm no authority on animal care).

  • @allenhiu8205
    @allenhiu8205 2 года назад +34

    I’ve been to Gatorland a few times in my life and although ive only stayed to watch the jumparoo show once or twice, i know that jumping out of the water is something they naturally do in the wild to catch a bird perch on a branch above the water. I think that the jumparoo show can be enriching for the gators who feel like they need the exercise and also may just find it fun?
    I’ve never been a fan of gator wrestling though, even if the gator isn’t actually harmed. It just seems distasteful to harass em in that way!
    All in all I think it’s a great place to see gators being gators, which is usually just floating in the water or sunbathing. It’s a much safer alternative than if you tried to feed a wild gator, which like many people have commented, is illegal and will result in negative outcomes for both parties.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +11

      I never really thought of it in terms as allowing tourists to see gators in a controlled setting as opposed to just feeding them. That being said, I did encounter a group of trashy people teasing a racoon with food in the Swamp Walk.

  • @raphaelmarquez9650
    @raphaelmarquez9650 2 года назад +18

    Crocodilians are pretty chill so long as you respect their boundaries and don't feed them with your hands. Even a capybara isn't afraid of being near one in the wild.
    I think retiring certain methods that are proven to be stressful to these animals would be a good call to keep them healthier.

  • @SuperGodzillaFanJustin
    @SuperGodzillaFanJustin 2 года назад +9

    I cant belive you actually talked about this... I love this place and Im glad somebody else at least knows about it

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +3

      I wanted to do something a bit different. Disney and Universal bring in the views, but I like to add variety to the channel.

  • @zacg_
    @zacg_ 2 года назад +14

    I love Gatorland. It's a really fun and interesting park that does what it does well. I get that it's not for everyone but I enjoy it.

  • @tomr1630
    @tomr1630 2 года назад +7

    As a Floridian, I have no problem with parks like Gatorland. It brings the real Florida experience to locals and visitors alike.

  • @gabriellecomanda7497
    @gabriellecomanda7497 2 года назад +3

    I went here as a little kid! I remember the Gatorland Jumparoo, the gator wrestling show, and feeding the birds; my brother and I loved this place! I was so excited to see you covering this lesser known theme park; I’d love to see more videos about smaller theme parks and attractions in Florida!

  • @Ashpari
    @Ashpari Год назад +2

    When I went to Gatorland my experience was very humble.
    The one thing that I remember the most in the pit where you can take pictures with an alligator the host and the trainers often switched alligators when they noticed that the animal may be heading down the road of being stressed.
    They also mentioned this to the crowd and they were very verbal about the fact that this is something they do for their visitors so they can have a truly magical experience with a wild animal but they do let the crowd know that it is a stressful situation to the alligator regardless and they on some occasion have refused got attraction because the animals seem too stressed out with the number of people.
    Also a lot of the funding that they receive from the crowd goes to preserve the animals.
    It is true that Gatorland is not perfect but they do try and they do care about these animals.
    I happen to talk to one of the trainers and she said she loves these animals and she doesn't do it for the paycheck she does it because she loves these animals with all her heart.
    She also noted that they name all their alligators and most trainers have been there a long time know every single alligator by name specifically.
    So in conclusion they do take care of their animals and they do try they're very best to take care of these animals.

  • @TedsCoasterChannel
    @TedsCoasterChannel 2 года назад +2

    I can’t get that Fluffy stand up out of my mind xD
    „I don’t speak spanish but you’re gonna love that park!

  • @expensivepink7
    @expensivepink7 Год назад +3

    i think your takes are super reasonable. some aspects seem questionable but overall doesn't seem harmful

  • @juliefisk8066
    @juliefisk8066 2 года назад +1

    I was overjoyed when I saw this video and can't wait to share it with my cousins. This was a favorite spot to visit when we were kids and came to Florida to visit our grandmother. Brings back some wonderful memories. Thanks for sharing..

  • @WheezyLiam
    @WheezyLiam 2 года назад +3

    There's a place in St. Augustine called the Alligator Farm that's similar but much smaller. Apparently it opened in 1893.

  • @annabobanaasmr8411
    @annabobanaasmr8411 2 года назад +15

    You should do parrot jungle next! I faintly remember it as a childhood thing. I bought a lizard plush from there.
    I feel mixed on these kinds of places though

  • @erikkennedy8725
    @erikkennedy8725 2 года назад +2

    We went to Gatorland a bit under a decade ago on the tail end of a Disney World vacation. I wasn't looking for much- we were tired and had a half day to kill before our flight- but it turned out to be really interesting, educational, and fun. My son had a knack of being selected whenever volunteers were asked for, so of course he got picked to help out at the gator show, and we got a picture of him on the gator for free (we wouldn't have lined up to pay for it, but them starting off having a four year old posing with a gator probably did a lot to soothe the worries of other parents.) Apart from that, the animals did seem well-treated and well cared for. And the gator show takes place in the middle of a pool with a swarm of gators, so I don't think any one specific gator gets singled out repeatedly to perform.

  • @yousaysilver
    @yousaysilver 2 года назад +2

    really cool to see you cover a park like this since it's different than what you normally cover

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +2

      Disney and Universal bring in the views, but I don't want the content to become stale by just focusing on those. Perhaps less people watch stuff like this, but I enjoy the variety.

    • @yousaysilver
      @yousaysilver 2 года назад +1

      @@PoseidonEntertainment i honestly really love getting to hear about things i otherwise wouldn't know about

  • @ashleighnichole8197
    @ashleighnichole8197 2 года назад +15

    Absolutely love Gator land. We have been going here since I was little(33 years) so I'm sure that's part of it lol. Our last visit was October 2021 and it was just as fun as I remembered. And now my kids love it as well. I love the water area they added!!! Such a fun and needed thing for the Florida heat. My son also absolutely loved the monster truck thing he did.
    I do agree they could modernize some aspects for sure
    Great content as always 💜

  • @t_cheating8239
    @t_cheating8239 2 года назад +5

    I went there July 24, 2021. This was something my husband wanted to do so bad. He really loved it. We did a fewding of tge gators in close quarters and includes a picture. I recommend this.

  • @ChristinaJenningsYMIS
    @ChristinaJenningsYMIS 2 года назад +3

    Gatorland's great! Went in late 2020 after having only been there as a child and was so pleasantly surprised. Very Florida, in the best way. Def plan to go back. Thank you for covering it! Your take on it is nuanced, as always.

    • @ChristinaJenningsYMIS
      @ChristinaJenningsYMIS 2 года назад +1

      Just adding that I agree with you that the humor/signage is outdated and I don't like either the wrestling or the jumparoo but it really showcases Florida's natural beauty that often gets overlooked by tourists(and maybe even locals to some extent) and does clearly aim to educate so I appreciate it very much overall.

  • @clyne8835
    @clyne8835 2 года назад +3

    Oh god I've been here!! I was eight on vacation with my parents. I remember the gator pits and seeing the shows with them. They had glass cases with snakes and stuff too. I also remember my dad taking a picture over an alligator. Don't remember the forest area or the train? But they had a petting zoo where you can feed tortoises I think. A giant tortoise bit a massive chunk out of my mam's leg when she had her back to it! She's fine now ten years later, but she still holds a grudge against tortoises in general.

  • @JoshTrance
    @JoshTrance 2 года назад +3

    Thanks for the balanced review. It's my favorite park and they do take care of the gators and help train people on gator safety

  • @Chris_Chansen
    @Chris_Chansen 2 года назад +2

    “I don’t speak Spanish, but you’re gonna love this park!”

  • @JohnAJohnson
    @JohnAJohnson 2 года назад +41

    This video actually swayed me to potentially visit in the future. Gatorland, seemed to me to just be another roadside attraction that misrepresented animals for profits. No better than the mini-golf courses in Florida with live gators loaded into tiny pools. However, if they would change the name back to the alligator Institute, remove the photo ops, "wrestling" shows and cheesy depictions of "killer" gators I would be much more likely to visit.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +6

      I wasn't even aware that there were courses out there featuring gators, but I agree in that it sounds exploitative. Living in Orlando though, I can't say that I've ever encountered anything like that. Am I missing the obvious or is this generally done elsewhere?

    • @noodlebanana7512
      @noodlebanana7512 2 года назад +2

      @@PoseidonEntertainment I’ve seen these at pirates cove and the likes, often with machines to buy pellets to throw at them.

    • @Huntly23
      @Huntly23 Год назад

      @@PoseidonEntertainment Well I don’t know how well the gators are treated at these places but they are everywhere across St Petersburg, Tampa, and in some places in Orlando.

  • @captainmaerd
    @captainmaerd 2 года назад +3

    Would love more content like this! Thanks for showing some small park love.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +3

      Yeah for sure. I'm not sure when I'll do something like this again, but I would like to diversify what I cover.

  • @v6stang
    @v6stang 11 месяцев назад +1

    I went in may 2023 and it was great the animals seem well taken care of. pictures with gators seemed strange something i have never understood personally. Overall a fun day spent about 4 to 5 hours there

  • @tannert.2296
    @tannert.2296 Год назад

    Gatorland slaps, went there once as a kid that lived in Orlando for the first 13 years of my life. I’m 24 now and it was an absolute core memory

  • @gigi3839
    @gigi3839 2 года назад +3

    I LOVE GATORLAND! Cuban Crocs are my favorite animal and I just had to give Ricardo a visit! There’s a ton of super interesting animals there too other than the gators 🐊

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +1

      I wanted to cover the crocs a bit more but realized I only had one usable clip. Still, it's cool to see them back there.

  • @galasidan
    @galasidan Год назад +1

    Since hearing about gatorland some years ago I've made it clear to my loved ones that I'm not accepting any proposal that happens anywhere else. This may or may not just be a ploy to make someone have to take me to gatorland. I'm glad to see this video breaking it down and helping me get a feel for what I could possibly expect there.

  • @barbhawkinson659
    @barbhawkinson659 2 года назад +2

    Although I live in FL now I'm from Seattle. When people from the north come to Fl they want to see a gator. I've been to Gatorland a couple times and have taken my company from WA so they could see the alligators and a swamp. We all enjoy the park. The people working there are so nice and very entertaining and the price for the tickets was a nice surprise. 🐊

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +2

      It's a nice slice of "Florida" in the middle of suburban development without traveling out to the swamps. Odd, but it works.

  • @cleo4548
    @cleo4548 2 года назад +1

    I went here as a kid all the time. I can’t wait to watch after work!

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад

      It's interesting how little it has seemed to change, even looking at footage and photos from 50 years ago. Still, I suppose zoological attractions don't really need to change too often to stay fresh.

  • @Withgreatpowercomesnofuture
    @Withgreatpowercomesnofuture 2 года назад +21

    The little gators are soooo cute. Will you touch up on other attractions/drive-by facilities out of Florida?

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +9

      It's possible. I wanted to produce something a little different than usual and this seemed fitting.

    • @toddguenther1568
      @toddguenther1568 2 года назад +2

      @@PoseidonEntertainment Another Florida attraction to consider for a future episode, one which also has a captivating 60+ year history, might be Weeki Wachee. It'd be interesting to get your perspective on the "Mermaids" who live there, it's rich history ripe with interesting stories throughout the parks evolution, and recent transformation from kitschy roadside attraction into a state park and wildlife conservation area. It is one of those hidden gems found about 45-minutes north of Tampa along the Gulf Coast.
      Keep up the good work; solid production, interesting themes, and well-rounded storytelling. Thanks!

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +1

      @@toddguenther1568 I used to go there frequently a long time ago. It definitely could be an interesting topic.

  • @Shadowonwater
    @Shadowonwater Год назад +1

    I remember being to Gatorland, overall I'd say it's a great park! I would have enjoyed the trip more if it weren't for a terrible period cramp I got while there, but hey, that's not the park's fault. I will forever remember it as that cool place with the crocodiles that you could feed. But also as the place where I had the worse cramp so far in my entire life.

  • @queenmarisa
    @queenmarisa 2 года назад

    i live in florida, and all my life since i was young i would always see the entrance to this place, its nice to finally know what goes on inside!!

  • @Insaneheir
    @Insaneheir 11 месяцев назад +1

    Veeeeeery late to the party, but a quick rule of thumb for animal attractions is whether they are Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited. AZA members are rechecked every three or so years and have an ever evolving set of standards they must adhere to. Florida is full of AZA accredited sanctuaries and zoos worth checking out!

  • @isaiasojeda8773
    @isaiasojeda8773 2 года назад

    You are one creator that I can say deserves more subs and views

  • @CircusQueen8
    @CircusQueen8 2 года назад +1

    Oh man this brings back memories

  • @kittychatalot
    @kittychatalot 2 года назад +1

    Gatorland is truly beautiful, and wonderfully maintained. I am not even into animals and I enjoyed it. Now I often stop to just go into the gift shop which is excellent!

  • @calamitycarl
    @calamitycarl 2 года назад +9

    What’s your opinion on seaworld and busch gardens? Do you mind doing videos on them in the future?
    Also any opinion on Disney waterparks?
    Thanks for making such great videos and raising awareness of how terrible and unenjoyable disney is to visit nowadays especially with the 3 hour plus waits for mediocre attractions

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +4

      I have eventual video ideas for all of those in mind eventually. I really need to build up my film library for Busch and SeaWorld before I do that though. Same with Disney's water parks. Both could be ideas for this summer.

  • @hooterwah00
    @hooterwah00 2 года назад +5

    as always an amazing video i am torn on this park for the reasons you stated However i do believe the good out weighs the bad , just not by as much as i wished it would

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +1

      I agree. I only learned of the gator wrestling when I started to do research for the video, but I did get a really good impression of the park otherwise.

  • @Just_jessie_3
    @Just_jessie_3 2 года назад +15

    I visited for the first time a year ago, and I agree with everything you said. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit, but the gator photo op rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t know there was a wrestling show, but I hope that goes away soon.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +2

      I'm obviously no authority of animal care, but I at least liked how the handlers seemed very intent on keeping the gator safe during the photo op. The animal itself also seemed rather unconcerned with everything going on, almost relaxed.

  • @mystery_guest
    @mystery_guest 2 года назад

    thanks for another cool video!

  • @oreo_6206
    @oreo_6206 2 года назад +1

    I've been to gatorland once despite having lived here for 5 years,but it was fun,and my favorite part was seeing the birds riding on the gators

  • @michaeltaylor1603
    @michaeltaylor1603 2 года назад +1

    5 things you'll definitely see in Florida. Not in any particular order. The Mouse, alligators, snakes, retiree's & Gatorland. Albeit I DID mention gators twice. The other place has them + animatronic ones as well.

  • @cal1896
    @cal1896 2 года назад +2

    Great video as always. I actually visited not too long ago and I’ll add that you won’t spend more than 3 hours there. It’s a pretty small park, but we didn’t have the swamp walk open at the time.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +1

      I did about the same. Still, I can see people spending even less time there in the summer though. The heat is brutal, even with it being a nice day when I went to film.

  • @muchachoCDMX
    @muchachoCDMX Год назад

    Love this place. I have been there a good 10 times and it is always great to be back

  • @ChristopheMassey
    @ChristopheMassey 2 года назад

    Growing up in Orlando in the 60's a trip to Gatorland was a treat. I'm really sorry that I haven't been back. Also really glad they still have the train.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +1

      Well, the good news is that it seems to have changed little beyond just expanding. Looking at photos from then, the central gator area looks almost exactly the same but with a new updated look rather than the teal painted roofs.

  • @feykingjulian
    @feykingjulian 2 года назад +3

    Gatorland looks awesome overall and I'd love to go someday. Thanks for making a video about it as otherwise I'd probably never would've heard of it. I agree they should get rid of the "gator wrestling" portion, but other than that I have to say I'm impressed with the level of care and enrichment it looks like they have for the animals.

  • @xBloodxFangx
    @xBloodxFangx 10 месяцев назад

    It started as just a zoo where you pay to see animals, but its become so much more. I love and support Gatorland because most all their animals there are rescues. Gators are bred there, yes, but the panthers, the owls, and a few of the gators are all rescues who could not go back into the wild. They give a save haven to problem gators who were slated to be put down but instead got a second chance, like Chester the dog eater who the state wanted to have killed but Gatorland fought to give him a home instead and this actually changed laws in Florida for problem animals like gators to be sent to a sanctuary instead of being put down. They are doing a great job and do a lot about teaching the public about our Florida wildlife.

  • @IkePaz
    @IkePaz 2 года назад +1

    I'm a Florida native, I used to go here and monkey jungle when i was a kid, besides Disney and Epcot. Gatorland never appealed to me.

  • @bryanb1136
    @bryanb1136 Год назад +1

    Thanks for the video. I enjoyed this because it was different from all the other commonly covered parks. I went there over 40 years ago when i was a small child. I have a picture of my dad and I holding a python that was taken there.

  • @AmusementVision
    @AmusementVision 2 года назад

    Really hope I can go there someday. Nice video!

  • @itsbean6830
    @itsbean6830 2 года назад

    I haven’t been to Gatorland in sometime since I lived in Orlando and my elementary school days but I always have fond memories of that place. Actually wouldn’t mind going back soon.

  • @floridasingularity3700
    @floridasingularity3700 2 года назад +5

    “Sexist” humor? I had to roll my eyes at this one. Men and women have teased each other for millennia. It’s only now that we’re getting all offended over the silliest little things. I think it’s time to relax a little bit.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +1

      Nah, it's clearly derived from sexist attitudes. With generations of people who married each other because they thought it was what society expected of them, I understand the resentment. Still, the sexism is clearly prevalent throughout jokes like these and it's time to move beyond that.

    • @billymanziel5666
      @billymanziel5666 2 года назад +2

      Lol I agreed with his overall point there and I thought it was apt when he referred to it as “boomer humor” but I agree, I thought the sexist comment was dumb. Zoomers today like to joke about women’s body counts and men not having any bitches, you’re really gonna clutch your pearls at boomer humor being sexist? Give me a break

    • @billymanziel5666
      @billymanziel5666 2 года назад

      @@PoseidonEntertainment ❄️

  • @Spessforce
    @Spessforce 2 года назад +1

    One important service gatorland provides is rescuing and relocating gators that encroach on human populations. The gator wrangling show demonstrates how they do that. It is exciting for the tourists and is a real thing they do in Florida as part of their conservation efforts. As for the humor, the demographics are largely local grandparents or relatives bringing children during family trips to Florida. It still works with the crowds.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад

      I didn't get that impression when I watched the Jumparoo. None of their jokes really seemed to land with the crowd.

  • @RaggedyCatProductions
    @RaggedyCatProductions 2 года назад +2

    I went to Gatorland a few times as a kid when we made trips from the UK to Florida - I have to imagine Alligators minds work similarly to my pet snake, where they're not really that concerned about what's going on around them if its not food or a threat - but when I go back to Florida, I personally wouldn't want to sit on an alligator - because it FEELS like it's going out of it's way to inconvenience the animal for a photo. That's just my feeling tho, I'm not going to claim to have any genuine knowledge on the topic

  • @MsDboyy
    @MsDboyy Год назад +1

    Universal studios and Gatorland are both synonymous for me because every time when I went to Florida as a kid I went to both of these parks and I had family in Florida so I had gone many many times lol ☯️

  • @bethanywingenfeld766
    @bethanywingenfeld766 2 года назад +1

    Many fond memories of visiting Gatorland with my summer camp as a kid! If you haven't been, you should check out Brevard Zoo in Melbourne. It's my favorite zoo in FL, and has gotten some buzz in recent years for being one of the top zoos in the country!

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +2

      I'll definitely check it out. I'm usually not a fan of zoos because I grew up going to Lowry Park and I was surprised to see how poorly others were run in comparison (Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., etc.). Still, I'm always interested in zoological exhibits if they seem to genuinely take care of the animals.

  • @hillelhalevi
    @hillelhalevi Год назад +1

    I loved Gatorland. The best parts were feeding the gators on the boardwalk area and then feeding them at the "beach" area.

  • @ottot3221
    @ottot3221 2 года назад +7

    We went to the parks shortly after we moved to Orlando and it helped to learn to recognize the snakes we already encountered around the house and learn how to be around these beautiful and often harmless animals. The same goes for gators. Yes some parts are cringe but the usefulness of it outweigh that.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +2

      In retrospect, I should have covered their Florida Snakes exhibit, especially since it helps make the educational point.

  • @Whatlander
    @Whatlander Год назад

    That "Ethics of this aside1" is doing a LOT of legwork here.

  • @SewerTapes
    @SewerTapes Год назад +1

    I was taken to a cheap Gatorland alternative as a kid. It was fun and highly educational. I'd like to visit the real one someday.

  • @margaretd319
    @margaretd319 2 года назад

    Went there. Had alot of fun. Sat on a gator too. The zipline, while fun, jumping off the towers was the scare. Its not designed for shorter people. As I arrived, I could not stop myself and always started to go back. I also had to jump off step stools in order to get enough momentum. The park, the gators are great. Loved the train.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад

      I'm definitely interested in going back and trying to the zip-line. I like the place enough that I bought an annual pass, so I'll probably try that next time for sure.

  • @barbecueshoes9212
    @barbecueshoes9212 Год назад

    I went to Gatorland once when I was probably like 7. Had a great time, especially as a British kid going to the US for the first time.

  • @robhimself79
    @robhimself79 Год назад +1

    Before I moved to Florida I always thought this place was in the middle of nowhere. It's only a few miles from where we bought our house in a town called hunters creek.
    Also I pet a capybara which was freaking awesome.

  • @LavenderLydia
    @LavenderLydia Год назад

    This unlocked a very repressed core memory for me haha. Can you do Lion Country Safari?

  • @gamerg1rl761
    @gamerg1rl761 Год назад +1

    Unpopular opinion: I’m not necessarily opposed to the alligator wrestling show. HOWEVER, I think they should make it an infrequent thing. Like, maybe they could only host the alligator wrestling show once or maybe twice a week? I like that they seem to be taking care to not physically hurt the Gator, but I think that doing the shows at the rate they currently are ma6 stress the animals out. If they do it infrequently though, and, most importantly, continue to be careful as to not physically harm the Gator, I don’t think it’d be an issue.
    Also, they could may the infrequent shows more of an education demonstration rather than a “wrestling match”. Perhaps they could add some dialogue on how the seminoles used to “wrestle” gators to get their hides and meat, and how later people wrestled gators for sportsmanship

  • @filetofish7688
    @filetofish7688 2 года назад +1

    Gatorland is in the subconscious of every Central Floridian due to the catchy commercials and billboards on I4. I never actually went though but my brother did in a school field trip.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад

      I don't recall ever seeing any of those, though I lived in Tampa for most of my life. Perhaps it didn't reach that far.

  • @cricketpickett7296
    @cricketpickett7296 Год назад +1

    I loved this place and if I visit Florida again I’m definitely going to check out Gator land again. I had the opportunity to do the zip lines and even got the video/picture package. I’d love to do it again. I recommend it to anyone and it definitely broke up the universal/Disney/sea world visits. A nice change of pace and even with zip lining a relaxing day compared to the treks around the major theme parks. Edit: it was also the first and only place I tried eating actual alligator. This I will skip next time, it tasted like not so good fried fish sticks which I don’t care for to begin with 🤷‍♀️

  • @zachg4198
    @zachg4198 Год назад +1

    This year in may, our band and choir went on a trip to Florida to perform at Disney. Before we went we had the option to vote for locations to visit. There was of course Disney world and Universal studios, but one option was Gator land. I campaigned so hard to convince people to vote for it, but was unsuccessful. Still mad about that, and will probably be for some time to come.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  Год назад +1

      Well if you get the chance again, maybe the video will convince them lol

  • @cliffcoastcafe
    @cliffcoastcafe 2 года назад +1

    hey, could you make a video about hellendoorn(the netherlands)? it has great history!
    im from the netherlands too and would love to help gatering information.

  • @johndefalque5061
    @johndefalque5061 Год назад

    Kudos to them for going from roadside attraction to conservation. Im in Quebec City and would love to go there.

  • @michaelmason6683
    @michaelmason6683 2 года назад

    OK I'm going!

  • @chriswillis4153
    @chriswillis4153 Год назад

    St Augustine also has an Alligator Farm attraction... Or at least they did when I was little...

  • @JasonRBeing
    @JasonRBeing 2 года назад +2

    Just yesterday I was having a discussion with someone, about, IF EPCOT Center/EPCOT had not been built in the 80s and was going to be built NOW, what would EPCOT be?
    The person suggested we would have "Disney's Florida Adventure", basically something resembling something like Gatorland and a mix of a Florida version of DCA 1.0.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +2

      When I was writing the script, I was thinking of something along those lines. I thought of throwing in a joke comparing DCA to Gatorland, but I couldn't think of anything that seemed funny.

  • @jaydom8264
    @jaydom8264 Год назад +1

    I love gatorland and as a native floridian I promise you that the gators are fine

  • @TheAmazingTachan
    @TheAmazingTachan Год назад

    I first heard of Gatorland when comedian Gabriel Iglesias talked about it. I’m fascinated by it but also have a very deep fear of alligators because they’re a recurring theme in my bad dreams since I was a kid, haha.

  • @clarktooncrossing3975
    @clarktooncrossing3975 2 года назад

    What an unexpected video. Not that I'm complaining, I'm a croc and gators fan (I watched a ton of Steve Irwin back in the day) and have always wondered whether this place was worth checking out.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад

      I've been trying to diversify the content of the channel this year. I still like speaking about Disney and Universal, but I like to change it up occasionally.

  • @MerylGearSolid
    @MerylGearSolid 11 месяцев назад

    I love Gatorland, as a Florida native it is the most "Florida experience" there is haha

  • @prsanfrancisco1688
    @prsanfrancisco1688 Год назад

    Oh, and yes, we went to Gatorland (and Six Gun Territory ) as kids...pre Mouse House

  • @annabobanaasmr8411
    @annabobanaasmr8411 2 года назад +1

    Gosh I remember Gator land, and also parrot jungle.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад

      I've never heard of Parrot Jungle. What exactly does it entail?

    • @annabobanaasmr8411
      @annabobanaasmr8411 2 года назад

      @@PoseidonEntertainment I only remember it from when I was like. . .8-9. But I remember these boardwalk type walkways through misty trees, and obviously quite a few different birds on those open perches. I can't remember much. I remember there were some kind of monkeys as well and probably alligators.
      I bought my favorite gecko plush from there haha.

  • @edgarcardiel157
    @edgarcardiel157 2 года назад +3

    Gator wresting is something thats been done since native florida times. Its an art thats been cultivated over centuries, but its a pretty normal sight in Florida.

  • @SD-ni2ys
    @SD-ni2ys 2 года назад

    Wow! I didn't know Gatorland was still open. I assumed it died with a lot of the non-major attractions on I-drive/OBT/192. Neat!

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +1

      I-Drive is thriving in many areas and I think it's going to see a huge boom in tourism soon. In conjunction with "gentrifying" itself and now being located right between Universal's two parks and their new one, I can see it growing significantly within the next decade.

  • @BigBossMan538
    @BigBossMan538 Год назад +1

    I love animals so this is something I’d be interested in. It’s certainly no San Diego Zoo but it’s seems fun

  • @yasminemobley7858
    @yasminemobley7858 Год назад

    I've only been there twice in my life. Once in 1998, and the second time in 2003.

  • @DystopianOverture
    @DystopianOverture Год назад +1

    Gators sitting on each other is pretty normal for them. They do it in the wild.

  • @crybaby3710
    @crybaby3710 2 года назад

    I remember PBS would play advertisements for this place (I live in east Texas) I asked my mom if we could go, she said nah lol

  • @lauram8554
    @lauram8554 2 года назад +1

    I've gone here and it was actually really fun very very Floridian and affordable. The zip lining is worth it. There are some ethical questions but still much more ethical than Sea World IMO.

  • @HungryMGM
    @HungryMGM 2 года назад

    I've stopped receiving notifications for your channels for some reason 😕
    I do however circle around every couple of months to binge watch all your videos I've missed

  • @EugenioAngueira
    @EugenioAngueira 2 года назад

    I visited this park many years ago. I enjoyed it and I'd recommend it to anyone visiting the Orlando area.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад

      Definitely worth a little side trip if someone is looking for something different.

  • @slickshewz
    @slickshewz Год назад +1

    As someone that pretty regularly goes freshwater fishing in south Florida, it's not uncommon to see that many gators all sunning together like that. Sometimes there are so many you can't even see that ground. So anyone that complains about seeing so many in one place like that, simply doesn't know the reality of gators in the wild.

  • @reidcouper3879
    @reidcouper3879 2 года назад +1

    As someone who use to work for them over the last 2 years, there’s a lot of issues not made public involving curtain faces of the company and other situations sadly.

    • @PoseidonEntertainment
      @PoseidonEntertainment  2 года назад +2

      Hmm that is concerning. How severe would you describe the problems?

    • @reidcouper3879
      @reidcouper3879 2 года назад +2

      @@PoseidonEntertainment so since there’s a lot I’m not able to fully post here there is a fair amount of stuff that involves favoritism over certain particular animals while also a lot of issues with the way employees are in have been treated in relation to insurance covering accidents the fact that they aren’t given an affordable living wage and drama involving faces on RUclips channel.

    • @reidcouper3879
      @reidcouper3879 2 года назад

      @@PoseidonEntertainment is there a way for you to reach out to me so I am provide you some details about my experience?