​ORLANDO, Florida (Aug. 17, 2023) – Gatorland®, the “Alligator Capital of the World™,” is
bringing back its popular Gators, Ghosts and Goblins™ Halloween event for a fifth year in a
row of family fun and fright done right! The all-ages, daytime, family-friendly event takes
place over three weekends in October, from Oct. 14 through 29, 2023.

“Swamp Ghost’s Monster Museum” returns with an all-new exhibit. Encounter specters,
goblins and more as you learn about the origins of everyone’s favorite haunted holiday.
Explore new haunt-zones like “The Creepy Creature Carnival,” where famous monsters
moonlight as midway attractions and the “Frightful Frontier,” an Old West Town populated
with cursed cowboys. Then hop aboard the Cryptid Express, where you can seek out hidden
beasties like the Florida Skunk Ape, Moth Man, Chupacabra and more. All this, plus
interactive characters, animal meet-and-greets, and a Children’s Halloween Costume Parade
with treat bags for all kids who participate. There are also fun shows, a variety of specialty
vendors games, candy giveaways and more.
“We love Halloween time at Gatorland and our entire staff works incredibly hard to put
on this frightfully fun event for all our guests,” says Mark McHugh, President and CEO of
Gatorland. “You won’t find another Halloween experience that is anything like ours.”
Halloween fun is for everyone at this all-ages, daytime event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
included with park admission. Guests are welcome to wear costumes. But nothing scary or
gory, please. Skunk Ape is easily frightened, seriously.

For more info., visit Gatorland online at www.gatorland.com or call 800-393-JAWS.
Find Gatorland on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gatorland
YouTube at Gatorland Vlogs and Gatorland_Orlando
Twitter @Gatorland
Instagram: gatorland_orlando

#gatorsghostsgoblins #gatorland #wearealligators #alligatorparadise #gatorlandglobal #halloween

​It is after 3pm in Central Florida, you are in a theme park, storms have bubbled up and let loose a torrential downpour and everyone is grumpy!  Having packed your patience, you've got this!

For most of the summer months, there is typically an afternoon storm.  I say storm, because the word rain invokes images of skipping through the pitter-patter of soft raindrops wearing a yellow rain slicker, hat and boots and recreating the Gene Kelly scene from Singing in Rain. Oh no, no no - we are talking, mean, dark, angry clouds that appear on the horizon seemingly out of nowhere with loud kaboom lighting and a strong, torrential downpour! 

Don't despair and embrace the adventure! Instead of giving in to your inner flight response by running to the park exit as quickly as you can, take a breath, relax and don't throw in the towel, so to speak!

Here are a few nuggets to help you manage  your visit when the inevitable happens – the afternoon deluge!
 
Be prepared!  Do not gauge your need for rain gear based on the beautiful, blue sky you woke up to because it will be a different story later on in the day.  Not always, but most likely.  Along with the copious amount of sunscreen, lip protection and hydration supplies you have in your backpack, make sure you have rain protection gear, preferably not an umbrella.  Why you ask? It is extremely hard to navigate through a crowded theme park with an umbrella over your head, without poking your fellow guest.  Be Kind, wear a poncho!

At the first sight of that awesome storm brewing, your first instinct might be to run back to the car and leave the park. In the rain, those flip-flops you are wearing are an accident ready to happen. If you try to make a run for it, you will be slipping and sliding all the way to the exit. Resist the urge, my friend!  Rain is an excellent crowd thinner, so be the one that stays and enjoy all that newly found space!
 
One thing to understand about afternoon Florida rainstorms – they usually do not last long.  But, if it is raining when you wake up, then, most likely, it will be raining most of the day.  This is not based on any science, but from a lifetime of Florida living!

Summertime in Florida is all about the beautiful blue skies, warm days, wait, who am I kidding, hot days, rainy afternoons and making awesome memories! Grab that poncho and embrace the rain but not the lightning!  Lightning is not our friend and requires a healthy dose of respect.  When lightning is in the area, do not stay out in the open but head for shelter, preferably inside a secure building. If you are at the beach, in a pool or at a waterpark, take direction from lifeguards and team members seriously!

Now grab your family and your patience and go make some awesome Florida summer fun memories!

The new Capybara Encounter at Gatorland, the Alligator Capital of the World, is just part of the fun guests will experience this summer! Guests will be led by guides over to Flamingo Island where they will observe Ben and Jerry, the resident Capybaras, in their habitat.  Ben and Jerry love to swim, take it easy on the beach and enjoy the company of their waterfowl, turtle, and flamingo friends! Capybara are known for for their friendly and social nature and have become quite the social media stars, as is evident on Tik Tok and Instagram. "We just love Ben and Jerry," remarked Mark McHugh, President and CEO of Gatorland. "That's why we decided to offer something brand new to showcase these incredible animals, their habitat and the way they interact with our other animals. It's amazing!" Guests looking to embark on this adventure, weather permitting, should check times and availability at the Petting Zoo.  Cost for this experience is $10 per person.

The Gator Gully Splash Park, located within Gatorland, is the perfect place to cool off and take a break!  Kids of all ages will enjoy this awesome water play area, which is included with your park admission.

Gatorland is an incredible value for families.  A family of four can visit Gatorland for the price of one admission ticket to one of Orlando's area theme parks! And Florida Resident admission discount has been extended! Through July 31, 2022, Florida residents may purchase a one-day ticket for half off the regular admission price making an adult ticket just $16.50 +tax, children's ticket ages 3-12 $11.50 +tax and Florida Seniors, ages 60+, $15.99 +tax.  Proof of Florida residency is required for all adults and children 2 and under are free.

Guests may also upgrade to the Greater Gator Package for just $13.99 +tax.  This combo ticket features three of their most popular attractions - Meet-a-Gator, Gator Chow to feed the gators and a day pass on the Gatorland Express!

Gatorland is a 110-acre park combining the charm of old Florida with exciting experiences, exhibits and entertainment.  Orlando Weekly's Best of Orlando 2021 Reader's Poll named Gatorland the Best Attraction That's Not a Theme Park and Best Zip Line or Rope Course for Gatorland's Screamin' Gator Zip Line.​

Gatorland originally opened as a roadside attraction in 1949 and is celebrating its 73rd anniversary. This iconic park provides affordably priced family fun with one-of-a-kind shows including Gator Jumparoo, Alligators-Legends of the Swamp and Up-Close Encounters. It also features thousands of alligators and crocodiles, breeding marsh with observation tower, free-flight aviary, nature walk, petting zoo, educational wildlife programs, Florida's best train ride, and Gator Gully Splash Park. Gatorland has an on-site restaurant and an award-winning gift shop. Popular adventure experiences, inside the park, include Screamin' Gator Zip Line and Stompin' Gator Off-Road Adventure. 

For more Gatorland information, visit www.gatorland.com and find them on Facebook.com/gatorland.

#gatorlandglobal #gatorland #capybara #wearealligators #alligatorparadise

Gatorland is a must-see attraction; no doubt about it!  Our family has visited many times over the years and love it!  What makes Gatorland unique, of course, are the residents! I'm not talking just gators, although, there are plenty of them, but the beautiful Florida waterfowl that call Gatorland home.

The boardwalk, which hugs the edge of the breeding marsh, is the perfect place for gator and bird watching.  Now, I'm not normally a bird watcher, but you can't help be in awe of these beautiful birds! A perfect place to stop and take in a "bird's-eye-view" of the area is the Observation Tower located on the boardwalk. 

For the ultimate view, if you keep your eyes open, is from the thrilling Screamin' Gator Zip Line!  This was my first zip line experience and except for that "first step" off the 70 ft. platform, it wasn't so bad! Actually, it is rated one of the top 10 zip lines in Florida! I would definitely do it again, in fact, already have!

A trip to Gatorland is not complete until you see the Gator Jumparoo Show and the Gator Wrestlin' Show!  Two classics that never get old!

The gators are mesmerizing to watch, especially the big ones!  Sometimes they look like they have this smirk on their face/snout, other times a toothy grin and other times a "I think I'm full look"! I don't know which look is the "I'm extremely hungry so you'd better get out of my way look" so it is best to keep a safe distance.  That is, of course, if you are brave enough to experience the Adventure Hour Tour.  On this adventure, you get to go behind-the-scenes to feed the gators in the breeding marsh and also have your picture taken with them stalking you from behind! There is always a gator wrangler with you, so no worries!

Funny story: when the kids were 10 - 15 years old, we headed over to Gatorland for a field trip.  After we received our tickets and park information we stepped aside to make our plan.  With our admission tickets, were 20 smaller tickets that said hot dogs. I got to thinking about them and I guess I had a puzzled look on my face because one of the kids asked what was wrong.  I say, with all my mommy smarts working overtime, "this is nice for them to give us hot dogs, but I don't think we can eat 20"! There was a collective groan from the peanut gallery with one of them being so bold as to reply, "um, I think those are for the gators!" Ok, then, moving along! So, don't forget to buy some hot dogs to feed the gators - it's fun! Oh, and if you get hungry, stop by the snack bar, not the gator food hut!