Great Gators!!!

We’d been looking forward to this day for years.  And I’d had it pegged for over a week as a day I would not have to be up at 5AM.  It couldn’t have come a moment too soon.
I still got up at 6AM and let everyone sleep as long as they could.   That didn’t end up being much later than 8 for most.  We had no rope drop to contend for and enjoyed a slow paced breakfast.
Nan and Kelly decided to take a day off touring and lounged by the pool and snoozed.  We headed to Gatorland a little before 10 AM and got there about 30 minutes later.  I don’t feel like I need to mention our touring plan piece by piece as this isn’t the kind of park you need a touring plan.  Just plan on spending at least half a day and you can see all the shows and attractions. 
Just before we arrived we encountered a man with a sign looking for cash.  As he approached our scripture-covered van we talked a moment and exchanged his name hand shake for a few dollars.  We’ve been praying for Tony ever since.  It was hot.  Gloriously hot or oppressively hot depending on who you asked.  John and the kids had a 1PM reservation for zip-lining, so we were able to see most of the shows before they did their thing. 

We had realized as we arrived that we had left the daily park bag (formerly known as diaper bag) at the rental, so I did not have my camera.  We were limited to cell phone cameras.  We did get some pretty great shots, just the same. 




https://youtu.be/BW2xFkcwYrc

 

It was crazy hot as we watched them suit up.  The little girls knew we had a splash park for them to look forward to, and they were none too laid back waiting.  I wanted to watch my crew get started on their zip line experience that was estimated to take 60 – 90 minutes to complete.  I did what any experienced parent does to mitigate any mulling meltdowns; I bought them chips.  As they chomped on their Cheetos Lays (I said EXPERIENCED parent; I wasn’t up for any hot orange kids) and watched birds I watched my other babies march out to the starting tower where they would begin their adventure where they would dangle their precious selves over hungry alligators. 

Really.
After I saw each of my kids and John go from the first tower to the second tower I took the little girls to the splash pads. 
When I had grown tired of watching everyone else have fun become too hot to think straight, I helped the girls into the stroller and headed out to the van with them in search of our packed lunch.  We quickly ate our sandwiches in the 91 degree parking lot and coincidently watched the family on their last launch  and then headed back in to meet them.  Everyone was hot, tired, exhilarated and done.  We wholeheartedly recommend Gatorland.  Watching the dude wrestle the gator and watching the gator jumping show are some of the most fun in Florida.  Good old hokey fun.  I will try to upload videos later.  I need internet access to do that. 

The entry price is low, and there is a good deal of nickel and diming going on.  But it really is just nickel and diming.  No $99 cupcake cruise packages to consider.  Do you want three sticks of birdseed for $5 or not?  (You do!)  It didn’t add up too much.
The zip lining does cost about $30-40 pp, if I remember correctly.  I purchased those passes months ago from Undercover Tourist.  We DID opt to pay for the photo DVD (which is where I got those awesome zip line shots) which was $12 pp.  But honestly, we didn’t even blink when the offered that upsell.  We just saw the first two images and knew the shots were ones we wanted to take home with us.  Photos from the ground don’t do the thrill justice. 
We headed back to the van where we found our day bag and camera.  Oy….  And proceeded home for swimming and a dinner of pulled pork sandwiches.
I think most were in bed by 9ish as we have two very late nights coming up.