If you want real Florida, not Disney Florida, three places within 30 minutes of Kissimmee deliver: Gatorland, Wild Florida, and a Boggy Creek airboat tour. Here’s what each offers and which fits your family.
Gatorland
What it is
“The Alligator Capital of the World” — a 100+ acre park with thousands of alligators, crocodiles, birds, and a working alligator breeding farm.
Distance from 450 Burma
30 min (25 mi)
What to see
- Alligator feeding shows
- Alligator wrestling (the Florida classic)
- Gator Jumparoo (gators jumping for food)
- Screamin’ Gator Zip Line (for thrill seekers)
- Breeding pen walkways
- White Gator Swamp (rare leucistic alligators)
- Baby Gator Nursery
Ticket
$40/adult, $30/child. Online discounts available.
Best for
Families with curious kids, photography lovers, real-Florida experiences. Educational and fun.
Wild Florida
What it is
Two-part experience: airboat rides through Everglades swamps + a drive-through safari park with exotic animals.
Distance from 450 Burma
25 min (20 mi)
What to see
- 1-hour airboat ride (the real draw)
- See alligators in the wild
- Drive-through safari: zebras, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo
- Gator Park walk
- Monkey Island
Ticket
$40–$70/person depending on combo
Best for
Anyone wanting an airboat experience + safari combo. Kids love feeding the giraffes from the car.
Boggy Creek Airboat Tours
What it is
Shorter airboat tour experience specifically (no safari park attached).
Distance from 450 Burma
20 min (15 mi)
What to see
- 30–60 min airboat ride
- Cypress swamps, native Florida ecosystem
- Wild alligators in their habitat
- Birds (hundreds of species)
Ticket
$30–$55 depending on tour length
Best for
Time-constrained families wanting airboat only.
Half-Day Itinerary Options
Option 1: Gatorland only
- 9 AM leave 450 Burma
- 9:30 AM arrive
- 4 hours: shows, walks, zip line (if brave)
- 1:30 PM: lunch at Pearl’s BBQ (inside Gatorland)
- 2:30 PM: depart, home by 3 PM
Option 2: Airboat + Wild Florida safari
- 10 AM leave
- 10:30 AM: Wild Florida 1-hour airboat
- 12 PM: lunch at Wild Florida
- 1 PM: Drive-through safari (1 hour)
- 2:30 PM: home
Option 3: Boggy Creek airboat only
- 1 PM airboat tour (60 min)
- 2:30 PM home
- Pool + leisurely dinner
What to Bring
- Sunscreen + bug spray (Everglades = mosquitoes)
- Hat
- Closed-toe shoes (Gatorland has lots of walking)
- Camera/phone with extra battery
- Snacks (quality inside each park is basic)
Why These Beat Disney on a Rest Day
- Way cheaper than a Disney park day
- Real Florida wildlife (kids remember wild alligators more than animatronic ones)
- Less crowded
- Nature walks count as exercise
- Educational — kids learn about ecosystems
