Wild Encounters

Things can get pretty wild here in Orlando. With dozens of opportunities to get up close and personal with the native wildlife, you may be looking to add some of these experiences to your itinerary. Looking for a good place to start? Check out our favorite animal encounters below.

Gatorland

You can’t go wrong with the notorious alligators of Florida. Just a few miles away on a patch of swampland off of John Young Parkway sits the adventure park Gatorland, home to these prehistoric reptiles. Learn about our local gators and get yourself the opportunity to be a gator trainer for a day in a guided tour with a real gator trainer. Stick around and once the sun goes down, watch the waters come to life during Gator Night Shine, a nighttime feeding experience.

SeaLife Oralndo Aquarium

Located at the ICON Orlando 360 complex, this wonderful attraction offers all ages to get a closer look at marine life. See colorful jellyfish, eight-legged escape artists, and majestic sea turtles. Go behind the scenes of this beautifully constructed aquarium and see how these unique creatures are cared for. The Discovery Experience allows guest’s access to the Ocean Habitat for to help feed the animals and get special interactions with some of the aquariums playful residents.

Disney Animal Kingdom

There are two great opportunities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that everyone should check out. First is the Nighttime Safari. Until rather recently, guests have only been able to see these animals during the daylight hours, but the park is now open at night that allows you to see these majestic animals prowl the grasslands, eyes glowing and ready to show you what makes these nocturnal creatures masters of darkness. Rafiki’s Planet Watch takes you on a short tour of animal care facilities where you can speak with care experts and feed a few fuzzy friends. This kid friendly tour is a must for parents traveling with younger children.

Discovery Cove

This day resort offers guests some of the coolest experiences when it comes to animal interactions, namely the Dolphin Swim. Slip into your flippers and dive in with these playful pals at Dolphin Lagoon. Learn about these incredible animals and see for yourself what it’s like to swim beside them. Then, grab your snorkel gear and take a tour of the Grand Reef. Swim along with thousands of tropical fish as your explore a coral reef habitat. You can expect a few non-marine friends to join the party too at special locations throughout the day such as sleepy two-toed sloths. Feed birds at Explorer’s Aviary and see the otters at play as you make your way through the park’s waterways.

So many amazing adventure await you in Orlando, so don’t let these amazing encounters pass you by. Book your stay with us today and get easy access to all the local attractions.