DONNY ALDARELLI Gator Wrestling Trainer, Gatorland SPECIALTY: Alligator expert, educator, trainer and off icial “Cooter” character in the Jumparoo show WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE: Thousands of gators! We have three diff erent gator shows where staff wranglers wrestle large animals. Kids can experience “rookie wrestling” before and aft er the performances. The Jumparoo show features 900-pound gators leaping up to seven feet to grab food. Our Up-Close Encounters let guests get close to rattlesnakes, tarantulas and pythons. WHAT’S TO LOVE: These intimate encounters touch people’s hearts, make them passionate about conservation and change their beliefs. Our Gator Night Shine experience is one of the coolest things you can do anywhere. TIPS: If you want to zipline, wear closed-toe shoes. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, sign up for the 1 pm feeding as soon as you get here. You’ll toss large pieces of steaks to scores of huge gators and watch a true feeding frenzy. GATORLAND 14501 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando (407) 855-5496 • (800) 393-5297 • gatorland.com NATURE OUTDOORS & NATURE BOB WILAMOSKI Owner/Pilot, Bob’s Balloons SPECIALTY: Area native, air balloon pilot and lifelong enthusiast WHAT YOU’LL EXPERIENCE: This is a rare opportunity to float 1,000 feet up and see the beautiful Kissimmee area in all its natural glory. Aft er watching the balloon get set up at sunrise, you’ll enter the basket and, depending which way the wind blows, soar over the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, Walt Disney World®, fields, lakes or grand vacation homes. WHAT’S TO LOVE: I’ve been doing this 30 years, and I still get chills at the peacefulness of gliding silently through the air. You’ll literally have a bird’s-eye view of all the local flora and fauna. TIPS: Bring a hat, sunscreen, a camera—but you won’t need a jacket. BOB’S BALLOONS 8293 Champions Gate Blvd., Orlando (877) 824-4606 • bobsballoons.com AT WILD FLORIDA 3301 Lake Cypress Rd., Kenansville, FL (866) 532-7167 • (407) 957-3135 wildfloridairboats.com For A Day ZOOKEEPER Be A In addition to its gator park, exotic animal exhibits and airboat tours, Wild Florida off ers a special program called Zookeeper for a Day in which guests work side-by-side with staff and participate in enrichment activities with the animals. The morning-long experience provides training and education focused on the animals, their habitats and feeding needs. In this program you’ll learn to measure the food and mix up the right blend for each animal— lemurs, sloths, porcupines, zebras and many tropical birds—and then deliver it to their trays (some of the animals will come running). You’ll help out in the petting zoo and get a private, hands-on alligator demonstration as well as a photo of you handling a gator. A real Florida BBQ lunch is included—but not before your hourlong airboat tour that glides you across the swamps into the Everglades. NOTE: Must be booked 24 hours in advance. For ages 12 and up. ExperienceKissimmee.com 65
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