Feeding Alligators in Orlando

If you are looking for cheap fun in Orlando, feeding the alligators may be right up your alley. Located on International drive, down the street from The Orange County Convention Center, you can attend the second largest convention center in the Country and yes, you can feed the Alligators.

It was a gorgeous fall day in Orlando; the temperature was a perfect seventy-two degrees, a great day to feed the alligators. I wasn't sure about feeding alligators, but was willing to give it a try. The food was quite a steal for only two dollars and ninety nine cents. It appeared to be hot dogs inside a small plastic baggie. I was also supplied with a feeding apparatus, a fishing pole with string attached and a plastic hook at the end to put the food onto.

I loaded the hook and approached the alligators and could see several of these gators sunning on the rocks located in the middle of the pond. There were many of them, lying on top of each other, head on tails, feet on heads and a blatant disregard for each other's space. I was told it was the ones that were in the water surrounding the rocks that would eat the food. I didn't see any in the water, so I leaned forward and dangled my loaded pole. Immediately, I saw a pair of beady eyes coming toward me. They were gliding quickly toward my dangling hook, I was captivated by the eyes focused on me and wasn't sure I wanted to feel the gator on the end of my hook. Suddenly another pair of beady eyes appeared and then another. Within seconds there were over a dozen pair of beady eyes that had noticed the pole dangling with food on it and they were all surrounding it. They began to line themselves up and leap out of the water attempting to get the foods. This scared me and made me yank my pole back. I was a little over whelmed by the number of alligators that had come over to get the food. None of them were over 5 feet long, I was told these were only babies, but these babies taking turns leaping out of the water was pretty intimidating. Each time I thought one of the gators would retrieve the food, I yanked my pole back not really wanting to be attached and in such close proximity to the gator.

I finally got up the courage to face the hungry mob below and dangled the food. The alligators fought, lining up and jumping out of the water. I didn't pull it away but held my ground. I felt icky as the line tugged forcefully and the gator chomped away on the food. All in all, it was a pretty exhilarating experience.