Getting a little spooked, the Gatorland way
Gatorland dried itself off from Hurricane Ian flooding in time to launch its Halloween event Gators, Ghosts and Goblins last weekend.
The Orlando attraction’s event has that Bubba-and-Cooter sensibility that Gatorland has cultivated, and it has managed to introduce unique offerings in this Halloween-happy market.
For instance, visitors may be able to spot the skunk ape character, which was humorously added a couple of years ago as the Socially Distant Skunk Ape. This year we see him wearing a red cape, comic-book style, which undercuts his hiding skills, one of the main superpowers of a skunk ape.
There are other characters to encounter, including some scary-looking ladies in the Graveyard of the Darned (“We have to be family-friendly, after all,” creative director Dan Carro joked whilst in character). It’s photo-friendly, too, especially in some patches that are pumpkin-heavy.
There are real, live animal interactions, so beware of the baby albino alligator.
Gators, Ghosts and Goblins also includes Frank & Steins Ooky Kooky Octoberfest and a live band, complete with accordion, called “Polkageist.” On preview day, the monster was focused on pumpkin spice.
The attraction has taken Swamp Ghost’s Monster Museum, seen at previous GGG, and given it a creative upgrade. The first stretch of the walk-through is a little bit dark and creepy, enhanced by eerie, sometimes startling special effects but with punchlines that break the tension. Visitors are introduced to a collection of monsters throughout history.
This narration was presented to us by a character known as (imagine this said in a boisterous baritone) “Sir Daniel Wolfsbane, world’s foremost hunter of monsters, vampire slayer, dragon vanquisher, ghost extinguisher and werewolf fighter, also lead curator of the Monster Museum at Gatorland.” He was portrayed by Carro.
But halfway through the museum, there’s an option to walk through a more intense sort of experience. We won’t be a spoiler, but it’s more in the haunted maze/jump scare category. But there’s also what Carro called the chicken exit, for those who have had enough already.
There were werewolves around at this point, so it was described as getting “hairier.”
“As a kid I loved Mystery Funhouse and things like that. And there’s nothing really like that now. It’s either all terrifying or really little kid stuff. … Kids are fascinated by this but nothing lets them experience it,” Carro said without his monster hunter hat on but still sporting the requisite wooden stakes, just in case.
Although my inner 7-year-old theme park ranger would be petrified, it could be seen as a horror introduction with a safety net in the form of a guide.
“Having a monster hunter that can control them, make sure they’re standing in a spot that’s not too scary, that’s something we get to do,” Carro said. “There aren’t a lot of experiences like this for Halloween, I don’t think. We’re kind of excited to be trying it out.”
The space is detailed, and the creative work was done in-house.
It’s OK to take the less intense way out of Monster Museum, Carro reaffirmed, although completing the circuit means seeing the Swamp Ghost face-to-face.
“There’s no dishonor in taking the chicken exit,” he said, back in grim mode. “Maybe it’s the smart-person exit. Maybe it’s the person who understands self preservation, you know? They might be onto something.”
If you go
Gatorland’s Gators, Ghosts and Goblins continues on Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 30. It is included with regular admission. Park hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The attraction’s half-price admission sale for Florida residents runs through Oct. 31. Single-day tickets are normally $32.99 ($22.99 for ages 3-12).
For more information, go to gatorland.com.
Email me at dbevil@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to the Theme Park Rangers newsletter at orlandosentinel.com/newsletters or the Theme Park Rangers podcast at orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/theme-park-rangers-podcast.
