Cypress Gardens is Florida’s oldest theme park. It has recently reopened (Dec 2004). We visited late April 2005 and found it to be a really nice park and not as busy as the other more main stream theme parks Orlando has to offer.
It is located in Winter Haven just off the US 27. Approximately 40 minute drive from International Drive.
Entrance is $34. 95 but included in that is a second day free.
The day we arrived it was almost noon before we arrived but there was plenty of space in the car park! We wondered if we could fit it all in on the first day when we found out it shut at 6 pm.
Jubilee Junction is a small area of shops and eateries which is nice to chill out in and this is the first real area you come across.
We started off with a ride on the sky eye which is a ride which takes you well over the tree tops and up into the sky and circles round to give you fantastic views of the park and surrounding Lake and areas. We enjoyed this so we did it twice!
After that we walked around a little bit, we found a boys interest then, cars, trains and planes! Basically, a shop that the fellas, big and small, will love. At the back it has a model railways set up all featuring various States as backdrops. Has a big old fire engine outside (even I got in it)!
After that we walked around the small gardens and had a look at the Butterfly house which was more interesting as you come out as they have all sorts of creatures, mostly butterfly’s in frames on the wall. Some beautiful and some scary looking things! !
We then decided to take in a show and headed up to the Topiary Trail. Meeting some young pretty Southern Bells on the way (like the dolls that sit on toilet roll covers)! ! !
The gardens are fantastic lots of time and effort have gone into these works of art!
- Ladybird
- Easter Bunny complete with 3 huge eggs
- Swan
- Peacock
- Seal balancing a ball
- Parrott
The show was a surprise. It was just a live fountain so not much to watch but it was good for a couple of minutes. Basically a girl dressed up Grecian style turns into a human fountain and all the water spurts from her hands and even her head at one stage. The kids loved it. It was on almost hourly that particular day. There is also a lovely waterfall
After that we headed on to the Water skiing show which was really good and some of the stunts were breath taking. The performers are all Athletes and they line up afterwards for you to meet.
A few of the attractions were not opened yet but were not far off, including the Alligator section which had been severely damaged by one of the hurricanes last year.
There are also concerts held at a purpose built stage and the week we were there Lone star who are huge in the States were playing there! ! ! The American idol road show and the US Marine band are due to play there in the near future.
They have 38 rides in total and they are tamer than the other type of rides in Universal and Seaworld etc but there is enough to keep you amused if that is your thing. I enjoyed the water ride the most and also a couple of the tamer rollercoaster’s. They have a lovely children’s section of rides, a little steam train and some of the rides reminded me of the travelling type of Carnival. They have a huge Ferris wheel which gives you great views.
I would say Cypress Gardens is well worth a visit if you have never been before or if you have it might be interesting to see how it has changed.