If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if somebody emptied the contents of the world’s strangest attic into one building, then Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Orlando might just be the place for you. We visited the Ripley’s in London many years ago before it closed down so were keen to visit the Orlando one.
Situated on International Drive, pretty much in ICON Park, this is not your traditional museum. There are no quiet galleries where you have to whisper and keep your hands behind your back. Oh no. This is a full-on assault on the senses, packed with bizarre artefacts, strange stories, unusual people and enough weirdness to make you question just about everything you thought you knew.
First impressions
You can’t really miss Ripley’s. The building itself is designed to look like it’s sinking into the ground, which seems entirely appropriate when you consider what’s waiting inside.
Once through the doors, you’re straight into a world of the weird and wonderful. The attraction features hundreds of unusual exhibits and interactive experiences, including everything from animal oddities (ew!) to extraordinary pieces of art and fascinating bits of history.
It’s the sort of place where you walk around saying, “Surely that can’t be real?” every five minutes.
Then you read the information beside it and realise that, yes, apparently it is.
The weird stuff
And there’s plenty of it.
You can see ancient alligators, unusual human artefacts, a footprint supposedly belonging to a swamp-dwelling creature and a whole host of objects that sound like they’ve been invented after several pints down the pub. There’s also a rather impressive collection of pop-culture memorabilia.
Now, we’re used to seeing strange things in Yorkshire – particularly on a Saturday night in town – but even this is taking things to another level.
It’s not just looking at stuff
One thing that makes Ripley’s work particularly well for families is that it isn’t simply a case of wandering around looking at exhibits.
There are interactive displays throughout, including optical illusions, games and hands-on experiences.
There’s also the best Vortex Tunnel I have ever seen (and I’ve seen a few) designed to mess with your balance and perception.
And let me tell you, if you’ve walked in thinking you’re perfectly steady on your feet, you may come out questioning whether gravity has personally taken against you.
How long do you need?
We’d allow around 1–2 hours, although families with children could easily spend longer depending on how much time they spend on the interactive attractions. Tripadvisor currently lists the attraction at roughly that duration.
It’s also a useful option for a Florida day when the weather decides to turn tropical, because you can spend a good chunk of time indoors.
The attraction is currently listed as open from 9am to 11pm Monday–Thursday and Sunday, with later closing at midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Is it worth the money?
That depends on what you’re expecting.
If you’re after a serious museum packed with priceless historical artefacts, this probably isn’t your cup of Yorkshire tea.
But if you enjoy bizarre facts, unusual exhibits, interactive displays and generally wondering “Who on earth thought this was worth collecting?”, then it’s a lot of fun.
It’s particularly good for families because adults can enjoy the sheer ridiculousness of it while children get plenty of things to touch, play with and photograph.
And with the attraction currently rated around 4.3/5 from more than 10,000 Google reviews, there’s clearly plenty of love for it.
It isn’t the biggest or most spectacular attraction in Orlando, and it certainly isn’t trying to compete with Disney or Universal. That’s not what it’s about.
Ripley’s is about being weird. It’s about seeing things you probably won’t see anywhere else, learning some wonderfully bizarre facts and having a good laugh while you’re doing it.
Some exhibits will have you fascinated. Others will have you scratching your head. A few might make you feel slightly queasy.
But you’ll rarely be bored!
