Over the last 29 years, I can’t count how many times I’ve driven by Dinosaur World. Located off of I-4 in Plant City, it has been a staple of any trip between Tampa and Orlando. There is a large T-Rex outside, beckoning you to come in.
Well, after bringing the kiddo to Parkesdale a few weeks ago, he saw that T-Rex, and it spoke to him. Our drive home was filled with requests for “more dinosaurs.” We knew we’d be making the trip back very soon. So we did a little research.
Dinosaur World actually has three locations across the US: ours in Plant City, Florida; as well as one in Cave City, Kentucky; and one in Glen Rose, Texas. Even more surprising to us is how inexpensive the tickets are! Children two and under are free, but kids 3-12 are only $14.95, and adult tickets are $19.95.
That is, if you’re paying full price. Tyler and I are members at the Florida Aquarium, which has a reciprocal relationship with Dinosaur World – as do many other local museums, zoos, etc. Our tickets were discounted 50%, and our son got in for free. At $20 for the three of us, we figured it was worth a visit!
So, we headed that way on a Saturday morning earlier this month. It’s about a 40 minute drive from us in Wesley Chapel, but as mentioned, super easy to get to from the Interstate. They open at 9 am, which is great for parents starting their days early, so we got there around 9:30.
And it was pretty quiet! We learned it fills up as the day goes on (they close at 5), but we were able to quickly purchase our tickets and get the lay of the land. Other than snacks in the gift shop, they don’t have food, but you’re welcome to bring your own – or have it delivered in!
We spent the next two hours wandering the park, soaking in the many dinosaurs there were to see. The dude spent the entire time pointing out his new favorites. He’s seen dinosaurs in books, but this was a whole new level. Admittedly, he wasn’t a fan of the animatronics, but there are only three of those in their museum (and we were warned that little kids often don’t like them). But between the playground and what seemed like hundreds of dinosaur figures throughout the park, he had a great time. Honestly, we did too! It was such a joy to see him explore and take it all in.
When we headed out around 11:30, the gift shop was much busier, so we ended up skipping a toy purchase. That being said, I would absolutely go back! And if you’re a parent, this is a must-do activity for the kids, perfect for either a morning or afternoon adventure. They’ll run around and tire themselves out learning about dinosaurs, all for a very reasonable price.
Trust me – you’ll have a roaring good time. 🦖