Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Orlando Odditorium
Recently, we decided to take a fun family trip to the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Orlando Odditorium. If you like the odd and unusual, then Ripley’s is definitely the place for you!
The hubs and I had visited Ripley’s Orlando, Florida years ago before even getting married and having kids and we had visited the one in St. Augustine, FL as a family a few years ago. There are many locations around the world but each one is as unique as the exhibits inside. The Orlando building looks like it is sinking into a sinkhole, complete with a slanted building and even a sign out front to tell the story behind it.
This 10,000 sq. ft Ripley’s has 16 different themed galleries holding 600 exhibits and artifacts. We could go through this many times and still find something that we missed before! There is so much to take in.
We bought our tickets online on the Ripley’s website because they were a few dollars cheaper. The easy part was that we could either print them or just show them from our phone through our email. When we arrived, they scanned the tickets from our phone…easy peasy! Plus, along with our tickets, we ordered a guidebook for just $2 more and they handed it to us after checking us in. It is a very neat keepsake, along with the tons of pictures we took. We’ve read through it a few times and it was a nice “fun fact” ride home in the car afterwards.
Because some of the galleries were too dark and some things were in glass cases, my camera wasn’t able to capture some great pictures. Plus, there was too many people around, so I will share with you the best ones I did get. Ripley’s encourages you to take pictures and video to share. They didn’t have to tell me twice!
Of course, our first stop was the bathroom, which was right after the entrance turnstile. The whole place was covered with signs of odd facts about bathrooms! I HAD to snap a quick one of this sign for the teen:
In the entrance of the Odditorium was a set of fertility statues which makes a tour around the different Ripley’s around the world. I didn’t even get near it so didn’t snap a pic of it. I wish I did though.
There is soooo much more to see at Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Odditorium that wasn’t captured in images! There was also a slanted room that looked Victorian. I had a hard time going through there since I get dizzy so easily so I just ran through it (as best I could!).
Robert Ripley himself was an unbelievable man. We didn’t realize just how much he had accomplished until reading the guidebook on our way home. You can read more about him on Vanity Fair.
Have you visited a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Odditorium? What was your favorite exhibit or what would you like to see?
I’ve always loved Ripley’s, but I think it would totally freak out the kids. When they’re a little older, we’re definitely going.
I agree. When we took the kids a few years ago, they loved it but was holding on to me for dear life LOL
This looks like an amazing family friendly day trip. We’ve visited the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not in Branson, Missouri a few times. The children are always amazed and come out with big smiles.
Awesome! I would love to visit each of the different Odditoriums.
I have never been to one of these but my kids have a lot of their books and would really enjoy it .
Oh, you would have a great time! We have a few books too and they are fun reads.
One of my favorite Ripleys Believe it or not! I love Orlando and all the attractions on International Drive and around there. Your post was nostalgic for me and brought back some beautiful memories! Thanks for sharing!
Aww, I’m so glad I was able to do that for you. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I’ve been to the one in LA, but not Orlando. Have to make sure we visit there next time!
I would love to visit the one in LA!
Wow! This looks like a super cool place. I’ve never been to a Ripley’s but there was one in NJ, where we used to vacation. I would love to visit- I always find these things cool. Oddities are my oddly morbid obsession, I think.
Oddities are my oddly morbid obsession LOL…you should definitely visit one when you can!
I have never been to a Ripley’s Odditorium but would love to go see one. It is so appropriate that the museum itself withstood a sink hole–after all it was going to hold a lot of “believe it or not” items–It kind of makes you wonder about ghosts—
Oh, yes, the teen and I were secretly talking about ghosts while walking through it!
Ripleys is such a cool place! we have one in dallas
Neat! Have you ever had the chance to visit it?
Ripley’s is so weird. I vaguely remember going to one once as a kid. I am sure that my kids will want to go sometime if we ever get the chance in the future.
Ripley’s is very weird but we love weird :p
Ripley’s is awesome! I have to been to the one in NJ a few times, and it is always a lot of fun. I love that you were able to get lots of great pictures there too, I enjoyed looking through them all. Great tip about getting tix online – I never would have thought of that! Thank you!
This place looks fascinating! My hubby has relatives in Florida, so if we ever get a chance to visit them, maybe we can check this place out!
Amazing pics!! This is one place we missed on our last trip to Orlando but definitely will make it a point to go there on our next trip.The kids would love to visit.
Thanks so much! Yes, make sure to plan a trip there. It is definitely memorable. 🙂