Jeff Musial: Animals in Kissimmee

Jeff Musial

From The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to iCarly, Jeff Musial (also known as Jeff the Animal Guy) and his animals have made their rounds educating and entertaining audiences all over the globe for over a decade. Ever since he was a child, he dreamt of working with animals; he was even a zookeeper for Halloween several years in a row. In 1999, after a lot of hard work and dedication, Jeff opened his own animal sanctuary, Nickel City Reptiles and Exotics.

Showcase of Citrus 

A quick ride up the road from Kissimmee is Showcase of Citrus, a fun Florida attraction for all ages. Jeff joined show host Jen Bonner to ride the “World’s Largest Monster Truck Safari,” a massive truck measuring 14 feet wide, 16 feet tall and about 40 feet long. Along the ride they fed animals including zebras, bison, water buffalo, and more.  

The location also features a gift shop with interesting and locally sourced items, such as a table lined with sodas of unique flavors, including ranch which the crew tried. (The taste lingered for a while, but we were glad we tried it.) Their location also serves wine, beer, slushies and other drinks to enjoy with a variety of food truck options.   

The Best Buffalo Wings South of Buffalo 

Since Jeff comes from Buffalo, New York, the show writers wanted to take him to PG’s Subs & Wings in Kissimmee, a chicken wing establishment that has been in business for over 40 years, with the same general manager for almost as long. Between the cast and crew we tried multiple flavors, sauces, and sides. Their fried pickles were delicious, the parmesan garlic sauce was divine, the staff was friendly and accommodating, and of course, the wings were amazing. PG’s is truly a Kissimmee gem that everyone should try.  

Wild Florida 

Drive-Thru Safari Park 

In anticipation of visiting Wild Florida, Jeff could barely sleep. The day was packed with activities, starting with a tour of the Drive-Thru Safari Park. From the comfort of your own vehicle, guests can drive through up to four miles of scenic landscapes to see more than 150 native and exotic animals roaming freely. Jeff and Jen sprung for the VIP tour, which includes a guided off-path tour on a Wild Florida buggy with one of their animal experts behind the wheel. Of all the animals on the safari, Jeff especially bonded with the camels.  

Gator Park 

Wild Florida is also known for their extensive Gator Park, home to more than 200 additional animals including an impressive variety of rare snakes. After giving Jen some fascinating background on the slithering reptiles, they had a chance to experience the capybara encounter and feed three cute capys named Alvin, Simon and Theodore. Then, at last, Jeff was introduced to his current animal obsession, albino alligators. Wild Florida’s pair Snowflake and Blizzard became the first pair of breeding albino alligators in Central Florida and two of only 12 recorded albinos living in human care (at the time the article was published).  

For those hoping to make a full day, admission to the Gator Park is included in the price of the Drive-Thru Safari Park tickets! Also, don’t forget to experience Wild Florida’s airboat rides and their delicious lunch menu at Chomp House Grill is not to be missed.  

See More Animals in Kissimmee 

With only so many hours in Jeff’s whirlwind trip, we couldn’t possibly take him to see all the animal activities in Central Florida. There are numerous other activities such as Central Florida Animal Reserve for big cats, Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens, and of course, Disney’s Animal Kingdom.