SD Zoo Tours

[kahluacream]

I noticed that the San Diego Zoo does a variety of tours, and they look great. I'm trying to decide between backstage ($99), inside look ($69), or the discovery tour ($39) for our upcoming trip.

Has anyone done one of these? Is the backstage one worth the high cost, or would the discovery tour be fine for a family of 4? (Animal-loving Kids are ages 6 and 9)

I'd love to hear about these tours if anyone out there has done one.

Thanks!

[amamax2]

I haven't done any of those specific tours - the Zoo changes up the tours every couple years - but I have done several others.

Based on the descriptions, I like the sound of the first or second tour (sorry!!! I know those are the more expensive ones). All the ones we have done included close-up encounters with the animals, and it truly is a highlight for the kids to get to touch and interact with the animals. (And the adults, too - I got to feed a giraffe on the last one we did.)

The discovery one is described as a enhanced version of the normal bus tour - the bus tour itself is pretty good and you see lots of the zoo. The tour sounds like you just get more of that, but no animal encounters. So I wouldn't pay extra for that.

I would probably do the second as a compromise on money versus experience.

BTW, All the tours we have done have been great - well worth the money IMO.

HTH!

[JaxsonsMom]

Like the poster above i have done several tours...

I would recommend the Backstage pass, the new area they have built looks amazing and the animal encounters are once in a lifetime!