admission at zooamerica (hersheypark)

[zoodoyle]

Has anyone who lives near hershey seen any discount coupons for zooamerica? We have one day passes for hershey which we will be using on sunday. We are arriving sat. afternoon so we thought we'd go to the zoo first, and then maybe try to get into the park for a couple hours before it closes (since I believe you can do that when you have passes for the following day - correct me if I'm wrong!). I know getting into the zoo is free if you go thru the park, but we won't be in the park yet on sat. So I'm wondering if there are any discount coupons out there at local businesses that we would be able to pick up when we arrive in town?!??? Thanks!!

 

[Mkrop]

If you have tickets for Sun then you can go to HP for the Preview Plan which means you can get in for free 2 1/2 hours before hand. Check the website for the exact schedule bc sometimes it is earlier. But for example we went when closing was 8pm and we got into the park at 5:30. We paid for parking then and then it was validated for free parking the next day. We got a lot done this night, this is our second time doing this. You can then just go to ZooAmerica at that timr or sometime the next day. I would not pay to go in separately. If you are looking for something to do before the Preview Plan starts then I would go to Chocolate World and do the ride tour and the 3-D movie. If you are only doing that then you would park in the CW lot only if you are doing HP and then the Preview Plan park in reg parking. CW gets very crowded first thing in the morning bc everyone goes right there as they come from the parking lot.

Have fun and if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[HelenePA]

my entertainment book has coupons for zooamerica...I've never seen any other discount coupons for just zoo america...

 

[dismom301930]

If you are members of another zoo, you may be able to get in free with your card becuase of a reciprocity agreement among various zoos and aquariums. Check your local zoo's website to see if they participate.

I've been to Zoo America several times. It's a good break for us when my kids need a little rest from the attractions. However, I wouldn't pay a separate admission fee since you will be able to get in free with your admission to Hershey Park.

I agree with going to Chocolate World. My kids LOVE to go there and take the little tour ride. If you are willing to pay extra for it, the 3-D movie is also great.

 

[goofyforlife]

Zoodoyle....

Also not every ticket is eligible for the early entry night before thing....

I know that my rec office is selling discounted tickets for Hershey's special days (sun-thur through the end of this month) and those are not eligible for entry the night before.

i know FONZ members get free admission for 2 adults/2 kids (Friends of the National Zoo)

CVS Pharmacy has coupons right now. No zoo America but there is a $1 off up to 4 admissions to the Big 3D Show at Chocolate World.

 

[zoodoyle]

If you are members of another zoo, you may be able to get in free with your card becuase of a reciprocity agreement among various zoos and aquariums. Check your local zoo's website to see if they participate.

I've been to Zoo America several times. It's a good break for us when my kids need a little rest from the attractions. However, I wouldn't pay a separate admission fee since you will be able to get in free with your admission to Hershey Park.

I agree with going to Chocolate World. My kids LOVE to go there and take the little tour ride. If you are willing to pay extra for it, the 3-D movie is also great.

I'm actually a member of 2 zoos in NY (being a former zookeeper myself!!) and from what I can tell, this is the first year zooamerica has NOT participated in the reciprocal programs, but maybe I'll call just to be sure!! Maybe we will think about chocolate world instead - I really need to get my butt in gear and do a little research - I know I bookmarked a couple sites that were mentioned on the last hershey thread. Guess I should do my homework Thanks for all the help everyone!!

 

[zoodoyle]

Zoodoyle....

Also not every ticket is eligible for the early entry night before thing....

I know that my rec office is selling discounted tickets for Hershey's special days (sun-thur through the end of this month) and those are not eligible for entry the night before.

I'm thinking this may be the case with our tickets too. We got a super deal on them - through my daughters' girl scout troop. So I wonder if it will apply to us or not....maybe we just won't plan on it, and then if we can get in, great, if not, no one will be disappointed!

 

[Matt'sMom]

I'm actually a member of 2 zoos in NY (being a former zookeeper myself!!) and from what I can tell, this is the first year zooamerica has NOT participated in the reciprocal programs...

We are ZooAmerica members. If your zoo membership is with an AZA participating zoo, you have reciprocal access. ZooAmerica is part of the AZA.

Just FYI... the Central Florida Zoo (located at Sanford, FL, near the Amtrak Auto-train station) is an AZA reciprocal zoo too. We visited there recently and received free admission due to our ZooAmerica membership. It is a nice little zoological park to visit while on a WDW vacation.

 

[zoodoyle]

We are ZooAmerica members. If your zoo membership is with an AZA participating zoo, you have reciprocal access. ZooAmerica is part of the AZA.

Just FYI... the Central Florida Zoo (located at Sanford, FL, near the Amtrak Auto-train station) is an AZA reciprocal zoo too. We visited there recently and received free admission due to our ZooAmerica membership. It is a nice little zoological park to visit while on a WDW vacation.

We are members of the syracuse zoo, also an aza zoo. I checked their reciprocal zoo list and zooamerica is not on it, though syracuse is on the list for zooamerica - doesn't seem to make much sense?!! We'll call both places tomorrow and hope that we'll be able to use our syr. membership to get in!! Also, thanks for the FL zoo idea - my former zoo boss used to work there too! Definitely an idea for our next trip (we've gone to the miami zoo on a FL vacation before - that zoo is AMAZING!!).

 

[Kycha]

Okay. Looks like you must purchase the ticket for Hershey's preview plan that day to qualify. Here is a snippet taken from Hershey's website:

"Preview Plan - Be Our Guest!
Purchase a regular full-day admission ticket for tomorrow, 2-1/2* hours prior to Park closing, and be our guest FREE for the remainder of that evening. (*3-1/2 hours for 11 pm closing)6 PM closing Admission after 3:30 PM8 PM closing Admission after 5:30 PM10 & 11 PM closing Admission after 7:30 PM"

Also, ZooAmerica is open till 8pm and Chocolate World is open till 10pm on Saturday night. Personally, I would go to Chocolate World.

FYI, the Big 33 Football Classic is Saturday night. So, traffic and parking is bound to be pretty bad.

 

[Mkrop]

I would just call and talk to Hershey Park, even call the Lodge, they have a wonderful information desk, very helpful, and they wont know if you are staying onsite or not.

We did buy our tickets at the Lodge for the next day and then did the Preview Plan so I am not sure if other tickets would work or not but it does not hurt to call and ask.

If not I would definitely do CW then the next morning you can get right into the park. I think they have a seaparte line if you already have your tickets too so look for that. If you are staying as a Hershey resort guest you can get in an hour earlier than everyone else too. Only 2 sections are open but then you get them done and then can be first in line for things when th rest of the park opens.

Have fun!

 

[zoodoyle]

Okay. Looks like you must purchase the ticket for Hershey's preview plan that day to qualify. Here is a snippet taken from Hershey's website:

"Preview Plan - Be Our Guest!
Purchase a regular full-day admission ticket for tomorrow, 2-1/2* hours prior to Park closing, and be our guest FREE for the remainder of that evening. (*3-1/2 hours for 11 pm closing)6 PM closing Admission after 3:30 PM8 PM closing Admission after 5:30 PM10 & 11 PM closing Admission after 7:30 PM"

Also, ZooAmerica is open till 8pm and Chocolate World is open till 10pm on Saturday night. Personally, I would go to Chocolate World.

FYI, the Big 33 Football Classic is Saturday night. So, traffic and parking is bound to be pretty bad.

Thank you for the info!! Is the football classic at hershey, or just in the area? Didn't hear about that until now

 

[Mkrop]

Thank you for the info!! Is the football classic at hershey, or just in the area? Didn't hear about that until now

I dont know if they are playing there but there is a big football field right next to the entrance. In the complex, there is the Giant Center (indoor stadium stuff) CW, HP and then the football field. I know Giant, and HP share the parking and if you are only going to CW then you can park there, go into a different lane, but CW only allows for 3 hours. I dont know about the football field. If youare staying overnight I would book somewhere soon bc that extra event will fill up the rooms fast.

We have only stayed at the Lodge so I cant be much help on hotels but I know others here have had great suggestionsmaybe do a search.

 

[zoodoyle]

I dont know if they are playing there but there is a big football field right next to the entrance. In the complex, there is the Giant Center (indoor stadium stuff) CW, HP and then the football field. I know Giant, and HP share the parking and if you are only going to CW then you can park there, go into a different lane, but CW only allows for 3 hours. I dont know about the football field. If youare staying overnight I would book somewhere soon bc that extra event will fill up the rooms fast.

We have only stayed at the Lodge so I cant be much help on hotels but I know others here have had great suggestionsmaybe do a search.

Thanks! We already have hotel arrangements for about 15 minutes away from HP (I think? DH did all the planning). I'm thinking when we get into town we will hit CW for a while, then just head back to the hotel to let the kids swim, relax, watch cable (which we don't have at home). I'm sure that will be enough to keep them busy Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!!

 

[Mkrop]

Thanks! We already have hotel arrangements for about 15 minutes away from HP (I think? DH did all the planning). I'm thinking when we get into town we will hit CW for a while, then just head back to the hotel to let the kids swim, relax, watch cable (which we don't have at home). I'm sure that will be enough to keep them busy Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!!

Good plan and have a great time! Make sure you get in the proper lane for CW parking only! I think it is to the left!

One suggestion just like you might do for WDW print out a map and locate what is key to your family and hit those rides first. The coasters always get long lines, esp Stormrummer,The Xtremee Cup Challenge (which is similar to Buzz ride) and the new Boardwalk area. We found the lines were not as long for the "older" water rides as the lines for the Boardwalk was since it is soooo new.

 

[Mkrop]

oh yeah good shoes HP is very hilly place. Fun but I have heard people complain about the hills.

 

[Kycha]

Thank you for the info!! Is the football classic at hershey, or just in the area? Didn't hear about that until now

It is at Hershey. Within their complex they have the Giant Center(arena), HersheyPark Arena, the Star Pavillion and the HersheyPark Stadium, as well as HersheyPark, Chocolate World, ZooAmerica and the Hershey Museum. They all share parking. The game starts at 7pm.

But, with any ticketed event at Hershey, you can go to HersheyPark for a discounted rate. So, anytime they have a concert or sporting event, that really impacts park attendance and parking.

Just something you might want to consider.

 

[HelenePA]

It is at Hershey. Within their complex they have the Giant Center(arena), HersheyPark Arena, the Star Pavillion and the HersheyPark Stadium, as well as HersheyPark, Chocolate World, ZooAmerica and the Hershey Museum. They all share parking. The game starts at 7pm.

But, with any ticketed event at Hershey, you can go to HersheyPark for a discounted rate. So, anytime they have a concert or sporting event, that really impacts park attendance and parking.

Just something you might want to consider.

in other words its gonna be BUSYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! Have a great time! Weather is going to be nice high's in only the upper 70's tomorrow lows around 58* you might want to bring a jacket if your planning on staying late

 

[Kycha]

in other words its gonna be BUSYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!! Have a great time! Weather is going to be nice high's in only the upper 70's tomorrow lows around 58* you might want to bring a jacket if your planning on staying late

Probably. But, Sunday looks good. I don't see any events going on, other than it being Father's Day. Hope you have a blast!!

 

[zoodoyle]

We will hopefully get to hershey around 3pm. Hope to hit the zoo first (did finally get confirmation from zooamerica that they do participate in the reciprical zoo program with our local zoos, so it will be free!!), and then hit CW after that. Hopefully we will be out of the area by 6-7ish, or sooner if it's too crazy Then we'll plan on going in the park on Sunday morning right at opening, hitting the "big ticket" rides first, with our printed map in hand . Too bad they don't have fastpass!!! Thanks again for all the suggestions - I'll let you know how it all turned out when we get back!!