If you had a choice of only one -

[imgoingtodisney]

Would you go to your nearby zoo or amusement park?
The one time admission to the amusement park is 2/3rds the cost of membership to the zoo.
Also after going to Disney does any amusment park even come close?

 

[grinningghost]

I would choose the amusement park. Our local zoo is just too depressing for me. Those animals are in very small quarters, I get sad looking at them. And no, once you've been to WDW, all amusement parks pale in comparison. Makes going to local carnivals somewhat laughable.

 

[Steve H.]

With kids? I'd probably choose the zoo, since there's only so many things that my 2 year old can ride at an amusement park.

Without kids? Amusement park all the way.

Can an amusement park compare to Disney? It's apples and oranges. There's different things that an amusement park has to offer that Disney doesn't have (e.g. roller coasters) and there's obviously things that Disney does much better than an amusement park. That being said, there's good amusement parks out there (Cedar Point, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, etc.) and there's some crummy ones out there too.

 

[Serena]

I choose the zoo membership. We can go and spend all day, or just an hour or two. We can go on rainy days and visit all the buildings while everyone else stays home.
We love having a membership.

edited to add- we have a really good zoo.

 

[tc]

We pick the zoo. We have a membership and love going to the zoo, spur of the moment. They have great members-only events. I love the lights at Christmas, the different classes you can take.

I haven't been to our amusement park, Six Flags at Elitch Gardens, since it's been 6 Flags. I just don't enjoy it. My dd would argue, she loves 6 Flags and gets a season pass every year.

Now, if you made me choose between Water World and the zoo, that'd be another question. We have never taken the time to go to the water parks at WDW, but love Water World here in Colorado. It's a ton of fun, and, if you go during the week, is not always crowded. I love water parks.

 

[aprincessmom]

Depends on the age of your child and the geography.

We have memberships at the zoo (a really great one) and an aquarium. We use them a lot. DD and I love going and having access to member only events and info. Both are close by and really nice.

The closest amusement park is too far away to just go to for the day and, honestly, I'm not sure even if I lived closer if I'd buy a season pass. The rides and things are great...the clientele isn't the best.

 

[CamColt]

Ditto what Steve said.
DH & I, amusement park, but with the kids, it would be the zoo.

 

[Boots]

I vote amusement park. Once a year or so to the zoo is enough for me.

 

[catsrule]

zoo

 

[Cindy B]

Amusement park all the way... yes, there are some to compare to Disney.. IE , Universal Orlando, and Islands of Adventure...

This year we are going to Cedar Point.. no, its not Disney...but I have thrill seeking children..

Now, if you were talking Sea World Orlando/Amusement Park.. that would be a different choice. I love Sea World!

But our local zoo, The Philadelphia one, is depressing.. animals in cages...

 

[Talking Hands]

Zoo but then our zoo is awesome. Miami Metrozoo.

 

[Micca]

Our zoo is pretty cool, our amusement park is old and lame. I'd do the zoo.

 

[Saffron]

What Cindy B said about our zoo is true, it's just awful, so I would pick the amusement park. If it was a great zoo like the Bronx Zoo or New Orlean's Audobon, I'd pick the zoo!

 

[Jenzebelle]

I live near Roger Williams Zoo and it is a fabulous zoo especially considering its location. I got a membership there for Christmas.
I would definitely pick the zoo!

 

[Pooh Girl 71]

We live right between Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Kings Dominion so I'd choose one of them. They are a different type of park than Disney so it is unfair to compare them.

I would not go to a local zoo. They are just sad around here. I would travel the 1 1/2 hrs to the National Zoo in DC. They are great and free

However, we came back from Disney last Sept and went to our state fair afterwards. It was sad...and I will never do that again. I usually enjoy the fair too.

 

[Meriweather]

We only have a crumby amusement park.......but our zoo is wonderful!!
I go as often as I can (sometimes by myself )

 

[WDWLVR]

We have a wonderful zoo that we are members of (Brookfield, IL). We have a Six Flags in Gurnee, IL. They are about equal distance from us (the zoo is South, Six Flags North). Haven't been to Six Flags in 7 or 8 years and no plan to go this summer. Give me the zoo every time!

 

[Pooh93]

I would go to the zoo. St. Louis has a wonderful zoo and it's free. If you ever get to St. Louis, be sure to go there. Six Flags is the closest amusement park here and the last time I was there it was almost depressing, because it was no where as clean or "magic" as WDW for the money they wanted to get in and eat there.