OT - Toronto Zoo Discount?

[riu girl]

Does anyone know how I can get any sort of discount coupons for the Toronto Zoo (either for a yearly membership or a day pass) for a family of four?
We are hoping to go in May. I just spent almost an hour on the web site. It looks like a fantastic place. I haven't been there for about 4 years (and that was a brief visit with a school group) so not familiar with it.

Thanks
Suzy V

 

[Me2Me]

This is a pretty good deal if you are interested in seeing any of the other attractions. If you go to the zoo and the cn tower the other 4 attractions are basically free.

http://citypass.com/city/toronto.html

 

[bunnyfoo]

Does anyone know how I can get any sort of discount coupons for the Toronto Zoo (either for a yearly membership or a day pass) for a family of four?
We are hoping to go in May. I just spent almost an hour on the web site. It looks like a fantastic place. I haven't been there for about 4 years (and that was a brief visit with a school group) so not familiar with it.

Thanks
Suzy V

I think Shopper's Drug Mart has a link somewhere on their website for discounted tickets. You can also get Optimum Points too.

I have to say that I went to the Toronto Zoo last year and was not at all impressed. I didn't know about the discounted tickets so we paid something like $18/person plus parking. We were hoping to see the Vancouver Island Marmots since I had heard about them from a number of different media sources. As it turns out, they weren't even on display We were also hoping to see a Capybara (sp) and they were not in their enclosure... and we couldn't even find anyone to ask about them Also a lot of the animals were sleeping, and we got there first thing in the morning.

If you do decide to go, make sure you have bottles of water because there are some areas of the zoo where it is difficult to buy something to drink.

Overall, I'd have to say it was a disappointing experience and definitely not worth the money but that's just my opinion ... Maybe if admission was less than $8...

 

[DutchsMommy]

Not sure if you live in the area or have smaller kids, but we do and we buy an annual pass, with parking, which runs around $80-$90 I think. You get free zoomobile trips (usually costs $5) and a discount at the gift shops (10%). I find the zoo great - granted the animals are hit and miss, but it is a great place for kids to be able to walk/run off energy without having to worry about cars etc. The Kidzoo and waterpark is awesome also, but probably for kids up to about age 7 or so I would think. DS is 4 and loves everything about it. If you think you would go more than once I think the AP is worth it.

PS - the Zoo is opened every day except Christmas Day

 

[riu girl]

On the web site I think that the annual pass ( 2 adults and up to 4 kids, we have 2) is $120 , then if you want to add parking it is $40.

One visit for us would be $80 (admission for 2 adults and 2 kids plus zoomobile ride for all of us) so for $40 more I can get the annual pass (and free zoomobile rides). Our kids are 8 and 5 so I think that this would give us a great place to go several days next spring/summer.

We are in the Peterborough area but even if we went to the zoo 3-4 times over the year the value would be there.
I don't drive on highways but if I can figure out a way to get there using back roads we will go much more often (just me and the kids) during summer break.

Thanks everybody for your input on this. I will go ahead and get the annual pass right before the first time we want to go (May long weekend for DHs birthday).

Suzy

 

[riu girl]

Does the membership run from Jan 1 – Dec 31 or
From the time of online purchase for 365 days
Or from time of first use at the zoo?.

I am interested in buying the membership in early spring but don’t intend to visit the zoo until close to the end of May.

Please tell me when/how I should purchase the membership?

Also: bunnyfoo: Thanks for the heads up on shoppers drug mart. I checked their site but you could only save less then $2 each on admission.
Also me2me: I checked the link you sent me. thanks. But I am really only interested in the zoo . The other attractions looked great but we have done of them recently already. I don't like how you have to do them in 9 days from first use. That is not for me. But for someone vacationing to Toronto for a week this would be a great thing to purchase.

Thanks
Suzy V

 

[DutchsMommy]

You should be able to get there on Hwy 2 - Kingston Road, then up Meadowvale. How to get from Peterborough to Kingston Rd I don't know, but I'm sure it is possible. We LOVE the AP, and use it frequently. You also get 'Members Only' advice of upcoming events. They also have neat things going on for Halloween, New Years etc. Another thing you might want to check out is the Bush Camp - as a family you get to camp out in tent'like safari huts overnight and learn about zoo life. I would imagine the animals are quite active at night and it would be feeding time after the zoo is closed. We are intending on doing it once DS is old enough. I think 6 might be the minimum age. They also feed you. Another thing I love is if you have the AP you don't feel like you have to 'get your money's worth' every time you go - although with you driving from P'tbro it might be a bit different, but often 3-4 hrs is plenty for us. The waterpark is really great on a hot day too - nothing like WDW lol, but still fun. They have 2 or 3 tame little slides and a number of climbers and squirting water. Camel rides are always funny. There is also a virtual 'Safari' type thing you can go on - it reminds me a bit of Star Tours where it is an enclosed ride which has a screen and moves around. Anyway, I think it is a good bet.

The AP is good from when you purchase it (ie purchase now, good 'til next Nov) and you can purchase online. We always do it online and they mail it to you. You have to show ID with your pass when you go through the gates - so no sharing with your sister/neighbour etc (well, we thought about it ).

Anyway - HTH

 

[riu girl]

Thanks for all the tips. We don't plan on going until May long weekend so I wil buy the membership shortly before then.

Suzy V