Our "free" trip to the zoo

[AndreaDM]

We have a zoo membership at our little local zoo but we get in free or half price at most other zoos as well. So yesterday we decided to go to the Toledo Zoo about 2.5 hours away. I'm glad we did, it's a great zoo and my daughter had a blast, but here is what we spent on our free trip.

Gas - at least $50
Breakfast at drive thru - $10
Lunch at zoo - $18
Ice cream - $6
Drinks - $4
Train tickets - $6
Parking - $5
Tolls - $13.50

So, our "free" trip cost us over $112 but we didn't have to pay the $10 admission!

 

[GinnyEmma]

Been there done that! Glad you have fun. They had baby polar bears when I was there last.

 

[AndreaDM]

Baby elephant right now, soooooooo cute!

 

[GinnyEmma]

What fun!

 

[Irin997]

I know what you mean. The last "free" trip to the DC National Zoo cost us metro tickets and lunch. Not too bad, I probably spent about $35 in all.

 

[pigletto]

Yep it all adds up doesn't it?

We're taking a trip about 3 hours away tomorrow to a Childrens Museum. I was doing a running tally in my head a few minutes ago and with gas, parking, admission, 2 meals, likely a stop for coffee...
Well, it's looking a lot more expensive than I initially planned.

 

[Nayan]

I've been on a few of those 'free' trips myself! But spending time with my son was priceless .

 

[a1tinkfans]

We have a zoo membership at our little local zoo but we get in free or half price at most other zoos as well. So yesterday we decided to go to the Toledo Zoo about 2.5 hours away. I'm glad we did, it's a great zoo and my daughter had a blast, but here is what we spent on our free trip.

Gas - at least $50
Breakfast at drive thru - $10
Lunch at zoo - $18
Ice cream - $6
Drinks - $4
Train tickets - $6
Parking - $5
Tolls - $13.50

So, our "free" trip cost us over $112 but we didn't have to pay the $10 admission!

Yeah, free got Expensive, huh!
Glad you all had a good time, LOVE the zoo!

 

[3boymthr]

I totally get that.

I have all these coupons and other deals for free summer activities as well as a museum of science membership which gets me into @10 other museums in our area for free. So far I've spent almost as much money as I would have if I hadn't used them.

 

[AndreaDM]

Note the one thing we didn't buy, souvenirs!! She only asked one time for some fluffy pink animal (not even sure what it was) but I just said we're saving our spending money for Disney next month and that was that! No matter where we go or what we do, there's always that dreaded gift shop to contend with.

 

[Irin997]

Note the one thing we didn't buy, souvenirs!! She only asked one time for some fluffy pink animal (not even sure what it was) but I just said we're saving our spending money for Disney next month and that was that! No matter where we go or what we do, there's always that dreaded gift shop to contend with.

DD10 wanted to buy yet another stuffed animal but luckily she forgot her money. Mom said, nah, you should save your money for something you really want. She did!

 

[Bren's Mom]

We went to a 'free' show at the casino Friday night...you know how THAT went! LOL

 

[DZNEE4US]

Andrea we must live in your neck of the woods. Our closest zoo is Akron. We have to get to the Cleveland zoo this summer to see the new elephant exhibit. We are members at the Akron Zoo, and we have yet to go there to see their new carousel (which will cost us $$$- since we have 3 kids to pay for!). I think the only reason the zoos are adding trains and carousels is for the money!
We were just at the Memphis Kiddie Park this weekend. LOVE IT!! You only pay for what you ride on- no admission fees.

 

[AndreaDM]

Andrea we must live in your neck of the woods. Our closest zoo is Akron. We have to get to the Cleveland zoo this summer to see the new elephant exhibit. We are members at the Akron Zoo, and we have yet to go there to see their new carousel (which will cost us $$$- since we have 3 kids to pay for!). I think the only reason the zoos are adding trains and carousels is for the money!
We were just at the Memphis Kiddie Park this weekend. LOVE IT!! You only pay for what you ride on- no admission fees.

Yep Akron Zoo is ours too! I'm annoyed we now have to pay 50% to go to Cleveland, Columbus was bad enough. Pittsburgh is still "free" though. The Akron Carousel is pretty cool, lots of different animals, but yes, all that extra stuff sure adds up. At Toledo, you pretty much HAVE to pay $2 each to ride the train to see any of the African animals. We were about 6 feet from a giraffe yesterday so that was worth it.

 

[ValpoCory]

We have a zoo membership at our little local zoo but we get in free or half price at most other zoos as well. So yesterday we decided to go to the Toledo Zoo about 2.5 hours away. I'm glad we did, it's a great zoo and my daughter had a blast, but here is what we spent on our free trip.

Gas - at least $50
Breakfast at drive thru - $10
Lunch at zoo - $18
Ice cream - $6
Drinks - $4
Train tickets - $6
Parking - $5
Tolls - $13.50

So, our "free" trip cost us over $112 but we didn't have to pay the $10 admission!

Yep. That's why many sports teams give away ultra cheap tickets (~$0.75 per ticket) via kids clubs. You are spending $5 or more on parking, the same on a drink, more on food per person, possibly a stop at the team store to buy a souvenir/clothing. The ultra-cheap tickets are loss leaders.

 

[NYEmomma]

Yep Akron Zoo is ours too! I'm annoyed we now have to pay 50% to go to Cleveland, Columbus was bad enough. Pittsburgh is still "free" though. The Akron Carousel is pretty cool, lots of different animals, but yes, all that extra stuff sure adds up. At Toledo, you pretty much HAVE to pay $2 each to ride the train to see any of the African animals. We were about 6 feet from a giraffe yesterday so that was worth it.

We're Akron Zoo members too... go once a week usually and EVERY SINGLE TIME we have to ride the flipping carousel. Oh well. $2 for a weekly preoccupier of my child is worth it, IMO. We bring out own lunch & I can typically ignore the "mommy, popcorn!".

The only part that kills me about Akron (I'm similarly peeved about Cleveland no longer being free ) is the exit is straight through the gift shop. No way of avoiding it... ever!

 

[poohfriend77]

No zoo here, but I just spent $37.50 on "free bowling." We took one friend (who was not free), paid shoe rental, and bought pizza and drinks.

Overall, not too bad for an air-conditioned activity. It's so hot (97 with heat index of 116!!! ) that I didn't even want to go to the pool. At least I had 2.5 hours to chat with my friend, without the kids watching TV or fighting!

 

[claytonsmama]

We're Akron Zoo members too... go once a week usually and EVERY SINGLE TIME we have to ride the flipping carousel. Oh well. $2 for a weekly preoccupier of my child is worth it, IMO. We bring out own lunch & I can typically ignore the "mommy, popcorn!".

The only part that kills me about Akron (I'm similarly peeved about Cleveland no longer being free ) is the exit is straight through the gift shop. No way of avoiding it... ever!

Yep Akron Zoo is ours too! I'm annoyed we now have to pay 50% to go to Cleveland, Columbus was bad enough. Pittsburgh is still "free" though. The Akron Carousel is pretty cool, lots of different animals, but yes, all that extra stuff sure adds up. At Toledo, you pretty much HAVE to pay $2 each to ride the train to see any of the African animals. We were about 6 feet from a giraffe yesterday so that was worth it.

i totally understand, we are cleveland zoo members and just went to akron zoo last week and did not like the 1/2 price thing either. however, we did get a coupon with our seasonal newsletter for a $5 admission for our entire family and then the $2 for parking. however, i did my research and found that if you have an old non winning ohio lottery ticket and you take it to akron, your parking is free!! we also pack lunches and avoid the "wants" of popcorn or items from the gift shop lol!

 

[AndreaDM]

Yep. That's why many sports teams give away ultra cheap tickets (~$0.75 per ticket) via kids clubs. You are spending $5 or more on parking, the same on a drink, more on food per person, possibly a stop at the team store to buy a souvenir/clothing. The ultra-cheap tickets are loss leaders.

Yeah we turn down free sporting event tickets all the time because we know gas, parking, food will run us at least $100.

 

[RobRees]

My DS(9) got a free ticket to an amusment park from school for reading and while looking into using it I think it will run me about 85 to 100 for the 2 of us to go for the day and if i wanted the fast pass like benifits I would need another 60

So much for free