San Diego Zoo advice

[ozvisiter]

We love a trip to the zoo, so coming from Australia San Diego zoo is the ultimate (although we are not too worried about seeing the koalas!!! ). Please help me with a few things to make the most out of our visit...

1. I know the zoo has steep slopes. Do you go up hill from the entrance to the polar bears end or downhill?

2. We plan on getting to the zoo as soon as it opens. Should we catch the first bus tour OR go straight to the pandas, then do the bus tour?

Any other advice

Thanks so much

 

[JasonShannon76]

I have season passes to the zoo, so I am familiar with the areas. The Polar Bears are in the WORST location up top of the steep hill. However, the Polar Bears are a MUST SEE, so you gotta get up that hill. My advice, use your map for guidance, and take the sky ride to the top of Polar Bear Hill. The sky ride will drop you off up top, and you do not need to climb it. Good Luck!

 

[PHXscuba]

When we went in October with our 4 kids, we got there before opening and went to see the pandas first, because I knew that was something I didn't want to miss. After a couple wrong turns (the zoo maps aren't very easy to read) we got there and it was great! Only about a dozen people in there, so we could wander back and forth as long as we wanted. The pandas were also up and moving, so that was great. (side note: we thought about going back in later after lunch, but the line looked like Disneyland!)

Then we took the bus tour, which covers most of the zoo (with the exception of the hilltop with the polar bears etc.) We sat on top and got a good view of many animals.

After that we took the skytram to the polar bears and the top of the hill, then walked our way downhill past the hippos, tigers, etc. We then used the shuttle buses to visit the koalas and some of the other snimals we wanted to see up close, plus did the reptile house.

If you are at all worried about walking and hills, I would definitely get the upgraded ticket that includes the bus tour and the unlimited skytram. You can usually find online coupons that will bring the price down to near what a basic ticket would be.

I got lots of great information at tripadvisor dot com, both in the zoo reviews and in the San Diego forum.

Have a great time!

PHXscuba

 

[ozvisiter]

Thanks so much for the help PHXscuba. I was thinking it might be worth going straight to the pandas to avoid the lines later on, then maybe the polar bears before catching the skytram back to the entrance to get on a bus tour. Those two animals are a priority as the zoo in Sydney doesn't have them!

We will get the upgraded ticket so that we can enjoy the convenience of the buses etc. The kids will be tired by then.

Thanks again

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I haven't been for a couple of years , but they did have the kangaroo bus which you could hop off and on at differn't locations. I personally would skip the "tour" and just get the kangaroo pass. The drivers on the kangaroo bus give you all the info you need to know.

 

[albertamommyof4]

what pass comes with the so cal sity pass? is it just regular admittance or with the extras?
thanks

 

[deletedpenguin]

Hi there,

I thought I'd send you a message, in response to your post about the SD Zoo visit that is upcoming.

I currently live in Sydney, Australia, but grew up in San Diego, so I went to the zoo for years and years.

I'm assuming you've been to the Taronga Zoo here. I found this zoo to be amazing, but only surpassed by the SD zoo (though I may be partial). I last visited during the summer of 2007 (Aussie winter) and the Pandas were definitely a must see. While the buses generally run all day long, it's timing that is key with the Pandas. They're generally not that active, unless eating and they're taken off display earlier than when the park closes. So try and get to the Pandas early, when they're likely to have some food. It also depends on weather. They're less likely to be active if it's hot in SD. Saving the bus for later will also keep you from having to walk around in the warmer afternoon.

Depending on the time of year in SD, it can stay hot or even a bit chilly all day at the zoo. May Gray, June Gloom is something that's often thrown around quite a bit when visiting the zoo. San Diego has what is called a marine layer that generally hangs around until just before lunch. This keeps things somewhat cool, and even a bit chilly, but once it burns off, it's likely to warm up quickly.

Anyways, just a few tips. Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy your trip!

Stefan

 

[ozvisiter]

Thanks for that advice, we will be there in April. My kids and I love Taronga zoo and all other zoos too so we can't wait to see the San Diego zoo.

We are thinking to see the pandas first thing, then do the bus tour later in the day. We are also keen on seeing the polar bears too.

 

[deletedpenguin]

You'll have a fantastic time, I'm sure. April is right around when SD starts warming up (though my parents said that they were in the mid 90F, upper 30c's a few weeks back so you never know). We'll be back in SD in March ourselves. Have a great trip.

 

[Ron Nelson]

Good Evening,

we are heading to the zoo on March 4, 2009 we have the booked 2 1/2hr VIP tour. Has anyone taken the tour? is it worth the money? do you see more by doing the tour?

any advice would sure be appreciated.

 

[DCDisney]

If you are going at opening I would take the Skyfari to the polar bears first and then it's all downhill to the pandas (and not that far) there is a bus stop near the pandas you can take back to where the tours start and then do the bus tour. Doing the bus tour before you've walked around really helps because some things you won't need to walk to see again. For the bus sitting on top on the driver's side of the bus gets you by far the best view.

 

[jessica52877]

I just wanted to add that we enjoyed the bus tour best! So much so that we did it 2x. I found the layout odd and maps interesting. We just couldn't seem to find what we wanted so toured the 2nd time via the bus.

We did take the sky ride to the polar bears too.

 

[Evil Genius]

Here is a website that you can get an $8.00 coupon for the zoo and the wild animal park. It works onsite and online. I just used it to get $8.00 off the 2 park pass. There are alot of other good coupons here too.

http://www.visitcalifornia.com/modules/funspots.aspx

 

[Ron Nelson]

is the bus tour and the 2 1/2 hr VIP tour the same thing?

 

[perlster]

The VIP tour is not the bus tour included with the Best Value Admission

 

[allgrownup]

I have a San Diego zoo question that I posted in a different thread but am hoping for 'first hand' experience.

We have booked/paid for the Grayline Transportation w/zoo tickets, coming from Anaheim to San Diego.

Does the zoo ticket that comes with that package include the skyfari and the in park bus? I see "best value" ticket online, but I cannot tell if that is what Grayline sells.

Does anyone have a definite answer?

Thank you!