San Diego Zoo backstage pass

[metta4]

Has anyone done the backstage pass at the SD zoo. I am strongly considering it as I have heard good things and my kids are zoo nuts! Please let me know what your experince was and what all you got to do. Thank you!

 

[sonnyjane]

You're in luck! I used to work at Backstage Pass before I was transferred to my current department and still jump in to help occasionally. The minimum age is five, so all your kids apply. It is a 90 minute program that combines sitting and watching animals on a small stage with going to behind-the-scenes areas. The ones that are guaranteed will be feeding and petting the rhinos, seeing the wolf, and having your picture taken with one of our cheetah/dog pairs. The other animals you see will vary, but could include feeding the flamingos, petting a kangaroo, posing with a zebra, and others. You'll probably see at least 8 species. We have a photographer there taking pics the whole time, but you can also take your own. At the end you can buy prints or the whole CD. The one thing that is so crucial is that your kids follow directions Our female cheetah, for example, is super interested in kids with flailing arms, so we ask that you stay with your kids at all times. Also there will be a few times that we will say you can only take pictures from your seats (so you can't take pics of your kids with the cheetah bc you have to be standing with them for example.). Don't be offended, we have good reason to ask.

The current price is $99 PP and includes unlimited soft drinks. We cap each program at 40 to make sure everyone gets good interaction with the animals.

 

[metta4]

You're in luck! I used to work at Backstage Pass before I was transferred to my current department and still jump in to help occasionally. The minimum age is five, so all your kids apply. It is a 90 minute program that combines sitting and watching animals on a small stage with going to behind-the-scenes areas. The ones that are guaranteed will be feeding and petting the rhinos, seeing the wolf, and having your picture taken with one of our cheetah/dog pairs. The other animals you see will vary, but could include feeding the flamingos, petting a kangaroo, posing with a zebra, and others. You'll probably see at least 8 species. We have a photographer there taking pics the whole time, but you can also take your own. At the end you can buy prints or the whole CD. The one thing that is so crucial is that your kids follow directions Our female cheetah, for example, is super interested in kids with flailing arms, so we ask that you stay with your kids at all times. Also there will be a few times that we will say you can only take pictures from your seats (so you can't take pics of your kids with the cheetah bc you have to be standing with them for example.). Don't be offended, we have good reason to ask.

The current price is $99 PP and includes unlimited soft drinks. We cap each program at 40 to make sure everyone gets good interaction with the animals.

Awesome..thank you! Maybe you can answer another question for me if you don't mind,. How much walking is involved or are you transported? My mom just had hip replacement surgery alte May and will be using an electic wheelchair thingy and I am wondering if she can do this too. She can walk but not for long stretches. I would appreciate any thoughts you have on that. Thank you again. I have heard this is pretty awesome...I am hoping so!

 

[sonnyjane]

Awesome..thank you! Maybe you can answer another question for me if you don't mind,. How much walking is involved or are you transported? My mom just had hip replacement surgery alte May and will be using an electic wheelchair thingy and I am wondering if she can do this too. She can walk but not for long stretches. I would appreciate any thoughts you have on that. Thank you again. I have heard this is pretty awesome...I am hoping so!

There is not much walking involved, but it is also not 100% wheelchair accessible simply because in some cases, you actually go inside of an animal exhibit. There is a ramp to get into the seating area and she can either use the ECV as her chair, or can transfer to the chairs near stage. She can also use the ECV to get to the rhino experience. To pet the rhino, there are two or three small steps to get up so you can pet the rhino's back. If she doesn't want to do the steps, though, she can bring the wheelchair up to the side rail and pet the rhino's side, but the back makes for a little better picture. After the rhino portion and another animal or two on stage, the group usually all walks over to the behind-the-scenes area, which is only about 100 yards away or so. She can bring the ECV with her there, as there are ramps to get into that area as well. The only part that she can't use the ECV for that comes to mind currently is the flamingo feeding, because you walk into the grass enclosure (nothing in the enclosure is paved). The staff usually makes decisions on what animals to visit based on the number of guests and any limitations those guests might have. If there is a person that is in a wheelchair and can not walk at all, they will usually skip the flamingos in favor of something in another area, so please be sure to tell the staff at the front gate that she can (or can't) walk and they will plan the program accordingly.

I know they have put in requests to make ALL portions ADA-approved, but it's a long process of contracting bids and planning with animal care staff since they are animal enclosures and what makes things convenient for people isn't always safe for animals. The program has only been around since 2009, so there are still a lot of things they're tweaking.

Having worked there, I'll say that I have heard many guests balk at the high price, but fortunately I have heard the majority really rave about the program. Yes, it is expensive, but the fact that you get to meet several exotic animals, feed and pet many of them, and have your picture taken with most of them really makes it a bargain. Honestly the rhino feeding and petting alone almost makes it worth the price. Some of the complaints I have heard include not being able to pet the cheetah or wolf, but the USDA has strict regulations about what animals can and cannot be touched and obviously those rules are there for the GUESTS' safety! We don't just do it to be mean lol. During the program, feel free to ask questions of the trainers. It's your time so make the most out of it. Do understand that they try to fit in as many animals as possible into that 90 minutes, so if you feel as though they are rushing from station to station, it's because we want you to meet as many critters as you can to get your money's worth! For example, during the photos, you'll pretty much be ushered through the line quickly and that's because the animals will only sit pretty for you as long as they have treats, and "when you're out of treats, you're out of time!" lol! Don't take it personally, they just want everyone to get a chance at a great photo.

Let me know if you have any other questions! Right now I am training birds and doing presentations near the front entrance but I'm still pretty close with the BSP crew

 

[Kathy Z]

Gotta love the Disboards! We have one day in September to go to the San Diego Zoo and I found this thread very interesting. Do you know the price of the CD we could purchase if we go on the backstage pass tour?

 

[sonnyjane]

Gotta love the Disboards! We have one day in September to go to the San Diego Zoo and I found this thread very interesting. Do you know the price of the CD we could purchase if we go on the backstage pass tour?

I believe it's $40. You can also buy individual prints.

 

[metta4]

There is not much walking involved, but it is also not 100% wheelchair accessible simply because in some cases, you actually go inside of an animal exhibit. There is a ramp to get into the seating area and she can either use the ECV as her chair, or can transfer to the chairs near stage. She can also use the ECV to get to the rhino experience. To pet the rhino, there are two or three small steps to get up so you can pet the rhino's back. If she doesn't want to do the steps, though, she can bring the wheelchair up to the side rail and pet the rhino's side, but the back makes for a little better picture. After the rhino portion and another animal or two on stage, the group usually all walks over to the behind-the-scenes area, which is only about 100 yards away or so. She can bring the ECV with her there, as there are ramps to get into that area as well. The only part that she can't use the ECV for that comes to mind currently is the flamingo feeding, because you walk into the grass enclosure (nothing in the enclosure is paved). The staff usually makes decisions on what animals to visit based on the number of guests and any limitations those guests might have. If there is a person that is in a wheelchair and can not walk at all, they will usually skip the flamingos in favor of something in another area, so please be sure to tell the staff at the front gate that she can (or can't) walk and they will plan the program accordingly.

I know they have put in requests to make ALL portions ADA-approved, but it's a long process of contracting bids and planning with animal care staff since they are animal enclosures and what makes things convenient for people isn't always safe for animals. The program has only been around since 2009, so there are still a lot of things they're tweaking.

Having worked there, I'll say that I have heard many guests balk at the high price, but fortunately I have heard the majority really rave about the program. Yes, it is expensive, but the fact that you get to meet several exotic animals, feed and pet many of them, and have your picture taken with most of them really makes it a bargain. Honestly the rhino feeding and petting alone almost makes it worth the price. Some of the complaints I have heard include not being able to pet the cheetah or wolf, but the USDA has strict regulations about what animals can and cannot be touched and obviously those rules are there for the GUESTS' safety! We don't just do it to be mean lol. During the program, feel free to ask questions of the trainers. It's your time so make the most out of it. Do understand that they try to fit in as many animals as possible into that 90 minutes, so if you feel as though they are rushing from station to station, it's because we want you to meet as many critters as you can to get your money's worth! For example, during the photos, you'll pretty much be ushered through the line quickly and that's because the animals will only sit pretty for you as long as they have treats, and "when you're out of treats, you're out of time!" lol! Don't take it personally, they just want everyone to get a chance at a great photo.

Let me know if you have any other questions! Right now I am training birds and doing presentations near the front entrance but I'm still pretty close with the BSP crew

Again thank you so much! I apprecitate it! You are a wonderful resource. DH, the kids and I are all going to do it..just need for mom to decide if she wants to give it a try! Thank you again for all the information! I am soooo excited to go!

 

[TexasTravelGirl]

Just stumbled across this, I am going to San Diego in July ( I am going for comic con, but I do not have Thurs or Fri Tickets, so I am DEF going to the zoo and I was wondering about this tour.

I trust Disney fans, so if you say is good, then I believe ya!

I did the Wild Africa Trek this past Feb and loved every min of it, so I am wondering if this is the same.

Anyone know how much the CD is? Just so I can budget?

Thanks!

 

[emelie]

This sounds soooo cool!!! We will definitely be doing this our last day in Cali! We don't have anything like that her so I know my kids will love it. One question, I know you said it's $99 a person so I'm just wondering do the parents have to pay too or just the kids that are doing it?
Thanks in advance!!!
Em