San Diego Zoo or Safari Park on crutches?

[SoCalMomma2900]

We are going to San Diego this weekend. We planned on doing the Safari Park with my two kids, ages 4 and 8. However, my 8-year- old sprained her ankle and is on crutches, and I just saw that you have to be at least 6 for some of the up-close safaris. My kids are still insisting they want the safari park. Would the Zoo easier to get around on crutches than the Safari Park, or would they both be a mistake?

We've been to San Diego a lot but have never done the Zoo or Safari Park so I'm not sure what to expect. I was thinking if we did the Safari Park, I could sign up
for a cart tour so we would have a portion without walking...or a junior explorer safari, so we 're in a cart, but I'm not sure if that's worth the money. Has anyone done it ? I also saw that the zoo has a bus - is it easy to catch and get on and off?

I'm so sad that we planned on this as a fun spring break activity, the hotel is booked and now I'm not sure what my daughter will be able to do, if anything.

 

[sonnyjane]

We are going to San Diego this weekend. We planned on doing the Safari Park with my two kids, ages 4 and 8. However, my 8-year- old sprained her ankle and is on crutches, and I just saw that you have to be at least 6 for some of the up-close safaris. My kids are still insisting they want the safari park. Would the Zoo easier to get around on crutches than the Safari Park, or would they both be a mistake? We've been to San Diego a lot but have never done the Zoo or Safari Park so I'm not sure what to expect. I was thinking if we did the Safari Park, I could sign up for a cart tour so we would have a portion without walking...or a junior explorer safari, so we 're in a cart, but I'm not sure if that's worth the money. Has anyone done it ? I also saw that the zoo has a bus - is it easy to catch and get on and off? I'm so sad that we planned on this as a fun spring break activity, the hotel is booked and now I'm not sure what my daughter will be able to do, if anything.

Bummer!!! I'll be blatantly honest with you - both the zoo or the Safari Park will suck on crutches. No getting around that. I think the zoo is better because you have the skyfari gondola that goes from one end to the other, the express bus which you can easily get on and off like a shuttle, and the bus tour to get you around as well as a couple moving walkways (if they're working that day). The safari park has the tram ride and a handicapped shuttle that you can call but waiting for that can take 20 minutes or so. From my understanding, just the basic cart tour isn't worth much because they go on the same road as the regular (free) tram ride. It's the special safaris (I've done the one where you feed the giraffes and rhinos) that are worth it but as you said, your little one is too young.

You could also consider renting a wheelchair.

 

[Lisa71]

Safari park all the way..our son is mobile by has CP and San Diego zoo kills us..stroller most of the time due to huge hills..there is an elevator to the tram at safari park..we have had passes and love it there.

 

[Lisa71]

The Zoo is all hills and the skyfari is way at each end..and the zoo is huge..trust me and do safari park. We have not done the zoo in 4 years due to its mobility issues. Just my 2 cents...

 

[GenGen22]

I agree with everyone about the zoo not being a great idea. I took my dd when she was 3 and was in a stroller & the hills just murdered us.. on crutches would be so much worse. Id try the wild animal park if I were you.