VIP tours, what not to miss?

[Csgrandma]

We are fortunate enough to be going on an unbelievable splurge this summer. We just lost my mother and MIL within 5 months and are making up for the months spent at hospitals and missed vacations. We are taking my 6 year old grandson to DLR, Seaworld, Universal, Legoland, Wildlife Park and Zoo. There are 4 of us, as his mom, 27 and Grandpa are coming too.

I'm new to this board but know you are the experts. I have booked VIP at Disney, Universal and the zoo. I have booked the penguin encounter and dine with Shamu at Seaworld. I booked the kids caravan tour at the Safari Park. My biggest question here is about the zoo. The VIP people asked me what we wanted to see.

We've never been to California. What are the "Don't miss" special things that we need to add to our list? Do they do anything really cool for the VIP tour that I should request? We have to see pandas!

Thank you!

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm new to this board but know you are the experts. I have booked VIP at Disney, Universal and the zoo. I have booked the penguin encounter and dine with Shamu at Seaworld. I booked the kids caravan tour at the Safari Park. My biggest question here is about the zoo. The VIP people asked me what we wanted to see.

We've never been to California. What are the "Don't miss" special things that we need to add to our list? Do they do anything really cool for the VIP tour that I should request? We have to see pandas!

Thank you!

Are you referring to the 5 or 8 hour special VIP tours at the zoo? If so, these are a fairly new addition to the zoo, but it really is "pick what you want". You can't do ANYTHING you want, but if you love giraffes, you can feed a giraffe, if you love hippos, you can feed hippos, if you love birds, you can have a bird come and sit on your arm for pictures. Now, obviously if you lovvvvve lions, you can't go in and feed a lion lol, but you can do a special stop with their keeper and learn about them up close. The exclusive VIP tours are really designed to get you up close to the things that interest you.

 

[Csgrandma]

Thank you SonnyJane! Yes, I booked the 5 hour VIP tour and I really didn't know how to answer all of their questions. My 6 year old grandson is attending day camp at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago this week so I will find out which animals are his favorites. So far he told me alligators and aardvarks. Aardvarks? Are you kidding me?

We don't have any elephants here anymore. Our last elephant friend named Joyce has moved to SanDiego. We are hoping to at least see her but I think that is at the wildlife park?

So which animals can he feed that aren't too dangerous? Zebra? Monkeys?can he feed an elephant?

Any really cool smaller animals that I should request that maybe he could hold or pet? How close could he get to a panda?

Thank you!

 

[sonnyjane]

Thank you SonnyJane! Yes, I booked the 5 hour VIP tour and I really didn't know how to answer all of their questions. My 6 year old grandson is attending day camp at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago this week so I will find out which animals are his favorites. So far he told me alligators and aardvarks. Aardvarks? Are you kidding me?

We don't have any elephants here anymore. Our last elephant friend named Joyce has moved to SanDiego. We are hoping to at least see her but I think that is at the wildlife park?

So which animals can he feed that aren't too dangerous? Zebra? Monkeys?can he feed an elephant?

Any really cool smaller animals that I should request that maybe he could hold or pet? How close could he get to a panda?

Thank you!

Alligators and aardvarks lol? Sounds like he's going alphabetically lol. You can't get toooooo close to pandas, they are kind of our "prized possession", but ask the guides on the phone what the could arrange. You can't feed elephants but if you're really interested, you can tour their care center and maybe see the keepers interacting with them. There is a zebra at the zoo that can do photos...ask your guide again if that's something they could arrange the day you visit. You can feed and pet rhinos if they are available that day. Not a whole lot of animals you can just pet for fun outside of the Children's Zoo.

 

[Csgrandma]

Thank you! Is 5 hours of "absolute cool" long enough or do I need 8? This is a once in a lifetime thing and I want it to be perfect.

 

[sonnyjane]

Thank you! Is 5 hours of "absolute cool" long enough or do I need 8? This is a once in a lifetime thing and I want it to be perfect.

I'd stick with the 5 since your grandson is only 6. An 8 hour day of structured activity would start to get trying I'd imagine.

 

[Csgrandma]

That's exactly what I thought when I booked it, and then started second guessing myself.

To be honest, the 6 year old will probably hold out longer than his grandparents!

 

[sonnyjane]

How fun! When do you plan on visiting the zoo!? Let me know what animals you decide on

 

[Csgrandma]

What is with this kid? He keeps wanting to see the aardvark! Everytime we have gone to that exhibit, the darn thing has been asleep underground and we have to look through this window. We are going to try to get there in the afternoon tomorrow when hopefully he is awake? Is there an aardvark in SanDiego? Sheesh!

We will be at the wildlife park on Friday, Aug 3 and at the zoo on Saturday, Aug 4. That is the grand finale of our trip as we head back on Sunday. Before that we are going to DLR, Universal, LegoLand and Seaworld.

I'm tired just planning it....but so excited. Oh and the 6 year old and his mommy have no idea that we are even going on a vacation. Surprise!

Thanks so much SonnyJane!

 

[sonnyjane]

What is with this kid? He keeps wanting to see the aardvark! Everytime we have gone to that exhibit, the darn thing has been asleep underground and we have to look through this window. We are going to try to get there in the afternoon tomorrow when hopefully he is awake? Is there an aardvark in SanDiego? Sheesh!

So sorry to break is little heart, but no aardvarks here! You have two months to get him hooked on an animal that we DO have!

 

[Csgrandma]

Now I know I need to hang out around here until we find him awake! I'll make it happen at dear old Brookfield. I'm feeling better about my home zoo now! Thank you again!

 

[Csgrandma]

OMG! We had some pixie dust at Brookfield Zoo today! My grandson got to not only see the aardvarks, but feed them an avocado. The zookeeper was amazing and it didn't cost me a dime! She was excited that a 6 year old could love an aardvark like she does. That was awesome!

 

[sonnyjane]

OMG! We had some pixie dust at Brookfield Zoo today! My grandson got to not only see the aardvarks, but feed them an avocado. The zookeeper was amazing and it didn't cost me a dime! She was excited that a 6 year old could love an aardvark like she does. That was awesome!

Hooray!!!!