We were so excited when we saw the announcement that the San Diego Zoo was reopening (again) after being shut down again due to mandatory stay at home orders! We have been annual members for years and couldn’t wait to visit the animals and do something familiar in our hometown during quarantine.
I was really apprehensive at first. I wasn’t sure it was going to be safe and didn’t want to put me or my family at risk of being exposed to Covid-19, but I also know I can’t live my life in a constant state of fear and after weighing the pros and cons we decided to give it a try. Plus we knew we would be outside the entire time and with the zoo being so open and spread out, we could easily socially distance from others.
And I am so glad we went! It felt like we had the zoo to ourselves and never felt like I was too close to anyone or in a compromising health or safety position. And I think the animals missed seeing humans and were just as excited to see us as we were to see them! In hopes you can have a similar family experience, below is some information and some personal tips that you should know before you go!
Be Prepared
We were very prepared with hand sanitizer, face masks, and even disinfectant wipes. We brought our own water bottles and plenty of snacks. We wanted to minimize buying any outside food or using any water fountains. Per California state mandate, face masks are required for all guests 3 years old and older. And they are also required even if you’ve had the vaccine! But if you forgot one, you can purchase them at the zoo entrance near the main shops.
Prep Your Children
Before we left the house we prepped both of our children with multiple reminders not to touch anything like ropes or railings, that they had to wear their face mask at all times, and we would have to leave it is was too busy. I also told my very energetic toddler that he would have to sit in his stroller the whole time unless someone was holding him or unless we were in a wide open area with no one else around. And honestly there wasn’t much to touch since we were just walking around outside the whole time and I don’t think my children touched anything during our entire visit, however, there were some children climbing on the railings, pulling on the ropes, and putting their hands and faces up against the glass encounters. And I didn’t see those parents sanitizing hands or even telling their children not to do it, so I would still be cautious! To each their own, but I wouldn’t have made the same choices for my children under the circumstances of the current climate. Germs of all kinds can be lingering so I encourage you to have a conversation about your expectations and health hazards before you leave.
Know When To Go
The zoo is currently accommodating less than half of usual number of guests. There IS a reservation system and it is first come first serve, and parking is also limited, so make a reservation in advance as some days will sell out and check the website before you leave the house for current wait times. The website has an estimated “current wait time” as well as a graph with typical busy hours to expect throughout the day so you can make an educated decision of when to go. We knew going on a weekday might be a little less crowded, but with work and school it can be difficult to find the time, so we decided to go late in the afternoon when we knew most people would already be heading home. Right now, on most days, the zoo is open from 9am-5pm so we didn’t arrive until about 2:00pm. When it’s late afternoon, the weather isn’t as hot, it’s less crowded, and you’ll see more animals at this time of day!
What to Expect
When you arrive, you will enter through a health check area where an employee will ask everyone in the family to answer a few questions about their health and who they have been exposed to recently. Once you answer the questions you can proceed to the front entrance.
You’ll need to have your reservation, your photo ID, and your pre-purchased tickets or your annual member pass ready to go when you arrive at the gate. They have large plastic plexiglass protectors at each place of entry where you will hold your ID and ticket up to the plexiglass so they can scan it through the protector. They eliminated the turnstile, so once your ticket is scanned, you just was through without having to touch anything. And I’m not kidding when I say that no one was in line so we walked right up and right in immediately. Once inside the zoo, I loved that they had 80’s and 90’s music playing on the speakers from the DJ area to welcome everyone!! They have maps available but since we know the zoo so well we passed. Normally we get them just for the kids to hold and look at, but we really tried to limit our exposure and decided not to try and touch anything!
There are green social distancing signs and circles all around the zoo as a constant reminder to keep your distance from others, which most people were good at doing. They also have more hand sanitizing stations as well! You are required to wear your mask the entire time and they have multiple security cars driving through the zoo to help enforce that! There are only a few restaurants open, so be prepared not to be able to grab a snack or a drink at the many locations around the zoo like you used to. Also, all of the play areas are roped off so children won’t climb and play on them. And some of the animal encounters have a barricade in front of it to protect the animals so you for get to close to them as well! The Skyliner is open, but the bus and shows are closed right now. But honestly, we didn’t mind. We wouldn’t have gone on anything that was closed, we really wanted to just walk around in the fresh air and see the animals!
Also, per the zoo website, during this initial reopening phase, “members and guests are not permitted to exit and re-enter the Zoo or Safari Park on the same day.” In the meantime, have fun and stay safe and healthy!
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