San Diego Zoo Arvostelua 

One star — a deeply disappointing experience for our veteran family

We flew from Texas to visit over Labor Day weekend and arrived on Saturday with tickets purchased through the military base’s ITT office. I’m a disabled veteran, and this was supposed to be a special outing for our daughter.

One of the ticket PDFs supplied by ITT was corrupted, but I had both the original purchase receipt and the emailed receipt. We understood that the damaged PDF presented a problem. What we did not understand was the dismissive treatment and lack of meaningful help.

The employee we spoke with, Maddy, came across as passive-aggressive. She directed us to call ITT, even after we explained that the office was closed for the holiday weekend. We were then told to wait until ITT reopened because the tickets were valid for a year. We explained that we lived in another state and were only visiting for two days.

Their proposed solution was to purchase admission again with a 15% discount—still totaling nearly $200—and “see” about getting a refund later. Asking a family that already paid to spend that much again without any assurance of reimbursement was unacceptable.

We were also told we would receive a refund for the parking we had already paid for. Despite staff appearing to process it, I never received that refund.

My fiancé went back to ask whether anything else could be done because our daughter really wanted to visit. He described the person he spoke with as even ruder and more aggressive. Ultimately, we left and spent our day elsewhere.

As a family of color and a veteran family, we left feeling unwelcome. I cannot know whether race or veteran status played any role, but the way we were treated made us feel like nobody wanted us there. A ticket issue could have been handled with empathy, clear explanations, and basic respect.

We will never attempt to visit again. Other families, especially veterans and families of color, should be aware of our experience.

Such a cool experience! I loved the bus tour they offer and the diversity of animals is just amazing. Will definitely return!

The zoo didn’t evacuate on a hunch, we employees and guests were held in during a threat of public violence. Instead of informing guests and especially employees, the place functioned as normal.

The zoo is clean and easy to walk around. I wish there are more shade so it is easier during a hot sunny day.

The most wonderful zoo I have ever visited. Animals act happy. Clean. Able and enjoy the presents of the animals enjoying in their habitats. Worth a trip to visit from anywhere!

🌟 Appreciation for Lisa (or Linda) at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
I want to express my sincere appreciation for Lisa—or Linda, as I may have heard both names—who works at the Tiger Sanctuary entrance and the Tiger Store at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Her presence made a genuine difference during my visit.

💛 What Made Both of them Stand Out
• Sincere and hardworking — She carried out her responsibilities with real dedication.
• Warm and pleasant — Her kindness made the experience feel welcoming and memorable.
• Highly courteous to visitors — She treated every guest with respect and care, creating a positive atmosphere for everyone.

Both made a true difference during my visit. They were sincere, hardworking, and extraordinarily pleasant and courteous to every visitor they encountered. It is rare to find staff who bring that level of genuine warmth and professionalism to their roles, and I felt compelled to make sure their efforts were acknowledged.

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🐅 About the Park
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park, located in the beautiful San Pasqual Valley in northern San Diego, has been a beloved destination since its opening in 1972. As the sister location to the San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park, it continues to offer extraordinary wildlife experiences—and staff members like Lisa/Linda are a big part of what makes it special.
The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is already a remarkable destination, but it is people like Lisa and Linda who elevate the experience and leave a lasting impression on guests. Please pass along my heartfelt thanks and recognition to them — they are a true asset to your team

Thanks & Best Regards,
Respectfully Submitted,
Sridhar Rangaswamy ("Sri")
US Trademark: #5030763
US Trademark #SN 98620494:
"Promise Less/Under Promise and Deliver More"
"Excellence is not an act, it is a Habit"
"Honesty is the Best Policy"Be Truthful,Honest and Fair"

I love this so.i like walking around and not feeling crowded or rushed just walking around and enjoying the scenery.

STARTING IN JAN 2026 YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING. DO NOT SUPPORT THIS GREEDY PUSH BY THE CITY

The zoo itself is wonderful! The reason for the two stars is...
1. The entry price of $74 is criminal! I don't care how big and nice the zoo is! If I didn't already have a free pass, I would not pay the price! Give me a break! I feel sorry for families!
2. The panda exhibit was a big flop! There are two of them, and the view isn't great. The line was so big that it took forever to go through for 2 minutes of viewing. Such a disappointment!
3. If you have trouble with the heat and/or walking long distance, it can be very difficult because the benches are few and far between! Yes, there are busses, but more benches throughout the zoo are greatly needed!

We were very disappointed in the lack of animals at both the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Safari Park. When entering the San Diego Zoo, the ticket handler said "Enjoy all 7 animals!" I knew he wasn't lying because of my friends I'd spoken to about their trips to these zoos but I wanted to experience for myself/ourselves. Well, the bulk of money has been put into enhancing the naturally beautiful landscape which was magnificent. I give the landscape a 10. Everything else isn't worth more than $10. We had a guide for the bus tour known as "BRI". BRI was a pathetic waste of our time and an extraordinary irritant narrating stories about falcons as we just passed the camels and stopped in an in between area looking at nothing. Her voice was annoying & her style was to talk about BRI and what BRI LIKED as opposed to what the CUSTOMERS WHO PAY BRI'S SALARY LIKE. People on the bus complained during the ride because BRIS stops were not focused on good views of the animals and traffic wasn't a factor. This individual literally came across as some type of revenge employee given to us to make our zoo day even worse and more worthless which she succeeded in doing. The landscape is pretty, the animals are few and this zoo is a waste of money. Bri should be behind one of the cages cleaning the animals food bowls. Very poor and wasted time. Grade F for failure BRI. You shouldn't be working there. F. Oh, we saw apes, a few monkeys, tiger, lion, elephant and some amphibians. Never again on so many levels. F. F. F. F. F.

Was so much better years ago.

My family had previously bought year passes but not worth the price with so many blackout days (can't use your pass)

Loved the animals. Staff was friendly

This is review of the safari park rather than the zoo.
I had not been to the park in over 20 years. It had not moved on except of course the prices which were outrageous.
Overall I thought it was dull and dreary and dowdy. The animals fortunately looked ok provided of course that you saw them. Loads of antelope but not a lot else really. Giraffe ok, elephants ok. Saw some a tigers that looked a bit sad. Maybe they picked up the vibe.
It was far too much Disney and not educational in the least . Poor signage with no useful details about the animals.
Food stalls at every corner? Why?
I hope what they make supports food for the animals.
Overrated. Will not go again

I have travelled around the world and visited zoos in numerous cities. The commitment of San Diego Zoo to the health and care of the animals is the best I have ever seen. The zoo is kept immaculately clean, is organized well and staffed with the most lovely people you could ever want to meet. Donating to this worthwhile cause brings me immense joy for all that they do to protect endangered species and give the public the opportunity to enjoy these beautiful creatures and learn about them.

El zoo es muy grande y puedes pasar perfectamente el día entero allí, tiene multitud de especies y zonas habilitadas para el juego de los más pequeños con parques, toboganes y agua, cuenta con gran cantidad de fuentes de agua a lo largo de todos sus recorridos por lo que podrás rellenar las botellas, también tiene infinidad de tiendas y de restaurantes, el precio es algo caro --Como en el resto de parques temáticos--. Merece la pena visitarlo y sobre todo si viajas con niños. Por la tarde cuentan con actividades para los más pequeños con animales y tiene muy buen ambiente para toda la familia, cuenta con muchos baños distribuidos por todo el recinto.

Simply the best in the country. Annual trip for my family. The kids love it.

For over 40 years, I have proudly been one of the 250,000 sustaining members which annually support the mission and operations of the San Diego Zoo, a part of the SDZ Wildlife Alliance. Renowned worldwide, the San Diego Zoo is a must-visit attraction when in San Diego, California, consistently ranked among the top ten zoos in the United States for its prominence and innovation. In addition to being a sustaining member, I actively volunteer as an on-site information ambassador, assisting our visitors and sharing my passion for the zoo.

Encompassing over 100 acres of lush landscape, the zoo is known for its curated collection of plants recognized by the BGCI for their beauty and diversity. The zoo is also home to a diverse array of animals representing various habitats around the globe. The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is committed to conservation, education, and research, with active projects and staff in 8 hubs worldwide, focusing on protecting endangered species and their habitats.

With more than 3,500 animals representing over 650 species, the zoo offers an incredible experience for wildlife enthusiasts of all ages. Visitors can explore a wide range of exhibits, meticulously designed to replicate natural animal habitats. Notable exhibits include the Elephant Odyssey, Panda Trek, African Rocks, Polar Bear Plunge, Tiger Trail, and more. The zoo's dedication to providing spacious and enriching environments promotes the well-being of the animals and allows visitors to observe them in a natural setting.

Beyond the captivating animal exhibits, the San Diego Zoo offers an array of educational programs, shows, and interactive experiences. Daily animal presentations, captivating animal shows, and up-close encounters with some of the zoo's residents provide engaging opportunities for visitors.

With its stunning surroundings, extensive animal collection, and unwavering commitment to conservation and education, the San Diego Zoo offers an extraordinary and unforgettable experience for visitors from all corners of the world.

very good even have online viewing on the animals for all countries

I'm not a huge fan of zoos. I feel like they are kind of cruel to the animals. However, after going to the San Diego Zoo and hearing about their conservation programs and rescued animals, I was impressed. I also thought the amount of space and detail they put into the animals habitats was generous and not as cruel as other zoos/aquariums/things like that which I have visited. We had a good time.

I gave this review four stars instead of five because A. I still don't love zoos and B. The food/drinks inside the zoo were absolutely overpriced.