San Diego Zoo & Safari Park 2-Day Ticket: Is it worth it?

Planning a trip to see some creatures at both the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park? The 2-Day Entry Ticket might seem like an option that is attractive, so let’s look if it actually makes sense. It is a combined ticket giving you admission to both venues, so you’ll want to read on for a more deep look to decide if it’s a slam-dunk or not.

Breaking Down the Ticket Offer

Alright, so first, let’s talk about what this ticket actually offers you. The “San Diego Zoo and Safari Park 2-Day Entry Ticket” is more or less what you would call a combo pass. The basic premise is that you purchase one ticket that grants you access to both the famous San Diego Zoo and its sister location, which is the equally rad San Diego Zoo Safari Park. You get admission to each park for one day; it’s a “one park per day” situation. You cannot, like, bounce back and forth between the zoo and the Safari Park on the exact same day. That just does not work, I believe.

What that gets you, essentially, is the ability to spread your animal encounters over a couple of days, potentially making your trip a lot more relaxing. No running around like mad to try and cram absolutely everything into a single visit. We’re talking about *two* huge destinations, right? To give you some sense of scale here, so the Zoo is very much planted in the center of San Diego, while the Safari Park is way out in the San Pasqual Valley, north of Escondido.

The Price Tag: What Will it Cost You?

Here is what often makes or breaks these deals, that is the money. A standard 1-day pass to the San Diego Zoo is, as of now, in the neighborhood of $78 for adults. The Safari Park? That’s almost the same, give or take a buck or two. OK, here is how the math works, the 2-Day Ticket generally sits somewhere around $130-$150. Seeing it laid out that way makes it very clear, like that it’s not *that* huge of savings, you understand?

Consider this, though. Are you the type of person who will be there right when the gates open, and you stick around till they shoo you out the door at closing time? If that’s the case, so then maybe you actually *can* squeeze either the Zoo or the Safari Park into one solid day. On the other hand, are you more, like, the type of vacationer who enjoys a relaxed pace? The kind who likes to stop and actually *read* the exhibits, and watch those animals for more than just a few seconds? So if that sounds familiar, maybe this ticket actually would take a bit of the pressure off. The other thing you need to think of, anyway, is if you’re traveling with younger kids. Little ones tend to have limits on their attention spans, it seems.

Is the Extra Cost Worth It? Time vs. Money

You really need to ask what your time is worth, now that you know the money breakdown. A single day at either the Zoo or the Safari Park can very much turn into a marathon, if you are trying to soak everything up. Factoring in things, such as travel time between locations (the Zoo is pretty close to downtown San Diego, that is right next to Balboa Park, while the Safari Park requires close to a 40-minute drive up the I-15), parking, the ever-present possibility of lines for stuff like the bus tour, shows, that is really what can eat away at your day.

With the 2-Day Ticket, at the end of the day, you have the chance to chill out a little more. Instead of rushing from the elephants over to see the polar bears, that is what gives you the chance to take your time and just watch those monkeys goofing around for a solid half-hour if you like. More time generally means more opportunities for seeing stuff that interests you.

Logistics: Planning Your Visits

Let’s look how to, you know, play this right if you choose to get this ticket. Given that the Safari Park is a little farther away from most main tourist areas, I’d often advise slotting that for the first day. That allows you to dedicate the second day to the Zoo, which, being closer, makes it easier to roll into other San Diego happenings later that evening, like hitting some restaurants or checking out Balboa Park.

Pro Tip: scope out the layout of both the Zoo and the Safari Park before your visit. That will stop you from walking in circles. Both venues do offer apps with maps, show schedules, which are really handy tools to help get you oriented, which in turn, allows you to focus your time. Really know, though, that the Safari Park involves more walking; this is due to its size. Make sure you bring very comfy shoes. You get it? Seriously.

Maximizing the Experience

To squeeze the juice from your ticket, here are some extra pointers that you may like. Arrive early. Beat the crowds and head to what seems to be the most wanted exhibits. Think the Africa Rocks at the Zoo, or the Cheetah Run at the Safari Park.

Do take advantage of any of the extra tours or experiences that could be going on for an additional cost. Those behind-the-scenes tours can offer you a unique view and make you feel a little closer to those animals. Now, of course, scope the show schedule out. You may want to plan your day around the talks or animal presentations; some really have a tendency to be engaging and informative. They aren’t just, you know, cute animal showcases.

Pros and Cons

When it comes to deciding if this 2-Day Ticket is the correct choice, you need to step back, you see. Consider both sides to reach a better conclusion. You can look below at the potential good and bad of having this type of ticket

• Pro: Two days mean more time to have chilled visits, at the Zoo, and at the Safari Park
• Pro: Having time to see all is great for young family members who could be struggling running around the place to get to all the points
• Con: Is a bit of an uplift in money, and it won’t suit people with very tight money or don’t think two days are needed.
• Con: Having this option doesn’t suit those who just prefer spending a bit of time, instead of focusing most of the day and wanting to see more attractions nearby

So, Should You Buy It?

Here it is, after all the above, we have got to what really matters to you: so should you? I would recommend that if any of these cases apply, you can go to it

• Planning to visit the venues on separate days anyway, with the intention to dedicate time, or just can’t rush to all places
• It is not a lot more than buying for one-off days, and can see real benefit to it (eg, if 1-day cost 75, 2-days is 130, a difference of only 10 dollars and makes financial sense).

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