San Diego Attractions
San Diego is full of family theme parks and attractions. These are the most popular (and expensive):
SeaWorld San Diego
SeaWorld is the home of killer whale Shamu and a host of other marine creatures. See Chapter 20 for more information about this park.
Ticket and Pass Options at SeaWorld San Diego
Most people need only one day to do everything at SeaWorld, but you can choose from a variety of tickets, and they sometimes offer a second day for free.
Single Day: This ticket is valid for one day's admission.
Skyride and Tower: This combination ticket gives one ride on each attraction.
Silver Passport: This passport includes unlimited visits and free parking.
Platinum Passport: This passport offers unlimited visits, preferred free parking, reserved seating, and guest seating tickets, along with free admission to all Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks.
These ticket prices are subject to change without notice.
Type of Pass |
Ages 10+ |
Ages 3 to 9 |
Ages 50+ |
Single Day |
$57 |
$47 |
$57 |
Skyride and Tower |
no extra fee |
||
Silver Passport |
$84 |
$84 |
$84 |
Platinum Passport |
$164 |
$144 |
$144 |
Buy your tickets online in advance at www.seaworld.com.
Item |
Cost |
Parking |
$10 per day |
RV and camper parking |
$15 per day |
Motorcycle parking |
$6 per day |
Preferred parking |
$15 per day |
Breakfast with Shamu |
$19.95 ages 10 and up, $16.95 ages 3 to 9 |
Showtime Picnic |
$12 for adults, $7 for kids |
Behind the Scenes Tour |
$11 for adults, $9 for children |
Saving-a-Species Tour |
$17 for adults, $14 for children |
Animal Spotlight Tour |
$40 for adults, $36 for children |
Dolphin Interaction Program |
$150 per person |
Trainer for a Day Program |
$150 to $495 per person, depending on level of participation |
Wild Arctic Interaction |
$150 per person |
See Chapter 20 for a full description of these special meals and activities.
Discounts and Specials at SeaWorld San Diego
Children under two years old get in free.
Every Tuesday, anyone over fifty years old who buys a fullprice ticket gets a free breakfast and admission to weekly symposiums on a variety of topics.
During the off-season, SeaWorld runs special promotions, such as a second day free with the purchase of a one-day ticket. AAA members may also be eligible for a discount.
LEGOLAND California
One of four theme parks worldwide dedicated to the ever-popular toys blocks, LEGOLAND is in Carlsbad, California, about thirty miles north of San Diego. See Chapter 20 for more information about this park.
Ticket and Pass Options at LEGOLAND
Most people will only need one day to see LEGOLAND, but just in case you're besotted, there's a two-day option.
One-Day: This ticket is good for one day, all attractions.
Two-Day: This ticket is good for two days, but the second day must be within seven days after the first. It does not include parking.
Membership: This option includes unlimited admission with no blackout days, special discounts, newsletter, and LEGO magazine subscription.
Membership Plus: In addition to all the benefits of membership, this option offers free parking, a free guest pass, food, and merchandise discounts.
Ambassador: This is a lifetime pass with all the benefits of Membership Plus, admission to all LEGOLAND parks worldwide, an exclusive annual session with a LEGO Builder, and four free guests passes annually.
These ticket prices are subject to change without notice.
Type of Pass |
Ages 13 to 59 |
Ages 3 to 12 |
Ages 60+ |
One-Day |
$57 |
$44 |
$44 |
Two-Day |
$60 |
$56 |
$56 |
Membership |
$106 |
$86 |
$86 |
Membership Plus |
$132 |
$108 |
|
Ambassador |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
Order tickets online at www.legoland.com and print them at home. You can order memberships online, but the passes will be mailed to you. To order an Ambassador membership, call (760) 438-LEGO.
Type |
Cost |
Parking |
$10 |
Camper and RV parking |
$11 |
Motorcycle parking |
$5 |
Preferred parking |
$20 |
Don't forget to include these extra costs in your budget.
Discounts and Specials at LEGOLAND
Children under two years old get in free.
AAA members may be eligible for discounts or get a second day free.
Airline employees with valid ID get a 20 percent discount on up to six tickets per visit.
Active military personnel get a 10 percent discount on oneday admission at the ticket booth with valid ID or get a better discount at the ITT or MWR office on base.
San Diego Zoo
One of the world's most famous zoos, the San Diego Zoo is home to a wide variety of unusual animals and, of course, those cute pandas. See Chapter 20 for more information.
Ticket and Pass Options at the San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Zoo offers a couple of basic ticket types and a twopark ticket that includes the Wild Animal Park, but take a moment to figure out whether a membership might be the way to go, even if you're only visiting once. The membership options are summarized later in this chapter.
Admission Only: This ticket gets you into the zoo, but it does not include any of the extras such as the tram or bus tours.
Best Value Admission: This ticket includes unlimited use of the guided bus tour, express bus, and Skyfari tram.
Two-Park Ticket: This ticket gives a discount on a Best Value Admission and a Wild Animal Park Nairobi Ticket when purchased together. Both must be used within five days after purchase.
These prices are subject to change without notice.
Ticket Type |
Ages 12+ |
Ages 3 to 11 |
Admission Only |
$22.00 |
$14.50 |
Best Value Admission |
$32.00 |
$19.75 |
Two-Park Ticket |
$54.45 |
$33.55 |
You can buy tickets online at www.sandiegozoo.org or at the Zoo entrance.
Type |
Cost |
Parking |
Free |
Guided Bus Tour, Non-Member |
$10.00 |
$5.50 |
|
Skyfari Aerial Tram |
$3.00 each way |
Balboa Park Miniature Railroad |
$1.75 |
ENTCO Wild Earth Safari Ride |
$6.00 per player |
You can learn more about these special tours and activities in Chapter 20.
Discounts and Specials at the San Diego Zoo
Children under age two get in free any time. Every October, kids get in free if they bring along a paying adult.
Seniors over sixty years old get a 10 percent discount off adult admission, which is not available online.
Active-duty military personnel with a valid ID get free admission. Their spouses and dependents get 10 percent off the Best Value Admission only.
The San Diego Wild Animal Park
Run by the San Diego Zoo, this park is north of San Diego and offers a more safari-styled experience. See Chapter 20 for more information.
Ticket and Pass Options at the San Diego Wild Animal Park
The Wild Animal Park offers a two-park ticket that includes the San Diego Zoo, but take a moment to figure out whether a membership might be the way to go, even if you're only visiting once. The membership options are summarized later in this chapter.
General Admission: This includes entrance into the Wild Animal Park and a ride on the Wgasa Bush Line Railway.
Two-Park Ticket: This ticket gives a discount on a Best Value Admission and a Wild Animal Park Nairobi Ticket when purchased together. Both must be used within five days after purchase.
These ticket prices are subject to change without notice.
Ticket Type |
Ages 3 to 11 |
Ages 12+ |
General Admission |
$17.50 |
$28.50 |
Two-Park Ticket |
$33.55 |
$54.45 |
You can buy tickets online at www.sandiegozoo.org or at the Wild Animal Park entrance.
Item |
Cost |
Parking |
$6 per day |
RV Parking |
$10 per day |
Adventure Photo Caravan |
$90 |
Cheetah Run Safari |
$69 |
Cats and Carnivores Tour |
$25 per person |
A Taste of CRES Tour |
$49 per person |
Vet Center Tour |
$49 per person |
Target on Training Tour |
$32 per person |
Tour and other special activity prices do not include admission or parking. See Chapter 20 for a full description of these special activities.
Discounts and Specials at the San Diego Wild Animal Park
Children under age two get in free any time.
Seniors over sixty years old get a 10 percent discount off adult admission, which is not available online.
Active-duty military personnel with a valid ID get free admission. Their spouses and dependents get 10 percent off the Best Value Admission only.
San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park Memberships
The San Diego Zoo and the Wild Animal Park are run by the same organization. As a result, annual memberships cover both parks, and because it's a nonprofit organization, membership dues are tax deductible. In addition to the benefits in the following list, members get discounts on bus tours and on parking at the Wild Animal Park. Membership levels include:
Membership: Local membership is offered only to people who live in Zip Codes 90000 to 92999. Single memberships include one person in a household while dual memberships cover two. Members get unlimited admission to both the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park for a year, two free guest passes, a free Skyfari Tram ride, four discount guest coupons, and four two-for-one bus tour coupons.
Senior memberships are available only for locals, who get free Skyfari Tram rides, but do not get guest passes or discount coupons.
Koala Memberships: These kids' memberships include unlimited admission to the zoo and Wild Animal Park, a free Skyfari tram ride and bus tour pass, and six issues of a special magazine.
Diamond Membership: Good for one adult and accompanying guest or two adults in the same household, it includes free parking at the Wild Animal Park.
These prices are subject to change without notice.
Membership Type |
Cost |
Local Adult Single Membership |
$68 |
Local Adult Dual Membership |
$86 |
Non-Local Adult Single Membership |
$79 |
Non-Local Adult Dual Membership |
$99 |
Senior Single Membership |
$35 |
Senior Dual Membership |
$50 |
Koala Child Membership |
$21 |
Koala Junior Membership |
$25 (ages 12 to 17) |
Diamond Membership |
$126 |
It's worth spending a couple of minutes with a calculator to see if a membership can save you money, and don't forget about the tax deduction.
Join online at www.sandiegozoo.org/membership and you'll get two extra months for free.
