The zoo staff is what can make or break this exper...

The zoo staff is what can make or break this experience, and they most definitely deliver. I prepaid for my tickets and all the extras, only to have someone get sick and not be able to come at the last minute. I didn't think I'd be able to get a refund, so I didn't ask, but as I was explaining to the woman at check in why I had one too many tickets she told me to go to guest services and they would refund it for me. Well, I'd prepaid for this person not just for admission, but the sea lion presentation (spring for that! It was a blast!), the ride it all bracelet (worth it, especially if you have kids - and don't forget to ride the carousel as many times as you can, its covered with the bracelet), and the giraffe feeding (sounds cool, not worth it though). The woman at the help desk had be refunded for everything in 2 minutes, literally.

The attractions are really put together and interesting, the animals all look healthy and well taken care of. Honestly, a lot of the enclosures are as interesting to look at as the animals are, especially the elephant and rhino areas. As of May 2021, there are a few places under construction and a few areas off limits that I would have loved to explore, like the pachyderm building, but they're working on a huge new exhibit, and if the new elephant enclosure is any indication, its worth it to see what they're coming up with next.

My party consisted of 2 adults and 2 kids (13 yo boy, 9 yo girl) and our saving grace was the 2 backpacks we brought filled with water, kool aid juice coolers and snacks like nacho packs, granola bars, etc. We did stop and have lunch and the food wasn't very good, yet it was pretty expensive. But who goes to the zoo for food, right? If you have to, the waffle fries and chicken strips were not so bad. Next time, we'll bring our own lunch.

Overall, we had an amazing experience and will be going back.