# Zoo cancels free days **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 18, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560 "2012-06-18T20:03:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/21 "2012-06-18T21:56:47Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Maybe, but you can’t see Dokken and Quiet Riot at Disney World! Not out of costume, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/22 "2012-06-18T22:13:44Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > And it’s actually a pretty great zoo, too. Although I will admit that the price makes it a wee bit crowded on those perfect days. Members-only days are awesome, though. 🙂 Speaking of membership, that is one great thing offered by the San Diego Zoo. Membership is, comparatively, a real bargain. If my wife and i want to spend one single day at the zoo together, it will cost $84. But, for $109, we can buy a membership that allows both of us to visit as many times as we want for a year. So, basically, if we go more than once, we’ve more than paid for our membership. The membership also provides us with about $70 worth of ticket discounts that we can pass on to guests, as well as entry to the Safari Park, and free use of the Skyfari aerial tram at the zoo (normally $4) and the Africa Tram at the Park (normally $10). To buy a membership, though, you have to live in a Southern California zipcode, so a tourist wanting to spend two or three days at the zoo could not buy a membership to save money. Lots of other zoos and museums and cultural attractions offer membership that are well worth the money if you want to make multiple visits. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/23 "2012-06-18T22:19:27Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Lots of other zoos and museums and cultural attractions offer membership that are well worth the money if you want to make multiple visits. Absolutely. Even at a free zoo like the one in St. Louis membership is a great deal - it includes multiple free parking passes (normally $15 or fighting for limited street parking) and tickets to the train, petting zoo, and other ticketed shows/exhibits. And it’s a great way to “pay” for a free zoo. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/24 "2012-06-18T22:32:35Z")
I didn’t even know the zoo here in Houston had free days. Of course, why anyone would want to visit the Houston zoo in the middle of summer is way beyond me. And yeah, the Houston zoo prices are reasonable, because it’s not that fantastic of a zoo. It’s not bad by any means, for sure! The San Diego zoo can charge the prices that they do because of what it is. If you don’t know anything about it, have never visited, and you just see the price tag, the shock is understandable. But it’s really a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people who might only travel to southern california once in their life. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/25 "2012-06-18T22:39:21Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Amateurs! > > Come to San Diego. > > $42 for adults, $32 for kids. > > Oh, and “adult” is age 12 and over. \How much for retards?\ [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bfrQ8ZutmLE/maxresdefault.jpg "Dead Milkmen - Takin Retards To The Zoo") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfrQ8ZutmLE) ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/26 "2012-06-18T23:15:31Z")
I used to work on the door at a zoo- I tried to start a campaign for a scaled entrance fee based on sign comprehension: You think a door labelled ‘Staff Only’ means ‘Just have a nose round’? Well, we’ll start at £20 for you then. Ooh… you think ‘Please Do Not Feed The Animals’ only applies to food items, not random shit you have in your pockets, and really, it doesn’t apply to stuff like chocolate at all, because that’s not really _food_ now is it… That’s an extra £40 each I’m afraid. Oh! You didn’t even need to ask if the animals outside were through the door labelled ‘Outside Animals This Way’; that’ll be £2.50 please! _Much_ better system than simply adults, kids and pensioners. Of course, I’m sure under that system, all the dopers could get in free! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/27 "2012-06-19T00:51:13Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > Not out of costume, anyway. Nicely done. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/28 "2012-06-19T01:01:11Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Amateurs! > > Come to San Diego. > > $42 for adults, $32 for kids. For that kinda money, you should be allowed to bring your own rifle and go on safari. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/29 "2012-06-19T02:08:25Z")
nm… ---
**Author:** ![Astral\_Rejection](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@Astral\_Rejection](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astral_Rejection)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/30 "2012-06-19T02:22:54Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > And it’s actually a pretty great zoo, too. Although I will admit that the price makes it a wee bit crowded on those perfect days. Members-only days are awesome, though. 🙂 I want to also throw in my two cents, and say that the Saint Louis Zoo is indeed awesome. I live in Saint Charles county, and it drives me nuts that we voted not to support the zoo with our tax money. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/31 "2012-06-19T02:37:42Z")
Rodney Dangerfield: So I said to my Dad, “take me to the zoo.” My dad says, “If the zoo wants you they can come and get you.” Drum-roll. I don’t get no respect. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/32 "2012-06-19T03:17:34Z")
Best zoo I’ve ever been to is the Toronto Metro Zoo. Admission there is $25 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $15 for kids 4-12 (all prices Canadian naturally). ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/33 "2012-06-19T03:51:29Z")
Once at the Houston Zoo, I saw an elephant with a hard on. It was damned impressive. Word spread through the zoo like wildfire, and within 15 minutes, there was a huge crowd at the elephant exhibit. If the zoo could guarantee that every day, they’d probably have no trouble getting people to pay an entrance fee. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/34 "2012-06-19T04:21:18Z")
> [@laina\_f](#): > > Once at the Houston Zoo, I saw an elephant with a hard on. It was damned impressive. Word spread through the zoo like wildfire, and within 15 minutes, there was a huge crowd at the elephant exhibit. > > If the zoo could guarantee that every day, they’d probably have no trouble getting people to pay an entrance fee. And now you are ruined for life. Was that really such a good thing? ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/35 "2012-06-19T04:30:11Z")
> [@R.P.McMurphy](#): > > And now you are ruined for life. Was that really such a good thing? And now I had to go GIS “elephant erection.” As usual, the internet did not disappoint. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/36 "2012-06-19T12:53:55Z")
The zoo in Washington is free. You can just walk through it on a whim if you happen to be in the area. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/37 "2012-06-19T13:19:40Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > The zoo in Washington is free. You can just walk through it on a whim if you happen to be in the area. And it’s funded by the US Government & the Smithsonian endowment–plus other donations & paid memberships. The Houston Zoo’s pockets aren’t that deep. Not one of the country’s Great Zoos, it has improved considerably since my childhood visits. Here’s [some information](http://www.houstonzoo.org/coupons/) on discounts, coupons & free admission for some families. Houstonians with some income should consider buying family memberships, which will save money if they visit often. And not in the damn middle of our hellish summers! ---
**Author:** ![lance\_strongarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@lance\_strongarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lance_strongarm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/38 "2012-06-19T13:33:09Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > \How much for retards?\ > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfrQ8ZutmLE&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfrQ8ZutmLE&feature=related) Really fucking tasteless, jerk-off. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/39 "2012-06-19T13:34:00Z")
[The Houston Zoo says the reason why they canceled the free days was concern about traffic congestion keeping emergency vehicles from getting to the Texas Medical Center.](http://www.houstonzoo.org/revisedfreedays/) Which is more important: having a free day for poor people to come to the zoo, or letting ambulances get to the hospital in a timely manner? > [@laina\_f](#): > > Once at the Houston Zoo, I saw an elephant with a hard on. It was damned impressive. Word spread through the zoo like wildfire, and within 15 minutes, there was a huge crowd at the elephant exhibit. > > If the zoo could guarantee that every day, they’d probably have no trouble getting people to pay an entrance fee. I don’t think Viagra is approved for elephants, though. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560/40 "2012-06-19T13:37:12Z")
If it’s an issue with crowds and traffic, instead of letting everyone in for free for a day, just let the animals out for a day. Make them little box lunches, give them bus tokens. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/zoo-cancels-free-days/625560.md?page=3)