Trip report: San Diego “panda-monium”

Question

Last June, I visited the San Diego Zoo for the first time since I was four years old. I mostly enjoyed my first visit as an adult but was greatly disappointed to learn that the giant pandas were not yet on display. At that time, Balboa Park and the zoo were moderately busy but were not too bad.

Eight months later, San Diego is experiencing “panda-monium.”

I recently got the chance to go back when I was in LA on business and drove down rather than flying down from the Bay Area. I parked in the regular zoo lot and got to the zoo entrance around 9:20 am on a Saturday.

The first mistake I made was relying on Apple Mail to keep track of my online ticket purchase from two or three weeks earlier. Unfortunately, I discovered to my horror that morning that recently upgrading my iPhone to iOS 18 had broken Mail search, and Apple had failed to fix that bug. I didn’t have the time to manually search over 200 messages on my phone in front of the zoo. Since I was on a day trip, I had left my laptop in a hotel safe 70 miles north.

The staff at the ticket booth (both a clerk and supervisor) were unable to trace the purchase via both of my credit cards. The most the supervisor could do was offer to give me a 10% discount on a new ticket. He recommended that if I do later locate my earlier ticket, I should call the zoo’s customer service center and try to negotiate for a refund.

However, since I was buying at the ticket booth, the supervisor was able to give me a timed entry ticket on the spot for Panda Ridge, rather than having to scan the QR code inside the entrance.

So I decided to leave Balboa Park to do other sightseeing around San Diego—and get an early lunch much more cheaply elsewhere—rather than again tour a zoo I had just thoroughly visited and photographed only eight months earlier.

That was my second mistake. Over the next two hours, the entire Balboa Park area and most surrounding neighborhoods went from yellow to dark red on Google Maps. I headed towards the Inspiration Point overflow lot, and soon realized that all routes into the park from downtown SD were hopelessly jammed.

Fortunately, I had driven around Balboa Park last June and correctly remembered the ample parking along Balboa Drive west of State Route 163. So I ended up parking there and walking over 1.2 miles to the zoo entrance. Then I had to rush over to Panda Ridge, but got there at half an hour before my timed entry and had to wait.

Of course, by that point, all timed entries had been exhausted, so the standby line stretched all the way to Panda Shop and appeared to be approximately over a hour long. The entire zoo was completely packed with people. And this wasn’t even a major holiday weekend.

When I finally got into Panda Ridge, it was very fascinating and highly educational but also somewhat disappointing. The male panda was barely visible because he was sitting upright under a tree at the far back of his enclosure. The female panda was sleeping on a platform right in front of the tourists, but with her back to us, and the brightly reflective transparent plastic barrier made it hard to take a clear picture. Before the giant pandas, there was also a red panda on display who was much more active in its enclosure.

Later, I took the elevator up to the Bashor Bridge for a view of the exhibit from above. I was able to spot the female giant panda’s face from above and got a better picture.

Then I took the Skyfari aerial gondola ride across the zoo, the other big attraction I had missed in June because it was broken at the time.

So the point of this story is that if you want to see giant pandas, you should bring hard copy of your tickets, get there early, and do not leave the zoo.

Answer

Visiting the San Diego Zoo to see the giant pandas requires some planning, especially given how popular the exhibit has become. Your experience illustrates both the challenges and rewards of visiting Panda Ridge and the surrounding zoo attractions.

First, ticketing is crucial. Relying solely on digital tickets can lead to significant stress if your device or app malfunctions. In your case, the iOS 18 Mail issue prevented access to your previous purchase, forcing you to purchase a new ticket at the zoo. To avoid this, always have a hard copy of your tickets or store them in a reliable app that works offline.

Timing and arrival are also key:

Arrive early, ideally when the zoo opens, to allow time to walk to Panda Ridge and explore other exhibits before crowds build.
Stick to your planned zoo visit rather than leaving for other activities, as Balboa Park and nearby areas can quickly become gridlocked on busy weekends.
Use alternative parking along Balboa Drive if main lots fill up; expect a short walk to the entrance.

At Panda Ridge:

The male panda may be harder to see, often sitting at the back of the enclosure.
The female panda may be sleeping or facing away from the crowd; viewing from the Bashor Bridge or other elevated points improves visibility and photo opportunities.
Red pandas are more active and can be enjoyable to observe if giant panda sightings are limited.

Other tips to enhance your visit:

Consider the Skyfari aerial gondola ride for both fun and a different perspective on the zoo, including Panda Ridge.
Plan your route through the zoo strategically, visiting Panda Ridge early and then enjoying other exhibits without backtracking.
Be prepared for crowds even outside major holidays; San Diego’s zoo is extremely popular, particularly when new or returning exhibits attract attention.

In summary, to maximize your panda experience:

Bring a hard copy of tickets and confirm timed entry.
Arrive early and remain at the zoo rather than leaving for other errands.
Use alternative parking if needed and be prepared for some walking.
Consider elevated viewing points and other attractions like Skyfari for a fuller experience.

Following these strategies will help ensure a smoother visit and improve your chances of seeing the pandas clearly despite crowds.