San Diego Zoo Admission - Am I missing something?

Question

We are 2 adults looking to go to the San Diego Zoo on a weekday.

I can buy 2 Value Day tickets for $144.

I can buy a 1 year Wildlife Protector Pass for $139. That pass would get one of us in plus comes with 1 complimentary 1-day pass and a 10% discount on food and merchandise. So 1 pass would get both of us in, correct?

So it’s better to get 1 annual pass even if we don’t come back within a year. Or am I missing something?

Thanks for double checking me before I make the purchase.

Answer

For two adults planning to visit the San Diego Zoo on a weekday, it’s good to carefully compare the ticket options.

Here’s how the pricing works:

Two Value Day tickets: $144 total. Each person pays $72 for a single day entry.
Wildlife Protector Annual Pass: $139. This pass covers one adult and includes one complimentary 1-day guest pass, so in effect, both of you can enter using this option.

Additional benefits of the annual pass include:

10% discount on food and merchandise inside the zoo.
Free or discounted admission to other participating San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance locations (if you are interested in exploring more).

Based on these numbers, buying the annual Wildlife Protector Pass is slightly cheaper than two Value Day tickets ($139 vs $144) for your first visit, and it also provides the added benefits listed above. Even if you don’t plan to return within the year, the complimentary guest pass effectively covers the second adult’s entry, making it a good value.

One consideration:

If you were planning on a very short visit without spending on food or merchandise, the savings are minimal ($5) compared to Value Day tickets. But if you plan to buy snacks or souvenirs, the 10% discount adds further value.

In summary, yes—purchasing one Wildlife Protector Annual Pass is enough to cover both of you, and it’s slightly better value than buying two Value Day tickets, even if you only visit once.

San Diego Zoo Admission - Am I missing something?

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