Tips for the Best Day at the Kansas City Zoo

May 28, 2012 4:00 a.m.

It's a summer tradition to visit the Kansas City Zoo. As one of the most popular attractions in town, we're excited that the Zoo is always expanding and improving for visitors. Discover the newest FREE attraction for families, a magnificent bird show, Soar: A Symphony of Flight and more tips for a fun-filled day at the Kansas City Zoo.

The Kansas City Zoo

Click here for Driving Directions to the Kansas City Zoo.

Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. weekdays; 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekends. Closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Note these Upcoming Special Events:

The Zoo remains open until 8pm June 25-29.
FREE admission for Jackson & Clay County Residents on June 30. Please bring a photo ID with your address.

Admission: The Friends of the Zoo Memberships are the BEST value if you plan to return and take advantage of rides, FOTZ Members are free. Also, membership is reciprocal at other zoos when you travel. Otherwise, admission is $11.50 for adults, $10.50 for seniors ages 55+ and $8.50 for children ages 3-11. Admission for Residents in the Zoological District (Jackson/Clay Counties) are $5; $4.50 and $4. Please bring a valid ID stating your address. Best Value pricing: Gold Package: $16.50 adults, $15.50 for seniors, $13.50 for children and includes train, tram and carousel rides during the day of your visit -- a savings of $1. Platinum Package: $20.50 adults; $19.50 seniors; $17.50 children and includes train, tram, carousel, African Sky Safari and boat* rides during the day of your visit -- a savings of $3. Boat will operate weather premitting starting weekends in April and May, and daily Memorial Weekend through Labor Day weekend. Due to this the platinum package will be reduced by $1 when the boat is not operating. Please note: Reciprocal pricing is not valid on best value pricing; reciprocal pricing is only valid on the regular admission pricing it does not include the ride portion. Parking is Free

Tips for a Day at the Zoo

Concessions are sold throughout, but you may bring your own picnic!
Bring sunscreen.
Dress comfortably for a day outside.
Plan to visit more than once. The Kansas City Zoo is large and it is difficult to see it all in a day, your children will be tired if you do! Check out the Zoo Map in advance and plan your day. Choose Africa or Australia, and include areas of the Kid Zone.
Plan to watch shows! Read the Show Schedule in advance and plan your day accordingly.
Pack bottled water.
Kids love to ride the train, tram, boat, carousel, and Sky Safari! A Platinum FOTZ Membership offers great savings on these attractions.
Bring a camera!

NEW & FREE - SOAR: A Symphony In Flight

We've long been fans of the Zoo's shows and demonstrations, whether it is the Gorilla Zoo Keeper talk, the Polar Bear Chat, Elephant painting, or our favorite, Sea Lion Feeding. All of these shows are worth watching and it's a must to grab a schedule at the entrance to plan your day with a few shows in mind. We have a new favorite though with this week's debut of SOAR: A Symphony In Flight! This bird show is engaging, educational, entertaining, and FREE... and it also happens to be inside in the air-conditioning (using a new set built inside the old IMAX theater), making it a favorite for families on hot days!

The professional and magnificently designed 20-minute bird show teaches children about birds and conservation in a fun-filled show full of action, entertainment, and humor... you never know when a parrot will tell impromptu jokes. You'll watch hawks fly overhead, barely making a sound. Birds will demonstrate eating catching food in flight. Others talk and sing. They all exhibit natural skills and the stage is set up to beautifully display the birds and offers many surprises.


Showtimes: 10:30 am & 2:30 pm Monday – Friday; 10:30 am, NOON & 2:30 pm Saturday & Sunday. Free with your FOTZ Membership or paid admission.

To see Soar: A Symphony of Flight

Tickets are available at Guest Relations or from the SOAR Attendant.
You must be in your seats 5 minutes prior to showtime or your seats will be given to those waiting guests.
Seating begins 20 minutes before showtime.
Your ticket(s) will be collected upon arrival at the auditorium.
Birds fly around the auditorium, including flights over the audience. If you have a fear of birds, you may want to keep that in mind.
You may take photographs and video, however, please stay seated through the presentation.
If you need to leave during the presentation, please see an attendant at the top of the stairs.
Food and drink are permitted in the auditorium; however, we ask that you take your items with you when you depart.

Begin and End with a Visit to See Nikita

Nikita, the Kansas City Zoo Polar Bear, makes his home at the Polar Bear Passage just past the entrance to the zoo. With indoor air-conditioned viewing, kids love to watch Nikita swim and play when they first arrive at the zoo, and again before leaving. Nikita was born on November 21, 2006. He currently weighs over 700 pounds and enjoys about 16 pounds of fish, 5 pounds of dog food and 1.5 pounds of lard each day. He loves to play with his many enrichment items and show off for guests. You can see him swim, dig, splash, dive and more every day at the Polar Bear Passage.

The Best View of Africa: African Sky Safari

The African Exhibit has been ranked as the #1 African Zoo Exhibit in America. The exhibit is home to African animals who enjoy a wonderful and large natural environment. While the wide open spaces prove to be fabulous for the animals, it can sometimes pose a problem for zoo guests who want that up-close view of a cheetah or a zebra. The zoo offers viewing decks that offer great views of the animals, and last summer the view got EVEN better. Visitors now enjoy a bird's eye view of majestic animals!

The Sky Safari is essentially a ski lift ride above the African plains exhibit at the Zoo. Riders view the giraffes, zebras, antelope, cheetahs, rhinos, birds, and more from an up-close view above the treetops unlike any other. The ride is peaceful and serene, offering a great view of animals as they eat, drink, and play. You hear every sound below (we heard chimpanzees hollering in the distance), much like a hot air balloon ride. The journey crosses approximately 1,500 feet at 35 feet above ground and lasts about 7 minutes. I recommend bringing cameras and binoculars for the ride (hold on tight) for an even better experience!

The guidelines when riding the new African Sky Safari include:

Children under 42" tall must ride with an adult
All riders must be able to sit up without assistance
Flip flops must be carried. (Notice my bare feet in the photo.)
All items must be secured including food, drink, cameras and sunglasses (dropped items will not be immediately retrieved and will not be returned in the same condition; our animals will probably use them as enrichment items)
Maximum 3 people and 400 pounds per chair
Only umbrella strollers will be transported on the Sky Safari; you may check your stroller at the employee-monitored stroller check at the ticket booths

And More, much More

This is just the tip of the iceberg. The Zoo is actively working on construction of a new Sumatran Tiger Exhibit. The Kangaroos in Australia are always fun to watch. The Tropics exhibit offers fun views of monkeys as they climb overhead, and children love to play in the Discovery Barn. My daughters love the flamingoes, and the elephants are an all-time favorite. What do you love most about the Kansas City Zoo?