Not your typical day at the zoo.
From zip line adventures to laser tag battles, the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens offers plenty of excitement beyond viewing hundreds of fascinating animals. It’s a must for your to-do list in Seminole County, which offers the perfect summer vacation spot near Orlando. You’ll enjoy staying at some of Florida’s newest and finest hotels for less than other Central Florida hotels and save even more with your
Wild Card. The new Wild Card offers savings on hotels, attractions, golf, shopping, dining and more. In fact, with your Wild Card, you’ll enjoy 20 percent off zoo admission. To get your wild card,
click here.
Beyond an amazing look at 400 different animals, you’ll discover plenty of the unexpected, starting with the
ZOOm Air Adventure Park located at the zoo. Though this is a separate cost from zoo admission, it’s well worth it – especially if you’re ready for some excitement. Three courses offer a variety of rope bridges, zip lines, suspended disks and other unique systems that let you literally explore the treetops from an animal’s perspective. Adventure seekers will want to do the Rainforest course, which culminates in a 500-foot zip line ride starting from nearly 50 feet in the air. Children can join in the fun, too, on a course created just for them. They must be 36" to 60" tall and at least four years old.
You can also play laser tag at the zoo (for an additional cost) with
Battlefield Live Orlando Laser Tag. Players choose from a series of missions that simulate combat and use lasers to play – a much safer and cleaner option than paintball.
If you have smaller children, don’t miss the
Little Florida Coastline Railroad & Animal Carousel Ride. Built in 1951, “Champ” is a miniature streamline train that replicates the famous Florida East Coast Champion. On a mile-long track, Champ will take you through woods, wetlands and a 110-foot tunnel.
When you’re ready to cool off, stop by the
Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground located at the front of the zoo, featuring raining trees, a water tunnel, a bucket dump and more.
If you want a real behind-the-scenes zoo experience, you can be a
“Keeper for a Day." This special program lets you work with the animal department of your choice for a day. The cost is $150.00 per person and includes lunch with the keepers. You must be 16 years or older and reservations are required at least two weeks in advance. Call 407.323.4450, ext. 123 or email
education@centralfloridazoo.org.
Plan your visit around July 30th or August 27th and you can join in the fun of Snooze at the Zoo! You’ll spend the night at the zoo in the Discovery Center and enjoy a close-up nocturnal animal encounter followed by an exciting flashlight tour of the zoo.
Plan your trip to the zoo with a great
hotel deal and see all of the other ways you can save during your stay with the
Wild Card. Then get ready for a getaway that’s wildly different.