RESERVATION REQUIRED
Officials say move is meant to ensure safe operations
Kan Sritong and his wife, Gail, along with their daughter, Vala, from Serra Mesa check in at the front gate of the San Diego Zoo Wednesday. The zoo and Safari Park will begin requiring guests to make reser vations before visiting.
The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park will require guests to make reservations before visiting as local COVID-19 cases remain elevated ahead of the holiday season.
The zoo expects to have its new reservation system up and running by Saturday, though it is a work in progress. All visitors over 3 years old will need a ticket or membership, as well as a reservation.
“We’re converting to a reservation system similar to what a lot of other attractions and theme parks around the country have done,” said Michelle Israel, corporate director of sales and membership. “We don’t see it changing.”
Since June, the zoo and Safari Park have been operating at reduced capacity under state health guidelines, which allow outdoor zoos to open.
But up until now they haven’t required reservations.
Israel expects an uptick in visitors during the holidays. By requiring reservations, the parks can better operate safely and avoid long lines as visitors queue up for health screenings before entering.
“We want to act out of an abundance of caution,” she said. “We do expect to have demand. We want to spread them out. We want to give them a day where they can come in and know it is going to be available.”
Israel declined to discuss current capacity, saying it has changed over time and likely will change again. When the parks first reopened in June, they initially operated below 50 percent of normal capacity, with no more than 5,000 people at the zoo or 3,000 at the Safari Park at a given time.
The parks recommend visitors purchase tickets in advance either through the zoo’s website, or at local visitor centers and military bases where they’re usually sold.
Annual membership pass holders will have a pool of reservation slots set aside each day. Members make reservations through a separate portal on the zoo’s website.
Some tickets will be available at the gate for visitors without reservations. But these guests may have to wait before entering, akin to walk-ins at a busy restaurant.
To make a reservation and purchase tickets, visit the parks’ website at https:// zoo.sandiegozoo.org/.