Which Zoo Is Better for Small Children?

The Wildlife World Zoo on Northern is only like $14 per adult (at least when I went last fall), I haven't been there since they opened the aquarium but I loved it. It's not quite as big so you can easily cover it in one day without having to rush. It feels like you are much closer to the animals the way it is set up. If you buy Hickman's eggs at the grocery store there is a coupon on the carton and usually those coupon envelope mailers you get in the mail have a coupon for them. The Phoenix Zoo is good zoo I just think it's better for older kids.

I think they are both good zoos. In my opinion the Wildlife Zoo is way overpriced. It's $28 for an adult. They also won't let you bring food into the zoo. The phoenix zoo is $16 for an adult and you can bring your own food and snacks. If money isn't an issue go to the Wildlife Zoo, but if want to keep costs down go to the Phoenix Zoo.

I think the world wild Life zoo is better for smaller ones. Now they have just opened the aquarium and have LOTS of hands on exhibits including a tide pool where you can touch star fish and a place where you can feed sting rays. They also have a petting zoo, you can feed the giraffes and a play ground. My 2 year loves it there. It is smaller and easier to see all the exhibits. I hope this helps.

Hi there,
First of all I agree with everyone that the Wildlife zoo is overpriced. It is awesome though. We bought memberships before the aquarium opened so it was cheaper. I take my 3 year old and my 1 year old there at least once a week and sometimes 2 or 3 times if we are really bored. We only live a few miles from it. I know you aren't allowed to bring in food but I always pack us a picnic and we sit in the grass by the ducks. Nobody has ever said anything........sometimes I have a whole rotisserie chicken with me. But I pack it in my stroller so maybe they don't see it. I don't know. I just don't like serving my kids hotdogs and nachos that they have there. If they ever told me not to bring it in I wouldn't but all the field trip kids bring their lunch so we do as well. The animals are so close that you could touch them. You can feed giraffes, ride the train, play on playground, feed ducks, pet stingwrays......there is just so much to do. I think it is overpriced but it is worth it to check it out at least once. Theaquariums are really cool. I don't like the phoenix zoo. There is way way way way too much walking if you have a stroller. You don't always see the animal in the exibits....they are hiding. The wildlife zoo feeds the animals right near where people are walking so they are so close it is amazing.

Hi N.,
I have been to both Zoo's and they are both good. But Wildlife is just wonderful you really get up close and personal with the animals they can't hind from you so you get to see all them. They do hide at Phoenix Zoo. The new aquarium is so nice you can also feed the stingrays and touch star fish. It is great it is a little expensive but very well worth it. Have fun and Good Luck!
N.

Wild life Zoo on Northern is great for little ones - it's not too big , it is very easy for the kids to see the animals, they get get up close. Alot of places to sit and rest.

The Phoenix zoo is great jus t alot larger

hope that helps - have fun!

T. Owen

Hi my family went to the zoo just a few weeks ago, we went to the phoenix zoo they have made alot of changes we loved it the Wildlife zoo is WAY over priced now for what you get I think.. We packed a ice chest and made a fun day out of the zoo took a picnic lunch they have a nice area to picnic. I would do that again..

Both zoos are nice, but the Wildlife World Zoo is very expensive, especially since they put in the aquarium (I guess they need to pay for it!). The Wildlife World Zoo is pretty flat and easy to get around, the paths are dirt,and you can pretty much see all of the animals. They can't hide as much. It has a playground and a petting zoo.

The Phoenix Zoo has hills and large. They do have a zoo train that you can ride (extra) and get off and back on again. They have more animals than the Wildlife World Zoo, but sometimes they're hard to see, they have hiding places. In the summer there are water play areas for the kids. They have a Fisher Price play area that's new for kids 5 and under, a petting zoo, and a playground too. They do have the stingray and shark area where you can try to touch them (extra price). Their paths are mostly paved. The best time to see the animals is in the morning when they're awake and eating breakfast. You can usually see them rather than later when they're snoozing and hiding.

I have a membership for the Phoenix Zoo. You get a discount at the store, a few free passes, a few free train rides, discount on the train, discount to the stingray bay area.

I don't know about not bringing your own food into the Wildlife World Zoo. I've done it before, that may be a new thing or I didn't get caught :). They don't have "real" food there unless there is now with the new aquarium (I think there's a new restaurant). It's been awhile, because of cost, that I've been there. Their membership is very expensive. It was something like $100 per adult and $50 per kid. If you plan on going all the time, I guess it's worth it, but not to me.

The Phoenix Zoo's membership is alot less. I paid around $120 and that's me, a guest (or a named adult, I chose to use guest so my hubby or my mom or my dad could go and not just the person named), and 4 kids. It's farther away, but that's okay. We make use of it. They seem to have a better variety of food, but still not great, in my opinion. We usually bring a lunch. Adults are $16, kids 3-12 are $7, seniors are $11.

There are coupons in ValPak or the other coupon magazines for the Wildlife World Zoo for $3 off a ticket. They do have a price for the zoo and aquarium or just the aquarium. I think the adults are $26.50 and the $13.95 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) for the zoo (2 and under free), and the aquarium only (5 to 10 p.m.), the adults are $16.95 and the kids are $8.95 (2 and under free).

It's a bit of a long answer; I hope it helps. Both are good and I recommend both. It just depends on what you're looking for and how much price matters, I guess. Have fun!

I volunteer at the WWZ...so i am prejudice but from a moms point a view I say this is a good one because its smaller and easier for a 2 year olds attention span. There is a bit less walking (carrying or pushing). The animals are more up close and personal so you can see them better. There is the great sky ride that gives you a birds eye view and you can hand feed the Lory's (birds) which is amazing and everyone LOVES THIS, as well as touch the sting rays in the new aquarium. The shows are fun too. Oh yah...and dont forget to feed the giraffes and hop on the train for a little tour. All boys love trains! This is not a sales pitch....I just love to spend my extra time there taking photos as its a relaxing atmosphere for me....my 2 cents!

Hi N.,
Both are great zoos with different experiences. I would definitely try to go to both at some point in the future. Both are very kid friendly and have play areas designated for little ones. The Phoenix zoo has more of a commercial feel, paved hilly paths and is a little more affordable, although the food is very pricey. The Wildlife World Zoo is privately owned, is more rustic with dirt trails and you get more up close and personal with the animals. Their new aquarium area is awesome! You can pet the sting rays for free. (It's $3 at the Phx Zoo) We love it. The downside is that the price of admission did go up, but I believe that 2 year olds and under are FREE. Also, you can always find discount coupons in the mail. And yes you CAN bring in a lunch. You just have to eat it out in the picnic areas instead of inside the cafe areas. No big deal. I live 4 miles from the WWZ and have a memebership there, so it is more affordable. Depending on where you live, I would definetely get a membership to one of the zoos! It is great to just go there even if for only an hour or two!
http://www.wildlifeworld.com/
http://www.phoenixzoo.org/
The kids will love both zoos.