Milwaukee Zoo Mom Tips

Our experts give you things you need to know before your visit in our Milwaukee Zoo Mom Tips!

AZA Membership: This zoo has free admission if you have an AZA membership (just pay for parking). So if you plan on going here, I’d recommend you get a membership at your local AZA zoo first!
Parking: In 2018 the zoo added a second parking lot, just west of the lot, still on Blue Mound Road. This lot is on the opposite side of the zoo, and is much smaller than the main lot. However, this one is SO much smoother! Rather than wait in a long line where they have you pay parking and admission, there is an automated gate. This gate gives you a ticket, which you can pay for at the walk-in admission booth by the entrance. We highly recommend you go this way – and you walk in right by the new (2018) otter exhibit.
Animal Feedings – We really like the giraffe feeding experience here. It’s $5 per person, and you’re up on a balcony with space to interact with the giraffes. The feedings are from May-September twice a day (10:30am and 3pm). Tickets go on sale starting at 9:30am, and they only sell a limited number. So if you are interested in this, go straight to the gift shop upon arrival to purchase these. We also found out that starting in 2019, you can feed sea lions here! It’s $5 and included in the sea lion show (I think). There is also a farmyard where you can feed goats.
Hilly – This zoo basically has three parts: when you walk in, you can go to the far left (farmyard), far right (bird house), or down the middle (Africa loop). Going down the middle you face an immediate uphill. Then upon completing the Africa loop and then heading around the bend to the far right, you have an even longer uphill. For this reason, we recommend going toward the birds (far right) when you start your day. After that proceed past the monkeys toward the Ape building, and do the loop counter-clockwise. This will be a little less hilly.
Strollers – Because of the hills mentioned above, this is a good zoo to bring a stroller. The zoo is completely paved, so no worries about uneven terrain here.
Extras – Similar to the Brookfield Zoo, a lot of things cost extra here. We know this, and can plan ahead to let the kids know if we’re doing any extras or not. Things that cost extra here include the pony rides, ski-lift ride, high ropes adventure, sea lion show, sting-rays (seasonal), carousel, and train. Of all of these, we recommend the train. The train loops around the entire zoo. There is usually a line to wait in, but don’t let it scare you – it usually goes through pretty fast.

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