Has anyone done an unofficial party at the zoo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be very annoyed if my kid got invited to a free zoo party and I had to attend for hours and pay $30 to park.

Maybe the host parent can cover parking fees?

I went to parties like this, and it was fun! Most of the people I know took metro or just found street parking, so the parking wasn’t a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many years ago, my friend just invited everyone at a certain date and time, and we had a lovely day at the Zoo.

That's how most people do it: the majority of local residents cannot afford a pricey Zoo party! Also, FONZ does not exist anymore, and if I recall the parties were organized by FONZ - so you might not see them again for some time.

I went to a couple of unsanctioned parties and it was fun!

They new zoo mentality is that they are only for the rich, because they got rid of FONZ and affordable and beneficial memberships.

Yes, the free zoo that has never charged admission clearly has the attitude that they are only for the rich. (BTW, they still have memberships, and the reason they got rid of FONZ was related to the pandemic and their funding arrangement.)

[Anonymous]

The key is to think through logistics. Where will you put gifts? How will you carry the food and supplies you need? How many kids? How will you keep track of them? Do you expect parents to stay? Parking? (Depending on what time/day you go, street parking can be harder to find/not close.)

[Anonymous]

Highly recommend Green Meadows Petting Farm.

The zoo is too big for a diy party. It is a shame that they aren't offering parties anymore as they were fabulous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be very annoyed if my kid got invited to a free zoo party and I had to attend for hours and pay $30 to park.

I was thinking how annoying it would be to carry gifts and walk around the whole time and walk very far back to the car.

Meet at the car, the parent can get there early and tell people what lot they are in. Drop the gifts off at the car. Or it is a great excuse for the parents to have a no gift party. Maybe the parents can offer to buy the birthday kid a special toy to compensate for the lack of gifts.

But yeah, driving my kid there and paying to park would suck. So I would say that unless it was a small enough group that the parents could drive them all to the Zoo, it would be a hassle. Or if people live close enough to walk to the zoo for drop off and pick up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, many years ago, my friend just invited everyone at a certain date and time, and we had a lovely day at the Zoo.

That's how most people do it: the majority of local residents cannot afford a pricey Zoo party! Also, FONZ does not exist anymore, and if I recall the parties were organized by FONZ - so you might not see them again for some time.

I went to a couple of unsanctioned parties and it was fun!

They new zoo mentality is that they are only for the rich, because they got rid of FONZ and affordable and beneficial memberships.

Yes, the free zoo that has never charged admission clearly has the attitude that they are only for the rich. (BTW, they still have memberships, and the reason they got rid of FONZ was related to the pandemic and their funding arrangement.)

Fonz used to offer the unlimited parking benefit at around $90 to $100 a year.

Unlimited parking benefits now will cost you $1000 a year.

This is their lowest cost membership and the benefits are paltry.

Standard Membership $74
Members at this level get:

1 adult cardholder
Show your member card for walk-in entry to the Zoo, no passes required*
15% discount on in-park food and retail purchases
Discounts on stroller rentals and ECVs
Members-only e-newsletter, invitations to animal previews and exhibit openings
Free or discounted admission to more than 100 other zoos and aquariums nationwide
*Parking reservations required

[Anonymous]

we did this all the time with my kids when they were little. all you had from the official zoo party was a place to have cake. not really worth it. there is a traveling petting zoo you could book if you wanted to have the animals come to you. I did that for my daughter's 11th and she loved it.

[Anonymous]

I would do this if my kid wanted to invite no more than maybe 3 guests. We don't have a large car so we'd probably have the kids meet at our house initially and all take the metro there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be very annoyed if my kid got invited to a free zoo party and I had to attend for hours and pay $30 to park.

I was thinking how annoying it would be to carry gifts and walk around the whole time and walk very far back to the car.

Meet at the car, the parent can get there early and tell people what lot they are in. Drop the gifts off at the car. Or it is a great excuse for the parents to have a no gift party. Maybe the parents can offer to buy the birthday kid a special toy to compensate for the lack of gifts.

But yeah, driving my kid there and paying to park would suck. So I would say that unless it was a small enough group that the parents could drive them all to the Zoo, it would be a hassle. Or if people live close enough to walk to the zoo for drop off and pick up.

I have 3 kids and been to a lot of parties. I have also been to the zoo with others and I think it is literally the worst place to meet others. I say this as a person who has kids who love the zoo and have been to the zoo several times. People who are not familiar won’t be able to find you and/or you will spend a lot of time looking for them.

This sounds like a logistical nightmare.

I think if OP has ~5 kids dropped off at her home and she takes kids by herself, it should probably be fine.

I’m a very punctual person and I am always one of few punctual people for a party. You will have late people. Someone who can’t find your car. Stuck in traffic. Running late for x readon, etc.

[Anonymous]

Pp again. My kids have attended parties where both bday parties drive and may request another parent who wants to go. That leaves a lot more flexibility. That is assuming you have at least a few parents you know well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would be very annoyed if my kid got invited to a free zoo party and I had to attend for hours and pay $30 to park.

I was thinking how annoying it would be to carry gifts and walk around the whole time and walk very far back to the car.

Meet at the car, the parent can get there early and tell people what lot they are in. Drop the gifts off at the car. Or it is a great excuse for the parents to have a no gift party. Maybe the parents can offer to buy the birthday kid a special toy to compensate for the lack of gifts.

But yeah, driving my kid there and paying to park would suck. So I would say that unless it was a small enough group that the parents could drive them all to the Zoo, it would be a hassle. Or if people live close enough to walk to the zoo for drop off and pick up.

I have 3 kids and been to a lot of parties. I have also been to the zoo with others and I think it is literally the worst place to meet others. I say this as a person who has kids who love the zoo and have been to the zoo several times. People who are not familiar won’t be able to find you and/or you will spend a lot of time looking for them.

This sounds like a logistical nightmare.

I think if OP has ~5 kids dropped off at her home and she takes kids by herself, it should probably be fine.

I’m a very punctual person and I am always one of few punctual people for a party. You will have late people. Someone who can’t find your car. Stuck in traffic. Running late for x readon, etc.

I agree. I would only do this if it was a small enough group of kids that I and my spouse could manage all of them alone, and we'd transport them there ourselves. Meeting people at the zoo is a pain. Some people won't be familiar with the zoo and will have a hard time finding you. Someone will be late. Even if it's a no-gift party, someone will bring a gift. The parking lot will fill up. Some one will forget to get their parking pass online in advance. Hassle, hassle, hassle. Have a smaller gathering with one other family, or invite a few kids and take them to the zoo yourself.

[Anonymous]

Logistical nightmare. If you can't host at your house and are looking for something outside - just meet at a playground. So much easier for everyone. I wouldn't want to go to a zoo party. Its a PIA now with just my family, a party would make it even worse.

[Anonymous]

Not a zoo, but if your kid likes animals, do you live somewhere where you could do Squeals on Wheels instead?

https://www.squealsonwheels.us/


Or some other location with a petting zoo?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a zoo, but if your kid likes animals, do you live somewhere where you could do Squeals on Wheels instead?

https://www.squealsonwheels.us/


Or some other location with a petting zoo?

I'm a PP whose friend had a very successful birthday party at the National Zoo. There were 0 logistical problems. It's easy to meet up.

I did the Squeals on Wheels one year, and while it was darling, I was concerned about the ethics of making animals travel for human benefits. I'm sure the animals are well cared for at home (the owner is a friend of a friend), but should they be subjected to regular drivings, unknown locations and possibly undesired petting?

My child loves animals, and now she's a tween, we foster dogs for rescue. Last winter we had a pregnant dog give birth to puppies in our house. Now THAT was a heck ton of work, but she loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Roer’s zoofari is super cute.

The National zoo is huge. I would not want to do a party. JMO.

Roer’s (sp) has an issue with not taking proper care of it’s animals. The name and ownership keep changing but it has always traced back to the same family. The owners were asking people to bring vegtables to the zoo during the pandemic to feed the animals and there were soem disturbing reports over the care the animals were getting. We live in the area and refuse to go there.

+1 and they’ve jacked up the price. Also, they killed Waffles the giraffe. A heater caught on fire overnight and he was burned. Horrible place.