Which park is better the San Diego Zoo or the Wild Animal Park?

Answer 1

Wild Animal Park is fantastic. Sign up for the private safari tour -- it is well worth it!

Answer 2

The zoo is great, but it's location in Balboa Park makes it a huge tourist destination (and, of course, the fact that everyone says you ahve to visit it). You can do the zoo in 1 day if you decide to not see some stuff, but you really need at least 2 days to do it justice.

The Wild Animal Park is located in Escondido, which is a bit of a drive northeast of San Diego. I love it because the animals are very much in a habitat that better mimics the natural wild. There's a great tram ride that actually takes you out inot the park area. Bring your hiking boots, tho, because you will be doing a LOT of walking.

My own vote is for the Wild Animal park. I love the slower pace and relaxing atmosphere. I think the animals do, too.

Answer 3

It depends on what you're looking for. If it's information on animals and an up-close viewing, something for an adult and a child, then you have to pick the Zoo. It has a lot of walking, but there's also the breezy chairlift to take you over half of the park if you get tired. They have bus tours, but you don't get to see much because you can't get off and visit the exhibits. For kids, this is a must-see. They'll enjoy the exhibits and animals, and adults can take in the comfort that the children will be excited all day, but ready to fall asleep as soon as they get home. Another for-adults perk: I saw two Galopagos Tortoises mating. Drew quite the crowd that day (you wouldn't have to worry about your kids seeing this if you didn't want...it's probably not common, and the tortoises make grunting noises during this practice, so you'd know it was happening from enough of a distance to avoid the exhibit...plus it really just looked like the one was trying to climb over a rock).
If you want to learn about their natural habitats, you pick the Park. The WAP is huge. Massive. First thing you have to do is take the tram ride so you can see everything. I made the mistake of wandering the trail in 100 degree weather. Not fun. The tram is free (if I recall correctly), and you see everything. It's like that scene in Jurassic Park where they see all the various dinosaurs living together and running in open fields. You are a bit farther away, but they have the private tour/Jeep ride into the park that costs extra and probably rocks hardcore, but I don't have the experience myself. It doesn't have as much of a close-up feel that excites children, but they can feed a giraffe (costs money, but they love it).
If you have kids and you're in San Diego for awhile, a good idea is to get the pass that gives you 5-days of admission to the Zoo, the Park, and Sea World for about $100. Spend two days at the Zoo, and probably another two at Sea World (another must-see for kids), and a day at the Park.

Answer 4

I prefer the Zoo to the Wild Animal Park, better exhibits and a larger amount of animals. It's a bit more crowded, but worth it in my opinion, especially in summer when the Wild Animal Park is hot as can be.

Answer 5

If you have to choose one, the zoo. The Wild Animal Park is definitely unique though. It's very cool to see animals in such a large open area. They are doing a lot of construction right now though.

They have done some amazing things at the zoo in the last few years. The Monkey Trails exhibit is breathtaking!

Answer 6

Well the Zoo is bigger and more open while the Wild Animal Park is more cramped; However, the Wild Animal Park has the Safari ride which is awesome especially if you take children, they love it.
So I would personlly chose the Wild Animal Park.

Answer 7

Go to the zoo...in my opinion the wild animal park is kinda boring.