Tips for Saving Money at Zoo a la Carte
The annual Zoo a la Carte runs this weekend at the Milwaukee County Zoo. (The event is now officially known as Milwaukee Journal Sentinel a la Carte, however everyone still calls it Zoo a la Carte.)
Attending Zoo a la Carte can be a lot of fun, however it can also be very expensive. By planning ahead and taking advantage of a little known Zoo policy, you can save yourself a lot of money while still being able to have fun. We have compiled these tips to help you save money at Zoo a la Carte.
Free or Discount Admission to Zoo a la Carte
Are you a Zoo Pass member? If so, admission to Zoo a la Carte is free with your membership. If you have a Zoo Pass Plus membership, parking is free too. Without the Zoo Pass, admission to Zoo a la Carte is as follows:
- Adults – $13.25
- Children (ages 3-12) – $10.25
- Seniors (ages 60+) – $11.25
- Children (under 2) – Free
Parking is $11. Limited free parking can be found on the city streets surrounding the Zoo.
Discount Zoo a la Carte tickets are available at Tri City National Bank locations throughout the area. Purchasing tickets at Tri City will save you $2 off the price of an adult or children’s ticket.
Saving Money on Food and Beverages
The appeal of Zoo a la Carte is of course the food. With 28 different food vendors this year, there are no shortage of choices. Food at Zoo a la Carte is sold using the ticket method (vendors don’t accept cash, only tickets sold at designated ticket booths). The key to not spending more money than you would like is to plan out your food purchases in advance. Walk around and check out the different vendors to see what they are offering and how much each food item costs. Once you have determined what you would like to eat, buy the necessary number of tickets. Following this suggestion will save you from having unused tickets at the end of the night.
Little Known Zoo Policy Will Save You $$$
The Zoo has a very lenient carry-in policy. By lenient, I mean you can bring pretty much anything you would like into the Zoo. Food, beer, wine…yes, you can bring it all! Bring your own beverages to save a lot of money. Some Zoo patrons even bring along the so called “cooler wagon” – a wagon to carry their cooler full of beverages. Fill your cooler at home, and spend your money on food instead. Or save even more money and pack lunch or dinner in your cooler.
More information about Zoo a la Carte including hours and a full entertainment schedule can be found on the Milwaukee County Zoo website.
For more tips on saving money at Zoo a la Carte, check out our post How to Enjoy Summer Festivals On a Budget.
Zoo a la Carte at the Milwaukee County Zoo – August 19th thru 22nd
For ways to save money at Zoo a la Carte, see our post Tips for Saving Money at Zoo a la Carte.
The 2010 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Zoo a la Carte starts on Thursday, August 19th, and runs through Sunday, August 22nd at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Zoo a la Carte is a fun way to enjoy the Zoo atmosphere with food from 27 local restaurants and entertainment performing throughout the Zoo.
Admission rates for Zoo a la Carte are:
- Adults – $13.25
- Juniors (ages 3 to 12) – $10.25
- Children (2 and under) – Free
- Seniors (60 and older) – $12.25
- Parking – $11
The musical entertainment is free with admission, but food tickets and zoo rides must be purchased for an additional charge.
There are several ways to save on admission to Zoo a la Carte. Of course, the best way is to get in for free! Zoo Pass members can use their Zoo Pass to get free admission! If you have the parking option on your Zoo Pass, you can also receive free parking too! This fact isn’t well publicized and, if it were, our guess is even more families would attend Zoo a la Carte.
If you don’t have a Zoo Pass, advance tickets can be purchased at Tri City National Banks. Advance tickets are $11.25 for adults and $8.25 for children. If you plan on attending the festivites on multiple days, Tri City National Banks are also selling a “a la Carte Value” ticket which essentially is a pass valid for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The adult value ticket is priced at $26 and the child value ticket retails for $18.
For full details on Zoo a la Carte, visit the Zoo a la Carte website.
