What We Do in the Lou - updated 7/31/15 with Superhero Sunday @ the Melting Pot - Page 7 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
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We go on to the joy and through the tears
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It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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The zoo has keeper for a day programs and tours for kids. I've looked at them but haven't pulled the trigger.....yet.
My future zookeeper son has done summer camp at our local zoo since he was a preschooler and loves it.
Kelli (or Dot), can you give me some info on the parking at the botanical gardens? I noticed that they open in the evening 6:30 but don't light the lanterns until 8pm. Do you think we would have trouble with parking if we arrived closer to 7pm? I'm just afraid that if we get there too soon we (or should I say son and hubby) will get bored before it gets dark.
It's a bit pricey, so I will have to see if we can add it to the budget.
There's a pretty substantial parking lot and there's nearby parking lots of the main lot is full. If you're in the area and want to see the lanterns at night, I suggest going early to purchase tickets or I think you can online too. Sometimes it sells out.
And stay tuned....we went to the zoo this evening and saw the new polar bear exhibit!
There's a pretty substantial parking lot and there's nearby parking lots of the main lot is full. If you're in the area and want to see the lanterns at night, I suggest going early to purchase tickets or I think you can online too. Sometimes it sells out.
And stay tuned....we went to the zoo this evening and saw the new polar bear exhibit!
Thanks for the info--if we end up adding it to our itinerary, I was planning to get the tix in advance.
Back to the zoo for us! Tonight was a special member preview for the new Polar Bear exhibit that would open to the public the next day. I left work an hour early since all the boys would be home early anyway. We met at home, packed some sandwiches and chips for dinner and headed out. My parents were meeting us there as well since they just became members too. During the summer the zoo is open until 7pm on weekends and on Fridays they have concerts until 8pm.
We arrived a little after 4pm and the boys wanted to ride the train (thank you zoo membership!), so we did that first before my parents arrived.
The elephants were enjoying a more private area today - this area can only be seen from the train.
Mom & Dad were there as soon as we got off the train so we went through River’s Edge to see the animals before seeing the polar bear. We stopped part way through the path to eat dinner at a picnic area. I love that we can save money by bringing our own food in here. We do get drinks, but we bought a souvenir cup a while back and it costs $0.90 (with a 10% discount from the membership) to refill and you don’t have to buy a new cup every year.
THere were still a few elephants in the regular viewing area.
After the trail, Dad wanted a sno cone so we went to the food counter, but they didn’t have any. He settled on an ice, the boys got frog spit (lime sherbert) and Mom had some sort of chocolate cone – Mike & I didn’t want anything. We took our snacks to go as it was getting close to 7 and I didn’t want to miss seeing the polar bear!
There was a check-in desk to show your membership card and mom and dad had gone ahead and were checked in. I pulled mine out and the guy told me it was expired. What?! I’d gotten into the parking lot and train tickets with the same card. Sure enough, it was expired, but luckily mom & dad were still close and we were let in with them. (I still need to find the current card.)
First we went to see the penguins, quickly, as it’s chilly in there! Then, just like Disney, we were dumped in a store where Grandma gave in and bought the boys polar bear stuffed animals. At least tonight was 20% off.
Finally, it was time to see the polar bear, Kali, pronounced "Cully”), a 2 ½ year-old, 850-pound male polar bear that was orphaned in Alaska. In March 2013, the orphaned bear was turned over to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) by an Alaska Native hunter who killed Kali’s mother in a subsistence hunt without realizing the mother had a cub. USFWS determined that St. Louis would be the bear’s permanent home, working with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Polar Bear Species Survival Plan (SSP).
The zookeeper said he'd had a rough day of playing and swimming and was taking a good nap.
The zookeeper is on the right. She also said Kali's nose comes to the top of those doors!
After seeing Kali, the boys wanted to ride the carousel so Mike went on with them.
They had a mister set up near the carousel and the boys had fun playing in it for a while.
It was now time to go, we listened the band as we walked out and headed home. We look forward to going back and seeing Kali swimming in his pool!
I wouldn't worry overly much about parking at the garden for Lantern Festival.
I think it's like the holiday season light display, Garden Glow, where you buy tickets for a specific entry time, something like a Disney FP start time, so how many people are there at once is somewhat regulated.
Where you can go is cordoned off and somewhat carefully patrolled by volunteer help, I expect, since I saw far more lines stretched along a specific path than is usual merely to protect plants. Only that pathway would be open during lantern hours, I bet. Most likely, the outlying areas such as the Bavarian, Japanese and home garden would be off limits. That was how it was for Garden Glow.
That your access is carefully restricted means most people are likely to spend 45 minutes to an hour at most seeing the various lanterns which are scattered in a central location.
We were done at Garden Glow in roughly a half hour when we did it even though you could make the circuit more than once if you wished. I expect Lantern Festival would be similar.
I would definitely get advance tickets, especially if you plan to do this on a weekend. We generally avoid the garden altogether on summer weekends; it is such a popular tourist site.
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I love your trips to the zoo! Good thing your parents were with you so you could get in to see Kali. Your zoo is so lovely just as a park, even without the animals. I know I'll never get to see it, but it makes me happy to know it's there!
What a wonderful time you had at the zoo - and how neat to get a preview of the new polar bear enclosure!
It was so neat to see him with a smaller crowd. Can't wait to see him when he's awake!
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great pics from the zoo!
Thanks!
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Originally Posted by Poobah7206
I <3 the hippos pictures esp. the underwater one. It seems like there is always something new/different to see at the zoo.
The hippos are always fun. They're usually quite active.
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Originally Posted by lauriep
I love your trips to the zoo! Good thing your parents were with you so you could get in to see Kali. Your zoo is so lovely just as a park, even without the animals. I know I'll never get to see it, but it makes me happy to know it's there!
I really need to look into our card. I'm hoping I just put the wrong one in my wallet. I'm assuming the member # is what allowed me to get into the parking lot and train tickets.
I tried to take more photos of the surroundings this time. I'm sorry you won't be able to see it, but am happy to help you 'see' it in pictures. The bes part about the zoo - is that most of it is FREE!
Dylan had gone to the zoo the day before with his summer camp and got to see things we didn't see the evening we went so he was quite a happy camper!
Love that membership has its perks! I love all the photos of the animals, and every time you all go to the zoo, I want to head back to St. Louis just for that. The first time we went I was mainly looking forward to seeing the penguins, but for some reason I no longer remember their area was closed that day. Your pictures of them are so cute.
PassPorter's Free-Book to Walt Disney World It’s hard to believe anything is free at Walt Disney World; but there are actually a number of things you can get or do for little to no cost. This e-book documents over 200 free or cheap tips to do before you go and after you arrive. You could save a considerable amount of money following these tips. Perhaps more importantly; you can discover overlooked attractions and little-known details most people whiz by on their way to spend money. Click here to see free sample pages from the e-book! Get this popular e-book free of extra charges when you join the PassPorter's Club for as little as $4.95. A club pass includes access to all our other e-books; e-worksheets; super-size photos; and more! This e-book is also available for separate purchase in the PassPorter Online Store for just $5.95.
Love that membership has its perks! I love all the photos of the animals, and every time you all go to the zoo, I want to head back to St. Louis just for that. The first time we went I was mainly looking forward to seeing the penguins, but for some reason I no longer remember their area was closed that day. Your pictures of them are so cute.
The zoo has changed so much in these past few years - all for the better! The penguins (and puffins) were closed while the polar bear exhibit was being built, but are now open so I would imagine they won't close for quite some time again.
I think next on the agenda is new bear pits.
Kelly, any lunch suggestions at the zoo? My son is pretty picky (hot dogs and cheese pizza are his go-tos), but just wondering if there are any more interesting eateries there.
I'm having a garage sale at the end of the month--hoping to earn enough to pay for the lantern fest tickets.
You'll be able to find those guys pretty much anywhere. Cafe Kudu is in the Living World and it was just redone and had a nice variety. Several places have people that actually grill the burgers. And there's a small stand near the stingray exhibit that has some different offerings.
Also the zoo now has a free app. I just downloaded it so not sure how informational it is but there's a map and a cool photo border on it.
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Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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Your pictures of them are so cute. 
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