Bronx Zoo Bronx Zoo Planning Help

MOG2012

MOG2012

Well-Known Member
On Memorial Day weekend, I'm visiting Bronx Zoo for an entire day on that Saturday. I’m going to take photos, take notes, and group doesn’t want to be rushed. What should I do in the easiest/least complicated layout while also getting the major attractions? I ideally want to see the following:
  • African Plains
  • Aquatic Bird House
  • Big Bears
  • Children's Zoo
  • Congo Gorilla Forest
  • Gelada Reserve
  • Himalayan Highlands
  • JungleWorld
  • Madagascar!
  • Mouse House
  • Tiger Mountain
  • Wild Asia Monorail
  • World of Birds
  • World of Reptiles
  • Zoo Center
 
MOG2012 said:
On Memorial Day weekend, I'm visiting Bronx Zoo for an entire day on that Saturday. I’m going to take photos, take notes, and group doesn’t want to be rushed. What should I do in the easiest/least complicated layout while also getting the major attractions? I ideally want to see the following:
  • African Plains
  • Aquatic Bird House
  • Big Bears
  • Children's Zoo
  • Congo Gorilla Forest
  • Gelada Reserve
  • Himalayan Highlands
  • JungleWorld
  • Madagascar!
  • Mouse House
  • Tiger Mountain
  • Wild Asia Monorail
  • World of Birds
  • World of Reptiles
  • Zoo Center
Click to expand...

It will probably be impossible to see all of those in one day without being rushed. If I were you I would start with Jungle World, then the Monorail. Then go down towards bears, snow leopard, tiger, and world of birds. From there I swing past bison to the aquatic bird house, Madagascar, and zoo center. After that I would take a break for lunch (zoo center is near the restaurant anyway). After lunch I would go to Congo gorilla forest, then mouse house and reptiles, and end with African plains / geladas. You could also try doing these steps in the reverse order (ie start with Africa and end with jungle world and the monorail). Ending with the monorail can also be relaxing since it’s nice to sit down after a long day of walking around the zoo.
 
@ZooElephantMan, since I was a kid my visits have always gone the other direction (Bison - WoB's - Tigers - Asia - Africa - Giraffe House - etc etc), I'm going to be honest and say that I like your suggested route and will take it on my next visit...going my way, by the time I get to Zoo Center, I'm often exhausted, chapped and rushed. If I were to do two days at the zoo, one day my way and one day yours...I would definitely get the whole show... @MOG2012 , I second ZooElephantMan''s suggestion. If you get the chance, ride Wild Asia twice.
 
Pleistohorse said:
@ZooElephantMan, since I was a kid my visits have always gone the other direction (Bison - WoB's - Tigers - Asia - Africa - Giraffe House - etc etc), I'm going to be honest and say that I like your suggested route and will take it on my next visit...going my way, by the time I get to Zoo Center, I'm often exhausted, chapped and rushed. If I were to do two days at the zoo, one day my way and one day yours...I would definitely get the whole show... @MOG2012 , I second ZooElephantMan''s suggestion. If you get the chance, ride Wild Asia twice.
Click to expand...

Nice! When I lived in NY I would take the train to the zoo, so I always used the entrance by Jungle World and haven’t tried the ‘bison first’ route.

While I normally go the way I laid out above, sometimes I do switch it up by going to Congo or Madagascar first if there’s a particular species I want to see. Also, many animals are more active in the early morning when the zoo opens, so if there’s a species you’re prioritizing it can be a good strategy to go to those sections first.
 
My preferred path starts with the Monorail, then Jungleworld, going up to the giraffe house and Congo Gorilla Forrest. From there, go through Pheasantry and then have lunch. Then, walk down to the House Mouse and Gelada Reserve and through the Himalayan Highlands, Tigers, and WoBs. Go and do Aquatic Bird House, Madagascar, and Children's Zoo, and then finish up with the Reptile House and Big Bears. Monorail first is my preference because the line would be unbearable if not.
 
AnActualFan said:
My preferred path starts with the Monorail, then Jungleworld, going up to the giraffe house and Congo Gorilla Forrest. From there, go through Pheasantry and then have lunch. Then, walk down to the House Mouse and Gelada Reserve and through the Himalayan Highlands, Tigers, and WoBs. Go and do Aquatic Bird House, Madagascar, and Children's Zoo, and then finish up with the Reptile House and Big Bears. Monorail first is my preference because the line would be unbearable if not.
Click to expand...

That’s a great route too! Gotta say I love the Bronx Zoo.
 
Change of plans, it's going to be on April 12. Is there anything that would have to change?
 
So, would the following exhibit plan work? (it might be reversed);
  • Jungle World
  • African Plains
  • Congo Gorilla Forest
  • Pheasantry
  • Mouse House
  • World of Reptiles
  • Gelada Reserve
  • Himalayan Highlands
  • Big Bears
  • Tiger Mountain
  • World of Birds
  • Sea Bird Aviary
  • Madagascar
  • Zoo Center
Are anything unnecessary or missing?
 
MOG2012 said:
So, would the following exhibit plan work? (it might be reversed);
  • Jungle World
  • African Plains
  • Congo Gorilla Forest
  • Pheasantry
  • Mouse House
  • World of Reptiles
  • Gelada Reserve
  • Himalayan Highlands
  • Big Bears
  • Tiger Mountain
  • World of Birds
  • Sea Bird Aviary
  • Madagascar
  • Zoo Center
Are anything unnecessary or missing?
Click to expand...
World of Reptiles goes straight into the bears exhibit and then from there go to Geladas, finish the African plains and then go on the Himalayan Highlands path. Other than that looks like my usual plan. Be sure to have the map PDF on you just in case you get lost.
 

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MOG2012 said:
So, would the following exhibit plan work? (it might be reversed);
  • Jungle World
  • African Plains
  • Congo Gorilla Forest
  • Pheasantry
  • Mouse House
  • World of Reptiles
  • Gelada Reserve
  • Himalayan Highlands
  • Big Bears
  • Tiger Mountain
  • World of Birds
  • Sea Bird Aviary
  • Madagascar
  • Zoo Center
Are anything unnecessary or missing?
Click to expand...

So are you entering the zoo by Jungle World and exiting by Zoo Center?
 
I’m going next week… but for only a full day! Are any of the exhibits hard to find, open/close at different times or need to pay extra
 
MOG2012 said:
I’m going next week… but for only a full day! Are any of the exhibits hard to find, open/close at different times or need to pay extra
Click to expand...
Jungle World, Congo Gorilla Forest, and the Children's Zoo are all considered star attractions, meaning you either need to pay extra or purchase a ticket that includes star attractions. However, I don't think I've recently seen an option to purchase a ticket that does not include star attractions.
All indoor exhibits close thirty minutes before the zoo does.
The map is very helpful to make sure you don't miss any exhibits - without it, it's easy to miss substantial parts of the zoo. Using the map, the only difficult exhibits to find are the outdoor exhibits for the Komodo Dragon/tortoise exhibits locating next to zoo center.
 
Short-Giraffe said:
Jungle World, Congo Gorilla Forest, and the Children's Zoo are all considered star attractions, meaning you either need to pay extra or purchase a ticket that includes star attractions. However, I don't think I've recently seen an option to purchase a ticket that does not include star attractions.
All indoor exhibits close thirty minutes before the zoo does.
The map is very helpful to make sure you don't miss any exhibits - without it, it's easy to miss substantial parts of the zoo. Using the map, the only difficult exhibits to find are the outdoor exhibits for the Komodo Dragon/tortoise exhibits locating next to zoo center.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Would my plan work above for the exhibit order. Are any of them worth skipping?
 
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