But no zoo ever worried about queues at entry before the Pandemic, so why now? Some do, some don't it seems. What's changed. Take Chester. They have huge number of visitors and still allow ordinary payment on the day, just like they used to.
UK Zoos- why is advance booking still essential?
- Thread starter Pertinax
- Start date
That seems to be the over-riding reason for continuing this. Its a major shift for zoo admission though. I think that's what I'd do if confronted with a similar situation. I see no reason for any of them to be continuing with this, especially as we are heading into the 'quiet' season for zoo visiting. They must be able to compute in advance that on a typical day in e.g. November, there's going to be approximately x number of visitors and so staff the zoo accordingly, without having to resort to just the numbers actually booked. I find it all rather weird.
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littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
Maybe they did 'worry' about the queues, but didn't want to manage them and just had to grin and bare it. I think a lot of people turned up early before hoping to beat queues, but are more relaxed about it now knowing the numbers arriving at one time is steadier. I'm only a visitor and can't speak for any zoo, but another member of the forum has stated the case for his zoo and he likes the booking system.
Moorhunhe
Well-Known Member
Same.
We are on a motorbike, and during winter we'd still sometimes want to visit a zoo, and with only online booking, if it then should rain, it's a very miserable drive up there.
I think its fine for zoos to encourage booking if they want to, so that the majority of their visitors on any day will be pre-booked and with thse 'time slots' perhaps more staggered through the day, though travel time, personal preference etc still mean the most popular hours for visiting will be during the middle of the day, between around 11 a.m to 3 p.m. I can't see how it alleviates queues much as they still have to process each entrant- though maybe its quicker than actual payment. But any places that refuse un-booked entry seem to be denying themselves at least some potential clients. Particularly in the quiet season.
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littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
I'm sure we could count them on one hand. I think Monkey World are keeping it because they are almost exclusively primate holders; I think it's on their website.
I might be thinking of the mask policy here
Was it still mandatory for them in the summer?
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Recent personal experiences -
Colchester you don’t have to pre book any more as a non member.
CWP doesn’t require pre booking any more but they do advise it in the height of summer as they do have a cap on max park numbers (that’s always been the case so that’s just returning to how it was pre covid). Members also don’t need to pre book.
ZSL does require pre booking still (not for members). Am a member so don’t have direct experience of whether turning up and just buying a ticket is a thing or not though.
Linton - does ask you to pre book. Members and not.
Colchester you don’t have to pre book any more as a non member.
CWP doesn’t require pre booking any more but they do advise it in the height of summer as they do have a cap on max park numbers (that’s always been the case so that’s just returning to how it was pre covid). Members also don’t need to pre book.
ZSL does require pre booking still (not for members). Am a member so don’t have direct experience of whether turning up and just buying a ticket is a thing or not though.
Linton - does ask you to pre book. Members and not.
littleRedPanda
Well-Known Member
Actually, the Monkey World site says 10% discount for online booking, so might have changed their policy now.
Exactly. You book. It rains. You don't want to go. More fuss.
Yep, I just looked. The offer of 10% discount implies pre-booking is no longer essential there, also confirmed by the admission lists including 'Gate Price'. And it also lists certain groups e.g. schools where advanced booking is essential- no problem with that of course. I don't know if they have any other distancing regulations in place still, as they are all Primates there, that might be understandable.
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Thanks for the update. Lots of differences still... I imagine ZSL in particular might be more strict than some others about 'bending' their on-line rules... but what if you turned up and told them you never used a computer or phone, so how would you even know...? What would they do...?
Common sense says take your money.....
Thanks for the update. Lots of differences still... I imagine ZSL in particular might be more strict than some others about 'bending' their on-line rules... but what if you turned up and told them you never used a computer or phone, so how would you even know...? What would they do...?
maybe, maybe not...ZSL is a bit old-fashioned...the society still does things 'by the book' I suspect.
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That's tantamount to being turned away from the zoo- well it is actually, and that for a member too. I know that's in the past now but its the first time I've ever heard of such a thing happening. I also realise the pandemic brought zoos many pressures and operating problems, but this seems to be one they are being very slow to recover from. As you said upthread, I think some zoos are still using these booking systems for their own convenience rather than that of the zoo-goers.
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Lafone
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the update. Lots of differences still... I imagine ZSL in particular might be more strict than some others about 'bending' their on-line rules... but what if you turned up and told them you never used a computer or phone, so how would you even know...? What would they do...?
I think they’d just take the money - I can’t see them having a fight on the ticket desk with a disappointed family etc it wouldn’t be worth it.
Forgot to add Wolds, LWP and the Ark - none of those required pre booking recently and I paid on entry.
Yes, I think the smaller zoos are nearly all nowadays back to normal in this respect. Its some of the bigger ones where the element of confusion remains.
I've still never heard of a single person not getting in because they missed their time slot. It was only ever to spread people broadly out to reduce queuing - it doesn't need anything like 100% perfect compliance to achieve that and everywhere seems to realise this, fortunately.
As a long-standing business person and employer I`ve always worked to the maxim of "never make it difficult for someone to give you money"....the pre-booking zoos are doing just that ( and of course are assuming that everyone has access to a smartphone or computer,and it might surprise some, but not everyone has such a thing). All spontaneity goes i.e."lets just call in at so and so should we"?...also the press ganging of being herded like sheep into doing just what Big Brother wants us to do i.e. conform to a system where everything we do is monitored and recorded. Quite simply i refuse to give in. Ill be interested to see what attitudes to" on the day" are like next year after a Winter of discontent and general hardship in the UK. This year ive visited around 50 zoos in Cyprus,Germany,Spain,France and the Czech Republic - and never been asked to pre-book once.
Agree 100% Sums up my feelings on this issue entirely....
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