PREMiERdrum Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 From Facebook WOW!! Did you see all of the people at Wildlights last night? The perfect weather on a weekend resulted in a record night with 30,000 visiting the Zoo yesterday. Our apologies to anyone who was unable to experience Wildlights in the joyous spirit we strive to provide to each and every guest. Thanks to those of you who let us know about the traffic issues in the area. In an effort to accommodate guests who were having difficulty getting to the Zoo we did extend our hours and stayed open until 11:30 last evening. www.facebook.com/columbuszoo 30,000 guests, to a midwest zoo, in December. Oddly enough, the zoo's previous 2 attendance records were also set during Wildlights. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrick Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Wow, that is crazy. I did hear traffic was backed up a good 10 miles from the zoo on Saturday night, and we were speculating that is what it was from. The light are awesome this year, but I was disapointed that the "African Forest" didn't have any lights and was closed off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jr for Birdy Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Never visit the Columbus Zoo on a Saturday,Never! I made this mistake last year and we got in free as guests,still wasnt worth it! On a weekday it is worth every penny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoor Man Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 here's hoping the resident KI PR is reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bennett Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I don't know how well the Cincinnati Zoo did on Saturday, but, I-75 at the Mitchell Ave exit was at a standstill at 5pm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 I don't know how well the Cincinnati Zoo did on Saturday, but, I-75 at the Mitchell Ave exit was at a standstill at 5pm. What's incredible at the Columbus Zoo is to see the new infastructure overwhelmed. They went from a single-lane "peel" style entrance drive to two multi-lane entrances and exits off of a newly doubled-in-width State Route 750. It was only a few years ago that they broke the 20,000 guest record, during Wildlights, of course. To break your own record by 33% 50% in just a few years is a testament to the fine work they do. Edit: Math was never my thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 And to break it by 50%? Terp, good at cipherin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoor Man Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I really think Kings Island could make a case for a successful Winterfest run. Look at what the Columbus and Cincinnati Zoo do as an example. The 2005 event, i thought, was done very well; not that there couldn't have been things done better- but for a 13 year absence and probably none of the original operators participating on a large scale if at all, it was very good. I think the price killed it in 2005: $29.99 for tickets, plus $10 parking. Both Zoo's offer $15 tickets this year with $8 parking. To me that says that in 2005, even the $14.99 they lowered it to the following year (before CF killed it) was on the high side. From where I sit, in 2005 an event priced at $13.99 with $5 parking would have produced sellouts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTD-120-420 Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 I am taking my girlfriend next Thursday. I haven't been to a zoo since 4th grade. I'm excited! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I really think Kings Island could make a case for a successful Winterfest run. Look at what the Columbus and Cincinnati Zoo do as an example. The 2005 event, i thought, was done very well; not that there couldn't have been things done better- but for a 13 year absence and probably none of the original operators participating on a large scale if at all, it was very good. I think the price killed it in 2005: $29.99 for tickets, plus $10 parking. Both Zoo's offer $15 tickets this year with $8 parking. To me that says that in 2005, even the $14.99 they lowered it to the following year (before CF killed it) was on the high side. From where I sit, in 2005 an event priced at $13.99 with $5 parking would have produced sellouts. I dont disagree at all. But the Zoo does offer people a chance to see animals as well. I know my sister and her husband went and were able to hang out in the elephant house and giraffe house between seeing the lights. What does KI offer to make it worth it for winterfest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdawg1998 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I'm always scared to go to Cincinnati Zoo's Christmas thing (forget what's it called) because it's located in the kind of scary part of town...especially since it's at night... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Interpreter Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 ^ Festival of Lights. And a delight it is, too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastersRZ Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 This is actually the 30th year that the Cincinnati Zoo is hosting the Festival of Lights. It first began in 1982. I plan on going with my girlfriend in a couple of weeks. While not as widely acclaimed as the Columbus Zoo, the Cincinnati Zoo has been investing a lot of money in upgrading their facilities over the years. It is vastly different than even when I visited on field trips for school in the mid 1990s. Its been a while since I`ve been on here. Two jobs going on and I`ve been working close to 70 hour work weeks since mid-October, leaves little time to get on here. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted December 4, 2012 Author Share Posted December 4, 2012 I am taking my girlfriend next Thursday. I haven't been to a zoo since 4th grade. I'm excited! Get there long before dusk, if possible, to 1) Beat the crowds in the gate (once you're through the turnstiles the crowds disperse pretty well, and 2) Get a chance to see the animals before they go to their night houses. Can't miss: Hank, the largest elephant in North America, the new Polar Frontier (including the underwater viewing), and the Amur tiger cubs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TTD-120-420 Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 We are leaving around ten in the morning so we should get there around 11:30. We'll be leaving to get lunch, and then going back for the lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoor Man Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 Replying on my phone, don't know how to quote from other posts. There are some trade offs between ki and the Columbus zoo. We went last year and for the most part the animals were an after thought once the Sun went down. Granted, there are some indoor attractions, but ki has indoor options too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted December 4, 2012 Author Share Posted December 4, 2012 The light are awesome this year, but I was disapointed that the "African Forest" didn't have any lights and was closed off. Sorry I'm just now replying to this... African Forest: The Congo Expedition operates during its normal hours, even during Wildlights, because the Bonobos and especially the Gorillas are extremely sensitive with their schedules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoor Man Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 I'm always scared to go to Cincinnati Zoo's Christmas thing (forget what's it called) because it's located in the kind of scary part of town...especially since it's at night... for what its worth, the area around the zoo has dramatically improved in recent years. Even so, I don't know that I've heard of too many instances where Zoo goers have been adversely harassed by others in that area. I'm sure it happens, but definitely not of epidemic proportions. Ive driven through the area by myself with no issues and my wife has taken our 3 & 7 year olds to the zoo by themselves before without me. no, its not the best area of town, I don't know that I'd recommend get out for a stroll down the street, but seems decently OK to drive through. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrick Posted December 4, 2012 Share Posted December 4, 2012 The light are awesome this year, but I was disapointed that the "African Forest" didn't have any lights and was closed off. Sorry I'm just now replying to this... African Forest: The Congo Expedition operates during its normal hours, even during Wildlights, because the Bonobos and especially the Gorillas are extremely sensitive with their schedules. Yea, I see that on their website now. I used to go a lot when I was younger with my parents (10+ years ago), and I'm 99% sure it used to lit up back then. (I remember one year they had a cool lighted river.) Even then though, I though in the past few years it was open as well during wildlights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted December 4, 2012 Author Share Posted December 4, 2012 The light are awesome this year, but I was disapointed that the "African Forest" didn't have any lights and was closed off. Sorry I'm just now replying to this... African Forest: The Congo Expedition operates during its normal hours, even during Wildlights, because the Bonobos and especially the Gorillas are extremely sensitive with their schedules. Yea, I see that on their website now. I used to go a lot when I was younger with my parents (10+ years ago), and I'm 99% sure it used to lit up back then. (I remember one year they had a cool lighted river.) Even then though, I though in the past few years it was open as well during wildlights. They used to keep the front half of the area open and had some lights in it. The path was blocked at the entrance to the Gorilla compound, and traffic was looped around back down towards the Okapi yards. This setup allowed them to keep the back half of the area (Gorilla, Bonobo, and Red River Hogs) closed off. However, the paths are far too dark and too wooded, so the decision was made to stop including it in Wildlights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hendrick Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Ah, thanks for your insight PREMiERdrum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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