We enjoyed Zoolights 3 years ago and so when we finally had family in town for Thanksgiving 2021 we thought let's visit and have fun! What a disappointment! First family gathering in two years and it was too busy! It was walk fast and then slow then fast and slow. Dodge people. Repeat. Ridiculous. The AZ trail was only one that had one way traffic so why not the rest? People needed direction on other trails they were not considerate. Also don't remember so many poop smells during day last visit. I'll agree with previous recent reviewer: no traffic control and with covid still raging and recent tragedy at Astroworld, I didn't feel safe in many spots on the trails. There is a large section that is having construction and may be causing traffic but the fact that they don't limit crowds every day is probably it. Put better limits on crowds each day. Look at what DBG is doing next door. Make it safer and enjoyable! We couldn't even view some of the lights because there were too many people. Couldn't find hot chocolate...it was near exit. Got in line for restroom, it took over 10 mins. Popcorn line, so dark I couldn't see the end of it. I was considering becoming a member but the poor planning and zoo's greediness has left a bad experience for us. I know if DBG next door had luminarias earlier than we would've paid more and gone there for a better experience. read more

I love going to Zoolights every year, it's a tradition with my wife and I to go towards the end of the night to avoid the hordes of children. We always like to see the improvements they make year after year and this year we loved some of the changes they made. Adding more seating throughout the walk, opening up more beverage stands, more places to get adult beverages, everything was great with the exception of one major issue this year we went. The speakers playing music throughout the park which basically gives you your entire experience were on the fritz. music would cut in and out going loud than soft constantly. it took away from the whole light show experience. I'm sure it's something that might have been fixed after we visited but for my experience it was definitely lacking. I will of course go back next year but 2 stars subtracted for technical difficulties read more

Prologue: Everyone has to do Zoolights at least once and we're no exception. The Plot: We arrived at 7:00pm on Friday, December 2nd. Pros: Printing tickets online ahead of time so we could go straight to the entrance when we arrived. Parking lot attendants to help us quickly find a place to park. The event was not too crowded while we were there so we were able to take a nice stroll for about an hour. There were a lot of lights throughout the grounds and the displays were decent. The music in motion light show was entertaining. Cons: Many places to spend more money around every turn added a distinctly commercial aspect to the overall experience. The tickets were a bit overpriced given the scope of the event. The price of admission to the Renaissance Fair in the spring is about the same for a good deal more entertainment. Conclusion: This is a nice holiday event for families with young children who are bound to enjoy it. read more

Zoolights - Zoos Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I gave it a 3 because of the mile walk to the zoo. Parking is insanely extremely busy for Phoenix zoo lights when we were there this past Saturday night. It's a waste of time to get inside the parking lot and just make us leave after being stuck in line and traffic for 20 minutes. We were all asked to turn around for their light signals and exit the parking area. Like wow!! What a waste of precious time! Their signs are WACK & very confusing, make sure next time you put light signs before even entering the zoo that says "No space for parking. Park Across Street Available." You know? It was so hard to find a parking spot and the signs were extremely confusing and it got us very annoyed. We understood how chaotic it can be because it's a weekend but next time, make sure the parking is well taken care of. Employees were just signaling drivers in a very confusing matter. I'm glad we still found a parking spot but took more than half an hour for everything to be done. There was no shuttle available for people who parked a mile or we away. it's ok though. Good enough exercise I guess. Other than that, zoo lights was nice. You have to pay additional to go to the Bugs area. We liked it though, was worth the extra money. I think they Could actually do better with zoo lights music timing because it didn't look like the timing was right along with the music. Anyway, I really like the moving bird and this ginger bread lights with lollipops and cupcake. Haha. It's super busy in the weekend so I suggest everyone to be prepared because of how busy and chaotic it can be. Worth the money to walk around though for something to do. I wasn't really impressed of the lights honestly because the music and timing with the lights in the lake didn't seem organized. Phoenix zoo lights is mostly only good for walks and romantic dates. Bring your own snacks if you want too cause their drinks are kinda pricey. Despite the disappointment, we still had a lot of fun. Thanks. read more

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I don't get the buzz about this. Light displays were ok but super underwhelming and I've seen better displays just driving through neighborhoods. No animals are out so it's really just a walk through the zoo with some trees lit up and music that was piped through crackling speakers. Places is also very packed with families and constant screaming so it's not a date night type thing unless you enjoy that. I got free admission and it still was a bust. I can't imagine people paying for this. Cheers! read more

Amazing light show, great time for those fascinated with Christmas lights and animals!! I loved the light show they offered in the center of the pond. Lights dancing to the rhythm of the music, amazing!! Highly reccommended to those with kids or young siblings!! Would make a great family time!! read more

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Waaay too many people to even think of having a nice experience... went with my gf, 5-year old daughter and my older daughter. We got there reasonably early but were directed to offsite parking which was a good 0.5mi walk from the entry. Again, tons of ppl with strollers, etc. walking along a narrow pathway with desert and bridges to cross at night. Things already weren't looking good but we forged forward only to find a huge line to even get into the zoo with prepurchased tix... crazy! Having made a 30min while carrying our 5-year old (so she wouldn't get trampled) and the sheer volume of ppl pouring in AND they close at 9p, we just decided to just leave and walk back to our car (fighting upstream the whole time again while carrying our 5-year old). We'll try it again during the week after Christmas so it's much more positive and enjoyable experience. While zoo lights has been a family tradition for many years, last night was a HUGE disappointment... hoping the management makes changes read more

Buy your tickets online so you can skip all the grumpy people who are waiting in line at the ticket booths. Depending on the date and time of your arrival, you may have the park to yourself ( check in at closing time) or you may be swamped-- most evenings at 5 pm. The lights are quite a sight to see, especially if this is your first visit. The music that accompanies the light shows is fairly traditional and will appeal to all but the punk rockers or the hip hop hipsters. If you are hungry or thirsty you will be able to feast on hot dogs and popcorn (oh my!) as well as beer and hot chocolate(and the coffee they serve is Starbucks!) Apart from the lack of animals, this is an enjoyable experience. The only creatures we saw were two bored eagles (yes, they were bald as well). The human herd made up for the dearth of animals. If you like lights at night, this is worth a visit, especially if you need an excuse to get the kids or grandkids out of the house for a couple of hours. read more

Roar! Naaay! Ribbit! Moo! Woof! Baaah! Quack! Meow! How can you not think of all of the fun animal noises that you hear at the zoo and beyond when you are getting your one year old ready to visit (and perhaps those noises are in your head from all of the children's books you've been reading as well?!) While I'd been to the zoo with my son only once before, going at night during the holiday season is a totally different experience. The lights, music, talking giraffe, etc... it's a lot of fun for all. The kettle corn and hot chocolate are delicious as well. Note that Zoo Lights doesn't open until 6pm, which is tough when you're dealing with little ones used to going to bed at 7, but it's worth it to keep them up a tad bit late for the fun Zoo Light experience. I've made a mental note (which I'll share with you here as well) that Saturday night may not be the best night to go - it was so crowded when we went! Also worth noting that if you are a zoo member, you get a discounted entry fee, but you must have your membership card... (of course I forgot ours!) Happy holidays and enjoy! read more

It's the Saturday night before Christmas and the animals are sleeping at the Phoenix Zoo, well maybe not for the flamingos, I saw they will still up and ready to party, but the Phoenix Zoo was awake with bright twinkling lights and lots of Christmas songs that would put even poor old Mr. Scrooge in the holiday mood. If you haven't been to the Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo, you should really try it, at least just once. Went to Zoo lights with my daughter, son, grandson & family friends, we strolled the entire park, listening and singing along with the songs, everyone around us catching the holiday spirit. We walked up to where the talking giraffe was telling stories, for my 2 year old grandson, it was kinda scary, but for me, I got a kick out of it, the giraffe said what do you call a giraffe at the north pole???? Lost!!! Hahaha that busted me up! We continued along the trail looking at the lights, eating our popcorn and drinking our hot chocolate and I thought what a perfect night at the zoo! Oh guess what, Santa Claus was their too with his sled taking pictures with boys and girls! My grandson got his 1st pic with good ole Saint Nick! It's also the Zoo's 50th anniversary too! Thank you Phoenix Zoo & SRP for Zoo Lights! read more

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Zoo Lights has been a family tradition for many years and every year it gets better. We use have a membership to the Phoenix Zoo and since we haven't been here in a while I noticed lots of changes. Bigger and better with lots of upgrades. $40 entry fee for a family of four. No military discount at the door but maybe you can buy discounted tickets on base. We ventured in at 8:30 p.m. and avoided long lines and crowds and got great parking. The music and the extra activities were spot on for my kids. Lots of vendors selling lit up toys and you can get a yummy cup of cocoa to keep you warm. Bring your jackets and extra cash. A talking giraffe that will address you by name with a big winner with us. Adorable! There's a "polar bear slide" that kids loved too-you slide down an inter tube. The new experience was a zip line and the kids really had fun. The carousal is adorable and lots of animals to pick from to ride on. From a shark to a hawk to a rhino and a cheetah this carousal was awesome! Music was a tribute the Wizard of Oz which is my son's favorite movie. The twinkling lights match the music and it's great to sit listen and watch the lights dance. I can't say enough great things about Zoo Lights. It's always great to come home and enjoy all the activities we use to do when we lived here. The key is to NOT come early. We had fun and hopefully be back again next year. read more

If you enjoy lights, you'll like this event. I personally love watching All the different lights and even sit and watch the Dancing Trees show more than once. If you don't like crowds, then go After Xmas. It's open till 1/12. We've always been allowed to take our own food inside, so we sit by the lake and have a picnic while watching all the twinkles & listening to music. If you just want to rush thru & say, oh yeah seen it, yep you'll be done quick. But keep an eye out near the entrance for the AZ Trail near the Stingrays. It's one of the best areas. For us, it's more about having a festive place to enjoy an evening together. If you are an SRP customer, check your bill for a B1G1 Free coupon too. read more

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It's not the most exciting thing to do during the holidays, but if you're on a date or have kids, you'll have fun. We went on Christmas Eve and while it was crowded, there was still enough room to walk around and see all the lights. Don't come here expecting to see any real animals. The exhibits for them aren't lit up, and they're either sleeping or hiding. If you like looking at pretty lights strung up in trees, seeing lights in the form of animals, and walking around a scenic atmosphere, this is your place. The lake area with the lit up light show and music was one of my favorite parts of our experience here. Every few minutes the show will refresh with a different song and light show. P.S. They sell discounted admission at Fry's, but it is $1 off the weekend price. Note that the weekday price is still cheaper at the entrance than buying from Fry's. read more

A really fun event at a great zoo. Dress warmly and in comfy walking shoes to experience the event in comfort. We loved the 4D movie, the "snow" showers around one of the Christmas trees, and the numerous tongue in cheek details scattered throughout the park. The event mixes 2d and 3d light sculptures as well as static and moving displays to create vivid displays. Each year has a theme with new displays mixed in with annual fan favorites. We loved walking around with our hot chocolates and picking which displays were our favorite, finishing off the night with a ride on the carousel! Be aware- most of the animals are down for the night so only limited animals will be visible. We had no problem parking ( we got there about 20 minutes before it opened) and while the line we waited in was long it was fast moving and barely ever stagnant. read more

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We really enjoyed ourselves. The lights, the music and, of course, I went with fun people. I only took a few PIX because we were busy talking, laughing and enjoying the night. Note: buy online for faster entrance at lower prices. read more

Zoolights - Prettiness - Zoos Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I like Christmas lights. I hope to one day have one of those houses where people are put on tour buses and brought in. I've always wanted to see Zoo Lights but never made it until this year. I liked the lights but for $10 a person ($9 for Zoo members) I felt like it was a bit much. Maybe I am living in the past where back home in Ohio we could take a carload for $5 through a drive-through display (hey, it was normally snowing there so nobody wanted to walk!). For just three people the difference is $25 (I am a member so the difference was $22). Speaking of memberships I was really disappointed to see that as a Zoo member I was only given a $1 discount. Sure, thanks for the discount but I felt that they could have given more of a discount for those of us who have paid for a membership long ago. In the end, I almost would rather see something like what was in Ohio... or just drive around some of the neighborhoods where most of the houses are done up. read more

The Zoolights were interesting and I don't regret going but I wouldn't do it again. We can mark that off the list. It's impressive how many lights are there and I know it took crazy amounts of work but after the first section the rest all look the same. We waited in line for the 4D version of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer just to be told that the 3D camera wasn't working...uhm okay. With the amount of crowds this generates, I'm surprised at the lack of food options available. The employees we encountered were friendly and the park was clean. read more

Checked out Zoolights on Christmas Day and I had a great time seeing all the lights! :) I predicted that it will be packed and parking will be horrific since it was Christmas Day but it was a pleasant experience getting in and out for parking and walking around the zoo. I expected it to be packed like Disneyland or like San Diego's December Nights. The Zoolight hours are 5:30pm-10:30pm. We ended up finishing walking around the park after an hour and a half. We should've prolonged our stay by taking selfies with all of the light figures though. Parking was free and it wasn't bad at all. We found parking fairly quick but I think we were just at the right place at the right time because they had opened a new lot for us to park in. While walking towards the main zoo entrance, I could see that the main lot was filled to the max! Parking sucked though because people don't care about parking in their spaces/lines and they park like jackasses with no care in the world for other peoples' property nor their own. #end rant I purchased the tickets online for $2 off for convenience so.. $20 for 2 people which wasn't bad at all. There's different prices for ticket prices depending on the day you want to go. I just went to their direct website to get information. Generally, it's cheaper for the zoo members. But $10 per ticket isn't that bad. The entire Zoolights was smaller than I had expected it to be. On the flyer that they had located on the table right when you walk in, the zoo stated that 300,000 people attend each year. That's pretty amazing! The zoo had several cafes opened and there were tables scattered about for you to purchase snacks, hot chocolate, kettle corn, and etc. I expected the hot chocolate to be amazing (whip cream and delicious) but it was disgusting and the worst hot chocolate that I have ever tasted. It was watered down and didn't taste good. It gave my boyfriend a stomach ache! $12 for kettle corn and hot chocolate = overpriced and not worth it. I should've just brought my own. There was also a wagon ride, carousel, playing/petting string rays, and camel rides going on which included a small fee. There was also a few fellas showing people how to sculpt ice! They also had light figures in the lake? which was pretty cool! It reminded me of Disneyland. I enjoyed all of the light figures especially that amazing blue tree with 307,000 lights on it. Really puts me into the holiday spirit!! They also had great Christmas music but not your typical Christmas music, playing throughout the park. I also caught glimpses of a zebra, birds, ducks, camels, and other zoo creatures lurking in the dark. TIPS for next year: 1. Bring a flashlight 2. Bring bottles of water unless you want to pay for overpriced zoo food 3. Keep warm, it was 57 degrees outside. (That's pretty cold for me!) 4. Bring food in case you get hungry (banh mi sandwiches are good) =P 5. Have fun and stay warm! read more

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Brought my family here, had a great time watching most of them see it for the first time. Hot chocolate was a little pricey but it was worth it :) It's a must! The light show was nice. Really liked it! read more

Zoolights - My wife's birthday - Zoos Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Do not use Apple Maps to get there. Took us down some dark sketchy unpaved road and I now have a flat tire. Maybe I'll get to see the lights tomorrow... read more

If you have children, this is the perfect place to bring them. Otherwise, $18 per person is a bit much. I think we spent only about 30 min. seeing the whole thing. It is a sight to see with all the lights strung across all the trees. The animal shaped lights were especially appealing to all the children there. I think the most interesting sight there was how they timed some of the lights around the lake to the holiday music. It really puts you in a festive mood. Again, mostly for children, they offer some camel rides in the back. It gets pretty chilly at night so dress warmly. They also sell hot chocolate, kettle corn, and other fair type foods. All over-priced like fair food generally is. Since Zoolights is held in a zoo, you might be able to catch glimpses of some of the animals. The whole zoo was quite noisy, so the animals probably aren't getting any sleep despite being hidden away. Hours are from 5:30pm - 10:30pm. Parking was crowded and hectic, but surprisingly, we found a spot pretty quickly. I think no matter what time you come, you won't be able to avoid a crowd, but I guess the earlier, the easier it is to find a parking spot. read more

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we decided to wait for the holiday hussle was over, we went on a week day Thursday evening to be exact before they take them down for the season. Lights were entertaining for the kids the one thing about it all was after the ticket prices, it was still an additional price to do so much more we could do but with a fee. The stingray bay was included, but the slide wasn't and a few other things. The lines were long we walked around for about 10 min trying to find hit chocolate since the first place we waited in line for machine went down. I'm glad we went but I felt it was more pricey and overrated than anything. My kids had fun it's definitely we can check it off the bucket list. read more

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I've been dying to go to this since I moved here in mid-2010, and so finally went this past Saturday night. I'm a lady who LOVES lights at night, but add in that the lights take shapes of various zoo animals?!? Even more enticing... I did buy a ticket online (which saved me $2), so I didn't have to stand in any sort of line. I parked in the Main Lot which was free but my friend told me (she got there 45 min before me) the Main Lot was full and had to park in lot on VanBuren, which sorta sucked. Hmmm... guess there are advantages to being late for everything... It would be great if they offered the VanBuren lot folks some sort of shuttle which circles at certain intervals - especially when it's winter time. I wasn't prepared for the UTTER wonderland of lights ahead of me. Really. It was sooo spectacular and awesome. My ADD went into overdrive and I was darting my head every which direction that I couldn't walk a straight line. The entire walk took us less than 2 hrs, but we had children and elderly person with us also. Plus took a ton of photos. Be sure to visit the camels!! I didn't realize how cute their faces are! They remind me of llamas - such characters. Think they were sleepy as one camel was plopped down resting and one kept yawning. Zoolights does have a pretty elaborate food court offering various options, but I didn't stop to check types or even prices. I was so impressed, I would consider making this an annual event as tradition. read more

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Went to Zoo LIghts on 12/31/13, and it was the second time I have been there. The light display is very well done, and quite enjoyable - Especially for the little ones. It is a bit pricey, especially when it comes to the food and beverages, but if you bring your own snacks/drinks, you should be happy. Sting Ray Bay is super cool for $3 bucks, but I think it would be more enjoyable during the day when you could see more. WIll come back during the day. Zoo Lights is BUSY! Be prepared for lots of people! Enjoy! read more

What a great way to get into the holiday spirit. We came here to look at lights, animals, and sing christmas carols. We tried coming here last year but parking was so hectic so we left after trying to park for over 30 min. This time around we got here at 5:45pm and we immediately parked and had access to the zoo with ease. Come with your family to look at the beautiful display, ride the camels, and see the talking giraffe. read more

Very much a pleasant experience as you wander through the lighted displays. But as my mother in law would say needs even more lights. Still it's clean and inviting and a great place to take your family. The kids are sure to enjoy it, and it definitely puts you in the Christmas experience. read more

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I always hear of people going to Zoolights but in my 15+ years living in Phoenix, I've never been there myself. I figured this was the year, especially after finding a deal on Groupon for 2 for $24. I'm glad that I found that deal or else I would've been more disappointed if I had to pay full price. My experience left me puzzled on how people could hold annual passes to this or even make it an annual visit. There was nothing to it. Some lights in the trees that take no more than 30 minutes to walk through. read more

Hadn't been to this event in four years when my wife's employer had a group event or soft launch. Wow, they really ramped up the displays and the zoo had changed a lot too. The weather was great and, though it was a heavy crowd, we had a blast. There is a lot here for the kids, but also fun for aduts! read more

Zoolights - Whoa... - Zoos Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I should write this review a week ago, but since you don't know the good one until the bad one( SF Zoolights only talking about the lights). Drove all the way from east bay to Arizona. One of our sites was Zoolights. The reason I took one star out is very crowded. Luckily, I bought the ticket online. Saved my time and my money. Lights were everywhere and every light was not the same. Some were flowers, some were animals and some trees. You can name it. Very colorful and perfectly matched. ( even thought I don't know much about art) We also bought the big bugs ticket. For those who like insects, you should check it out. Those big bugs can move very vividly and sound so real! read more

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To start i will say Zoolights gets only 3 stars for getting families together, spending the time walking and talking with family was great. Zoolights it self is very small, has no close parking, (parking is almost a mile walk in itself) and is NOT what i call affordable to the average family $20 a person (children included) is not reasonable for what you get(or should i say what you don't get). I don't think they limit the number of people in the zoo, cause most of the time it was impossible to move around. read more

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Buy the Groupon! It's fun! It's more for kids on the younger side. They loved the rides. Everything cost extra if you want to ride but not too pricey overall. read more

Zoolights - Zoo lights with fam. - Zoos Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Zoolights is a wonderfully unique Phoenix experience for the holidays and is not to be missed. There is a growing light display each year, some kiddie rides (jumpers, sleds, camel rides, etc), plus a few nocturnal animals to view sprinkled around. This is a wholesome, active and fun way to spend an hour or two with the entire family. It is quickly becoming a Christmas tradition for /this/ family... Unfortunately, it looks like this is the case for many other people across the Valley. The place is packed! The main negative points are that a massive number of visitors combined with narrow, dark pathways can frustrate anyone with a time limit or claustrophobic issues. I'd say there is also room for improvement for the variety in concessions. But these are minor annoyances. Overall, you will not be disappointed. read more

Visiting from out of town and was told this was the thing to do during the holidays. Well, we were the fools that paid full price, parked in the overflow lot because the main one was supposedly full, walked 0.6 miles to the zoo to be very underwhelmed by the light display. You can walk through here in less than 30 minutes. There are add-ons if you have little's with you, like the stingray area or camel rides. They also sell kettle corn, hot dogs and mini donuts, so definitely eat before coming. Overall, I found this to be overrated and would not visit again when in town. read more

We went to the Phoenix Zoolights this weekend & the displays were beautiful. The issue I had was we always enjoy the music that synced with the dancing trees. This year the music was so low that you couldn't hear it. There aren't as many lighted trees this year either. I understand that this display can affect some people with seizures or epilepsy. They have opened another trail that bypasses this & goes by the elephant enclosure. A sign could be displayed & a disclaimer posted to help people determine what path to choose. That was a big let down as we've always enjoyed this display the best. Other than that everything else was good. No issues with parking as they had plenty of handicap parking which we need. The lines to get a coffee were busy but it wasn't too long a wait. Traffic was busy but not overwhelming. All in all we had a good experience. read more

I go to this every year My kids love and it's nice and relaxing. Can be chilly so bring a jacket read more

Zoolights - Zoos Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Zoo lights was AWESOME. I was wary to go because there were quite a few reviews that said it had declined, it was my first time going and my family had an absolute blast!! The light show around the lake was spectacular and there was just so much to see!! We got there around 7 on Monday, 12/18 and there wasn't really a line anywhere. It's a great place so there are plenty of people but we didn't feel crowded! The bug section was my favorite, but they really have lights for everyone of all ages. The Dinosaur exhibit was extra but WELL worth the money! They were so lifelike!!! Kind of a bummer you can't see any animals and most of the exhibits are closed off but still worth it anyways. They have all sorts of light things for sale and you can pay extra to do the stingray touch. What a great way to celebrate the holiday season! read more

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Well this was a complete bust. First time to Phoenix Zoo. Pre-purchased tickets and drive 45 minutes from Peoria.....arriving at 6:30pm on a Wednesday night, only to be caught up in MILES of traffic on every surrounding street to get into the Zoo. We couldn't even get near any sort of parking or entrance. What a joke. I've been to Zoolights in various cities, most recently Denver and have NEVER seen this kind of ridiculous backups to get into the PARKING lot! We would have been waiting for at least an hour just to park mid week!! San Diego Zoo isn't even close to this insane at their busiest!! Decided to cut our losses and leave. Many other cars were getting out of line and making u-turns. This is just poor planning, poor business, and lack of care for people who have spent money to support a non profit. Either have traffic control or limit ticket sales. Again, this wasn't even a weekend. Won't ever go back now as this left a very bad impression. read more

Okay so I must admit I wasn't exactly the most enthusiastic visitor to Zoo Lights but I had a date who had been talking for weeks about how she wanted to go so we went. I have to say it is pretty cool if for nothing more than walking around the zoo at night being a different feel. The lights aren't super impressive but the atmosphere is pretty cool. I was underwhelmed by the "New musical light show" at the lake and felt that using some different songs and maybe some more impressive light schemes would have been better. As for a date location it's a pretty good spot and on a cold night gives plenty of reason to hold somebody special close...if you know what I am saying. So makes this spot a fun place to walk around for an hour or two, maybe even snag a cup of hot chocolate while you're at it. read more

I'm not sure what all of the hype is about for this event. I agreed to go with some family because they insisted it was a tradition and that I needed to experience it at least once. I hate zoos. Anyway, it was packed, hot and the smell was so bad that I couldn't even concentrate on the lights. I also felt badly for the poor animals who had to deal with crazy lights, tons of foot traffic, etc. Aren't they tortured enough having to live in the desert in captivity? Too much money for what? Some Christmas lights. I think I'll sit this one out next year. read more

Overall had a good trip to our first Phoenix zoo lights experience. Coming from the freezing cold experiences at Denver Zoo Lights my expectations weren't out of reach, just that we don't freeze to death. Mission accomplished on that. A few things to note. We pre purchased tickets for both the zoo and Santa photos and arrived at 5:30pm as we have a 1 1/2 year old and a 4 year old. Total spent was 104$ on tickets to both. Cons : traffic control while we were exiting at 7:45pm was uh, rough. There was still a ton of people coming in, no flow of traffic for safety, and so many people with kids in line clear in the parking lot. In my personal opinion that lot should have closed long before it was. Inside was pretty crowded but a good amount of spots to pull off and take a break if needed. The food and drink spots were quite crowded as was the carousel that my 4 year old really wanted to ride (probably a 30-45 min wait). We passed on both of those. Santa photos that we pre purchased and reserved a spot for looked great as we waited in line. I figured for 45$ it was going to be worth it and neither of my kids have met Santa before (mostly due to COVID). I was impressed with Santa initially but my 4 year old wasn't even able to go near him as they had him in a sleigh and the kids sit 3ft away in front of him. Santa didn't really talk to her or even give out a HoHoHo! My daughter was disappointed but she'll survive. We had talked about sitting on Santa's lap and telling him what you were wanting for Christmas and unfortunately that didn't happen. The girls did well though and staff were very nice otherwise. The photos turned out good but boy was I disappointed in the 'snowflake ornament' that was an extra 6$ for the photo package. It's a flat super cheap plastic that doesn't even come with its own photo to go in it, you have to use one of the other ones you purchased and cut those to fit in there. For 45$ the only real benefit here was not to have to wait in line for your Santa visit, Otherwise I was quite disappointed. Thankfully that money goes back into the zoo. Pros : good weather, quick check in process into the zoo, short wait for pre reserved Santa photos, friendly staff all around, easy to find and easy to park when we arrived as we got there early. We also love being able to bring our wagon, blankets, snacks, and other personal belongings without long process bag searches and restrictions. The lights were beautiful and well done, my personal favorites were the ducks in a pond display and the red white and blue patriotic tree with a bench for a great photo op. We will be back but I think we will pass on the Santa photos next year, maybe find another location that has more Santa interaction and isn't so rough on our wallet. read more