Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens

We went a few years ago and had such a good time here. We came during the day to see the animals and then came back at night for the Chinese Lantern Festival, and both were just as awesome. During the day the animals were super fun to see. Great for kids, easy to walk, stroller friendly, and enough to keep everyone interested without feeling like you’re hiking 15 miles. My daughter loved it and there were plenty of spots to stop and look around. But the lanterns at night were the showstopper. It was our first time seeing anything like that and we were blown away. Bright, colorful, totally different vibe... almost feels like you’re walking through a storybook. Since then it’s become something we look for every winter back home because we loved it that much. All around great experience, would definitely go again. Perfect little break from the tourist Orlando chaos.

🌟 The Central Florida Zoo’s Asian Lantern Festival is a must‑see annual tradition—trust me, you’ll want to grab your tickets early! The glowing displays are enchanting, interactive, and absolutely stunning. It’s the perfect outing for families, a romantic date night, or a fun adventure with friends. Take your time strolling through the illuminated pathways—there are millions of photo ops everywhere you turn. 📸 Plus, you can enjoy adult beverages along the way. A magical night you won’t forget! 🌙 Don't forget to ❤️ and follow for more adventures. #Centralfloridazoo #lanternfest #zoo

Went to visit the Asian Lantern Festival at Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens. This event exceeded my expectations. I didn’t think it would be much but decided to take the kids. Every inch has lights the babies even got to enjoy the view. The older kids enjoy the dragons. It was beautiful. Lots of photo shoots opportunities so we got a lot of great pictures with the family with gorgeous lighting. Small things just tops it off like all the food huts were open, VR experience was available for purchase the children were on two different experiences out of 4. The reflex machine the kids also love trying that. The bubble machine when pop has smoke in them. Definitely worth the price and visit.

Very cute little zoo. We visited during the lantern festival and it was very impressive. A few attractions were closed and some walkways were closed and it was hard to figure out when events were, otherwise I would have given 5 stars. We saw everything in about 2hr. There's a playground in the center of the park that could easily extend the time there.

We visited the zoo on December 22, 2025. We took the Sunrail Train from Deland to Sanford with our bikes and then rode our bikes to The zoo. The only hiccup as far as the bike ride, was that the gate was closed at the Sun rail station that leads to a development that would’ve made it a lot easier to ride a bicycle to the zoo with a six-year-old. The path to the development was locked. It doesn’t show that on Google maps. But we had a great time at the zoo. We got to see the giraffe, the rhino, the leopard, and all kinds of other animals. VR experience was awesome. I didn’t do that, but I got the video of my better half and the six-year-old. Watching their reactions while they were watching the VR was great The price of a can soda was a bit ridiculous at five dollars though!! There were water refilling stations throughout the park, which was good. The decorations and artwork throughout the park was also pretty awesome! A great day and experience had by all!!

We were in the area visiting family, and our grandson loves the zoo. This was our first visit to this zoo, and driving in you get the feeling that this place is a blend between the actual zoo and a botanical garden (hence the name). We went in December so obviously not much was blooming, You can see the potential for a beautiful property when spring and summer arrive. The animals were out and about as we arrived during the morning feeding time. We really liked the fact that the young ones can get reasonably close to many of the animals and even feed the goats. They have many light-up displays that during the evening hours must be quite extensive to witness. We will definitely put a return visit on our schedule and see the lights at night. We'll worth the visit if you've never been there.

Great place. Great landscape. Green and serene. However, their wild animals collection is limited. Took 2 hours to explore all animals. Train ride is available. Entry fee around $24 for every adults. Kids under 3 years are free to enter. Various animals are available, such as rhino, lemur, lama, snakes, tortoises, turtles, giraffe, monkeys, cheetah, black bear, goats, chickens, goose, hawk, and eagles. Restrooms are good. Cafeterias are there for ice cream and snacks. Closes by 4pm. Also the center for Asian lantern festival during the Christmas season.

This zoo does not represent a good value for the money you’ll spend here. That being said, there’s a reptile house, aquatic animals, and large land mammals like bears and giraffes. The food costs an arm and a leg (and canned water goes for a portrait of Abraham Lincoln). I visited with my mother, brother, and five-year-old twin niece and nephew. The kids had a good time overall. The lantern festival at night (which we attended just before Christmas— about a week ago) held the attention of the adults better than the daytime zoo trip. The least enjoyable part of the daytime zoo trip was Graze Kitchen. My brother ordered hot dogs for his kids, as did I, just after him. My brother got his food ~20 minutes before I did. I had to ask someone at the counter when my order would be ready to get any traction. We should’ve been able to sit down together and eat, but the rest of my party was long finished before I had the opportunity to start.

We went there for the Asian lantern festival. This is the fifth year they have the lanterns. Every year it was different. The lanterns are amazing and it was appeased out throughout the zoo and the path is easy to follow and very beautiful to enjoy. Bonus is they have the Asian food to choose from such as ramen, potstickers, Korean corndogs etc. they are all so yummy! Plenty of pic taking opportunities and family pic! What a fun place to be!

Only saw the zoo. Most of the animals weren't out so we saw some birds and the otters. All the enclosures also really small which is depressing. This zoo is ok for toddlers but I don't see myself coming back here.

Went to the Asian Lantern Festival for the first time with my husband tonight. What a wonderful event. The lantern sculptures are simply amazing - they're made out of fabric and have beautiful lighting. Many of them move and there is pretty music playing throughout the displays. The path in through the zoo, on a boardwalk, so easy to navigate with kids, strollers, etc. There were many food and snack options throughout the 3/4 of a mile trail. I opted for Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows. They also had several Asian inspired offerings, including: Ramen, Korean Corn Dogs, and Boba Tea. There was a nice variety of souvenirs also - bubble wands, Asian lanterns, Ornaments, etc. Parking is included and was easy, with a short walk to the entrance. They have plenty of staff on hand to direct traffic. Once in the zoo, they had staff posted regularly to help with traffic flow and questions. Apparently, this festival is held every year around Lunar New Year (which is the end of Jan this year) and the theme changes every year. This year the theme is Where the Wild Things Are - so all the lanterns went with that theme. They were just so beautiful. We'll definitely be back for next year's' festival. It took us about an hour and 10 minutes to walk through and see everything. If you stop to eat, it will be even longer (which is good) and they had plenty of seating around the dining areas. The festival runs through January 19th this year. Tickets are $24.99 each or a 4 pack for $80. Kids under 2 are free. You can get tickets online at the Zoo's website.

We went to the Lantern Festival last night. It was more beautiful than I expected. I wish we had gone to the zoo during the day as well but it was still worth going to see all the gorgeous lanterns and lights. The staff/volunteers were all very friendly and helpful. There were plenty of food and drink options ranging from kid friendly to more adventurous. Bathrooms didn't ever seem to be too crowded. There were also a lot of opportunities to sit down for those who needed it.

Smaller zoo when compared to the likes of San Diego or Pittsburg, but it hit all the points and had a good variety of animals to enjoy. Only negative was the food... price for quantity was not adding up, but the zoo itself was amazing. We enjoyed the reptile house as well as the larger mammal enclosures.

The Asian Lantern festival during the holidays is spectacular. We participated in a private event with deserts and drinks which was catered by the zoo and everything was delicious. There were also many options for eating and drinking throughout the park, including make your own s'mores. I loved how organized the Lantern festival was, making it easy to enjoy all the beautiful lights. The only thing that surprised me was that we didn't get to see any animals. The last time I went to the zoo in the daytime, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of animals as well. I would definitely recommend the Asian Lantern festival and think families with young children would enjoy the zoo during the daytime.

The zoo is underwhelming. Barely any animals. Do not recommend. What I do recommend going to is their Asian lantern festival, that was beautiful and a great walk. I paid $80 for 4 ppl and felt it was well worth it. It's great for a date night or family night.

We went for the Asian Lantern Festival. It was beautiful. They had dragons, peacocks flamingos, bears, and many more. There were Lantern displays everywhere. They also have food stations throughout. However, the food is expensive. They had employees directing us through the zoo. The gravel parking lot is bumpy, with a lot of pot holes.

It was so much fun to experience the Asian Lantern Festival! The lighting was so cool to see at night. I felt like it was EDC without the EDM music, lol. I was expecting to see some animals, but then I realized that the lighting was only for our entertainment, and the animals needed to rest. I was really impressed by the koto players - when we reach the area where they were play, they were just finishing setting up and tuning the instrument. After they set up, the music was beautiful and blended so well with the lighting throughout. This event will be available until January, so check it out!

Very disappointed with our visit to the Central Florida Zoo. The splash pad was closed with no notice beforehand, several animal exhibits had "off exhibit" signs, and the train wasn't running. We were expecting a fun day, but it felt like half the attractions weren't even available. Definitely not worth the price of admission. Wouldn't recommend until they get things back up and running.

Went to the zoo for the Asian Lantern Festival : Into The Wild It was amazing and very well put together. It was $88 for a family 4 pack. Parking was free and plentiful. I did purchase a tall kirin ichiban (beer) which was about $18 . We went at the 8:00 pm showing. They utilized the entire zoo for the lanterns and lighting. Would definitely recommend, and will be returning next year!

Exploring this local zoo for the first time left me pleasantly surprised by the diverse range of animals on display. The highlight? An unforgettable experience feeding the majestic giraffes up close. However, a couple of nuances caught my attention. Firstly, the layout could use some improvement, lacking a seamless flow and featuring underutilized spaces. Additionally, be mosquito-ready--I left with a few itchy bites that lingered for days. On a more concerning note, I observed some animals with noticeable sores, a rarity in my experiences at other zoos and sanctuaries. While I hope it's not indicative of the facility's overall care standards, I do not have enough information/expertise to know if it is. If you live near or are visiting the area, it's definitely worth checking out! Some other highlights included a cougar, cheetahs, river otters, and a petting zoo with an alpaca, llama, sheep, goats, and more.

We came here over the holidays for the Lantern Festival, our first time visiting the zoo and we very much enjoyed the festive atmosphere, there was a hot chocolate station and several stations selling snacks and drinks. As for the displays, simply beautiful and colorful, a wide variety of themes, definitely worth the price of admission.

We came here for the Asian Lantern Festival....it has been years since I have Ben to the Central Florida Zoo, but it reminded me it is probably time for another actual zoo visit! The lantern festival as a nice event. They had displays all set up along a path so you could see everything,. There is as nice variety of different designs and w always. Everything cream small novel items to large and Extravagant. I am glad that they do this at the zoo....it is a good way to get more folks to the location and to use the space in a productive way after hours. I'll likely come back next year....and hopefully make a stop back in the day sometime soon!

It's a small zoo- but it's really a lovely afternoon out. There's a wide array of animals. The staff seems knowledgeable and caring.The animals are simply precious- especially the monkeys! I love Sunset At The Zoo.It is a 21 and older event featuring food, music and drinks.This attraction has educational events throughout the year too.

Small but charming. There is a variety of animals and birds to see. The botanical gardens add to the atmosphere and cover a wide range of trees, bushes and flowers. It is possible to interact with some animals, for instance the giraffes can be fed (for a price). The zoo was clean and bad smells were at a minimum in February. There is a lot of property to cover. Bring your walking shoes. For maximum enjoyment, arrive in the morning. We got there after noon and many of the animals had been fed and were having a siesta.

Second time coming to the zoo with our daughter, but this time was for the Asian Lantern Festival. No animal sightings this time, but we enjoyed seeing all the creative displays. With all the displays showcasing different eras or depictions of Mother Nature or animal life. From dinosaurs to swimming koi fish and more this was such a magical event to try in the evenings during Christmas time.

I visited in the morning from 9:30-11:30am on a Friday hoping to avoid the crowds, but by 10:30 the place was swarming with kids on school field trips. Some walkways and animal viewing areas (ex. The herpetarium for reptiles) can be narrow, but for the most part, I was able to see the vast majority of critters the zoo has to offer. The Florida black bear wasn't there when I went, but I got to see a lot of the animals have their breakfast, and the first scheduled animal "encounter" started at 11am (cheetahs). I had expected to see maybe a short sprint from the cheetahs as I had seen at other zoos, but the "encounter" was simply a Q&A with one of the staff members while the 2 cheetahs munched on hunks of meat. Some other neat experiences (most starting at 10am) include feeding the giraffes ($5 per person), feeding some farm animals (goats, sheep, etc), and face painting on Saturdays. Bathrooms were clean, and many food/snack stalls were starting to open around 10am. I didn't have any issues with parking, but the lot was quite full by the time I left!

Went for the Lantern Festival. Make sure it is open the night you want to go and you can buy tickets in advance. This is a beautiful addition of lights to the Zoo. There are also stations for snacks and souvenirs. I believe this was around $25 a person for an adult so I'm not certain that I'd go back in the future. Maybe to take people visiting

The staff at this zoo is always super friendly! Whether it's the ticketing staff, train, or even inside the zoo! I am impressed with how many activities this zoo has throughout the year! The lantern festival is pretty neat & something to do in the evening. I appreciate that there is such a variety of animals to see. The zoo always seems well maintained and clean. It's cool they have a playground, train, petting zoo & splash pad as well. There's something for the whole family! Overall 5 star experience! I wish the parking lot didn't get so muddy with rain. But overall they have plenty of parking spots and even additional parking. They also have high ropes courses here which is pretty cool! Overall fun environment and great animal experiences!

I'm not usually a huge fan of zoos (and based on a regular visit from before, I would've been more likely to rate it three stars), but we enjoyed their Asian lantern event this weekend! It was very creatively put together and seemed well-worth the $18/person we paid for our large group. Parking was free, which was a nice touch! And the way they staggered crowds made it super easy to get in. The line definitely took under five minutes. Since it was cold, we were also grateful for the indoor bathrooms and gift shop that were open late. Speaking of the gift shop, I hope they make better projections for their merchandise next holiday season. We like to collect ornaments everywhere we go, but they apparently sold out of anything associated with the event within the first few days. The path itself was fairly long, and we were surprised to see interactive exhibits and live music along the way. The lanterns alone were more beautiful than we expected! My personal favorites were the bamboo arches and pandas towards the beginning, but the assorted lantern-lit boardwalks were also serene. I hope they continue improving animal care/enclosures, as well as putting events like these for our community. It was a great experience, and we would go again next year!

I went to Central Florida zoo and botanical gardens for their beautiful light show. In Chicago a light show means one thing. However, in Florida, I was treated, too amazingly beautiful, oriental sculptures all with lights. I honestly can't explain what is beautiful, delicate, amazing sculptures were like . We were unable to see the animals as they were in their habitats . But the lit sculptures were a sight to behold. They even had a swing which, of course, I took advantage of. They had a dragon maid out of tiny bottles filled with different colors. Most of the sculptures were made out of papier-mâché. The swing was made out of hard plastic. The food was mediocre at best. But, of course, we did not come for the food. We came for the lights and they were truly amazing.

I'm no zoo expert nor have any other zoos to compare this one to, but it is a great place for kids! From the splash pad, to feeding the giraffes or farm animals, playing on the playground, or just walking around the various exhibits, there are lots of opportunities for kids of all ages to enjoy! They do allow you to bring in outside drinks and snacks, but they also have a few stands where you can purchase things as well. At the front of the zoo there are numerous picnic tables to sit and enjoy lunch with your group. The annual membership also includes perks such as discounted tickets for guests, discounted tickets to the brevard zoo, discounted tickets to night time events, and more! While I do agree that some of the spaces for a few animals look rather small, all of the different staff I have seen working with the animals seem to love and care for them. I especially enjoyed chatting with one employee as she introduced us to holly the wreathed hornbill.

This was actually my first time at this zoo, we went in the morning on a Saturday and parking and entry were very easy. This is a smaller zoo and the ticket price reflects that. It only takes a couple of hours to walk around and see all of the exhibits such as monkeys, alligators, lemurs, black bears, giraffes, rhino, etc. Definitely great for kids and there is an awesome splash pad too. The zoo was set up for the lantern festival when we went which was cool to see all throughout the park. I've heard great things about that event and I bet the displays look amazing when lit up. Also shout out to zookeeper Kenndall for an awesome rhino encounter!

Soooo this is a zoo in central florida. I really wasn't sure what to expect but the place is bigger than I thought and had more animals than I thought. Is the place a little rough around the edges, yes. But every worker was super nice and friendly, they've got a nice little eatery and there's lots of shade. Let's be real I came here for my kid and that's what makes it worth it. Aside from the animals there's a playground AND a splash pad. AND a train. And guess what? The train is only five bucks to ride for adults and you don't have to enter the zoo to do it. I took my son here just to do that before it got hot. This is a yes if you want to have an outing with your kids. Tickets are cheaper online.

This zoo has gotten much better since my last visit several years ago... They now have 2 Giraffe, a rhino, cheetahs,bears, a leopard that we did not see... Otters... lots of birds and turtles... There is a children's animal area as well... It is only a couple of hours to do the whole zoo... This zoo is not far from Blue Springs in Orange City, Fl. We always do both in one day. It makes the trip out there better from Orlando. This Zoo has nice staff and easy parking. They are getting better each year. Supporting the zoo helps the animals and the community. I hope they land some big supporters to financially improve the enclosures and get more of the big 5.., They deserve the help... Go support the zoo...

Loved this place!! Walking around here was the perfect morning date! The food was decent for the price and I loved that the cheeseburger had queso cheese on it! The zoo is a bit smaller than I expected we walked all of it in an hour! Loved seeing the Asian lanterns throughout the zoo, the artwork was beautiful!!

A lot has changed in the past five years since I've been here. Took our niece here for her first zoo experience and it was everything expected. It's $23 for adults and $15 for children. I recommend purchasing your tickets online because you do get a discount + it's a digital ticket so you skip the line! Free parking and it's a short walk to the entrance of the park. We went on a wet day, so the wooden walkways get pretty slippery. The animals are healthy and enclosures are well taken care of. It doesn't smell like a zoo either because it's pretty clean. The food and drinks are of course over priced, but it's affordable. You cannot bring outside food or drinks either, only water. I highly recommend bringing a hat and maybe portable fans because it gets super hot inside the zoo. It took us less than an hour to complete the whole enclosure. They offer zoo-talks, giraffe feeding and have a splash pad for the little ones (which was closed when we got there because of the thunder). Florida summer heat definitely kept most of the animals inside, so we didn't really see much because it was hot and wet. I'm looking forward to giving this place another shot when it's cooler out!

I went here on one occasion and I was surprisingly shocked to see how small each of the enclosures are. Many of the enclosures for the monkeys and cats were small and the animals looked overwhelmed in the enclosures. We also were able to see the bear and their enclosure also looked a little small. The petting zoo with the llama was very cute and we were able to pet and see goats and other animals there. The reptile enclosure was very nice also. I got some cute photos of the tortoise. The enclosures looked nice. Though we did not feed any animals the giraffes were fun to see. Most of the exhibits we thought were small. The museums with the butterflies was beautiful.

So much to see and do! This is absolutely worth a visit if you are in the area. I was looking for a fun day time activity for my 6 month old (it is NOT time for Disney, ha!) and this fit the bill. I love that it's also a botanical garden in addition to a zoo. The grounds were well-maintained and there were so many cool plants and sculptures to check out. There are lots of different animal exhibits, which makes it easy to walk around for a few hours without getting bored. There was a rhino there which was crazy. I've never seen such a large rhino up close before. The reptile house also had a lot going on. Food options are limited, so worth considering if you are visiting. Overall this was a nice way to spend a few hours. My daughter seemed to enjoy herself too!

Came to this zoo while on vacation. I had checked ahead of time to see if our Houston Zoo Membership gave any discount here and it did!! 50% off! Saved us over $50. Honestly, if we had to pay over $100 to come to this zoo, I don't think would have been worth it! Parking is on a grass/dirt lot. There aren't any painted lines so most people overestimate the space needed between vehicles. This, in turn, allows less cars in the already not-so-big parking lot. But, at least it's free parking. The zoo itself isn't the biggest but we all actually thought it was pretty decent. We saw a good number of animals too, I only recall one habitat where a sign stated the animal wasn't there. Some of our favorite animals included: the giraffes, the Rhino and the cheetahs. A playground and splash pad were there but overrun with kids so we passed. It took us about 70 minutes to walk through the zoo. I don't think we'll stop here every time we come to Orlando but it was a nice visit today.

I loved this Place, I first came here more than ten years ago and boy has it changed. I was there early in the morning, Actually had to wait 20 min for them to open. The Place is full of Happy Employees Happy Animals and the joy on happiness on the Kids faces was pricless. A great Great Value.. forget the theme parks stop here, it's much better.

My family and I absolutely love it here, and it's one of the things I'll miss the most about living in the Orlando area. This zoo is so well done, from the variety and breadth of animals available to see to their on-property restaurant and special events. They even have a splash pad area for the little ones. We bought a membership so we could visit multiple times and also went to their Asian Lantern Festival and have never had a bad time. I can go on and on, but let's focus on the main attraction. As for animals, they've got all that you would want to see and more - leopards, monkeys, giraffes, rhinos, cheetahs... that's just the beginning of the list. Overall, I love it here and hope to get in at least one more visit before we move.

I can't believe that I've been a member for two years and am just now thinking to drop a review! I ADORE the CFZ. Yes it is a smaller zoo but please don't let that stop you from coming out and enjoying some time here. They house a a nice variety of animals all seemingly well kept and cared for. I frequently see the keepers hard at work and have even had the wonderful opportunity to chat with a handful of them. The property is well thought out in terms of navigation. It is easy to see all the animals as the pathway will lead you on a circle throughout. The signage is pretty helpful too! If in doubt, you can even download the map to your phone. In addition to the animal exhibits, there are also a couple of nice play areas for kids, picnic tables, and a cute splash pad for hot days. I think my favorite thing about CFZ is that it's an affordable experience! Tickets are reasonably priced and even more so if you opt for a membership. They offer some animal encounters such as giraffe feeding for $5! Unbeatable. I've gone to zoos that charged a fortune for this. Also, ample free parking! Need I say more?! Despite its small size, management clearly works hard to keep things exciting. There are special events scheduled regularly and the food vendor was recently upgraded (and I thought it was pretty tasty). Come here with reasonable expectations and you'll enjoy it! You can probably see all exhibits within 2 hours but can definitely make a longer day of it if you include the playground/splash pad, lunch, and carousel! I am a loyal member and love bringing my friends and family.

Went for the Asian Lantern Festival and it was AMAZING! Never been to anything like this before and it was beautiful. Glad I went early as the crowds started getting busier. There were lots of food and drink options along the trail including veggie friendly options. Would definitely come back again.

Small zoo but lots of animal enclosures all over the place . Does have little animals but still worth seeing all the random animals. As for the botanical garden part , that is about non existent . Park and bathrooms are very clean and animals are well taken care of

On the smaller side as far as zoo's go, but SO much fun. Their splash pad is down for maintenance right now, but the train is super fun for the little ones. Haven't fed the giraffes yet, but I'll be back to do so in the future!

Central Florida zoo is a family fun zoo that is fine for everyone. It is located in Sanford Florida and has a variety of animals. The cost is about 25 a person but they have multiple discounts. I used my military discount and it applied to everyone one of my guest. We were a party of 7 and saved 42 dollars. nice. It was hot but with the canopy not stiffeling. The train us not operational so the little ones maybe disappointed but they is plenty for them to do from water park areas and also zip lining. It has been a while since we have been to a zoo and we thoroughly enjoyed our selves. Most of these animals are at risk or endangered so it's nice to know that some are safe even if it is in captivity

Let me start by saying that I did not visit the zoo during a regular zoo day. I went to see the Asian Lantern Festival at night. This was my first time at this zoo, but it was easy to find, had tons of parking and was easy to get around. Restrooms are near the front gate (and throughout the zoo) and there are a few eateries. Because we were there for the Asian Lantern Festival, additional "asian inspired" food stands were out in place. For the most part, they left a lot to be desired. One stand advertised Korean BBQ; it's not that it was bad; it was tasty. Just not super authentic. Another had Orange chicken and rice... stuffed into a waffle cone. I supposed technically they were "inspired", but again... just didn't hit the mark. The event was pretty crowded but there's really only one was to progress through. It's a 3/4 mile trail and it's marked clearly. There's no way to get off the path. Just be patient if you want pictures; everyone else does, too. The lanterns were beautiful! A lot of time and care was put into the event. There are some really creative displays, and most have informational posts, telling the importance of specific animals, etc. I had a great time and I'm glad we went. Remember to purchase tickets online (none are sold on site) and stop by the booth selling Asian inspired goodies and trinkets. She's across from the big blue jellyfish towards the end of the trail.

On the smaller side, but a nice zoo. Feeding the giraffe was the highlight. Train wasn't running and some of the animals were on loan.

Amazing, dedicated staff who really care about the animals and the zoo's mission of education and conservation. We always enjoy our visits here and highly recommend the rhino encounter!

Recommend visiting the Asian Light Festival, Dec-Jan. yearly, weekend evening event. If adult only, suggest later Sunday evenings to avoid the multitude of strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs. Otherwise, it may be a slower stroll with the crowd. It's a popular event, so it will be crowded. Food & snack available. 2 hours max provides more than enough time to stroll, stop, view all, and eat.

I was very excited to take my granddaughter to the zoo that my great grandmother, my grandmother, mother , me, and my daughter all went to as children, for the first time today . 6 generations of my family have supported that zoo At the gate when we went in, their man at the gate insisted that we could not bring the refill cups we were planning to use all day for water , into the zoo. I begged him ''please, she's a baby, She needs her drink''. He could not have cared less. I am So dehydrated . Today was one of the worst days of my life. Thirsty all day . i cant believe they had the audacity to do this to my 70 year old mother and 5 year old granddaughter , but this ends our support for Sanford Zoo. I'm reporting them to the Better Business Bureau in the morning.. We did not see one single water fountain there and as far as i know , that, and not allowing us to bring in our refill cups, is illegal. This ends 6 generations of support for Sanford Zoo. Greedy scum. We wont be going back.

It doesn't take very long to go through no elephants or monkeys loved the giraffes several animals off site when we went a little disappointing but it's worth seeing I think it's a little spendie for what it is oh definitely don't buy drinks 5.00 for a can of soda water expensive to. Water 2.00 in the gift store close to the way out.

Small zoo that isn't very showy but is a good walk around for a couple of hours with kids. We got an annual pass because the price makes sense if you're local and have kids. Not a ton to see but you can feed the giraffes! And they have a splash pad and a playground to help the kids get out more energy!

This is a cute zoo but not real fancy. Some things are not operating ie...the train. Parking is ok, but could become a problem if it rained a lot. We visited on an extremely hot day some of the animals were hard to see. The ones you could see were fantastic. The giraffes were favorites to many. The rhinos were amazing and the bears were cute taking a rest and trying to stay cool. The zoo does have lots of picnic tables to bring a lunch and appears to offer educational services as well. If you are used to big zoos ie...San Diego this is not for you. However do not let the size scare you away. It will serve as a nice day trip for you and the family and kids always like getting some Dipping Dots at the zoo.

Visited here today with the family. A nice local zoo with your standard animals. The cages were clean and the animals were all sleeping today. The staff was friendly and helpful. Bring your own drinks and food because their food is $$$. $5 for a can soda! The little ones will love this place. There a small splash park and lots of shaded areas for a picnic or just to rest out of the Florida heat. Wear comfortable clothes and some old comfy sneakers. Lots of walking on uneven boards so be careful. We had fun and so will you!

Came to this zoo while on vacation. .... it's not the most economical priced outing - however if you purchased tickets online it's $2 cheaper. Parking is on a grass/dirt lot. The zoo itself isn't the biggest but the kids in our party enjoyed themselves... the boardwalk needs to be updated and therefore it's difficult if you in a wheelchair. The water park was very crowded. Staff was friendly... overall not a bad experience.

What a lovely zoo! With so many other attractions in the Orlando area, this spot shouldn't be overlooked for folks who love zoos like me. Probably sized about right based on the city, so smaller than a lot of big city zoos, but still worth the visit!