Went to the new Aquarium

[CptnRn]

Anyone who is disturbed by what they have seen at the aquarium should call the City Animal Cruelty Unit 311 here Animal Cruelty Unit | AustinTexas.gov - The Official Website of the City of Austin

[riaelise]

Rebooted this thread to say that I visited the aquarium with my family and we all enjoyed it. It really is perfect for families with younger children. Very interactive (they really do encourage people to interact with many of the exhibits) and the staff was friendly. It does appear a bit "no frills" but it makes up for it with interesting things that the kids can do. It is nothing like the New York Aquarium and places like that, but is great for kids' birthday parties, group events, those types of things. My main complaint is lack of air conditioning, which created a stuffy atmosphere and it is VERY crowded on weekends. Be prepared to deal with lots of boisterous older children.

The season pass is the way to go..you can go back as much as you want and the kids can go in and out and enjoy the exhibits over and over again..

[cBach]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Rebooted this thread to say that I visited the aquarium with my family and we all enjoyed it. It really is perfect for families with younger children. Very interactive (they really do encourage people to interact with many of the exhibits) and the staff was friendly. It does appear a bit "no frills" but it makes up for it with interesting things that the kids can do. It is nothing like the New York Aquarium and places like that, but is great for kids' birthday parties, group events, those types of things. My main complaint is lack of air conditioning, which created a stuffy atmosphere and it is VERY crowded on weekends. Be prepared to deal with lots of boisterous older children.

The season pass is the way to go..you can go back as much as you want and the kids can go in and out and enjoy the exhibits over and over again..

I highly doubt there is no A/C in the aquarium. More likely, they have to keep the aquarium a certain temperature for many of the animals. I presume when it's 105 it will be plenty cool in there.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Rebooted this thread to say that I visited the aquarium with my family and we all enjoyed it. It really is perfect for families with younger children. Very interactive (they really do encourage people to interact with many of the exhibits) and the staff was friendly. It does appear a bit "no frills" but it makes up for it with interesting things that the kids can do. It is nothing like the New York Aquarium and places like that, but is great for kids' birthday parties, group events, those types of things. My main complaint is lack of air conditioning, which created a stuffy atmosphere and it is VERY crowded on weekends. Be prepared to deal with lots of boisterous older children.

The season pass is the way to go..you can go back as much as you want and the kids can go in and out and enjoy the exhibits over and over again..

Thanks for the review & the re-boot.

The Aquarium sounds like most other kid park, or kid attractions:

- It's better to have a season pass so you can go in for a couple of hours & leave (& enjoy multiple times). As opposed to paying a one day price & feeling compelled to see EVERYTHING.

- It's better to go right when they open (Classic Disney & Fiesta Texas Strategy). Enjoy for a couple hours when it's fresh, clean & uncrowded.....& bail when the late risers finally get there & it starts getting crowded (& stuffy & hot).

- Week days are better than weekends. (again, classic disneyland & fiesta texas/seaworld/schlitterbahn strategy).

I have relatives who hated Disneyland because they'd get there at 11am & stay till 7 or 7:30. They'd be in lines all day, jostle the crowds & leave stressed & exhausted. I'd get there 20 min. before opening tour with a plan the first 2.5 hours, then see some sites & bail from noon - 3:30 (take a rest/nap/meal) & return refreshed & rested & would use fast passes collected earlier in the day (avoiding all lines all day).

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by hound 109

Thanks for the review & the re-boot.

The Aquarium sounds like most other kid park, or kid attractions:

- It's better to have a season pass so you can go in for a couple of hours & leave (& enjoy multiple times). As opposed to paying a one day price & feeling compelled to see EVERYTHING.

- It's better to go right when they open (Classic Disney & Fiesta Texas Strategy). Enjoy for a couple hours when it's fresh, clean & uncrowded.....& bail when the late risers finally get there & it starts getting crowded (& stuffy & hot).

- Week days are better than weekends. (again, classic disneyland & fiesta texas/seaworld/schlitterbahn strategy).

I have relatives who hated Disneyland because they'd get there at 11am & stay till 7 or 7:30. They'd be in lines all day, jostle the crowds & leave stressed & exhausted. I'd get there 20 min. before opening tour with a plan the first 2.5 hours, then see some sites & bail from noon - 3:30 (take a rest/nap/meal) & return refreshed & rested & would use fast passes collected earlier in the day (avoiding all lines all day).

we have disneyland season passes, we get there at 8am and usually leave by noon. I wont wait for more than 15 minutes for a ride.

My wife took our kids to the aquarium and they both liked it. We have been to the shedd, monterrey, and long beach aquariums (among others) so we know what a good aquarium is. For a small aquarium for young kids it was great.

Yes it is not that polished, in a strip mall etc.

[JT-3]

We went, it was decent and the (mostly young) staff was definitely visible and around to answer questions. I touched a shark, never done that before. My only suggestion would be to have a texas based exhibit.

[centralaustinite]

If anyone starts a pool about how long it will take before the Convino's are hit with tax evasion charges, I want in!

[355spider]

Austin seriously needs an Aquarium like Houston or Dallas. Come to think of it a Zoo as well. The Dallas Aquarium is one of our family favorites. Go see it if you're in town.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by 355spider

Austin seriously needs an Aquarium like Houston or Dallas. Come to think of it a Zoo as well. The Dallas Aquarium is one of our family favorites. Go see it if you're in town.

I am fine with the way things are..austin doesn't seriously need either of those things. There's always San Antonio. Also, unless the city is willing to shell out either the bucks or the incentives ... Which it isn't inclined to do .. Austin isn't going to get huge world class facilities. Both the austin zoo and aquarium are great simple attractions for our kids.