Reviews of Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens (Zoo)

Cory Trusty

It is a sweet little zoo, with lovely gardens and reptile building. The paths are well kept, and wide wide and chair accessible. The river otters were a real thrill. I am restricting my rating to three stars, because two of the enclosures did not seem to provide enough shade or cooling for the animals on display, the first the being the jaguar, whose native habitat is much cooler, the Russian-China border area. There was a big fan for the cat, but the cat was clearly overheated. Maybe a large pool could help; the fan wasn't adequate. Similarly, the black bears did not seem to have adequate shade, just a small covered open air house. The large open area next to the bears would be perfect for planting shade trees to cool the surrounding area.

Mo Lima

I really enjoyed my visit to this zoo & botanical garden. The staff were friendly and helpful and the place was lovely. The animals looked well cared for. Loved the Macau. You can feed the goats and giraffe. Workers were doing some construction/improvements, so certain areas were closed off. The cafe is not great and pretty expensive, but I didn't have high expectations for that. I was able to walk through the entire zoo in less than 2 hours so it's not huge, but it is very nice.

Don Johnson

Not a bad smaller zoo. Most of the pathway throughout the exhibits were treated wood decking all of which could have used a good pressure washing. Many of the older benches were very low making it harder for folks with knee problems to get up. The small gauge train is kinda neat for the smaller crowd. Not a large assortment of animals, but not bad for the size of the park. Prices are reasonable with senior and military discounts.

MATTHEW RODRIGUEZ

The central Florida zoo is a fun place for all ages. The size is a little smaller than what most are use to but the habitats are really nice for the overall size. They have a lot of really cool animals to look at and even some that you can feed like the giraffes. All the employees are very knowledgeable and can tell you a lot about the animals and their lifestyle. CFZ is one of two zoos in and around Orlando. I suggest that if your in the area, check it out. Also the little ones can take a train ride around the grounds. They have zip lines for some extra fun. So come on down and check it out, bring the family and have a great day in the Florida sun.

David Hottenstein

Just no animal's very disappointing. We also bought feed the giraffe and wasn't able to feed them because the had been fed to many time's and that was by 11 am. Wouldn't waste my time at this zoo.

Any Mouse

Great little zoo. Well kept and lots of cool animals to check out. They also have a pretty cool aerial course perfect for older kids and young adults. There's a little water park for the kiddos along with a changing area afterward. There's a snack/bbq shack next to the water park with a big indoor and outdoor eating area. The staff is friendly the parking is free and entrance is inexpensive. Good place to kill a few hours or more with the kids.

Angela P

Love this place. Small but great place to take the littles.

Mary Lou Auckland

Nice and shady for walking around. Lots of birds and feeding the giraffes was fun. No elephants. Kiddie train ride was so so.

John Jocque

Nice little zoo for the kids. It was worth the BOGO value they were giving for two adults to visit. Not sure if I would have been happy paying full price. Keep your eyes open for the various areas - we nearly missed a big chunk of the zoo due to lack of a map.

Amanda Alldaffer

Enjoyed our visit. Great for my active 5 year old. The Keeper Chats were so informative and friendly. The zoo is not too big so we were able to really enjoy everything instead of rushing from place to place. The entrance looks run down but it’s beautiful once inside the zoo.

j g

I'm from St. Louis, home of a free and the best zoo in the country. This zoo in sunny florida was pretty cool, I have to say. The animals are all housed outdoors connected by nice wooden walkways through the swamps. Not the greatest variety of inmates, but many of them unique. Great for families. Worth the price of admission? Maybe, but I did enjoy our visit.

Star Galaxy

There animals look very healthy and they have a wide variety of species. I loved the park that was in it. The prices are pretty fair.

Eric Tacti

This is a great zoo! My family and I have visited a few times, and we have had a great time, every time. Beautiful animals that are well taken care of, and the grounds themselves are will maintained. The Staff are all very nice, and very knowledgeable about the animals. I definitely recommend this zoo!

Robyn Young

My husband and I found this zoo and we were so glad we did. The enclosures are top notch and not all the same. We loved the layout also. Wonderful for children. Great value.

L R

Super cute zoo ! Very kid friendly and we love that all the animals are rescued. We especially loved the giraffe and the bear siblings.

Medieval

Well, it's a Zoo, but a very small one at that. There isn't much to see which is a massive let down, and the animals don't look the least bit excited to be there. I won't say I wasted 60 dollars on 3 visitors for nothing, because there is potential, but there definitely needs to be more animals and a larger atmosphere before I consider coming back here. Otherwise, the staff are friendly and informative about the animals on site.

Emma Lucas

I gave this five stars, because it was a good enough size that I could see lots of animals, but could also walk the whole zoo in one day. I had never seen otters in a zoo before, so I was pleasently surprised to see some here, especially since they are one of my favorite animals. I enjoyed seeing a large variety of animals, ranging from butterflies, to cheetahs, to black bears.

mike keable

Quaint zoo, not many animals but enough space for each species. Quiet and relaxed, very hot bring your lotion. Feeding the giraffes for $5 yes please.

mary crume

Great for a nice stroll. Need more signs to direct people who have never been there before to front of place,to get in to see the animals.

Rachel Brubeck

The boardwalks were great for walking around. A lot of the animals were out and about and we got to see them feed the porcupines. The giraffe feeding is definitely worth doing but be aware it's all based on the giraffes themselves and you might not get to do it (they'll refund your money if you don't get to). Afternoons are a good time to catch some feedings by the zookeepers. The zoo isn't huge and can easily be accomplished in 2 hours.

Steven Kellett

I got a year pass so I can take my son. He LOVES it. Well worth the money...but the cost of food is worse than Disney!! I paid almost $5 for a 99c ice lolly!! That’s insane!! I’d come way more if I didn’t have to take a 2nd mortgage out just to buy snacks here!!

Laurie Cope

It was nice to see all of the animals but the zip line was a joke and Sonny's was worse. I'll be sending a message to Sonny's about the horrible conditions in this park. Don't go in the summer, it was hot as hell with just 3 places to cool off. Not even Sonny's was air conditioned or even had a ceiling fan in the 2 booth eating area. The prices were just as bad as Disney & the choices were very little.I will never be there again or recommend it.

Roderick Westberry

The zoo is perfect for a small child. We came and spent around 3-4 hours with our 2 year old son. They also have a scale sized train that goes for a ride around outside of the zoo. For my son, my wife and myself I paid 8$ which was totally worth it with how much my son loved the ride. He was excited to see the different animals and he loved the reptile house. There is a small sand pit area for the children to play in as well as a small water park that the other children loved. When you pass the water park area there is a feeding/ petting area. Watch out for Andre the llama. He will try to keep all of the food to himself.

Chycammillion rednour

An overall nice experience, however it had a lot more animals the last time we brought the family years ago. Now it seems more focused on extra paid activities that you can add to your visit. The zoo area has a lot of empty animal spaces that used to be filled. We packed our lunch and was disappointed that we were not allowed to bring our own lunch into the zoo. I would expect that from Disney but not from here .

Sarah Sapp

This place was a little.... Odd. But the prices weren't horrible and the kids had fun. The staff was friendly and they had several attractions. Loved seeing all the different animals.

Cecilia Curbow

Great little zoo, just the right amount of walking for my 7 and 5 year olds. Well trained and friendly zookeepers who know how to entertain the children.The splash pad is certainly a plus, as well as the train and the zipline, and obstacle course.

Dan Patterson

Nice zoo. Plenty to do for almost a days worth of you have small children. (We don't but plenty of parents with them.) Nice layout.

Alicia Dove

It's small and missing a lot of animals. Some of the animals look so sad. Its heart breaking. They literally have no place to roam. The botanical garden is beautiful and the sprinklers looked very exciting for the younger kids.

Maggi Hall

Great place to take the family. Clean. Fun. Large array of healthy happy animals. Beautiful surroundings. Take a picnic! Food and beverages available inside. Splash park. Train and merry go round. Ball on water a riot. Walk in the sky on ropes tied to cable for safety. No better place to spend the day.

Timothy Jury

Always a great experience. Every staff member I have come across have been more than willing to stop and discuss information about the animals. Everyone seems to love their job, and that reflects well.

Christopher LeBron

Small non breeding zoo. Lots to do. Many activities for the little ones. Perfect for small groups. Good price for Seniors. Easy to walk and view exhibits. Staff is friendly and informative.

Kyle E

We really like going to the Central Florida Zoo. We live locally and the zoo is a great way to spend a portion of your day. Whether it be walking through the shaded, natural, boardwalk path looking at the animal displays, letting the kids cool off in the splash park, or completing the extensive ropes course, it seems there is something for everyone here. The prices are reasonable and we have purchased the family pass multiple times now. The zoo itself is smaller than the big name zoos around the country and you can make it through most, if not all, of the exhibits in a couple of hours.

Pam White

Great fun. Little kids love the splash park. Great animal Care.

Nancy Krug

Park like setting, and close up views of animals. A break from large sized attractions. Very friendly and interactive staff, who really went out of their way to please the children in our group. A bit disturbed by pacing behavior of bear and leopard, however.

Carolyn

Had a wonderful time. The park is beautiful and well maintained. The animals looked healthy and content. Lots of activities for kids and adults. Staff very friendly. Will definitely go back.

Leena Lariscy

Great for a Sunday family trip! Brought my mother-in-law here so that she could get some great photos of the animals and plants with her new camera. She enjoyed it very much!

Dylan Hughes

I have been visiting this zoo since I was a little boy, now i’m grown with children of my own and am still enjoying as are they like it’s my first time. They have done a lot to keep this place fun and relevant. I appreciate all the work that’s gone in. Wonderful place to spend the day with your family or friends. I highly recommend it, not pricey for a days worth of fun!

Anne Marie Sargent

Great place to go with the family! Love the volunteers and staff. They are so knowledgeable and helpful. Love that they carry around smaller animals for everyone to see and learn about. Great place to relax and learn!

Martha Loaiza

We are somewhat disappointed the selection of animals to view isn't that great. It seemed like every exhibit we went to had a " sorry " sign on it, animals look sad

John Mowery

Came here from ohio. Our family of four absolutely loved it despite the heat. We loved your selection of animals.

Blue Raven

Its a nice place to go during the week and see a hand full of animals. Small, yet made for a good day, or about 4 hours of a day. Good for little kids too. Playground. Decent snack bar options. The lay out is pretty.

Jennifer Estro

I guess they were short-staffed because there was only 1 person at the ticket booth. Line was kind of long in the sun. Other than that it was nice, clean and peaceful. They have added several new animals since we were there a few years ago. We really enjoyed it.

Stephanie Aponte

Love this zoo! The activity portion before the entrance should stay open longer. By the time we left the zoo all of the activities my children wanted to do were closed. It would be great it they were open at least an hour after the zoo closes. Other then that it was a great visit and my kids loved it

Kevin Smith

Kids loved it! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. Would recommend. Wish there were more animals.

Janet Miller

Nice small zoo with some great exhibits. Very walkable, circular trails wind through shady areas with lots of animals. The feeding times are really fun, we had never seen alligators fed before. Wow!

Richie Thompson

This zoo offers many different animals and activities. Definitely a must for any local or someone passing through. Splash pad open pretty much year round and a playground is always available.

Jessica Salguero

Went there with my children and we were all disappointed, there are NO animals! And the ones they have are in very small areas, its very sad... Dont waste your money and time. Just go to animal kingdom atleast they have more animal's.

Kathleen A

If you like waiting over an hour in the heat and humidity to get up into the actual course, this place is for you. If you have shoulder or back issues and enjoy a (used to be) child like designed harness sitting on your pain areas, this place is for you. If you enjoy having a complicated clip to work with, that will probably give people an extra 3 minutes to figure out how to use on the course only delaying your time and enjoyment, this place is for you. If you like holding onto your keys possibly dropping it in the large lake that you zip line over and never getting the chance to return home because everything you own is in your car, this place is for you. This place used to be great (once upon a time) i have been here 6 times prior of last year, but now the management runs it like a clown fiesta.

Pamela Otto

Really for the price you can’t beat it. It’s easy to get to. The staff is super friendly. FYI all the features like feeding a giraffe cost a little more. I think it was 3 or 5 dollars but they will let you share the lettuce. So it’s really worth it! Oh and the petting zoo I think was a dollar so NBD. But for sure bring cash because it was cash only once inside the zoo or a 5 dollar minimum.

Nicole Andrews

Central Florida Zoo went above and beyond my expectations. When we arrived (10:30am) there was ample free parking which is rare these days! The young man at the ticket counter was very pleasant to talk to and was extremely patient with our disorganized group of 9. The walk into the Zoo was nice. Not too crowded, nice shady trees, beautiful artwork! We walked around for a couple hours and still didn't see everything they have to offer. There's a very large variety of animals and reptiles! Our group consisted of small children and the elderly so we were happy to find there are plenty of benches, shaded places to rest and bathrooms throughout the park. There's a Sonny's BBQ restaurant and quite a few concession stands, both were pretty reasonably priced for a Zoo! My son and niece really enjoyed the playground and splash pad as an added bonus. Even with the 115 heat index today, we had a fantastic time and will visit this place again.

Joshua Smith

This place is great! I remember coming here almost 10 years ago with my oldest son riding the train and now we came back today with my oldest and his brothers and sister. We did the zip lining course and it was awesome! Thank you for a wonderful experience!

dylmarsar .

We visited here Labor Day weekend 2019. I have to say, this was probably one of the highlights of my trip to the area. I absolutely loved this Zoo, and so did my children. First, the parking is free. This is almost impossible to find in this area. Second, they're not a gimmicky type of Zoo. They have a gift shop, but it's not big and not the focus of it - the animals are. I LOVED the plethora of tortoises they had, and that they're given ample space and treated well. Everything was well laid out and we were able to traverse it in about an hour, looking at everything. The building that housed the snakes and lizards was awesome! We accidentally came during a live feeding and that was SO cool to watch. My kids were in awe. Just an absolutely fantastic, family-centric location. If you're on the fence whether to take your kids here if visiting the area, GO! I bet you both will have a great time for the price!!

Kearstin Wiley

Had my daughters 3rd birthday party here and she absolutely had a blast!!! It was hot but the splash pad was amazing and with it being her birthday we got to ride as many times as she wanted!!! So much fun!!!

Ben Knapp

Went to take the kids on the ropes course. There was a birthday party that we obviously wouldn't know about just about to go out. Instead of letting us go with them and ahead of them, they said it would be 30-60 minutes. They graciously offered free admission to the zoo while we waited. When we returned, the 15 kid party had still not even gotten to the end of the training portion. We got a refund and will return, but it could have been easy to let 2 kids that have done the course numerous times out ahead so we could enjoy the rest of our day. Out of our many trips here, this is the first bad experience where we felt we wasted our time. It's just too hot in August to be up on the ropes course for 2-3 hours behind a bunch of 6yr old taking pictures at every station.

Karl Dahlbeck

Good place to bring the kids they have a splash pad and the animals are well cared for

George Jeffry

Pros: It was clean, staff was friendly, and it peaceful and quiet(both good & bad). Cons: Not really anything to ride home about just a bland almost depressing place to be because it was so quiet and barely any other people around; Even the staff seemed to not be around.

Chris Thompson

From reading other reviews, I knew it was going to be a small zoo, and that did not disappoint...You would think that I would be displeased, however quite the contrary...The zoo is very well laid out, has boardwalks throughout to preserve as much natural beauty as they can. Botanical Garden was not impressive or appealing at all...but the natural beauty surrounding the place as well as the animal exhibits that actually allow you to be closer to the animals was awesome!!

Denise Larson

Nice little zoo, nothing huge or fancy but my kids love the little train and the zip line in the front. The playground by the rhinos is very nice too. If you’re a stay at home mom in the area it’s nice to have the yearly pass and head to the splash pad during summer.

Ryan's Pressure Washing, Inc.

Over all the place was great for the family. At 1st we were that impressed when the opened at 9am. Seemed like they were ready for anyone except the payment windows. Everything we walked by as far as food, snacks & ice cream placed were still closed. They did not have any maps of the place a the guy said there are plenty of map signs all over the park to see, but you can take a picture....well we should of taken a picture cause we only saw 1 other sign. We went to feed the Giraffes at 10 when that opens, but the guy said they first feed them special leaves 1st and it takes them a half hour to eat . He was honest and said that they eat those first before anyone can feed them, but it would make more sense if you would feed those branches and leaves to them before you open. A lot of small other stuff, but I need to eat now.

Karen Bay

Beautiful zoo. We went as 2 families and everyone was happy seeing the animals. The kids enjoyed the playground for a good while as well. The crocodile feeding was terrifying! My favorite was the eagle display. So beautiful!

Melanie Romain

Needs to make it more entertaining. It feels like it's been neglected. An upgrade would be nice. Oh and shade shade shade. That sun was no joke. I love watching the animals but they should bring in more of each kind so they won't look so lonely. Just my opinion.

Crystal Rose

Really great place to visit. Unfortunately it was raining when we visited, but we still had a lot of fun! We saw so many different animals and the gardens are beautiful! We are definitely going back to visit again!

Meagan Dykes

Great annual pass prices! Lots of animals and the splash pad is a lot of fun for kids. Advice- don’t do after a storm. Much of the zoo is dirt paths and it’s built in a swamp as it is so it’s just a muddy, partially flooded mess even after a light rain.

Candice Howard

We adore this local to us zoo! We always renew our annual pass and it’s a great place to just swing by with the kids to check in with the animals and have some fun. The education is great too with the bear exhibit!

Jessica Castro

We really enjoyed the experience. Plenty of animals and information throughout the zoo. Bring plenty of water, comfy shoes and snacks and lunch! They do have kiosks but I only saw ice cream being sold. They also have a tree top course that you could do, and they give you an option to feed the giraffe, which we did!

Luis Rivera Machín

It's a good experience for first-time visitors but there's not much to see afterwards Although the staff seem to love the animals, some enclosures are not well thought out. The giraffes almost have no shade and the enclosure for the leopard is too small. You could literally see him panting because of the heat and stress he must have been experiencing being locked in such a tiny space. The Zoo can do better to keep its animals happy.

Eric Walz

Annual pass holder. The staff is accommodating and wants you to learn. A lot of shade and splash pad for kids to cool off. Plus small playground area to play. They also offer a few small attractions.

R B

Amazing animals so close, some native to FL & others from afar. Some enclosures seem a bit small but they acknowledge this and are constantly fundraising with a new big cat area already in the works. They give animals a home that wouldn't survive in the wild for many different reasons hence quite an impressive assortment to see. Pay extra to see, and pet!, an Indian Rhino.. was amazing! We paid just under 100 dollars for 2 adults and a 4.5yr old child which seemed a lot but with a splash area, kids petting zoo, a playground, botantical gardens throughout and a gorgeous green leafy setting, it's easily a days worth of fun for animal lovers. We'll definitely go back. Food options are limited so eat before as no food allowed in and they have only 1 limited and pricey cafe.

Ruben Rivera

What a beautiful experience for my children, from feeding the giraffe to the albino diamond back rattle snake just outside of the herpatarium. There's also an in the tree's experience that older kids ought to love. They have replaced the food shack with a Sonny's stand that was just delicious, exactly the fuel my kids needed to continue our adventure. Make sure to bring bathing suits for the kids if you plan on coming during summer, so they can cool off in the splash pad while you have a beer or spiked Seltzer! Will definitely come back soon, has improved from the last time we visited 2 years ago, there's still much to do and explore!

Jack Tweedle

I brought my grand children here. Also my first time visiting. I thought it was going to be a lot better. But it’s really a sorry excuse for a “zoo”. The animals look miserable. It really just looks like some sort of back yard attraction. Do not recommend.

Alison Donahue

Almost sad. Empty unkept enclosures. Sad and lonely animals. My favorite place as a kid. 20 years later I bring my own kids and was bummed out.

Dionne Fields

My two sons’ and I have visited many amazing zoos in the past. Our family loves visiting the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Florida. My Youngest son Rain wants to be a Zoologist after he graduates from high school. Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has some of the most beautiful zoo animals in the world. This amazing zoo has the most breathtaking botanical garden located north of Orlando, Florida. The Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is near the intersection of I-4 & Hwy 17-92 near the city of Sanford. This awesome zoo has been an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since 2011.

Dawn Campbell

Wonderful little zoo Lots of animals to see Great place to take kids and grandkids!

Bob Saget

Have Season passes my family loves coming here on the weekends. And they are adding new additions to the park all the time. We love our local zoo. So much fun.

Arnold Stein

Virtually no animals were out to see nor to pet. We were told it was because it was hot. So after paying more than $50 we left with disappointed adults and children They should warn us before we go in. I companied to the manager and basically he implied "tough s---."

Scott Mosher

Nice zoo in a nice quite location. Don't follow GPS though as you'll end up in a parking lot for a manufacturing company

Roslyn cottman

My 1st time and I enjoyed it. The animals were hot , and the botanical garden helped with the bug levels, the temp. was helped by the trees

Howard Patrick Alderman

Our family loves this zoo. It is on the smaller side, which makes for an easy and casual day. The food is decent and there is an option to picnic at the front of the park. It does get quite hot in the summertime, but they have a splash pad for the kids and Italian Ice food truck to help cool down.

Seanny Diesel

What a great place to see so many animals!

Dean Hall

Very nice small local zoo. Great assortment of animals. My grandchildren have passes and goo frequently.

Anna Iglesias

Very nice small zoo. Animals all look well taken care of and have good since enclosures.

sammie larocco

This is a beautiful place. It is definitely for the whole family.. it's very convenient of a location and would definitely be return again. I must say my kids and neices and nephews had a great time. It's a memory that we will be able to keep with us for a long time.

Christian Denard

A simply zoom right in the heart of Florida. Very convinient and right off of I-4. The staff was friendly. They even have games for kids right @ the entrance. ...plus the ZIPLINE!

Steven Thompson

This may be a small zoo but it more than makes up for it with how close you can get to the animals. You will love the scenery throughout the park as well. Everyone is really nice and eager to assist you when needed. If you are in the area and have the ability to go you really should make the track.

Marissa Gilligan

Great small zoo. Perfect to get kids away from theme parks. Loved the train ride and animal shows!

Linda Bravstein

Lovely quaint zoo. Wonderful staff members who are very willing to share their knowledge. Perfect for small children.

Keylin Howell

Awesome Zoo to bring the little ones. On a Friday wasn't crowded. Everything was clean, the splash zone was great.

Alexandria Carrasquillo

It's great for a good family fun day. Explore the animals then get wet in the splash pad with the kiddos! I cant wait to see this place grow!

sean callaghan

Cleaned up so much since the 90’s! Personable staff and great prices, highly recommend bringing swim suites for kids to enjoy the splash pad! There’s a Sonny’s inside for lunch, and always have an event going on, sunset at the zoo is awesome! Plus who-done-it during Halloween, really good spot. The year pass is the way to go if you’re a local as kids love this place and it pays for itself as something to do on the weekends. Plus for the past 2 years I’ve been coming here, they’ve been upgrading and continually putting money back into the place.

Debra Wiedemann

First time visitor, it was a cute but small zoo. The wooden walkways are very nice and easy to walk on. The animals, although not cramped for space, were not out and about as in other zoos I have been to. That being said, it was cute for my 18 month old grandson.

Doug Hook

Has the potential to be outstanding with extra resources. Exhibits were very well done, especially some of the newer once. Plenty of space for expansions and bringing in other animals.

Nelson Alejandro Nunez

Is a very familiar place. It's a small zoo, perfect for kids, you can feed the giraffes and the kids zoo is very special. This zoo have a lot of different activities specially for parents and kids relationship. Spend the night at the zoo, parties, classes... It's amazing to create an strong relationship with the nature and the animals.

Gregory Allum

Small sized zoo with a fair collection. Reptile building had some rare snakes. Good for small children, especially with the water park.

Amanda Fletcher

Grew up going to this zoo on field trips. Now I’m bringing my child here and it’s just as nice as I remember. Small and easy to get around with a little one. Loved being able to feed the giraffe!

Matt Geary

Using the "directions" from the website it is incorrect, takes you to a industrial park full of warehouses. Best manually inputting the address when using Google maps. The zoo was good and a lot bigger than I thought it would be with a lot of animals.

Nephrym

Fun family friendly zoo. We will definitely visit again! Food is a bit pricey, but it's very tasty. My daughter especially loved seeing the giraffes and the crocodiles. The indoor reptile display was really cool too.

Ketsiree Danpaiboon

We go here for the rhinoceros, which is our son's current favorite animal. The splash pad is also a nice extra feature for the summer time. The zoo is older and needs a better maintenance. Not worth a visit if you're from out of town, as there are many better attractions to go to. I would say it's worth the money if your kids like animals and you can make use of the yearly pass. Note that the train in front of the zoo just takes you around the parking lot to see cardboard animals.

donna jean rayl

Beautiful day...zoo is looking rough,needs updating & animal enclosures need updates & enlarging. Staff is very nice and animals seem well cared for. I understand it takes a bunch of $$ to update.

Kev Rome

This zoo sucks.not much to see.the food is expensive.4 dollars and change for a popsicle.i would never go back.not worth it

Makeda

Small zoo but it's the best we've got so I'll take it. The kids had a good time and it still made for a good educational experience. Every child should get to go atleast once

Brendan Gutierrez

You're not getting what you paid for if you're coming here, I've been to countless nature reservations/zoos over years and this was the most disappointing. The insect zoo was alright, but the mealworms and crickets, people can see at a pet shop. The zoo itself was not in very good condition, branches would fall from the trees above anytime a slight breeze would come by, some of the animal cages had rotting wood, and some were either too small, or just not fit for the animal. The reptile room was the only impressive thing about this place, it looked really well kept, but it was sadly the only thing that was enjoyable here. Lots of room for improvement and I hope the animals get better habitats.

Jessica King

Fun place to be with the family. They have a water park as well.

Catherine Sturges

Had a wonderful afternoon at the zoo. Although we did not adventure into the zoo itself we had an amazing adventure on the zip line and brought a picnic. Definitely had a fun day!

Michael Grzelecki

This is a very nice zoo. It's definitely a smaller zoo, but that's one of the things that makes it so nice. The staff is unbelievably friendly and approachable, and they will answer questions and provide all kinds of information well above and beyond what you get at a huge zoo. The animals are very well cared for, talking to any of the staff for a minute or two will assure you of that. They also frequently clean and rearrange the enclosures, as well as providing a daily enrichment task like a toy, food puzzle, treat, etc. to keep the animals engaged. There are some neat additional activities you can do for a few dollars more, like feed a giraffe or get up close to the rhino. For a bigger fee, you can also do a behind the scenes trainer experience with one of a variety of animals. If it fits within your budget, these are very cool and informative. They have a Sonny's BBQ with actually pretty reasonable prices for zoo food. A sandwich with a side and a large drink is around $10-$12. There is an abundance of shade throughout the zoo on almost all walkways, which is very nice on hot days. The plants and trees also add to the atmosphere and they have quite a few cool species. A few of the exhibits are also air conditioned. There is not an air conditioned place to eat though. There is a small splash pad and petting zoo for the kids too. Overall you'd struggle to spend an entire day here, but it would be a great afternoon for sure.

Christopher Hobbs

I love this place got a family pass and go often but having seen other zoos the cost for a day pass seems too high when compared to places like Central Park , Oakland and San Francisco zoos which all charge about the same for a day and have better offerings and unique features

Alexandria Faircloth

This zoo is perfect to walk around in about 2 or 3 hours. They have a splash pad which is perfect for kids. It is a small zoo so no gorillas or elephants but they have plenty to look at! We have a membership because it's so close and go once every other month.

Matt Brown

Always a fun family day. Not the biggest or most advanced zoo, but still fun. The kids love the splash pad area on a hot day.

Hmarilyn Monroe

Nice alot of cats were asleep. And don't follow Google directions takes u the wrong way. Follow the signs.

Ella Petersen

Very fun if you like climbing and zip lines. Highly recommend if so. It can be very hot so make sure to drink water!

Rick McKinnis

Nice day. Small zoo. I was hoping to see a few more animals but the grandkids had a blast in the splash pool . There is a Sonny's bbq concession stand and a small souvenir store inside the zoo area. There is an area where you can feed the goats and llama. The zip line is outside the zoo area and not to bad. It only has 1 long cable and several obstacle course things up in the trees.

Bryan W

I loved it! Not as many animals as some other places, but it was a satisfying experience!

Lyn Lyn

I want to give it morebstars but the zoo seems to have less and less animals. They dont even have monkeys really anymore. Wr just go for the splash park now amd even that is getting old. Barely any shade for young kids to play under.

HorsePlay Motoring

Great little place..just expected a wider array and maybe more Exotic from a zoo.. but id go back. Kids had a blast and thats all that matters to me in the end.

Tiffany Stone

Great for young children and field trips. It's small enough to take your time and see every exhibit in 30 minutes, so that is both a good and bad thing. They have informative live shows to teach about the animal life in different habitats. There is a cute little splash pad and also a zipline course if you want to do extra along with a tiny petting zoo.

Gisel Rodriguez

Beautiful zoo and It’s has a lot of animals. You can feed the giraffe

Jamey Robson

Had a good time yesterday at the zoo, really hot, but there is a lot of shade as you walk around. What great things to do for kids and all ages. I thought the price was a little high for what they offered, compared to other Zoo's that I have been to in the past. I would like to see more animal shows come to this zoo.

Rob Scneider

The place is really good option to visit with family. I went here with my family and the children in our family were very happy with this place. They enjoyed themselves and got to learn so much. The kids were so happy that they keep on asking about our next visit. This is a wonderful place.

Alina Dawson

Great budget friendly place to take the kids! They have a playground there, too and do birthday parties. Lots of interesting exhibits BUT mostly outdoors. It was very hot and there were only a handful of indoor exhibits, so keep that in mind!

Janet Riehl

I went for my birthday. The employees were so kind Very knowledgeable about the animals. I got to feed a giraffe.... It was great. Refreshments were surprisingly reasonable. The cost to get in was also well worth the visit. I spent about 3 and one half hours there. Perfect for family outing. 8 stars!!!!!

Phil Hissom

This is an enjoyable place to visit. Monday’s seem to be two for one which is a great deal. They have a good assortment of animals and a nice layout. There is also a ropes course. It’s right there and quite big. It’s been very noisy when we’ve been there - it’s right next to a train track and there is often construction going on. many of the animals seem stressed out - cage sizes and proximity to noise might contribute to that. But I’m no expert. Take it for what it’s worth. I think this place could use some investment so that they can expand and improve the amenities. It’s the only zoo in Central Florida - a rapidly growing area that could support a larger zoo.

Nick Milovich

Most of the animals weren't shown on the day we went for whatever reason. The food is pretty good, I'm glad they have beer and wine. The water area for kids is really cool. I just didn't feel like I got my money worth overall because a lot of animals we're missing or not out.

kyle geldmaker

I've been to tons of zoos and aquariums, and this one is a sleeper. It's easily one of the top 10 I've been to. The snake exhibit has species I've never seen at any zoo. The bear habitat was also something I've not seen before. I have a 2 year old and she loved it.

Tae' Marquis

This zoo was so small! They have no elephants, no tigers, no lions, no kangaroos & more! But they do let the kids feed the animals so of course you have to buy the food which I thought was awesome. They have a train ride, zip-line, bungee jumping, & a water park area. They did have some cheetahs, cougars, a jaguar, a few different monkeys, rhinos, bears, giraffes, tortoises, warthogs, llama, alpaca, goats, donkeys & I believe that was it. Of course they have their reptile enclosure buildings but from being out of town I expected more coming here but this was the only zoo close to Orlando. I liked that the walking trial made you feel like you were in the wild with the animals.

neonwolf606 Gaming

I love the zoo sooo much! Such an amazing place to go if you love animals!!

Chay's Diary

The zoo had no animals. $60 is a bit much to not see anything Couldn't feed the giraffes because they were resting and a zoo keeper said come back within 45 mins-1 hr. There's only one person manning the carousel and train so there's a wait for both. The zoo could definitely use upgrades on animals and different features.

Alexis Cummins

My family & I had a blast today. there's so many things to do and see. we walked around for a few hours then we went to the splash pad and played. The kids loved every moment. :) we cant wait to go back.

Steven Alonzo

Great experience with the family. Nice place to visit.

Maria Porter

Loved it, had an amazing time with my husband and daughter. It wasn't that hot so the animals were out and we got some great pics. I would definitely come back. I have other great shots, sadly, they are on my canon!

Colleen Stewart

It was easy to navigate around, but not a whole lot to see. I spent $49 there and got 10 pairs of mens basketball types of shorts, also shampoos and body washes and snacks for work.

Revathy S

Good place for a two hour visit. Its a good place to hang out with little kids. They have a train ride and a carousel at the entrance( need separate pay other than ticket). The walk is very relaxing and they have most animals (Giraffe, Tiger, cheetah, leopard, black bear, Rhino, Alligator, Crocodile, bald eagles,small monkeys, lemurs ,wild cats, otters, etc) which kids love. They also have a park inside. The pet zoo and Giraffe feeding will be interesting for little kids. Its not tiring at all. Loved it.

Richard Mckinney

Very good place to do that family outting.... Animals, playground, splash pad for the kids.... Lots of shade and even a Sonny's BBQ out post. There's a zip line course for the "big people" and a smaller kids course also ( separate price ). Over all a very good day out

Joe Tsotsos

Reliable family fun. Kid has also enjoyed ZoomAir since he was 4. They now also have charging spots!

greg ezernack

Very nice not crowded was able to see animals up close.

Sammy Santos

Had so much fun with my family and cheap to get in only 19.50 x person.

Anna Maraschino

The animal displays are great. The atmosphere is great for the animals. Kids love the splash pad. One problems is the restroom is literally out side of the restaurant. The toilets were over flowing and dirty. The smell was horrendous. I cannot imagine why anyone would put a bathroom so close to the dining area. Pew!!

alba golindano

I loved it .. the animals are in good condition and there is a nice atmosphere for them. If you take the sunrail and present your card you have a discount on the ticket. When you arrive at the station you can also take the bus from the zoo that takes you to the zoo and. it's free ehhh...will go back

Kyle Atripaldi

Really cool place to take the kiddos, they have learning stations by the exhibits, some zip lines and splash pad amongst other stuff to do.

Kaitlyn Bracey

This is a nice quaint zoo. The people who work here are so kind and we love going with our little ones.

Courtney S.

The Central Florida Zoo is wonderful! They are always improving and setting high standards for the keeping of their animals and experience of their guests. I cannot even begin to list off all the activities and events they have, there are so many of them. They always have activities, shows, summer zoo camps, and other special events going on. I love this zoo!

Connie Curran

This is a great little zoo especially for children. Unfortunately for us, it was not particularly disability friendly. There were not enough handicapped parking spots so we had to park quite a distance away. It is particularly difficult to push a wheelchair through an unpaved lot. The pathway through the park was better for the wheelchair. The carousel and train are not accessible. The exhibits were well maintained and the splash pad was nice and provides a great shady area for adults to relax while younger ones enjoy the water. Changing rooms are adjacent. Lots of picnic benches and play areas as well

North American Heathen

Honestly it was somewhat disappointing. The park was nice and clean, the staff was nice. It just the selection iof animals to view isn't that great. It seemed like every exhibit we went to had a " sorry " sign on it. Now their reptile selection and their moth and butterfly selection is impressive. That was really cool and put together. They do offer military and teacher discounts.

Tina Mcgovern

Love this zoo. It's on the smaller size but has a splash pad and playground too.

Rhonda Hamrick

Very good for kids! Splash pad, short zip lines, train ride and animals. Teens would be bored. Staff was very friendly. It's too bad they don't have larger enclosures. Felt more farmlike.

Emma McCann

Such a nice little zoo tucked away in Orlando. The zoo is pretty small, but they utilize the space amazingly. The staff is very present around the park and the animals were active and seemed will taken care of. We did not visit the water park area as our child was too small but it looked very fun.

Anirban Ghosh

From my point of view it is not a regular zoo as one would expect since number of exhibits is too low for $20 ticket. It is really a small zoo. The food available inside is not that good. Bring your food, if possible. Men's restrooms are not well taken care of. Overall a descent place for fun and hangout. The toy train is really enjoyable. Extra $3 for this.

Trey Hector

I thought there were more variety of animals but it was very limited. Some animals had no partners, they looked so lonely. Had fun still

Savannah H. Faile

Awesome family environment. Many opportunities for interaction. The kids (Elementary age) loved it and were so excited about the many rope courses and zip lining options. The train was also a hit. The animal enclosures allowed for good views and the playground was great. There is also a Sonny's on site!

Rachel Morgan

We had a nice relaxing 2 or 3 hours enjoying the displays and tropical plants. Did not feel crowded. Would recommend. Plan to visit again someday.

Brittany Cuba

This place was so amazing and very quiet for a zoo. It was so nice to be able to see the animals without having to fight the crowds. They also had certain enclosures where you were able to meet and talk with the keepers and we got to watch the reptiles feed! Very fun and inexpensive experience.

Huey A. Reed

The Zoo is very clean, the grounds are beautiful the staff was very friendly. I'm not a fan of Zoos unless the animals can get out of their cages and run. I'd really like to see the Bald Eagles released.

Yaomil Vega

This Zoo is amazing not only you will go to see many different animals but I will have fun! This is a family place to go anytime.

Jennifer Raymond

This is a smaller zoo but still nice. My boyfriend and I fed the giraffes and it was awesome. It was colder when we went so we weren’t able to see the alligators but we did check out all the snakes and they were absolutely beautiful! We had a great time here and we finished the walk through in about an hour. Mostly because we spent a good bit of time looking at the snakes.

Kevin Phillips

Decent zoo, a little on the smaller side. There are plenty of activities for the kids and ways for them to cool off. Sonny's BBQ is the in house restaurant for the park and they don't slack on things. Would be nice if there was more walking room and parking. Make sure to get there early as the lines can take a while with only two windows ioen.

Gabrielle Anderson

Decent zoo. Kids loved the barnyard animal exhibit and feeding the animals. Feeding the giraffes is always fun.

Daniel lee

We have been going here for years and noticing good improvement. We take our family kids here all the time. They have a lot of animals and you can spend days looking and learning at all of them. Most impressed with giraffes cheatahs, snakes, reptiles, monkeys, bears and of course alligators and crocodiles. Oh my! Also, numerous areas to sit relax get out of sun and into AC! Just a great place for the kids to learn about animals and conservation. Some pretty good food to eat (Sonny’s and other concessions) with water parks and playgrounds for the little ones. Great Fun!

Morelia M

They really need to update this zoo or power the price. A lot of the animals are hidden away and some of the decor is super outdated. Mainly appealing to small kids. Not a terrible experience.

KEENA OPAD

Visited this zoo with my daughter and a group of her friends. We had a fantastic time. It was a great first zo experience for my daughter.

Ericka Potosme

Too expensive for what they had to offer. The train and carousel were not on, was hoping for more.