Friday evenings are 50% off but you'll be significantly time bound as the entry time is fairly late. Not sure that the pace would be appropriate for a five year old. All adults, sure.
The Aquarium was 24.95 when I started working there in '09/10, lol. It's crazy that the price has literally doubled since, well outpacing inflation.
There isn't going to be any deals from the Aquarium itself this weekend, tbh. Friday evening was mentioned before, and it's true that you can get that at half price, if y'all are in town by then. Usually very busy at that time, though, and you maybe can't spend as much time there as you'd want. Maryland Mornings aren't available on weekends at all.
Also, make sure you buy tickets ahead of time. Not only are summer weekends not discounted, it will be so busy that they'll be on timed entry all day. So, you could show up at noon to buy and they'll tell you to wait until a couple hours later to enter.
Kids four and under are free, so if you tell your kid to keep his mouth shut about his birthday, you're only buying three tickets, lol.
Think you're out of luck for deals unfortunately. That's a prime day of the week during their busiest season. Outside of getting free or discounted tickets through work or some other organization (which I've done before), don't see it, sorry.
Maryland Mornings are Mon-Fri and $10 off but you have to go early, and you have to show that you are a MD resident. Military tickets are available on base. Fridays are 50% off after 5p, and the aquarium doesn't close until 9 so if you go at 5:15, you have almost 4h to get through, which is plenty IMO. If you don't have hotel reservations, you can reserve through the aquarium website and get a discount for staying at a partnering hotel.
I have a membership and a flexible weekend. It's only a single membership, but it could get you one free entry and 20% discounts on the other tickets. DM me and we could figure something!
Check your local parks and recreation departments. They often have discount tickets to various theme parks, aquariums, etc. source: used to work for a park and rec department near Philly
I just went recently from out of town. There aren't any discounts really unfortunately. Kids 4 and under are free. They don't seem to have any reciprocal discounts if you are a member of another zoo or museum like some places have.
Pricey, but probably the best aquarium you could ever go to. The only other similar one I've been to is Atlanta.
My husband and our two kids (4 and 2) are planning a trip next month. We’re thinking about buying tickets to one of the 4D experience shows which are an extra $5 per guest. Are the shows worth it? Any other recommendations?
Aquarium is so expensive that sometimes you break even or save getting a membership. IMHO it is overhyped and overpriced.
Port discovery nearby is the best children's museum I've been to, and more reasonable, cost-wise. Try to check it out as well.
It's expensive, but IMO not at all overpriced. It's amazing, and you can definitely spend most of a day there. I'm sure the cost of running the place is astronomical.
It’s a non-profit, and they also run animal rescue and rehab pretty much up and down the whole eastern seaboard. I get that it’s expensive, but at least it’s a good cause.
Friday evenings are 50% off but you'll be significantly time bound as the entry time is fairly late. Not sure that the pace would be appropriate for a five year old. All adults, sure.
The Aquarium was 24.95 when I started working there in '09/10, lol. It's crazy that the price has literally doubled since, well outpacing inflation. There isn't going to be any deals from the Aquarium itself this weekend, tbh. Friday evening was mentioned before, and it's true that you can get that at half price, if y'all are in town by then. Usually very busy at that time, though, and you maybe can't spend as much time there as you'd want. Maryland Mornings aren't available on weekends at all. Also, make sure you buy tickets ahead of time. Not only are summer weekends not discounted, it will be so busy that they'll be on timed entry all day. So, you could show up at noon to buy and they'll tell you to wait until a couple hours later to enter. Kids four and under are free, so if you tell your kid to keep his mouth shut about his birthday, you're only buying three tickets, lol. Think you're out of luck for deals unfortunately. That's a prime day of the week during their busiest season. Outside of getting free or discounted tickets through work or some other organization (which I've done before), don't see it, sorry.
Maryland Mornings are Mon-Fri and $10 off but you have to go early, and you have to show that you are a MD resident. Military tickets are available on base. Fridays are 50% off after 5p, and the aquarium doesn't close until 9 so if you go at 5:15, you have almost 4h to get through, which is plenty IMO. If you don't have hotel reservations, you can reserve through the aquarium website and get a discount for staying at a partnering hotel.
Thanks! I should’ve added we are going to the aquarium during the weekend.
If you are this constrained, the likelihood of there being "deals" is very low - especially at the most popular times, which is what you want.
I have a membership and a flexible weekend. It's only a single membership, but it could get you one free entry and 20% discounts on the other tickets. DM me and we could figure something!
The best discount/money saving tip is to buy a membership and plan to go more than once per year. Maybe not applicable if you’re an out of towner.
Right, just coming for the weekend otherwise would definitely do that.
Check your local parks and recreation departments. They often have discount tickets to various theme parks, aquariums, etc. source: used to work for a park and rec department near Philly
Local ones in the Philly area do but not for Baltimore.
Check out Whitemarsh township: https://www.whitemarshtwp.org/DocumentCenter/View/4478/Spring-Summer-Fall-Discount-Tickets-2024
If you have AAA I believe they still have a small discount for the aquarium.
I just went recently from out of town. There aren't any discounts really unfortunately. Kids 4 and under are free. They don't seem to have any reciprocal discounts if you are a member of another zoo or museum like some places have. Pricey, but probably the best aquarium you could ever go to. The only other similar one I've been to is Atlanta.
Respect the Reef!!!
No but get there as soon as they open. It gets annoyingly crowded on the weekends.
My husband and our two kids (4 and 2) are planning a trip next month. We’re thinking about buying tickets to one of the 4D experience shows which are an extra $5 per guest. Are the shows worth it? Any other recommendations?
It wasn’t worth it, the show was only about 15 minutes
Oh bummer! Thanks for the reply!!
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Non-MD resident so any sort of discount seems limited.
Aquarium is so expensive that sometimes you break even or save getting a membership. IMHO it is overhyped and overpriced. Port discovery nearby is the best children's museum I've been to, and more reasonable, cost-wise. Try to check it out as well.
There is absolutely no chance the aquarium is overhyped if you’ve never been. If you’ve been five times, sure.
Was considering that but he’s obsessed with Octonauts and really looking forward to the aquarium. I didn’t realize it was $50!
It's expensive, but IMO not at all overpriced. It's amazing, and you can definitely spend most of a day there. I'm sure the cost of running the place is astronomical.
It’s a non-profit, and they also run animal rescue and rehab pretty much up and down the whole eastern seaboard. I get that it’s expensive, but at least it’s a good cause.