Ranking: Value - 4; Dad Fun Factor - 4 out of 5; Kid Fun Factor - 4 out of 5
We hit the Brookfield Zoo last night for a new family tradition of going during the holidays to see the wonderful light display. If you have never been to the zoo at night I would highly recommend it. Going during Holiday Magic makes it even better. I would not advise going if you are keen on seeing any animals in anything other than a cage. The few animals out on display are indoors. The primate house is fair game because they are indoors already. The penguins in oceanic display are all snoozing but the keepers let them into the reef display so you can see the ones awake and active from under water which is a real treat. We've been to the zoo many times but have only seen the 'guins from underwater twice. It's especially cool for the little guys because the birds love the bubble viewing windows and are very interactive.
The light displays are great. There isn't anything unique but when you couple the lights with the park ambiance it is great. One thing we can't figure out is the cheesy laser light show. It's just not good. I think I saw something like it at a rock concert 20 years ago. It was old then too. The dancing lights around the main pond/fountain area is better and more seasonally appropriate. It kept my two year old's attention so that wins a thumbs up. We also went into the Holly Jolly Theater during a dance performance put on by a local troop. It was a good opportunity to eat some $6 personal pizzas and $3.25 cokes (you read that right!). Not the value play of the night. We normally avoid the pricey food at the zoo but the dances kept the boys' attention while we waited and as they ate. It was worth it....I guess.
One animal display I was enthralled with was the Siberian Sheep. They are out in the cold and loving it. I think they are the only ones actually out in the cold. I didn't see another animal braving the 29 F weather. It was neat to see them reveling in the cold and bathed in colored lights. It was a little surreal.
The zoo was a little crowded but not as bad as Memorial Day or July 4th. It also didn't seem that bad since the dark hides the masses. We paid the extra $2 to park at the South entrance which is worth the extra cost. It cut our walk to the displays and accelerated our departure when the cold began to bite.
I feel bad we didn't make the trip earlier in the season. The zoo hosts Santa and Mrs. Claus in the leading weeks before Christmas. The boys always remember and point to the building every visit and ask when they can see Santa again. We obviously missed them this year but will try to make it there to see them in 2008.
For more information take a look at http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/0.asp?shttplink=../pgpages/pagegen.174.aspx&nsection=2
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