The Dallas World Aquarium

1801 N Griffin St, Dallas, TX 75202, USA

Address:	1801 N Griffin St, Dallas, TX 75202, USA
Phone:	+1 214-720-2224
Site:	dwazoo.com
Rating:	4.2
Working:	9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 4

Kay Wade

I have been to the Aquarium. Very nice. Really enjoyed it. As a birder esp the large free-flight aviaries. i am a resident in Panama, and a member of the conservation community-at-large. Just today I recd the following post. It INVOLVES your facility, and I thought you, and your visitors, should be made aware of it. Post----- We have received information from reliable sources that the Panamanian Environmental Authority has sold 8 Pygmy Sloths to Dallas World Aquarium. This animal lives only on Escudo de Veraguas Island, a tiny island in the Caribbean off the coast of western Panama. Because the island is tiny, the sloths are highly endangered but there is no reason to think they are in imminent danger of being wiped out. They are common in mangroves and adjacent forest. The indigenous people who claim the island - the Ngäbe (otherwise known as Guaymí), and who inhabit it only seasonally do not seem to bother the sloths although they do have some impact on their habitat. The organization that has been most concerned with the sloths protection is the Zoological Society of London (London Zoo) through its EDGE program (see their website, although I personally feel it exaggerates the current risk). Serious efforts are being made to work with the local population and the Panamanian Environmental Authority to ensure their conservation where they should be - in the wild. London Zoo has never requested that any animals be sent to them, and do not intend to. There is no justification for that as yet, and their aim is that there never will be. A lot is known about the sloths through the work of Bryson Voirin, a zoologist. According to information received, 8 sloths were taken off the island and are currently in Bocas del Toro town. They were supposed to be flown out today (September 9) but the local people - who were never consulted about all this - stepped in to prevent that. The Dallas people have police protection, and hope to fly the animals out tomorrow. Efforts are underway to stop that happening, but the current government has a record of trying to get its own way, by force if necessary. The motive for this sale appears to be entirely commercial and as such is despicable. This is one of the worst examples of exploitation of Panamas wildlife we have seen and has to be stopped. If anyone can get information on the Dallas end of this deal, please let us know urgently. Likewise if you are a member of an organization that can do something about this, please get in touch with them right away.

A Wang

The experience begins when you enter from the parking lot. Rates are $7 and there were many pan-handlers to pester you out there. The problem is that you don’t want them to scratch your car –so you have to deal with them and they know it. From the moment you set foot on the property, you’ll notice that the facilities really stink –literally! You start by walking up a winding path through a tropical area with bamboo and some birds. Unfortunately, the museum doesnt keep people from urinating here and youll want to get through as fast as possible because it smells terrible. Just like under a bridge. All the pictures we saw looked ok but if you decide to go, youll smell what the pictures cant capture. Theres no price for students and adults pay full price $21 even if important areas and full-service are otherwise not available. When we went, the theater was reserved for a private (paid) event so we couldnt rest and watch the documentaries like I always like to do. Most places charge extra for this and I’m used to doing it. I just don’t like it when they take the opportunity away. After we paid the entrance fee, we felt that we should have at least been allowed to have a chance to return if we wanted to. I thought the ticket people were especially smug when they said "of course we can come back as long as we pay again!" For this reason, I gave a low rating for service. You pay full price but dont get the full experience. The revenue they collect from private events seams more important to them than fairness or your experience. It’s very much like one of those places that knows you’ve driven all day to get there and you won’t be coming back again in this lifetime so why worry about what you think? The rest of the experience was well below world class aquariums like S.E.A. on Sentosa island (Singapore), the aquarium in Monterey, CA, or the National Aquarium in Bethesda, MD. All of those are quite good and after going to any one of those, this will be disappointing. Recommendation: Skip this aquarium. If you decide to go anyway, get ready to explain that smell to your kids!

Natasha Pittman

We loved this aquarium! We were leaving town after a week playing baseball, but wanted to do something fun & educational with the kids on our way out. The zoo was 40 minutes the opposite direction & HOT. We didnt feel like the Perot Museum would interest our youngest child. The Dallas World Aquarium won by default. We went on a Monday during the summer around lunch time. It wasnt crowded & we didnt have to wait in a line for anything. The sign at the front desk said there were two school groups there with 150 kids, but we didnt notice. We didnt have our stroller, but an umbrella style would be the most appropriate to bring here. Big ones would be more challenging - esp if you were to happen up on a crowded day. We really enjoyed the mixture of birds, animals & aquatic life. It does not have primarily fish, but a pretty even mixture of the three. My three kids ages 3, 7 & 9 really had a great time. Esp since two of our kids wanted to go to the zoo! They loved the monkeys and birds! We havent gone to our aquarium since my middle child was a baby, so they arent worn out from animal watching. However, I think most kids would like this place. The way the sections are layed out keeps the kids from getting bored with looking at one type of animal for too long. This was a great activity for all of us. We didnt eat there because we didnt want concession stand food, but once we went in the menu looked pretty good. Id try it had we been able to do it over because the Spaghetti Warehouse we walked to beforehand wasnt that great. Try to skip the big gift shop & do the one by the outside penguin exhibit. It has more really cool books that would be a better value. & my kids gravitated towards the cheaper miniatures of the animals at the register - they reminded me of sqeenkies. BUT theyd already gotten toys in the other shop. I would much rather have purchased an interesting book.

Johnny Johnson

I am really glad I didnt read these reviews first or I may not have went and would have missed a fun and unique attraction. First, be warned that it is a bit on the expensive side. I paid about $110 for four tickets and parking. I had checked into it before we went so it wasnt a surprise, but I could see suffering a bit of sticker shock if I didnt know. Second, be prepared for a crowd. We went on one of their "slow" days; in the middle of the week, a week and a half before the Independence Day weekend. It wasnt unbearable, but it was pretty crowded. I can only imagine how bad it must be on the weekends. All that being said, it was still an enjoyable experience. Its not really an aquarium though. Its more like an indoor rain forest habitat zoo with some marine exhibits. There are monkeys, alligators, tarantulas, snakes, scorpions, frogs, eels, a black panther in a glass cage and a sloth in a tree above the sidewalk, within easy reach (but theres a sign that says not to touch it). They have one large fish tank with a few small sharks, some catfish, a lot of stingrays, and a manatee. It has a sidewalk going through a glass tube through it, but its so packed with people you cant see much. My favorite part was the outdoor penguin exhibit. You can see the penguins on land as well as underwater. Watching them swim is fascinating. Actually, I wouldnt call it swimming. They look like they are flying through the water like birds do in the air. Very cool. Speaking of birds...they have thousands of them. It might be cool for a bird watcher but its boring after the first ten bird exhibits, for me anyway. I just walked by the other 90. If youre trying to decide between this and the zoo, go to the zoo. Its cheaper, larger, more interesting and more fun. But if the temp is 100+ with 70% humidity, this is the place to be.