Membership FAQ: WCS Zoos and Aquarium

All WCS parks open at 10am. Closing times vary by park and season – please check each park’s website for current information. The NY Aquarium, Central Park, Prospect Park, and Queens Zoos are open 365 days a year. The Bronx Zoo is closed on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Please note: Wednesday admission at the Bronx Zoo is a pay-what-you-wish donation and it is often very crowded. For your enjoyment, please try to plan your visit to avoid Wednesdays.

New Membership benefits apply to Memberships purchased after January 1, 2012.  

Individual Premium, Family Premium and Conservation Supporter/Fellow/Partner Memberships (sold after Jan 1, 2012) include unlimited access to Bronx Zoo attractions (except Camel Ride and Clydesdale Carriage Ride), the NY Aquarium’s 4-D Theater, and unlimited free parking at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium*.

If you purchased your Membership before January 1, 2012, please continue to present your passes for free access to attractions and parking.

Family Memberships sold after Jan. 1, 2012 are valid for general admission only; attraction and parking passes are no longer issued at any Membership level. All current Membership benefits and parking and attraction passes will be honored until they expire.

Individual Memberships are no longer available for purchase or renewal.  Individual Members may renew their Memberships at the Individual Premium level with benefits for 2 people, or any other level of their choice.  All current Individual Membership benefits will be honored until they expire, including parking and attraction passes.

* Parking is limited to one car per Membership per day, and subject to availability.  

Join online. Join online at any Membership level and immediately print out a temporary Membership card valid for admission to all five wildlife parks, and enjoy all the benefits included with your Membership level. Simply print out and bring your temporary Membership card and a valid photo ID when you visit.

Join by phone. Call our Membership Department at 718-220-5112 Mon.-Sat., 9am–5pm EST. You will receive an email confirmation of your Membership order within 24 hours Mon.-Sat., excluding holidays. Orders placed on Sunday will receive an email confirmation by midnight Monday night.

If you wish to visit one of our parks BEFORE your Membership card arrives, PLEASE PRINT AND BRING YOUR EMAIL CONFIRMATION AND A VALID PHOTO ID WITH YOU TO THE PARK.

Present them at the parking booth (if your Membership includes free parking) and at the admission gate. Zoo staff will look up your Membership and issue a Day Pass for all the benefits included with your Membership.

Join on-site today. If you wish to visit the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, or Central Park Zoo immediately, simply join on-site at the admission booth. Cash and major credit cards are accepted. (Please note that the parking fee for your initial visit is not refundable).

All Memberships include the following Member benefits: 

• Free unlimited admission to all five WCS wildlife parks for two adults
• 10% restaurant discount at the Bronx Zoo’s Dancing Crane Café and Terrace Café, the New York Aquarium’s Seaside Café, and Central Park Zoo’s Dancing Crane Café
• 10% discount at select Bronx Zoo retail shops, the New York Aquarium’s Oceanic and Explore the Shore shops, and at Central Park Zoo’s Zootique
• Discounts on most Educational programs and courses
• Invitations to Members’ Evenings at the Bronx Zoo
• Free updates on zoo activities and events in Members’ News and Members’ E-News
• Priority admission at the entrance gate

Benefits by Member level:  
Family Membership includes

• Free unlimited admission to all five WCS wildlife parks for 2 adults and the children in your household up to age 18

Individual Premium Membership includes

• Free unlimited admission to all five WCS wildlife parks for 2 people (your child may be the 2nd person on an Individual Premium Membership)
• Free unlimited parking at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium (One car per Membership per day, subject to availability)
• Free unlimited access to 8 Bronx Zoo attractions including Congo Gorilla Forest, Wild Asia Monorail, Children’s Zoo, Butterfly Garden, JungleWorld, 4-D Theater, Hess Express Zoo Shuttle, Bug Carousel, and the NY Aquarium’s 4-D Theater. (Not valid for Bronx Zoo Camel Ride and Clydesdale Carriage Ride.)

 Family Premium Membership includes

• Free unlimited admission to all five WCS wildlife parks for 2 adults and the children in your household up to age 18
• Free unlimited admission and access to attractions for one additional guest or child caregiver
• Free unlimited parking at the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium (One car per Membership per day, subject to availability)
• Free unlimited access to 8 Bronx Zoo attractions including Congo Gorilla Forest, Wild Asia Monorail, Children’s Zoo, Butterfly Garden, JungleWorld, 4-D Theater, Hess Express Zoo Shuttle, Bug Carousel, and the NY Aquarium’s 4-D Theater. (Not valid for Bronx Zoo Camel Ride and Clydesdale Carriage Ride.)

Conservation Supporter Membership includes
All the benefits of Family Premium Membership plus

• Free monthly guided Bronx Zoo tours
• Exclusive early morning events and animal enrichment experiences for the whole family

Conservation Fellow and Partner Membership includes
All the benefits of Conservation Supporter Membership plus

• Free admission for 2 additional adults for a total of 5 adults.

You may choose to name the other adult(s) on your Membership, or you may choose to list a second adult as "guest" so you may bring a different person with you on each visit. A guest must always be accompanied by the named adult on the card. Individual Premium Members may bring a child as their guest.

Memberships may not be shared by more than one household. All adults named on the card and their children up to age 18 must reside in the same household. Memberships are not transferable and are only valid for the individuals named on the card. Any additional visitor not included in your Membership will be charged the current admission fee.

Senior Memberships (65+) are available for Individual Premium, Family, and Family Premium levels at a 20% discount. This offer cannot be combined with other discounts. All named Members on a senior Membership must be 65 or older. Photo ID required upon entrance.

Park entry is on a first-come, first-served basis for Members and all park guests. For the protection of all WCS Members, all individuals named on the Membership card must show photo ID upon entry. Please keep your group together when presenting your Membership card to admissions staff. The children and/or guest(s) included with your Membership will not be admitted unless they are accompanied by an adult named on the card. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Additional guests will be charged the current admission fee.

Yes! If you forget your Membership card, you may visit a Membership or admissions representative at the gate and ask to have your Membership looked-up. The representative will verify your Membership and issue a Day Pass for in-park benefits associated with your Membership level. The parking fee is not refundable.

No. Your children and guests must be accompanied by an adult named on your Membership card. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Yes. For easiest admission, your child caregiver should be named on the Membership card and must present the card and a photo ID in order to use the Membership in your absence. If your child caregiver is not named on the Membership card, he/she will need to present your valid Membership card with “child caregiver” printed on the card, AND a photo ID, AND a letter from you verifying employment. A caregiver must be accompanied by the Member’s children and may NOT bring additional guests. ‘Child Caregiver’ may not be substituted for another guest. We are unable to make changes to Membership cards at our on-site locations.

A valid Individual Premium, Family Premium, or Conservation Supporter/Fellow/Partner Membership card must be presented on arrival for free onsite parking. If you forget your Membership card, or present an expired card, you will be charged for parking. Parking fees cannot be refunded. Parking on WCS premises is done at your own risk. WCS is not responsible for stolen or damaged property. Free parking is limited to one car per Membership per day. Parking spaces are limited and available on a first-come first-served basis. Members are not guaranteed parking.

Note: If you purchased your Membership prior to January 1, 2012 and are an Individual, Individual Premium, Family, or Family Premium Member, you must also provide a valid parking pass. If you forget your parking pass, you will be charged for parking. Lost, stolen or damaged parking passes cannot be replaced.

The parking fee cannot be refunded. Parking spaces are limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

Bronx Zoo: 4-D Theater, Bug Carousel, Butterfly Garden, Children’s Zoo, Congo Gorilla Forest, Hess Express Zoo Shuttle, JungleWorld, Wild Asia Monorail.
New York Aquarium: 4-D Theater
Central Park Zoo: 4-D Theater (discount tickets)

Individual Premium, Family Premium, and Conservation Supporter/Fellow/Partner Members receive unlimited access to rides and attractions** except Camel Ride and Clydesdale Carriage Ride. Attraction entry is on a first-come, first-served basis for Members and all park guests. Please keep your group together when presenting your Membership card to the admissions staff.

** Some rides and attractions are seasonal and open weather-permitting. Please check signs at park entry for daily listing available activities. All schedules are subject to change.

Note: If you purchased your Membership prior to January 1, 2012 and are an Individual or Family Member, you must also provide a valid attraction pass at each attraction. Attraction passes are punched once per person, per entry. Lost, stolen or damaged attraction passes cannot be replaced. Members who purchased a Membership prior to January 1, 2012 may purchase additional attraction passes in groups of 10 at a 50% discount at Bronx Zoo Guest Relations locations or at any of the attraction ticket booths, except Camel Ride. Please note that these additional passes may be purchased only by Members who joined prior to January 1, 2012. The expiration dates of unused passes cannot be extended.

If you've joined or renewed by phone, mail, or the internet you will receive your permanent Membership materials in 2 to 3 weeks. You will also receive an order confirmation via email within 24 hours of our receipt of your order.

If you wish to visit one of our parks BEFORE your Membership card arrives, PLEASE BRING YOUR CONFIRMATION EMAIL AND A VALID PHOTO ID WITH YOU TO THE PARK.

If you purchased your Membership at one of our parks, you received a temporary Membership card which you should continue to use until your permanent card arrives.

- FOR PARKING BENEFITS: Please present the confirmation email and your photo ID at the parking booth. Without this email you will be required to pay for parking at the Bronx Zoo and NY Aquarium. Parking fees are non-refundable.

- FOR ENTRY AND ATTRACTION BENEFITS: Please bring your confirmation email and your photo ID to the Admissions booth where we will look up your Membership and issue a Day Pass for all the benefits included with your Membership.

If you haven't received your Membership package within 4 weeks of joining, please call 718-220-5112 Mon.-Sat., 9am to 5pm or e-mail us at membership@wcs.org.

There is a $5.00 fee to replace lost, stolen, or damaged Membership cards. To order your replacement cards, please call 718-220-5112, Mon.-Sat., 9am to 5pm., or email us at Membership@wcs.org.

Yes, but you MUST purchase your Membership on the same day that you purchased your tickets. There are no exceptions. Please bring your ticket receipts to an admission booth or to Zoo Center at the Bronx Zoo before 4pm and we’ll be happy to credit the price of admission tickets applicable to the Membership level you choose. Parking fees are not refundable.

If you've lost your attraction and parking passes, they cannot be replaced. Additional parking passes cannot be purchased but you may park on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Members who purchased a Membership prior to January 1, 2012 may purchase additional attraction passes in groups of 10 at a 50% discount at Bronx Zoo Guest Relations locations or at any of the attraction ticket booths, except Camel Ride. Please note that these additional passes may be purchased only by Members who joined prior to January 1, 2012. The expiration dates of unused passes cannot be extended.

As a non-profit organization we rely heavily on Membership dues and attendance fees for support. To prevent the misuse of your Membership cards, we ask that you show a photo ID. We appreciate your understanding.

News about WCS programs and activities, as well as information about Members-only events, is provided in Members’ News, mailed to all Members bi-monthly, and in Members’ E-News, sent periodically via e-mail.

If you have recently renewed your WCS Membership, please disregard any further renewal notices. Although we work to process renewals as quickly as possible, it is possible that your payment and our notice crossed in the mail.

Member T-shirt coupons are redeemable at Zoo Center when you visit the Bronx Zoo, or at the admission booth at the New York Aquarium, and Central Park Zoo. You may also mail the coupon to the Membership Office.

Yes. Members can purchase extra T-shirts in Zoo Center at the Bronx Zoo, or at the admission booth at the New York Aquarium, and Central Park Zoo. Additional T-shirts cost $10 and are only sold to current Members. Available sizes are Adult XL, Adult M, and Youth M.

If you have changed your address or do not wish to be on our mailing list, please e-mail us at membership@wcs.org or call Membership Services at 718-220-5112, Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm EST.

A charge of $25.00 will apply to any check that is returned by the bank or depository institution on which the check is drawn.

WCS makes our mailing list available to organizations we believe might be of interest to our Members. If you do not wish your name to be shared with other mailers, please e-mail your request to membership@wcs.org or call Membership Services at 718-220-5112, Mon.-Sat., 9am-5pm EST and we will remove your name and address.

WCS does not have reciprocal agreements with other zoos or aquariums.