OdySea Aquarium — Attraction in Paradise Valley

My husband and I love this place and go a few timesthroughoutthe year. It's a definite must-see if you visit Phoenix. Make sure to buy online tickets ahead of time to skip the long line to get in. The aquarium has mermaids around March every year, and we went when there here. There's three mermaids, one in the huge tank in the middle of the aquarium near Starbucks. Then there's another in the big tank downstairs next to the jellyfish tanks, and the third is also right next to the jellyfishtanks where you can take a oicture with. They'reso nice, and its adorable to see all the kids light up and chat with the mermaid before they take pictures. You get a scan card so you can buy the pictures and can also buy the digital file too. They have so much stuff going on all the time. I included a picture of the sign they had of some events. There's also an ice cream sandwich food truck out front. Today, they had a sale for plants and flowers that attract butterflies and bees, with a really nice man giving everyone help and answering questions about the plants. He also gave us a book and pamphlet with a lot of information on native species and how they help house and feed wildlife like Butterflies and bees. I included a picture of the front so you can go to the website at the bottom for all this info. It is very important to plant native species and help out wildlife as best we can. I can't wait to go with the list to a local nursery and grab a couple of plants for the backyard! Definitely check out Odysea's website for all upcoming special events and bundles for other things in the same location. It's like a huge two story courtyard, and there's also the Butterfly exhibit, an alien experience, and other things like Lazer tag. There's several food places like Johnny Rockets where you get free fries or drink when you buy something and present your ticket stub for the day. There's an ice cream shop upstairs and a coffee shop too. There is also a big gift shop with all kinds of stuff to buy. The aquarium also has one that you pass through when you exit the aquarium. There's a fish and sips event that happens periodically where adults are allowed in the aquarium after hours, and there's little bar stands throughout the aquarium with wine and liquors. That's is very fun to do if you get the chance. Side note there's a Medieval Time on the other side of the freeway that opened up a couple years ago now so its really nice and new and...

TLDR: Great Aquarium, Interactive, Eat beforehand

This aquarium is absolutely massive and had many interactive activities. My family and I went to their Fish & Sips event after hours on Friday. I am not sure if there is a difference in what’s offered normally. It was crazy busy and super loud. If you aren’t good with loud noises or large crowds, I would look for a less busy time to come. Even with how packed it was, there was plenty of opportunities to get up close go the glass and watch the fish. There are also multiple tanks with different species that you can touch or look at. They even had a few bird ambassadors and a sloth! If you use mobility aids, like a wheelchair, you may find it hard to see into quite a few of the tanks and to maneuver through the crowds. Also many of the interactive options require leaning up over the glass. They did have this room that rotates around through multiple exhibits. This could be a good option for people with limited mobility. It was not running during the event I was at, however it seemed like something you get tickets for. There is quite a few escalators as you walk through, some where you could see the fish! It was very cool and there are many other opportunities to walk under the fish as well. I am not sure if the elevator has some pretty sights as well, but they did have one available. The place was clean and everyone I interacted with was friendly. Many of the areas you walk through had opportunities to see things at different levels and tunnels you could climb through. My main issue with the place is the food/drink options. During the event there was a food vendor selling some nachos and pretzels. However I believe they were only there for the event. The only other options for concessions were Starbucks and Coke products. They do not let you bring in your own water bottle or food in unless you have allergies. Seems like a fun place for people of all ages. The tickets are a bit pricey but definitely worth it if aquariums...

Disclaimer: This review is solely in relation to my experience at the Starbucks inside of OdySea aquarium. The aquarium itself was wonderful and deserves a 5 star rating. This one star review is only specifically due to the service that I received at their Starbucks when I ordered there during my aquarium visit. The service I received at the Starbucks ruined my experience entirely.

The girl at the register was extremely nice and wonderful, however, she unfortunately misheard my order. I ordered a matcha frap with light ice, extra milk, and sugar free vanilla. It was made with cinnamon dolce instead of the sugar free vanilla, so I asked for it to be remade. The girl who remade my frap (short black curly hair and arm tattoos, she wasn't wearing a name tag) was extremely rude and she handed it to me with the cup only a little over halfway filled. She tried to tell me how it wouldn't be filled to the top because of my request for light ice after I questioned her as to why it wasnt full. I proceeded to tell her that it was handed to me full the 1st time before she remade it (a different gentleman had initially made if for me and it was filled to the top) and therefore I politely requested that she remake it and fill it all the way. She tried to tell me its because they "premeasure the ingredients of the fraps". She just took the frap that was half full and shoved more milk in in and reblended it, so it only tasted like milk. She said "I tried, but its no longer a frap" and put barely any whip on it and gave it to me. I am a Starbucks barista myself and so I understand the drinks and recipes and I have never had this issue with anyone there before when I have ordered this same drink at OdySea. In addition to that, we ordered a double smoked sandwich, but they gave us a bacon gouda instead. The employee that made my drink unfortunately doesn't know Starbucks standards and was extremely rude. I will be hesitant to order from here again due to the way...