Visited the zoo this past Monday @ 1 P.M. and it was an enjoyable visit given the lack of crowds. It was obvious that everyone was there for the pandas exhibit (as they are currently the only pandas remaining in the U.S. till their contract expires in 2024).

Buying tickets on the day of the visit costs slightly more compared to purchasing them a week in advance, so plan accordingly. We opted to buy tickets the day-of as we were driving in from NYC and we did not want to take any chances with the no-refund policy.

Parking was available at $3 per hour or $12 for the entire day (which is not a bad deal). Given the abundance of parking spaces in the Cherokee Avenue lot (they also have another lot) on the day I visited though, the fee seemed quite unnecessary. I read some reviews before my visit and learned that many visitors actually encounter parking issues on peak days, so it's understandable. We noticed many people bypassing the parking meters which suggests that they might have chosen to make their payments through the ParkMobile app. Reviews suggested we may end up spending 2-3 hours here. We were in a rush during the visit and though we breezed through all the exhibits, it still took us about 2.5 hours. We had paid $9 but if you plan to spend the entirety of the day there, the $12 is a better option. You can also opt to park outside on the streets as well.

At the entrance, they give you a memory pass (QR code) for photo experiences around the park. We only utilized the photo spot by the flamingos (one of four spots), but were still happy with the pictures we got with different backdrops.

There were many great exhibits (e.g. red pandas, gorillas, hippos, lions, bald eagles, etc.) and the employees we encountered were all very friendly.

You'll also find penny press machines here, though only 1 of the 3 machines I came across were working (luckily the one that was working also was the one with the panda engravings). The machines operate by inserting $1 bills so you don't have to worry about bringing in your own pennies and quarters. Outside the pandas exhibit as you are leaving, there are collectible medallion machines as well. 4 were for $15 and for each is $5. Had to get them too.

Albeit small, the petting zoo for the goats was a nice addition.

The animal statues and light displays around the park were very nice and is a plus for those that are looking for photo-ops.

Surprisingly, the majority of the food areas were not open during our visit. The only place opened was a small stand by the entrance that sold popcorn, pretzels and small snacks. We opted for popcorn ($6), though it wasn't even fully popped. This probably explains why you are able to bring in your own food and drinks into the facility, but since we came straight to Atlanta and were afraid the zoo would close if we stopped by to eat, we didn't have a chance to do so.

Overall, we had a decent experience thanks to the pandas and the variety of other animal exhibits, but it could've been better had there been more open food stalls.

P.S. If you are visiting in November of 2023, there's a poll right now up until Thanksgiving to vote for the names of 2 new baby binturongs!

P.P.S. We weren't able to inquire about this, but is there any reason why all 4 pandas are separated from each other? There are clear dividers between them.