The Florida Aquarium — Attraction in Tampa

The staff was wonderful but the experience was horrible. I am disabled so I called and made sure of everything, including the valet parking and wheelchair accessibility. When we arrived, the traffic and foot traffic around the attraction was insane. It look 10 minutes to get around the " circle" just to be informed that there was no valet parking available and the lots were full. After paying a bootleg parking lot guy, we parked in a gravel lot which was our best experience of the day. After fighting the foot traffic of rude and pushy people in a wheelchair, we finally made it to the gate. The signage is vague and confusing and they seemed confused because I didn't print my ticket code but quickly found someone to fix it. So in we go..... The lobby and entire place was beyond crowded. No place for a wheelchair because it's so crowded there's zero chance not to have someone's butt in your face. On the first floor was a moon bay that was a super tiny, and I mean tiny, with starfish or two that you can touch, but who knows because it's not wheelchair accessible. The restaurants were under reconstruction and closed. Your only food option was outside with impossible lines for a disabled person. There were a few random fish out there in tiny tanks lined by hundreds of people, an absolute nightmare. So, all that's left is upstairs because the coral reef part with the sharks was closed. Upstairs is literally not as good a a bass pro shop. Except they have a gorgeous otter. Way overcrowded and not much to see, we spent less than 30 minutes there at an expense of hundreds of dollars between parking, gas, hotel and passes. I definitely was bamboozled. Today will be the dolphin cruise because the one we were booked on was full. So another day in this nightmare. Just avoid this place entirely and certainly if the cruise ships are docked like in our case because yikes.One thing I need to make clear, the staff is amazing. They are all super friendly and very helpful. They can't control the rest of this debacle. I was impressed with each and every one of them I spoke to, they get a raving billion stars each. However.... The dolphin cruise continued with the theme of this staycation of complete disappointment. So we board and the amazing staff went above and beyond to be helpful. After a brief wait, we departed. We chug along a bit, I'm thinking we're gonna see some beautiful bay action, gorgeous cruise ships and yachts. No. We were in some ghetto back alley type of industrial nonsense, huge rusty boats, greasy looking shipping containers, cranes and huge piles of literal garbage on the shore and on the sea. It was like the dirty back alley of the ocean.

So we putter out to see the views of more rusty ships and sick tired sea birds. Not a dolphin in sight. Not a fish in sight. Not a dang thing in sight except some tired islands with nothing on them and some drunk jet skiers. The captain stops the boat periodically to look for the nonexistent dolphins. That was torture, it was raining and dark and gloomy but we were still hopeful. Not so much as a freaking bubble. So we make our way back through the channel of rust and filth without a sighting of anything except the greasy sea birds who always look like they're molting. And after some impressive parking by the captain, we disembarked. Thank the gods old and new it was over.

We attempted to see the coral reef exhibit again because we were misinformed by a guest, not staff, that the exhibit was closed on the previous day. Unfortunately the guests were not as pleasant as the staff and we couldn't get anywhere near it because of the massive overcrowding and complete lack of self awareness of people with baby strollers and massive kids running amuck. Literally no one acknowledges a disabled person in a wheelchair. One elevator ride, two strollers and 5 people jammed themselves in the tiny elevator with me I waited for to be semi comfortable for a minute. So frustrating and not worth a single penny of the $500 this trip cost me. I will avoid...

Do not visit this museum on a cruise arrival or departure day!!

On a recent trip to Tampa, we decided to take a family trip to the aquarium upon getting to the aquarium at 10am. The parking lot was already slammed full, little to our knowledge there was a cruise ship currently departing, and a plethora of passengers were parking in the same parking lot as the aquarium. Quick tip make sure you check the Cruise schedule and show up on a non-cruise arrival or departure day Needless to say, the area cleared out after the ship left. I was a little flabbergasted that they charge $5 dollars for every hour you’re parked in the non-museum parking lot. Perhaps the aquarium should work with the city of Tampa and allow you to bring your parking ticket into the aquarium for a type of parking discount for having to park outside of the museum parking lot, if it’s full. We spent over $25 for parking at this aquarium for the 5 hours. We were here and there is no flat day parking fee. It goes up every hour you there. They didn’t have active-military discounts on their website, but when you show up at the window, they honor service members by offering a five dollar discount per ticket in your group. Upon walking in, we were immediately greeted with zoologists/marine-biologists, showing turtles and different types of reptiles within the atrium. The kids love being able to pet and take pictures with the animals, and we were told to start our tour on the second floor of the aquarium. After getting there, the mangrove swamp area was really cool!…But then again this was a cruise-ship departure day so we were smashed/shoulder-to- shoulder with everybody in the aquarium like you’re at some sort of rock concert mosh-pit. There wasn’t any room to spread out and kids would frequently get lost/separated easily. I just so happen to get separated from my party while they were waiting to touch the stingrays. I continued on in the aquarium all the way back to the lobby….

**Here’s the fun part after speaking with an aquarium employee. There is NO WAY to get to the second floor of the aquarium from a halfway point. You have to fight all of the people from the cruise ship going the opposite direction from the ground floor back to the stingray area or from the second floor back through the mangrove area. (They have a huge big wide open area with a small snack bar at the mosaic area on the second floor and an additional atrium where you can look down to see the people on the first floor, but there is no stairs to get there in the middle of the exhibits.) This was the huge frustration for me, deciding to walk against the flow of people to get back to my party in the middle of the aquarium. Instead of bypassing what I already saw. **Overall, there is just, waaaay TOO MANY PEOPLE smashed into the aquarium. I’m surprised they don’t have a maximum people cut off every day as stated by other reviews. The huge astro-turf kid outdoor play area, which I learned was (only temporary) is a huge plus for this aquarium and the food is phenomenal for the aquarium as well. Lunch was awesome. The gift shop was amazing… we spent well over $150 in apparel, gifts and different like items. They also don’t have plastic bags at this aquarium and you have to pay $5 dollars to purchase a bag that they say, is reusable but ends up in the garbage can right outside afterwards. You would think they have a place to throw away your pre-purchased bags on the way out the door if they were really trying to be conservative about the...

A Wonderful Experience for All Ages

I had the opportunity to visit the Tampa Aquarium in Florida and I must say it was a truly enchanting experience. The aquarium offers an incredible variety of marine animals and attractions that captivate visitors of all ages.

Upon entering, I was immediately taken aback by the beauty and diversity of the aquatic animals. From colorful tropical fish to majestic sharks, there's a vast array of species to explore. The tanks are designed in such a way as to provide a clear and close view of the animals, which makes the experience even more exciting.

The quality of the facilities is simply exceptional. The tanks are well maintained and clean, providing a healthy environment for the animals. Additionally, staff are always available to answer questions and provide information about the animals and their habitats.

One of the things that impressed me the most was the affordable price of the ticket. Considering the size of the aquarium and the quality of the experience offered, the amount charged is very reasonable. The aquarium also offers discounts for families and groups, making it even more affordable for everyone.

The environment inside the aquarium is peaceful and relaxing. The soft lighting and background music create a calm and immersive atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the beauty of marine animals. There are also comfortable rest areas where you can sit and gaze at the surrounding marine life.

The aquarium offers a complete program for families, with interactive activities that delight children and adults alike. There are educational presentations, animal feeding and even the opportunity to touch some species. Children are sure to love this unique experience.

Parking at the Tampa Aquarium is convenient and spacious. There is ample space available, which facilitates the arrival and departure of visitors. In addition, safety is a priority, with staff present throughout the area to ensure visitors' peace of mind.

In summary, my visit to the Tampa Aquarium was simply wonderful. The variety of marine animals, the interactive attractions, the quality of the facilities, the affordable price, the relaxing environment, the family program, the convenient parking and the security are aspects that make this aquarium highly recommended for everyone. If you're looking for a fascinating and educational experience, don't miss the...