Membership Faqs

Aquarium Membership FAQs

Yes! In order to manage the park capacity and allow for social distancing, all guests, including WCS Members, must have a timed ticket for entry. Reservations for your free member tickets must be made online in advance. Use the Member portal for your reservation.

No. All Member ticket reservations must be made online in advance. Do not come to the Aquarium if you do not have a timed ticket for entry. If you have difficulty completing your online reservation, please call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. Please note, we are unable to make, change or add to an existing reservation via email.

Capacity is limited, so we hope members will keep the commitment for the reservation. But if you do have a situation where you will not be using your tickets, PLEASE immediately contact membership@wcs.org with subject "Member ticket order cancellation" and include the Order number in your email. Due to strict park capacity restrictions, we appreciate your attention and kindness to cancel your reservation so that others may visit on that day.

Please visit our New York Aquarium Know Before You Go page prior to visiting for our most current mask and vaccine policies:

We are excited to welcome our Members back to our parks but, we are not back to normal just yet. In order to manage capacity restrictions and other New York State COVID health & safety requirements, reservations are required for all visitors including members. We have provided an abundance of tickets just for members and are happy to see such an enthusiastic response! Please be aware that there will be days when the availability between member reservations and full-priced admission tickets will differ. WCS relies heavily on both Membership dues and ticket sales in order to continue to deliver exceptional animal care, free members events, continuous education and conservation activities around the world. In addition, our parks play an important role in our communities more than ever at this time. Having tickets available for our community is important to us as well. We continue to balance and adjust our ticket availability for members daily and we will continue doing our best to add future dates to our reservation calendar.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and we truly appreciate your support and understanding while we navigate through this new process together. If you are having difficulties finding a date, please feel free to call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. Our team is back in the call center and here to help.

We appreciate the enthusiasm and understand our members are excited to visit our parks but unfortunately, all tickets sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges. If you are having difficulties making a reservation, please call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily for further assistance.

Due to capacity restrictions and other New York State COVID health & safety requirements, reservation availability is not guaranteed. Each morning we release any unclaimed reservations for that day back into the ticket pool. We suggest checking back regularly, and apologize for the inconvenience. If you are having difficulties finding a date, please feel free to call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. Our team is back in the call center and here to help.

Capacity is limited, so we hope members will keep their reservation commitment. However, should the need arise to cancel your reservation, please call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM TO 5 PM daily OR email us at membership@wcs.org , subject: Member Ticket Cancellation. If you do not cancel within 24 hours prior to your visit, your future reservations may be subject to restrictions. Due to strict park capacity restrictions, we appreciate your attention and understanding to cancel your reservation so that others may have the opportunity to visit.

Member reservations can be made for the amount of individuals covered on your membership. Memberships are non-transferrable, only the named adults, children, and guests on your membership will gain entry through a reservation. As a reminder, "Guest" must be accompanied by a named adult and reservations are required for children 3 & up.

Active members during our closures were given extensions for the time lost on their membership. For an example, if your membership expired on November 30, 2020 your new expiration date will be March 30, 2021. Our WCS Parks were closed for 4 months. No further action is needed and you can continue to use your current card as it will remain active up to your new expiration date. If you would like to know your expiration date, please call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

We now require all guests – including members to make a reservation online. This is the first time we had to create an online system for reservations. We were experiencing technical issues which caused some error messages when trying to make a reservation. We have since corrected and updated our portal. We appreciate your support and understanding while we navigate through these new procedures. Below are some common error messages -

• Unable to locate account - Please be sure to enter your Member ID listed on your card. Your member number is not the number listed by your barcode.
• Exceeded limit - Please note, members can only reserve tickets for the amount of individuals covered on their membership. Members can only make one (1) reservation per day per membership.

If you are still experiencing issues making a reservation, please call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

Please make sure your membership includes access to our four (4) Zoos. You can upgrade your membership by calling us at 718-220-5112 to include the Bronx Zoo, Central Park, Queens & Prospect Parks Zoos. Please note, upgrading your membership does not extend your expiration date. You can also renew early and add the Zoos, which will start right away!

Please be sure to have your Temporary/membership card along with your photo ID and Member ticket(s) handy (printed or via mobile device) at the time of entry. Don't forget to visit our know before you go page for more information prior to your visit.

At this time, members can purchase additional guest tickets at a discounted rate (20%) by calling Member Services at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. Please note, you must be present at the time of park entry in order for your additional guest to use discounted member tickets.

Please go to the Know Before You Go and FAQ web pages for current visit information on each of our zoos and aquarium websites.

Please note – there will be no map handouts at the park. Each park website has a copy of their map, and you can feel free to print in advance; or use the online map from your smartphone during your visit.

For the Bronx Zoo and NY Aquarium – be sure to use the MOBILE SITE on the day of your visit for the park map, and available exhibits and amenities. You can also find the park map on the website and print out a copy before you visit.

All WCS parks open at 10 a.m. Closing times vary by park and season – please check each park's website for current information. The 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. If you have added the New York Aquarium to your Membership, it is open 365 days a year. To add the New York Aquarium to an existing Membership, please call 718-220-5112 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Please note, access to our parks during operating hours can change due to special event programming.

For the health and safety of our guests and staff, WCS is implementing advance ticketing, including members at all our parks. Members still enjoy free admission to the parks, and can make member ticket reservations online. If you have difficulty completing your online reservation, please call us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

Join online. Join online at any Membership level and immediately print out a temporary Membership card. Then make your Member ticket reservation for your first visit! Simply bring your reserved ticket and temporary Membership card (both can be printed, or easily displayed on a smartphone) and a valid photo ID. You must present your Membership card at the parking gate or you will be charged the parking fee, even if it's included in your Membership. We're sorry, but we cannot make exceptions.

Join by phone. Call our Membership Office at (718) 220-5112 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. You will receive your temporary membership card within 24 hours. If you wish to visit one of our parks BEFORE your permanent Membership card arrives, bring your temporary card (printed, or easily displayed on a smartphone) along with your member ticket reservation, and a valid photo ID.

Join on-site today. Join at the admissions booth at the Bronx Zoo, New York Aquarium, or Central Park Zoo. Cash and major credit cards are accepted. Please note that the parking fee for your initial visit is not refundable – to save time and avoid the parking fee on your first visit join online and add on Bronx Zoo parking to your membership.

Click here to view all Membership levels and benefits. NOTE: Discounts and benefits are subject to change.

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. Memberships are non-transferable, and a Guest must always be accompanied by a named adult on the card.

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 covered by your Membership will be charged the current admission fee.

Senior Memberships (65+) are available 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.

NEW – contactless entry! Be ready to enter before approaching the ticket-taker station.

• Have your ticket out, and Membership card and photo ID.
• Your Membership card number must match the Member number on your ticket.
• Your ticket is only valid for the quantity of people covered on your Membership level. Additional guests will be charged the current admission fee.
• Only a named adult on your Membership card can use your ticket. Children and/or guest(s) must be accompanied by a named adult on the card.
• All people must enter together and ticket cannot be separated for entry.
• Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
• Park entry is on a first-come, first-served basis for Members and all park guests.

We appreciate your attention to these procedures and policies that will help everyone have a safe, healthy and fun visit to our park.

A valid membership card is required to be shown in order to use member tickets. We can only look-up your membership at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo and the NY Aquarium admissions booth. Once your account is validated, we will honor a one-time courtesy lookup/replacement, and any additional replacements for forgotten/lost/stolen cards will be done for a $5.00 fee. Due to the technology of our membership processing, this replacement will INVALIDATE your prior cards. PLEASE NOTE: lookups cannot be done at parking - if your membership level is one that includes parking benefits we cannot honor that without a valid card presented upon arrival. Parking fees are non-refundable.

You must add the Child Caregiver’s name to your membership card. Only a named member on the Membership card can use member tickets. We are unable to make changes to Membership cards at our on-site locations, so please be sure all arrangements 24 hours prior to scheduling your member ticket reservation. If you need additional assistance regarding other Child Caregiver options, feel free to contact us at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

Due to ongoing construction, there will be reduced parking capacity at the Aquarium over the next 2 years. During this time, we are also transitioning to a pay-on-exit parking system. When that system is in place, Members at the Legacy Family Premium, Legacy Dual Premium and Conservation Supporter level parking benefits are:

0-3 hours: FREE
3-4 hours: $10
4+ hours: $20

Conservation Fellow/Partner/Patron receive free daytime parking. If you forget your Membership card, or present an expired card, you will be charged for parking. Parking fees cannot be refunded or applied to a Membership purchase. Parking at the New York Aquarium is not included for Dual or Family Plus Memberships.

Note: If you recently purchased your Membership online or by phone, you must provide proof of Membership at the parking gate. Present your temporary Membership card (printed, or easily displayed on a mobile device) and a valid photo ID at the parking gate.

Parking is subject to availability, and limited to one car per Membership per day. Members are not guaranteed parking. Parking on WCS premises is done at your own risk. WCS is not responsible for stolen or damaged property.

TO ENTER:

• Scan your Membership card first. This is how the system identifies if your membership has free parking benefits, so it is mandatory to have a valid card scanned on arrival.
• Take your parking ticket and enjoy your visit! The system will dispense a ticket after scanning your membership card. Put the ticket somewhere you won’t forget it — you’ll need it to exit. The ticket is valid for one-time use only.

TO EXIT:

• Option A: Stop by a Parking Pay Station before getting back in your car. If you have a balance, pay with cash or credit, then present the validated ticket at the exiting arm.
• Option B: Present your ticket at the exiting arm. If you have a balance, pay with credit only.

If you have any issues upon entry, please take a ticket and then stop at a Membership booth for assistance.

The parking fee cannot be refunded or applied to the purchase of a Membership.

Yes. At this time you can only upgrade your existing membership by calling our office at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5PM daily. Please note, new benefits start immediately however it does not extend the expiration date of your membership.

We are thrilled to be welcoming members back to the parks! For the health and safety of our guests and staff, we have made changes to our exhibits and park operations. Please check the Know Before You Go pages of each park before planning your visit so you are prepared for the current park experience. Thank you for your understanding.

IN THE FUTURE, WHEN SAFETY PROCEDURES ALLOW, WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU BACK TO EXPERIENCE OUR OTHER EXHIBITS AND ATTRACTIONS:

New York Aquarium 4-D Theater included with all Aquarium Membership levels as well as Legacy memberships.

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.

If you've joined or renewed by phone, mail, or the internet you will receive your permanent Membership materials in the mail. You can use your temporary card, along with your advance member ticket reservations, until you receive your materials in the mail.

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

FOR PARKING BENEFITS: Please present the temporary Membership card and your photo ID at the parking booth. Without this proof of Membership you will be required to pay for parking at the Bronx Zoo. Parking fees are non-refundable.

FOR ENTRY AND ATTRACTION BENEFITS: Please present your temporary/permanent Membership card and your photo ID to gain entry into our attractions. Click here to visit our benefits page to see if your membership includes attractions.

If you haven't received your Membership package within four weeks of joining, please call (718) 220-5112 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily 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 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

A name change can only be done by calling Member Services at 718-220-5112 (open daily, 9 AM to 5 PM EST), and can ONLY BE MADE BY THE PRIMARY CARD HOLDER. A minimum of 24 hours is required before any revision will be valid for zoo visit. Members are limited to no more than 3 revisions in a year. Please note, the name of the primary member (adult 1) cannot be changed.

Yes, you have 30 days from the date of your ticket purchase to apply your tickets towards a membership. Please bring your ticket receipt to a Membership booth or Admissions booth at the NY Aquarium before 4 p.m. and we'll be happy to credit the price of admission tickets applicable to the Membership level you choose. Parking fees are not refundable and cannot be applied to the purchase of a Membership. Please note, we can only deduct tickets for one (1) visit. You can also apply your tickets towards a membership by emailing a copy of your tickets along with your contact information to membership@wcs.org. Tickets cannot be applied towards prior membership purchases.

Your WCS Membership starts immediately from the date of purchase and is valid for one (1) year. This also includes gift membership purchases.

As a non-profit organization, we rely heavily on Membership dues and attendance fees for support. To prevent the misuse of your Membership card, 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 monthly via e-mail.

Unfortunately no. Member only events are for the amount of people covered on your membership.

Members can only attend member events for parks that are covered on their membership. You can upgrade your membership to include the Bronx Zoo, Central Park, Queens Zoo and Prospect Park Zoo by calling 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

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 the admission booth at the New York Aquarium.

Yes. Members can purchase extra T-shirts at the admission booths at the New York Aquarium. 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 call us at (718) 220-5112 from 9 AM. to 5 PM daily.

A charge of $25 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 from Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and we will remove your name and address.

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

Yes. Membership gift certificates can be purchased for fundraisers only by calling our office at 718-220-5112 from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.