The San Antonio Zoo is responding to complaints about long wait times during its popular “Dinos After Dark” event on Saturday, August 1. Some guests took to social media to say it was a struggle to get in and out of the attraction.
“Dinos After Dark” is a prehistoric nighttime adventure where families can explore the zoo as glowing dinosaurs, colorful lights and fog-filled pathways transform it into a Jurassic-inspired experience. After debuting as a members-only event, it returned by popular demand and welcomed the public from 7 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.
However, social media quickly filled with complaints from attendees who described waiting an hour or longer to park or leave after the event. On TikTok, sarina.spice shared a video that showed large crowds at a standstill. She wrote in a caption, “The line to leave was at least a mile long, and there were more people coming in. Never again.” The video had over 80,000 views and nearly 300 comments, with many agreeing with her.
One commenter called it the “worst experience ever,” while another said the zoo should have enforced “a maximum capacity limit.” Another TikTok from amandasteph22 captured the sea of people at the event and included a caption claiming it took an hour to leave, with people still coming in. Amanda wrote, “NEVER AGAIN!!!”
While many attendees criticized the long waits, others praised the event on social media. On TikTok, user timeofftraveling called it the “cutest little family friendly event.” Another TikTok user, jasmineluchis, described it as a “fun experience.”
In response, zoo officials told MySA on Sunday, August 2, that they plan to add more event dates and extend operating hours to help ease congestion. The event was currently scheduled for only Saturdays through September 7. However, the zoo announced to MySA that it has extended it to every Friday and Saturday beginning this weekend and continuing through the Labor Day weekend, giving the zoo 11 additional dates.
“San Antonio Zoo’s Dinos After Dark event has proven very popular. We will be announcing more dates and extended hours to assist with guest comfort,” the San Antonio Zoo wrote in an email. “We always listen to and appreciate the feedback of our guests and use that to work to create the best experience possible from arrival, experiencing the zoo and departing.”
The attraction features 22 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs positioned throughout the zoo, such as a Tyrannosaurus rex, a Triceratops and a Velociraptor. Throughout the event, guests can enjoy live entertainment, including a DJ, a fire dancer, a stilt walker, roving paleontologists and the interactive Jurassic S.A. Dinosaur Experience. There’s also prehistoric-themed food and beverages, such as Flintstone Ribs, Volcano Nachos, Pterodactyl Legs, Dino Bones, the Rex-a-Rita (available in a souvenir puck or light-up pilsner), and family-friendly Dino Drinks, including lemonade and fruit punch.
Admission is free for San Antonio Zoo members with an active membership, while general admission is $9.99 per person. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets online before arriving for the quickest entry into “Dinos After Dark.”