Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas

The entire zoo smells so bad!! I felt SO BAD for the jaguar in the small glass cage, it constantly paced back and forth, it was truly heartbreaking. The animals are clumped together and the layout is awful. Don't waste your time or money, there are much better aquariums

This was wonderful. I would recommend going here to anyone.

Loved the variety...great place for kids and adults

We live about 2 hours from Dallas and decided to head over and check out the aquarium that we had heard some good things about. I cannot tell you how extremely disappointed we were. The first thing you will notice when walking through the doors is the extreme stench. This horrible smell is throughout the entire building and makes you completely nauseous. I find it hilarious that they serve food in the building because I don't know how anyone could stomach eating with such a horrible smell around them. The fish and very random animals are cluttered throughout the building and really just seem to be thrown together at times. You will see a few birds and a few monkeys cramped in a pathetically small cage. You can walk through a half tunnel under the shark tank which is about 30ft long and was always engulfed by about 50-60 people making it absolutely impossible to look at the sharks. There is absolutely no attempt made to keep crowds moving and instead it's a cluster free for all throughout the entire experience. Perhaps the worst part of the Aquarium is the Leopard(I think it was a leopard) who is placed in a small glass box. The poor thing constantly paces back and forth and is obviously stir crazy from the cramped environment. To say that it's heartbreaking is an understatement. So if you want to go to a Smelly, Cramped Aquarium full of injured animals (we saw so many sharks with injuries) and animals that you just feel sorry for then by all means visit the Dallas Aquarium. If not PLEASE save your 20.00 and visit a Ripleys Aquarium. Don't waste your money on the Dallas Aquarium, if anything feel bad and try to let your voices be heard about the animals such as the leopard who has been reduced to living in a glass box for people to gawk at while he paces nervously back and forth.

I absolutely love this place. The first time I saw the DWA I was curious but I did not expect much from the looks of the building from afar, big mistake. Even as you walk into the building to find the ticket vendors you are immersed in a forest with actual exhibits lining the pathway. I have always made it a point to visit whenever I am in Dallas and I drag the ones I am with along as well but the dragging stops at the door. I have not met a person who did not like the Aquarium and it can possibly be attributed to the diversity and atmosphere of the DWA. I have never come out of the Aquarium not having learned something new. For around Twenty dollars for an adult ticket, I would say definitely worth it.To this day I am still amazed at how many animals and plants are within the DWA as well as the condition of the exhibits. There is usually something going on whether it is feedings, presentations, educational teachings, etc. You are not just a bystander looking into cages full with animals, you are witnessing, traveling & peering through exhibits at the DWA. The gift shop is not bad either.

I loved looking at the different animals. I especially loved the black lighted tank of jellyfishes becuase it was so eye catching. I think everyone will enjoy going to this aqarium. I also liked the fact it was well kepted because I dont like the smells that come with some animals...lol

I loved everything about this place, except the smell was terrible! It smelled like a house with 30 cats. So if you can stomach that part everything else was awesome. We came to Dallas from Tulsa, OK to go to the aquarium because it had such high ratings and I'm glad I seen it, but I wish I would have planned more to do because it only took an hour and a half to go through the whole thing. (probably longer if you have kids) There were tons of cool fish and I loved the shark tank which you can walk through a tunnel and look around and see sharks all around you.There are tiny monkeys and penguins too which were really cute, and I got to feed some exotic birds. Oh and a tip, one parking lot charges 5$ and the other charges 6$ to park there. So if you want to save check the prices. Also read the map they give you because we went backwards because there are no arrows pointing you which way to go and we had to take the elevator up to the 3rd floor and walk back through. I liked it, but given the choice I would have rather drove the 4 more hours to SeaWorld in SanAntonio. (they were closed during the week)

It is unfair for people to accuse zoos and aquariums for being cruel to animals. I think it is fair to say that even the best zoo or aquarium in the world is cruel to animals. I have been to over 50 different ones throughout the country, and I leave them feeling sorry for the animals no matter which one I visit. The fact is, people have to look at these animals as a sacrifice for the animals in the wild. Conservation is at it's peak in the world, and I have to believe it is do to the improvements that are zoos and aquariums have achieved. With that being said, The Dallas World Aquarium has done a fantastic job with sparking the imagination for the people who visit this place. There is a surprise around every corner, and it is with out a doubt the closest experience to being in a jungle that anyone in this part of the world can experience. The aquarium starts you at the top of what has been simulated to be a jungle canopy. As you gradually work your way down, you are able to see crocodiles and manatees swimming in there exhibits from the bottom. At the same time, your are able to view several species of birds and monkees which gives you the feeling that these animals are sharing an ecosystem much like they would in the wild. Once to the bottom, you are able to see the sharks, crocodiles, and manatees in an under water setting. The shark tank is really cool, but kind of small! Just remember when you criticize and aquarium or zoo, that you remember the true purpose of an aquarium or zoo. I recommend this aquarium for sure, and as I said, I have been to several throughout the nation. Be ready to pay $20 a ticket though.

We live 110 miles away, well worth the time and expense. Our five and ten year old boys loved the animals, sharks, and exhibits. A little crowded especially with people using strollers. A good time by everyone in the family. The restaurant food was good. We will visit it again.

Definitely go during the school year. We went on a summer morning and were swamped with several dozen summer camp groups. Due to the narrow walkway, I often felt that we were being herded along with the groups of kids and did not have the time to read about the exhibits. While we did like parts of the Aquarium, I am not sure I would go back during the school year. It was 75$ for my family of 4. I have been to several other aquariums that I liked better that were more than $5 less per ticket.