Mediaboss Marketing

By Ryan Patrick Hooper, Special to the Detroit Free Press Published 11:46 a.m. ET June 29, 2020

A group observe a duo of tigers at the Devereaux Tiger Forest exhibit that opened last year at the Detroit Zoo.(Photo: Ryan Patrick Hooper, Special to the Detroit Free Press)

New, pandemic-era visitor limits at area attractions like the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak and the Henry Ford in Dearborn could mean a better experience with smaller crowds.

But it could also mean: frustration for customers competing for limited tickets for their preferred time slots, beneficial treatment for members, and a general sense of confusion (expressed recently on social media)when it comes to navigating the new online ticketing systems.

In a pre-COVID-19 world, a busy weekend at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak could bring up to 15,000 patrons in a single day.

But on a recent Saturday, a daily capacity limit of 2,900 people across the 125-acre park meant few lines and open sight lines of animal habitats. The capacity was originally capped at 1,000 patrons per day when the zoo first reopened on June 8.

Were not bumping into everyone. Were not waiting in a long line, says Jerry Demott of Lake Orion, listing the advantages to smaller crowds at the zoo.

But Demott and his wife Chris, who are members at the zoo, said the process of having to choose a day and time to attend was not ideal.

Brandon Bielby, 8, of Warren, greets Nanook, a Detroit Zoo polar bear mascot, at the entrance of the zoo on Saturday, June 27th.(Photo: Ryan Patrick Hooper, Special to the Detroit Free Press)

It was not hard, but I dont like it. Id like to stroll in, says Chris Demott. Youre locked down. You only get so many dates. We had two friends who wanted to come today, but they couldnt.

On the Detroit Zoo website, reservations are limited to six people per booking and can be made up to two weeks in advance. Guests are admitted every 30 minutes to stagger crowds.

When people have a date or time slot in their head and they cant get that, I can understand why they would be upset, says Alexandra Bahou, communications manager for the Detroit Zoo.

Some members expressed their frustration via the Zoos Facebook page.

I just tried to book a reservation using our membership and there were no available dates, wrote Katalin Rosinski.

Bahou says frequent cancellations mean theres often updated times and slots being added to the website. She encourages guests to check back regularly if the time or slot theyre requesting is not available.

At the Henry Ford in Dearborn, which reopens with a member-only preview on Thursday, outdoor attractions like Greenfield Village are also proving popular with patrons looking for outdoor activities after months of being cooped up.

Opening weekend was made available exclusively to members and is sold out, says Melissa Foster, senior manager of public relations for the Henry Ford.

Im not surprised, says Foster. The members love Greenfield Village. Theyve been waiting for us to be open. We havent been open in the village since December. It normally opens in April.

Tickets for the Henry Ford Museum of America Innovation are still available to members for opening weekend, says Foster.

She says shes expecting a larger influx of crowds to the indoor museum once the new exhibit Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes opens on July 16. The comic book-themed exhibit will be on display through Jan. 31, 2021.

Starting July 9, the general public will be welcomed back to the Henry Ford campus. Some elements of the Henry Ford the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, the Giant Screen Experience will remain closed during this initial phase of reopening, says Foster.

Like the Detroit Zoo, the Henry Ford is enlisting an online reservation system to dole out tickets and time slots. Capacity at Greenfield Village will be heavily reduced.

Typically, our capacity in the village is upwards of 10,000 people at a time, says Foster. We had to reduce the capacity, so only 2,500 folks can get in through the span of the day.

Foster says memberships will be extended 111 days the length of time the Henry Ford has been closed due to COVID-19.

Read or Share this story: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2020/06/29/detroit-zoo-henry-ford-reopening-limited-visitors-crowd-control/5321734002/

Read more:
Detroit Zoo and Henry Ford reopen with limited visitors, frustrating some guests - Detroit Free Press