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Here’s the deal on free day at Shedd Aquarium Chicago

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Here’s the deal on free day at Shedd Aquarium Chicago.

Free days for IL Residents allow access to many exhibits.  Due to limited capacity, advance reservations will be required.  A $3 transaction fee applies to Illinois Free Day tickets reserved online. 2021 Free Museum Days

Aquarium changes

  • Unavailable areas: The Aquatic Presentation and several high-touch play areas will not be available. Visit our frequently asked questions for more details.
  • Touch experiences: Stingray Touch has closed for the season. Sea Star Touch and Sturgeon Touch are view-only to allow for social distancing.
  • Exhibit experiences: We’ve adjusted our fish IDs to automatically scroll so they don’t need to be touched in order to convey information.
  • Water fountains: For your safety, water fountains will not be available. Guests may purchase water or use a bottle refilling station.
  • Cash or credit? If you are looking to make a purchase, bring a credit card if possible. Cash sales will be limited to reduce close contact between staff and guests.
  • Accessibility changes: Wheelchairs, assistive listening devices, and noise-cancelling headphones will be available on a first come, first-served basis and will be sanitized between each use. Details on Shedd’s accessibility offerings.
  • Restaurants: Bubble Net food court will be open with limited capacity Fridays – Sundays, from 10:30 a.m. until 2 hours before the building closes. Any food or drink you bring with you or purchase from machines must be consumed in designated areas. Capacity is limited and tables are spaced in accordance with Chicago regulations. Please do not move tables or chairs.
  • Re-entry: Unfortunately, due to the new flow of the aquarium, we won’t be able to let people back into Shedd once they exit the building.

Pre-covid – Does not apply in 2021

On Illinois resident free days (with valid ID)  you now have access to whole aquarium – all permanent exhibits. This includes:

  • The Aquatic show in the Oceanarium which is the big show with the dolphins and whales (subject to availability).
  • the Oceanarium where you may view whales and dolphins swimming between shows if they come to the surface, the sea otters and sea lions.
  • the Polar Play Zone which is the level below the Oceanarium where you can view the dolphins and whales swimming below surface and the penguin exhibit.
  • the Wild Reef where you view sharks, stingrays and living coral all below surface
  • Sting Ray Touch where stingrays swim around in a shallow tank and you can feel them as the swim up or swim by (Spoiler alert: they’re firm but squishy).
  • 4-D Experience admission is a $4.95 upgrade for all guests.

All free museum days.

Lines can be long and slow moving

I went last June (2019) and the line was a mile long.  I purchased my free ticket on my phone for a $3 fee and it was well worth it as you can just walk in and then wait in another line to get tickets to the shows.

Here’s the deal on free day at Shedd Aquarium Chicago

A $3 transaction fee applies to Illinois Free Day tickets reserved online. Reserve Illinois Resident Free Day tickets online

Get your tickets for the aquatic show as soon as you enter

The Aquatic Show is the dolphin and whale show in the Oceanarium.  These get booked up so don’t go back later for tickets.

12th Street Beach

Cheap dining options

The Shedd allows you to bring in your own food and beverages.  You can dine in the Marine Lunch Room off the main lobby in the basement or on the North and South outdoor terraces.  You cannot dine anywhere they sell food such as Bubbles Mess or Soundings Cafe.

If the weather’s nice you can head over to 12th Street Beach (south of the Planetarium) for a picnic or dine along the grassy slopes outside the Shedd and re-enter same day with your tickets.  You can bypass the line to reenter.

Take the water taxi (in summer)

I usually take the 146 bus to the Museum campus but if I’m at Navy Pier I take the water taxi which stops at the Shedd. It’s fast and fun and offers Instagrammable photos of the city skyline. Guide to Water Taxi’s.

About the Shedd

The Shedd Aquarium is located at 1200 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-939-2438.  The first floor of the Shedd (the original building) is 225,000 square feet. When you add on the Oceanarium and other newer areas the whole Shedd is 480,550 square feet which is a lot of territory to cover.

When you enter they will ask you what shows you want to see and at what time. Check here for the 2017 Aquatic showtimes. Map

Read more about the Graham, Anderson, Probst & White designed the aquarium here.

 

 

 

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