Visiting Toronto and wondering if there is a more affordable way to explore the underwater world of Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada? If so, you should consider their “Sharks After Dark” ticket.
What is the Sharks After Dark ticket?
The Sharks After Dark ticket saves you $5 on admission when you visit the Aquarium between 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
But is this discounted ticket to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada worth it?
And should you consider getting an annual pass instead?
Let’s review the pros and cons of the Sharks After Dark ticket.
The pros
– Save money: with a Sharks After Dark ticket you will save $5 off the admission price to the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto.
– See the exhibits: all 10 of the Aquarium’s beautiful galleries are open for you to experience.
– Less crowded: with a Sharks After Dark ticket you will avoid the peak-hour crowds. These are between 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on weekdays and 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekends and holidays.
– Lots of time: the average person takes approximately 2.5 hours to get through the Aquarium. The Sharks After Dark Toronto ticket is good from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM which totals 4 hours. This means you will have plenty of time to see all 10 of the Aquarium’s galleries.
– Save on parking: Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada doesn’t have its own parking lot for visitors. You will have to park your vehicle in a public or private lot. The good news is most of these lots have reduced parking after 5:00 PM.
– Enjoy dinner: if you don’t have time to grab dinner before your visit, no worries. The Aquarium’s café stays open till 8:00 PM every day.
The cons
There’s only one:
– No shows: the only con to visiting the Aquarium between 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM is you will not get to see the Dive Shows or Aquarist Talks.
Dive Shows are when a scuba diver goes into the Ray Bay exhibit. They feed and interact with the animals while a Ripley’s educator speaks to you. These shows only take place during the daytime, usually at 11:15 AM and 2:15 PM.
Aquarist Talks are presented by a member of the Aquarium’s Animal Care team. They only happen on weekdays at various times, usually between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM. During these talks visitors learn about individual animals like jelly fish, piranhas, eels, sharks and more.
Who is the Sharks After Dark ticket ideal for?
The Sharks After Dark ticket for Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto makes the most sense for visitors who:
– Want to save money on admission and parking.
– Prefer to visit attractions when they are less busy.
– Don’t mind if they can’t see the Dive Shows or Aquarist Talks at the Aquarium.
– Have a schedule that can only accommodate visiting the Aquarium at night.
Should you get an Annual Pass to the Aquarium instead?
Planning to visit Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto more than once over the course of the year? If so, you should definitely consider purchasing an Annual Pass or Family Pass instead of a Sharks After Dark ticket.
If you’re an individual, in just 2.5 visits you’ll be saving money on admission with an Annual or Season Pass membership to the Aquarium.
For a family i.e., two adults and two kids, in just 2 visits you’ll save on admission with a Family Pass.
In addition, with a Family Pass or Annual membership you get free admission to other events at the Aquarium…
…plus, your membership provides you with discounts on a variety of things allowing you to save even more money.
You can learn more about the advantages of a membership by reading our article “Is a Family or Annual Pass to Ripley’s Aquarium Canada worth it?”
And the recommendation is…
If you know you’ll only be visiting Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada once this year,…
…and don’t mind missing the Aquarium’s Dive Shows or Aquarist Talks,…
then a Sharks After Dark ticket is your best value.
On the other hand, if you have plans to visit the Aquarium a few more times this year,…
…then an Annual or Family Pass membership is your best value.
Whichever form of admission you choose, enjoy your visit to Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada in Toronto.
Photo Credit: Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
