Trip to Georgia Aquarium Trip next week--couple of ?s

[flameangel88]

I'm planning to be in Atlanta (my first trip there) next weekend and want to visit the aquarium Friday and Saturday before I do anything else. I've couple of questions and hope someone have the info.

1--is flash photography allowed inside? Some public aquariums have designated area with no flash signs.

2--should I order the tickets online or it's okay to purchase at the door?

3--general admission tickets or special 3D/4D combo ticket?

4--how far is the aquarium from downtown Atlanta? Do I need to drive there or is there public transportation I can take?

5--I can start going to the aquarium by about 10:30am on Friday doing you think I'll be able to finish seeing all the things in there in one day?

Thanks for any tips to made this a memorable trip will be greatly appreciated.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I haven't been to the aquarium, but have been to Atlanta 3 times in the past 2 months for work.

2. There are a bunch of "self-serve" ticket kiosks around the entrance. I would order online to save yourself some time and hassle there though.

4. There is a subway/train called MARTA that goes around the city. The aquarium is downtown though. It is very close to the sports arena's (Georgia Dome and Phillips Arena), CNN center (lots of fast food restaurants), and Centennial Olympic Park.

 

[jwedehase]

I went to the aquarium 3 years ago, so some things have already changed. That said:

2: I'd also order online and save the hassle.
5: You can see them all in one day, yes. It would be great to have even more time, but you can "see" everything in only a couple hours. I spent all day there, and was satisfied, but could have stayed longer. However, I'm the type that will sit in front of the same display for a half day.

Not to hijack, but so you can gear yourself up for what you're up for, here was my old photo thread from my trip:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=739892

 

[LittleBeard]

I went this summer and these were the rules when I went.

1. Flash photography is allowed for almost all the aquarium except the sea dragon exhibit and the octopus exhibit. The only problem I had with flashes is that they made really bad glare.

2. Save yourself time, order online.

5. You'll be able to see everything in 1 day.

 

[rydr119]

Make sure you get the behind the scenes tour package totally worth the extra money! I got my best pics from behind the exhibits. I thought the reef exhibit was nice until I saw how they made it run which was way better.

 

[SWINGRRRR]

When I went in Feb, you couldn't use flash in the FW/River section. I don't know what its called, but it the section where you are walking under the river. Things may have changed though.

Defiantly do the behind the scenes tour. Well worth the money.

IMHO the 3D show if for kids. They have a Nemo like character as the main liner. We skipped it after seeing the preview.

Heres my thread with a link to the photo album.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1325737

 

[plateboy3293]

I went to the Georgia aquarium last August after the renovation it looks great order the tickets ahead of time the line was outrageous when I was there.

 

[bhaas]

you definatley want to get tickets ahead of time, waiting in line sucks

the behind the scenes tour was pretty cool

if you are going to spend all day there you might want to call and see if they have any spots open in the dive/swim w/ the whale sharks still open. it is kind of expensive, but well worth it

I dove there in July and i was in awe the whole time while in the water..

 

[flameangel88]

Thanks everyone for all the great info. Looks like I will only be spending one day at the aquarium so I'm going to buy the tix online with behind the scene pass.

Just found out the hotel is not in Atlanta but in Newnan (that's where my wife will be visiting while I go out to the aquarium). I will be driving in unless there's convenient public transportation. The drive looks like is going to be about 45 minutes so I should be there by 11:30-12pm depending on traffic.

Thanks again for all the tips and I'll post pictures after I get back.

 

[lampcov]

Was there last week, about the tix...no need to buy on line. They have a machine like an ATM. Walk up, stick in your credit/debit card....Boom..out pops tickets. No line, no waiting. don't have to remember to print them or go to will call.

Just my 2 cents. Have a GREAT time.

 

[SMOOTHIE]

Go to atlantareefclub.org and talk with some of those guys. They can definitely help you and a few of them work there, so you may be able to work something out for a behind the scenes tour

 

[dustinP]

i live in atlanta so i think i am qualified to answer your questions.

1. yes its allowed at all times unless there is a sign at the exhibit that says otherwise.

2.order online, order online, order online. you can buy at the door but the lines are long and there are lines everywhere so save yourself one less line to stand in, also if you order online you can buy backstage passes.

3. buy general admission tickets, you can buy 4d tickets inside

4. the aquarium is in the heart of downtown, its across the street from the olympic park

5. depending on how long the lines are, how fast you walk, and what else you plan on doing inside the aquarium ( backstage, 4d movie) you can see everything in as little as about two hours or you can spend all day just watching the marine reef exhibit.

 

[flameangel88]

Thanks to everyone for the great tips.

I didn't get there till 1pm and they was no line but I did preorder the Behind the Scene ticket. This is one trip I wish I'd a 18-200mm lens instead of swapping in-and-out different lenses. The Ballroom wasn't open so not sure what was in there and what I missed out on. There wasn't many small tanks there so I really didn't need to carry the 100mm macro lens.

Here are some pictures I took from there (the best one I got from this trip is the one that came with the Behind the Scene where they snap a picture of you and give you at the end of the tour in a cardboard frame).

 

[flameangel88]

Starting out for the Tour

Target feeding

 

[flameangel88]

hand feeding or feeding the hand?

after eating they have to perform some trick

The filter room

lights

 

[flameangel88]

the wave box

X-ray

 

[dustinP]

awesome pictures man, i believe the ballroom is closed because of the titanic exhibit that the aquarium is hosting