Balboa Park Carousel
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
The Balboa Park Carousel offers an iconic, recently renovated vintage carousel experience with fast rides and an engaging 'brass ring' game, perfect for creating lasting family memories. While the ride itself is highly praised for its charm, friendly staff, and lack of wait, prospective visitors should be prepared for significant parking challenges and a specific policy requiring accompanying adults to pay.
Key Highlights
- ✓Iconic and recently renovated vintage carousel with repairs and new paint, described as 'really beautiful'.
- ✓The ride is 'pretty darn fast' and exciting for children.
- ✓Staff are consistently described as 'really friendly and welcoming'.
- ✓Offers a unique 'brass ring' game where riders can try to grab a brass ring (hint: mount one of the tall outside critters for the best chance).
- ✓Plays the 'STARWARS theme song' as an 'added bonus'.
- ✓Generates 'core memory' experiences for children.
- ✓Accommodates the 'entire family' for a shared riding experience.
- ✓Virtually no wait time for the ride itself; typically, you only wait for the previous ride to finish.
Standout Features
- ⭐Recently renovated appearance with new paint, making it 'beautiful'.
- ⭐Interactive 'brass ring' game adds an exciting element to the ride.
- ⭐Conveniently located for an easy stop before or after visiting the San Diego Zoo or other Balboa Park attractions.
- ⭐Friendly and welcoming staff enhance the experience.
- ⭐The ride's 'fast' pace adds to the fun.
- ⭐Unique bonus of playing the 'STARWARS theme song'.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →To maximize your chance at grabbing the brass ring, try to mount one of the tall outside critters.
- →Be prepared for extremely difficult parking directly adjacent to the carousel; plan to park elsewhere in Balboa Park and walk.
- →Consider parking nearby (even if it means a walk) to avoid long searches in the Zoo parking lot.
- →Bring sunscreen, water, and your wallet if you plan to explore other parts of Balboa Park, as there are many opportunities for additional purchases.
- →Be aware that accompanying adults, even if standing, will likely need to pay for a ticket.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Parking adjacent to the San Diego Zoo is described as 'impossible to park in', requiring 30+ minutes of searching for a spot or parking far away and walking.
- ⚠The cost of '$9.00 per ride (if I’m not mistaken)' was found 'outrageous' by one parent, contrasting with another's 'really cheap' assessment.
- ⚠Accompanying adults are required to pay, even if standing to supervise a child and not sitting on an animal, which is seen as unfair compared to other parks (e.g., Belmont Park, Village Park) where accompanying adults ride free.
- ⚠Ride duration may be shorter than expected (reported as 5 minutes or less instead of 10 minutes).
- ⚠Staff reportedly provided incorrect information, such as claiming the first row of animals moves up and down when they do not.
- ⚠Some parents observe that the 'animals definitely need to be repainted and refreshed', despite claims of recent renovation, suggesting inconsistency or varied perceptions.
- ⚠Situations where staff insisted on a second accompanying parent paying, leading to families leaving and demanding refunds.
Price & Value
Pricing is a point of contention: one parent found it 'really cheap' while another explicitly stated '$9.00 (per ride if I’m not mistaken)' was 'a bit outrageous'. A significant hidden cost is the requirement for accompanying adults to pay, even if standing to supervise a child, which is seen as unfair compared to other local amusement parks. Beyond the carousel, Balboa Park offers many opportunities to purchase snacks, museum tickets, or keepsakes.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No specific food/drink rules mentioned for the carousel itself. However, parents are advised to 'bring water' if cruising around Balboa Park, and there are 'many opportunities to purchase a snack' within the wider park.
🚗Parking Info
- •Parking is 'free but impossible to park in' directly adjacent to the San Diego Zoo (where the carousel is located).
- •Finding a spot in the main lot can take 'over 30 mins' of 'slowly cruising'.
- •It's advised to park 'nearby' and walk, as parking directly next to the attraction is extremely difficult.
👥Crowd Levels
- •The ride itself has 'little to no wait'; usually, you only wait for the previous ride to finish.
- •Reviewers consistently mention 'no wait to enter' the carousel.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Parents typically stand next to young children (e.g., 2.5-year-olds) to 'insure him so that he does not fall', implying primary safety relies on parental supervision.
- •Staff are described as 'friendly and welcoming', contributing to a positive environment, though no specific operational safety protocols were detailed.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If you expect easy, immediate parking right next to the carousel.
- • If you object to paying for an accompanying adult who is merely supervising a child and not sitting on an animal.
- • If you have an expectation of a specific ride duration (it may be shorter than perceived).
- • If you are on a very strict budget for per-ride costs and find a reported $9/ride fee 'outrageous'.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Carousel Party Rentals
Contact for detailsAvailable for limited private use for parties.
Commercial Filming & Photography Rentals
Contact for detailsAvailable for limited private use for commercial filming and/or photography.
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Presidents' Day
February 19
Standard ride pricing
Operating during holiday hours.
📅Booking Policy
- • For carousel rentals (parties, commercial filming/photography), please contact info@balboapark.org or call the Balboa Park Visitors Center at 619-331-1112.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 4 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Nathan Fontaine
a month agoMy son loves to go on the Carousel!! It has been one of those little fun core memory things we have done with him here in San Diego! It is really cheap, and goes pretty darn fast! The staff are always really friendly and welcoming! The only "wait" time you'll have is waiting for the previous ride to stop, if you walk up and it's already going. Otherwise, there isn't really a wait. Take your kiddos! They will love it, and will have a great core memory for the rest of their lives!
Ann Marie Maccarone
8 months agoThis carousel is located adjacent to the San Diego Zoo. Parking is free but impossible to park in. After following countless other cars and “slowly cruising” looking for a spot (and realizing it had been over 30 mins), I decided to go nearby to park. There were some parking spots nearby and I never mind walking. The carousel itself was the main attraction. I found 9.00 (per ride if I’m not mistaken) to be a bit outrageous, but I reluctantly went along only because it’s our tradition (and for the photo opps). The animals definitely need to be repainted and refreshed as you can see in some of the photos. There’s really no wait to enter but parking, forgetaboutit!! 🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
Crystal Pyramid Productions San Diego Video Company
2 years agoThe Iconic Balboa Park Carousel! The carousel is enjoying a recent renovation with repairs and new paint. It's really beautiful. The entire family can enjoy riding on the vintage giraffes, horses, zebras and other animals, reaching for the brass ring. (Hint: mount one of the tall outside critters) You can easily stop here for a go-round prior to heading into the Zoo or any of the other amenities at Balboa Park. If you plan to cruise around the park, bring sunscreen, water and your wallet. There will be many opportunities to purchase a snack, museum ticket or precious keepsake.
KATIYURA
4 months agothe person accompanying the child should not pay! I am a parent and I do not ride the carousel, I stand next to my 2.5 year old child and insure him so that he does not fall, I do not sit on the carousel, I stand on my two feet and I, a parent, should pay money for this? The carousel and its potential clients are children, I cannot leave my child alone on the carousel, accordingly, I am obliged to stand on the carousel next to the child, I am doing work, and not enjoying riding the carousel! I ask for my money back! I did not sit on the animals that were in this carousel and did not take anyone's place. Were such rules established by the controllers or the management of the park? because I ride in Belmont Park with a child, as an accompanying person and I do not pay money! I also rode the same carousel in Village Park and I, too, as an accompanying person, do not pay for the carousel. In addition, instead of 10 minutes, the carousel only rotated for 5 minutes or even less the person accompanying the child should not pay! in addition, the controller said that the animals in the carousel would move up and down, but this is not true, the first row of animals on the carousel does not move at all, he should have known this. Then there was another outrageous situation, when a parent went with two children to this carousel to insure their children, and the controller made the second parent go too, so that the second parent would also pay money. As a result, they left this carousel and returned their money, which I should have done too
Danielson GettinAround
a year agoAbsolutely the BEST! HONESTLY A GEM OF SAN DIEGO. If you are just in town visiting or a local, you have got to go. It will take you back to your childhood. Added bonus, they play the STARWARS theme song, if that isn't BADASS I don't know what is. When you go, make sure you reach out for the brass ring. We had an amazing time, and we can't wait to go back!!