Museum Visits & Tickets
What is the age range of the museum?
Children ages 0-10 benefit most from our hands-on learning experiences.
Can I visit the Museum without a child?
No. All adult visitors must be accompanied by a child visitor. If you would like to schedule a tour of the Museum, please contact FrontDesk@sdcdm.org prior to your visit.
What is your daily admission fee?
Our daily Admission fee is $9.50 per person; children under 12 months are free of charge. We offer special discounts for Military families, early childhood Educators, and EBT cardholders throughout the year.
Do you offer memberships?
Yes! Memberships provide unlimited admission to the Museum, free passes for your guests, store and birthday party discounts, and more. Learn more about our Memberships.
What are your hours?
San Diego Children's Discovery Museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. View our hours here.
Do you offer any other discounts?
Yes, we offer discounted $6.50 general admission to select groups as well as $1.00 discounted admission to EBT card holders. There are many Ways to Save on your visit to the Museum.
Does the Museum offer a military discount?
Yes, $6.50 general admission per person with valid military I.D.
Does the Museum have free WiFi? And what is the password?
Yes, the password is "discoveryrox."
Do I need to buy my tickets in advance of visiting?
No. Advance reservations are not required.
Do Museum Members and Access for All Members need to reserve tickets?
Advance reservations are not required for Museum Members.
I’m a Museum Member/Access for All Member – did you extend my membership because of the closure?
Yes. All memberships that were active the date of our closure, March 13, 2020, have been extended to April 20, 2022 regardless of expiration or join date.
Are tickets only available for a specific time frame, or for the entire day?
Each day the Museum is open, there will be two (2) three-hour sessions guests can select from for their visit. If guests wish to have an extended Museum visit, they will need to purchase multiple tickets.
Why are Museum visits split up into different timed sessions rather than consecutive hours?
During this initial phase of reopening, the Museum is offering two (2) three-hour sessions guests can select from for their visit. This model will allow the Museum to limit capacity and maintain new health and safety protocols in accordance with state and local public health guidelines–including an extended break between sessions for deep cleaning–while also ensuring a positive visitor experience.
What if I arrive later than expected? Can I stay for the second timed session?
Guests who arrive after their scheduled entry time will be admitted, but are still required to end their visit at the specified closing time. For example, if a guest books a visit from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., but arrives at the Museum at 9:15 a.m., they will forfeit that 15 minutes and still need to end their visit at 12:00 p.m.
Can I buy tickets onsite?
Yes. Tickets are available for purchase onsite at the Museum.
I have a free admission pass to the Museum that was received before the closure – how can I redeem my ticket?
Please bring your free pass with you during your visit to redeem. Availability for comped tickets is limited per day and subject to availability.
I qualify for discounted admission – how do I purchase tickets and provide proof of eligibility?
Any guests who purchase Access for All and other discounted admission types must be prepared to show proof of eligibility (military ID, EBT/WIC cards, etc.) at Admissions when they arrive for their visit. Failure to provide proof of eligibility may require full-price admission fees.
What is the Museum’s capacity?
The Museum is currently operating at full capacity.
Can I bring lunch or snacks to the Museum to eat during my visit?
For health and safety reasons, we kindly ask that guests refrain from bringing and eating food during their visit. However, we understand that little ones may need a snack throughout the day. Designated eating areas are available. Please ask a staff member for assistance if you would like to take a snack break. Guests can bring personal water bottles into the Museum, and water bottle filling stations will be available.
Can I leave the Museum during my visit and come back after exiting?
Yes, if it is still within your visit time frame. Before exiting the Museum, please visit our Front Desk for a hand stamp. Guests returning without a hand stamp may not be readmitted into the Museum.
What exhibits are currently open?
A full list of exhibits and activities that are currently available can be found here.
I’ve been a regular visitor to the Museum in the past, but the new experience is different from what I’m used to – why is that?
For the health and safety of our guests and staff, the Museum has modified its visitor experience in strategic ways to stay true to our mission of learning through play while maintaining new health and safety protocols in accordance with state and local public health guidelines. This approach will allow the Museum to stay open and gradually increase our capacity and days/hours of operation. Please continue to check our website for new updates and thank you for understanding!
Health & Safety
What health and safety measures are in place at the Museum?
- The Museum is reopening with new procedures and increased cleaning practices to keep guests and staff healthy and safe while onsite.
- In accordance with California's public health order released on June 15, the Museum will no longer require masks in our outdoor Trudy Bronner Discovery Garden. We strongly encourage all guests to continue using their masks and serve as good role models for our youngest visitors. When indoors, face masks are still required for all guests over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status.
- Social distancing between family groups is strongly encouraged and adults must stay with their children at all times.
- There are multiple hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the Museum.
- Failure to adhere to health and safety protocols may result in guests being asked to leave the Museum.
Do I have to wear a face covering during my visit?
The Museum will no longer require masks in our outdoor Trudy Bronner Discovery Garden. We strongly encourage all guests to continue using their masks and serve as good role models for our youngest visitors. When indoors, face masks are still required for all guests over the age of 2, regardless of vaccination status.
What if I forget my face covering or it breaks while I’m at the Museum?
In the event your face covering is forgotten or breaks, please see our Visitor Associate staff for assistance.
What if I can’t get my child to wear their face covering?
Adult guests are responsible for ensuring that any children in their party ages 2+ are wearing a face covering while indoors. Guests who do not adhere to our health and safety policies will be asked to leave.
My child has special needs and refuses to wear a mask. What are my options?
During regular Museum hours, face coverings are required for all guests. On the 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., the Museum hosts Sensory Friendly Mornings for little ones with sensory needs. During this time, individual accommodations for face coverings will be made on a case-by-case basis for children with sensory needs. Learn more here.
Will you have hand washing stations and hand sanitizer available?
Yes. We have multiple hand washing stations in addition to multiple hand sanitizing stations located throughout the Museum and outdoor Trudy Bronner Discovery Garden.
What cleaning protocols does the Museum have in place?
In response to COVID-19, we have increased our regular cleaning and sanitization practices, to include:
- Frequent sanitizing of all surfaces during business hours, including high-traffic and high-touch areas.
- The Museum will be deep cleaned and sanitized by staff during the midday break between the two (2) three-hour sessions.
- At end-of-day, all manipulative exhibit components will be deep cleaned and sanitized with the use of our industrial dishwasher or electrostatic cleaning system.
- Nightly, the Museum will be deep cleaned by a third-party custodial company.
What cleaning products is the Museum using to sanitize surfaces and frequently touched items?
Exhibits are cleaned, disinfected, and laundered using environmentally-friendly cleaning products and our industrial dishwasher and electrostatic cleaning system. If you or your children have any sensitivity, please inquire before your visit.
Miscellaneous
Can I rent the Museum for a birthday party or private event?
Yes, please click here to learn more about birthday parties and private events.
Can I book a field trip to the Museum?
We are not currently accepting reservations for class field trips, but we do offer virtual workshops for public and private schools, preschools, homeschool groups, and alternative learning organizations for students Pre-K to 3rd grade. Please continue to check our website for updates.
Photography and video usage
Guests are encouraged to take photos and videos for personal use. Please share on social media with #SDCDM
- No tripods are allowed at the Museum.
- Commercial photography is allowed only with prior written permission from the Marketing Department.
- Photos taken at the Museum may not be used as stock photos, royalty-free, or otherwise.
Please note that guests may be photographed or recorded by Museum staff or media for marketing and educational purposes. Entry into the Museum grants permission for the use of these images.