FAQ

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-Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 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?
Yes. Tickets must be reserved for a specific date and time frame on our website in advance by all guests, including Museum Members and Access for All Members. We will not be offering in-person/walk-up ticket sales at this time. Beginning August 3, advance reservations will no longer be required for Museum Members. 

Do Museum Members and Access for All Members need to reserve tickets?
Yes. All guests, including Museum Members and Access for All Members, need to reserve tickets in advance of visiting the Museum. This ensures the Museum can limit its daily capacity in accordance with state and local public health guidelines. Museum Members and Access for All Members are also required to show proof of membership at Admissions. Beginning August 3, advance reservations will no longer be 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 March 13, 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. Tickets are only available for a specific date and time frame that includes visit start and end times. If guests wish to have an extended Museum visit, they will need to purchase multiple ticket times in advance.

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.

I’ve reserved my tickets in advance, how early can I arrive at the Museum for my visit?
We ask that guests proceed to the entrance no more than 15 minutes before the entry time specified on their tickets. 

What if I arrive after the time specified on my tickets?
Guests who arrive after their scheduled entry time will be admitted, but are still required to end their visit at the time specified on their tickets. 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.

I can no longer make my reserved visit. What should I do? 
Please contact us for assistance in amending your reservation at info@sdcdm.org. Tickets are non-refundable but may be rescheduled to a different day/time. Tickets must be rescheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Tickets that are not rescheduled 24 hours in advance will not be refunded.

Can I buy tickets onsite?
We highly recommend that guests reserve their tickets in advance online to ensure availability. If you arrive without pre-purchasing tickets, you can check availability and purchase tickets from your mobile device, but we cannot guarantee availability.

I have a free admission pass to the Museum that was received before the closure – how can I redeem my ticket?
Please contact us for assistance in making a reservation at info@sdcdm.org. 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?
Guests who qualify for Access for All admission or other discounted admission types are required to purchase their tickets in advance online by selecting the specific discounted admission type they qualify for. 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 reservations to be rebooked to another day/time based on availability.

What is the Museum’s capacity?
The Museum is limiting its capacity to 50% of regular capacity in accordance with state and local public health guidelines. As restrictions lift, the Museum will increase its capacity. Beginning August 3, the Museum will be 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 reserved 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!

 

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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 Discovery Garden. However, because children under the age of 12 cannot be vaccinated, 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 Discovery Garden. However, because children under the age of 12 cannot be vaccinated, 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.

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 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.

 

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Miscellaneous