Open 9 am - 5 pm

4-D Experiences

Tease your senses at Shedd’s 4-D Experience. Meet an octopus, dive with sharks or learn about nature's most devoted parents — penguins. Your chair vibrates, the air moves, lights flash and other surprises await.  

4-D Experience admission is a $4.95 upgrade per guest per experience ($2.95 for members).

Add to your cart, then choose your show and time when you arrive at Shedd Aquarium.

more experiences

Penguins

10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. (6 p.m. closing)*

Waddle along with penguins as they overcome daunting obstacles on both land and sea. Groundbreaking technology brings us closer to this incredible animal than ever before. With “spy cams” disguised as part of the huddle, the playful, hard-working and intelligent nature of two species is illuminated. Penguins 4D highlights the emperor and rockhopper species as they swim, hop and splash their way through life.

© John Downer Productions, Ltd, MMXIII Photography Frederique Olivier/JDP © 2012

*Additional showtimes may be available for later close times and select evening events.

BBC Earth’s Shark: A 4-D Experience

10:40 a.m. 11:40 a.m. 12:40 p.m.
1:40 p.m. 2:40 p.m. 3:40 p.m.
4:40 p.m(6 p.m. closing)*

Come face to face with some of the world’s most strange and mysterious shark species. These extraordinarily intelligent underwater giants each exhibit unique behaviors to navigate their ever-changing environment. Essential to the fragile balance of our ocean’s health, Shark: A 4-D Experience® explores the complex nature of these majestic creatures’ survival instincts.

The BBC and BBC Earth are trademarks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under licence. BBC logo © BBC 1996

© Morné Hardenberg/Atlantic Edge Films

*Additional showtimes may be available for later close times and select evening events.

Octopus: Blue Planet II 4D Experience®

10:20 a.m. 11:20 a.m. 12:20 p.m.
1:20 p.m. 2:20 p.m. 3:20 p.m.
4:20 p.m. 5:20 p.m. (6 p.m. closing)*


Dive beneath the surface to explore our planet’s oceans and one of the most captivating creatures that dwells there: the octopus. Discover how this eight-tentacled wonder masters physical and mental strengths to outwit and escape its underwater rivals including the pyjama shark and sally lightfoot crab. Wave after wave of excitement reveals extraordinary octopus behaviors and dynamic oceanic landscapes in this special effects experience inspired by the critically-acclaimed BBC series, Blue Planet II.

The BBC and BBC Earth are trademarks of the British Broadcasting Corporation and are used under license. BBC logo © BBC 1996

Photography ©Kondratuk Aleksei/Shutterstock; ©littesam/Shutterstock; ©Greg Amptman/Shutterstock.

*Additional showtimes may be available for later close times and select evening events. 

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4-D Experiences bring on-screen action to life with special effects like water mist, air blasts, bubbles, enhanced floor lighting and seat vibrations.

4-D Experiences are recommended for ages 4 and up. Children under 3 do not need a ticket to attend and may sit on a caregiver’s lap. The special effects could be frightening to small children. Kids under 7 must be accompanied by a person age 14 or older.

The special effects could aggravate certain medical conditions. 4-D Experiences are not recommended for guests with:

  • Heart conditions
  • Medical sensitivity to strobe lights, laser-like lighting effects or fog effects
  • Back, neck or similar physical conditions
  • Sensitivity to loud sound

Accessibility

Sound-reducing headphones, assistive listening devices, recorded audio description and close captioning are available for 4-D Experiences.

Learn more about accessibility