Penguin Encounter FAQs

Parking is available on the Museum Campus in several lots. See more information about parking at Shedd here. Metered parking may also be available on Solidarity Drive up to 10 hours, but only after 8 a.m. Shedd is not responsible for cars ticketed or towed by the City of Chicago. Parking is not permitted on the aquarium's service entrance. Vehicles parked at the service entrance or the bus turnaround may be subject to towing. To learn more about parking on the Museum Campus, visit soldierfieldparking.com.

Yes! A general admission ticket is included with the purchase of a Penguin Encounter. Participants will be met by a Shedd team member at 8:30 a.m., before the Aquarium opens to the public. After the encounter, they will have access all exhibits.

All participants must be at least 6 years old, and children 6-17 must be accompanied by a paying participating guardian.

Please meet your Penguin Encounter facilitator at Shedd Aquarium’s loading dock on the south side of the aquarium. Penguin Encounters begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled encounter time.

You will be wearing your own clothing during the program, so wear something comfortable, and something you don't mind getting a little dirty. We will provide rubber boots for your encounter, so please wear socks on the day of your encounter. 

Pictures will be allowed at the appropriate time and will be guided by Shedd team members.

Those in your party who are not participating in the experience are not permitted to follow along and are not allowed in the behind-the-scenes areas. Please arrange a time and place to meet with your party after your experience.

We believe there should be no boundaries to your Shedd Aquarium experience. If you have an accommodation request related to a disability, please contact us prior to your experience at [email protected] or 312-692-3355.

You may reschedule up to 10 days before your original reservation date; attempting to reschedule in less than 10 days will result in forfeiture of the experience with no exceptions. To reschedule, call 312-692-3355 (Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or email [email protected] If a participant needs to cancel the encounter and is unable to reschedule, no refund will be made. Please note that all Shedd experiences are nonrefundable.

In the event that Shedd Aquarium needs to reschedule the encounter, the participant will be notified by phone no later than 24 hours before the encounter, and every effort will be made to reschedule the experience. If an alternate date and time is not possible, a full refund will be made to the purchaser.

Animal care is our top priority and penguins are not at risk of contracting COVID-19.