Little Ray’s Reptiles Review – Ottawa, Ontario

Family

by Erin | on September 1st, 2012 | 16 comments

Today we decided to take Willow to Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo here in Ottawa, Ontario. I had heard a lot about their venue before choosing to go but what tipped the scale for us is that I saw a Groupon offer not long ago for 2-for-1 admission. Never one to pass up on a deal, I decided to purchase the Groupon and Steve and I chose a weekend to go.

We drove out there this morning, coming from Kanata, and it took quite awhile. I would say it took us at least 40-45 minutes with traffic. Luckily, we had our iPad in the car so that amused Willow after she started getting bored. She is usually good for about twenty minutes before the boredom (read: meltdown) sets in. The zoo opens at 10am and we left the house at 10:30am but didn’t get there closer to 11:30am (we did have to make one stop first though). Needless to say, plan to leave your house early to get there early, especially if your little one gets cranky around nap time like ours does.

We arrived at Little Ray’s and went inside. In the first room is the gift shop, a display cage with a few teeny tiny monkeys (I didn’t jot down the actual species but they were SO cute!) and the cash counter. Tickets are $12.50 per person and children under 2 are admitted for free. There is also a family of four discount at $48 for the entire family.

Once you pay your admission, you are told about the special exhibits (when we went it was the Venom exhibit) and about the handling show and the feeding show. You walk to your left and enter into the zoo.

In the first room past the counter area, there are a series of glass cases with descriptions around them about what is in the cage and some details about each animal/reptile/etc. In the cases were spiders, tiny alligators, snakes, scorpions, lizards, turtles, etc. Each of the reptiles were visible and you didn’t stand in front of the case wondering where the thing was. You could see most everything that was there, which was great.

Also in the main building is a demonstration room where, when we went, they were just starting a handling demonstration. In this demo, they give the visiting children the opportunity to see and touch the reptiles. We brought Willow in here but she is the type of kid who (a) likes to be loud and (b) does not like sitting still so within minutes, we recognized that this may not be the place for Willow. She wasn’t being out of control or crazy, she was just being a toddler and yelling, “WOW!” really loudly.

To make matters worse, we actually were used as the example of the type of child that should not be present during the show. For real. The lady doing the demonstration actually said, “This little girl is what we don’t want during our show” and she went on to explain that loud noises and fast movement can scare the critters. Now, don’t get me wrong, I totally get it but at the same time, I think that people should be warned prior to coming and purchasing tickets that 2 is not the ideal age for Little Ray’s Reptiles. Needless to say, we missed that show completely as we were a bit embarrassed about being singled out in front of a room full of people.

After we left the demo room, we decided to walk through the rest of the zoo and head outside. Outside, there is a boardwalk featuring a few different pens that contained a hawk, an owl, some turtles, their big crocodiles and another kind of bird (I forget the species at the moment). The boardwalk is wheelchair accessible (and stroller-friendly!), which is a huge plus. At the bottom of the boardwalk is a play structure and a picnic area. Willow did like swinging on the swings!

I really wanted to see one of the feeding shows but the handling show was still on and we were told there was a fifteen minute break in between the two shows and we didn’t have enough to do/look at to really stick around. So, we left without seeing the feeding show. Given that we were also not able to see the handling show, we were there for 20-30 minutes max.

All in all, I think that the price of admission is way too high for what you get. We were inside for maybe thirty minutes, which is really all you need to peek into the cages. Now, if you spent time reading everything on the displays and watching the feedings and staying for the handling course, I could see how you might spend the 1.5-2 hours that the website recommends but we did not.

The zoo is, in all honesty, very underwhelming. I wouldn’t drive that far out again or pay the full price on admission as it doesn’t really offer a lot that the traveling shows do not. Instead, look for one of their traveling shows (they are often around the Ottawa Valley!) as they offer pretty much the exact same thing and the same exhibits.

I think if they added a bit more interaction and engagement, including opportunities for younger children, it would be a much more fulfilling venue that would really keep people coming back for more. At this point, I probably won’t be making a return to Little Ray’s until Willow is at least four or five years old.

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Comments (16)

StephanieS Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply

Wow! The nerve of that demonstrator to single you guys out like that! I think I would of complained to management about her/him! $48.00 sounds a little steep to me for something like that to! My kids are older - 9 and 13 - and we enjoy doing stuff like this, but I really like it to be worth the money!! That's to bad you guys didn't have a nice time!
- Erin
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  Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply
  
  Thanks Stephanie! Yeah, I definitely wouldn't pay $48 to go as a family. Maybe older kids, who aren't kicked out of the handling show, might REALLY enjoy it because it might be something new and different but when you don't get to experience that, the entire experience is very "meh."
Nolie Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply

I hope you made a complaint about the employee using you guys as an example of what they don't want at the show. Totally unacceptable and unprofessional. I would never pay the price of the entrance fee there. I have been to their travelling show and even that had me not impressed with them. I did not find much care for the reptiles when they let crowds rush to see the giant snake and have no crowd control. I saw people stepping on the snake and the snake tensing up. All they (employees) did was hold the snake tighter and not once ask people to move back or form a line.
- Erin
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  Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply
  
  We didn't :( I'm usually not the type to bring up something but maybe I should forward them this review (since I also have her photo in the post, they would know who it was) and just tell them to maybe do some sensitivity training! I have to agree with you, their traveling shows (we saw them at a baby expo last year) are pretty underwhelming too. I think if people REALLY need to check them out, this is probably a better way (the traveling show) only because it could be free or grouped into another rate and you're not paying extra to see what they have. That is REALLY unfortunate to hear about the snake being stepped on :( That is the problem with some places like this - you have the "show" aspect and sometimes that trumps the care aspect. Thanks for commenting Nolie!
Amy Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply

Ouch!! That's not very nice of the demonstrator to say Willow is not the type of kid you want at the show. Poor girl. That is just plain rude.
- Erin
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  Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply
  
  Yeah, we found it pretty embarrassing and uncalled for. She could have taken us aside or something, before the showing began, and explained the process OR just told the group and we could have decided for ourselves. It was a bit unnecessary.
Christy Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply

That is really bad that the demonstator singled her out like that. It was uncalled for, for sure! We have been to Little Rays many times (we usually go once a year). My girls love it! Even at a younger age (2-3) they loved seeing the snakes and getting to touch them. We have always had a great experience - never one like you mention! The hands-on shows have always been informative and fun for the kids. We also have seen the feeding shows, which my girls love!!! If you go when the owner (Little Ray, who is actually not named Ray) is there - you will have an unforgetable experience. He is so knowledgeable and hands-on and loves to show the kids a good time! But I have to agree - may be wait a couple years and go back, you may find your next experience is much better! :)
- Erin
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  Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply
  
  Hi Christy! Thanks for posting :) I am so glad to hear that your girls enjoyed it! I bet when Willow gets a bit older, she'll enjoy it more too! I just wish she would have got to see and touch the animals as that is really what we were going there for. I just felt that after being singled out, there was no way we could stay in the room any longer. Next time! :)
Gayla Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply

I took Jax there when he was about 4yrs old....and it did NOT look like your pictures do now, it was dirty and dingy, and it stunk, and I was peeved THEN at the price.....we were not their long either, can't remember the reason....but the next day Jax got sick, and was really sick for over a week.... his pediatrician said, he likely picked up some virus at Ray's....at the time I didn't think so much about it, until about a year later, he went to a birthday party, that had Ray's Reptile Zoo as the entertainment. They were very interactive, and the children were touching and petting all the animals they had brought to the party, including myself (I held that big yellow snake).... however, again, about a day after....Jax was sick.... rash, high fever, diarrhea, and severe gastric pain...again for over a week, here's the deal! Most of the children at the birthday party, also got very sick.... when I took Jax back to the Dr. she ran some test's and they discovered Jax has contracted "Zoonotic disease: Salmonellosis, caused by the Salmonella bacterium. The most common culprit, Turtles...which they were all handling, but the Dr. figured it could be throughout the zoo, if conditions were not being monitored closely and surfaces cleaned properly..... also if the animals are carrying this, they all need to be treated for this virus! Don"t want to scare you, but just watch out for any symptoms in Willow.... I will NEVER, have anything to do with Ray's again! :( BTW, Jax's school had to be notified, and the the Dr. was under obligation to notify the Health Dept. which in turn had to deal with Ray's....that is why it looks so much nicer in there....I guess they had to do some renovations and cleaning and such..... still, I'm scared to death to deal with them or their animals again! Jax was on antibiotics for 10days....and the Mother at the party felt horrible! Just and FYI! Watch for the above mentioned symptoms if you've been to Ray's Reptile Zoo!
- Erin
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  Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply
  
  Gayla - thank you for posting. This is extremely unsettling and I'll definitely watch Willow now! I have heard from a few people that it looks SO much different and better now although I did find that it smelled a bit in there and the floors were wet as it seemed some of the water features were leaking, which probably doesn't help with sanitary conditions. Glad Jax is okay!
Kayla Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply

I was out there last week with all three kids. Its great for a 6 yr old and a 4yr old but not for an 18 month old... I too ended up spending the second show where they feed them outside the room as my little guy cant sit still for that long as it gets boring for him... My hubby and older kiddos loved it and got to see the snake actually bite the guy which has never happened before. So if you did go and got to watch the shows then it was worth the $$ for me I saw the place when we drove into the parking lot and thought really I drove an hour for this place there better be a whole lot in there. I was ticked as 48$ could have been better spent at cosmic adventures!!! They also did the speach about kids not running around or being loud I think its something they have to say.
- Erin
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  Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply
  
  Hi Kayla - thanks for posting! Glad to hear that it probably does have to do with age. I totally agree that the running around and loudness speech is rehearsed (and needed) but I wish she wouldn't have singled Willow out specifically. I could have made the decision to remove her based on their speech instead of the lady telling us, and everyone in the room, that Willow was the prime example of what they didn't want in the room during the show. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed it though!!
Fleur Saturday - 01 / 09 / 2012 Reply

Thanks Erin for your honest review, it's always good to hear about other people's experiences whether they've been positive or negative. I'm so sorry the staff member called you out like that! Very unprofessional. I took my children there a few years ago, before the renovations. They enjoyed it, but they were older than Willow and they were able to sit through the feeding demonstration. I was very proud of myself for holding a scorpion! I did find it expensive, and the conditions weren't great before the renovation but thankfully no one got sick. We had Little Ray's here a couple of years ago for ds's birthday party, and he really enjoyed it. No issues will illness then either. We felt that they did a good job with the birthday party although it's a little unnerving to have a giant snake slithering on your floor. The kids loved it of course. :)
- Erin
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  Wednesday - 05 / 09 / 2012 Reply
  
  Hi Fleur! Thanks so much for the comment :) It's so awesome hearing everyone's perspective as it truly shows you that just a few little things can tip the scale the other way as far as experiences go. xo
Crystal Sunday - 02 / 09 / 2012 Reply

I went in February with a birthday party and we were disappointed as well. The place smelled bad, and there were flies everywhere. We were in the 'private room' and the man told us not to have the kids eating before they brought animals in, but there was food on the floor that the animals kept trying to go to. And the room was not private as people kept coming in. My son was not even a year, so we weren't expecting much for him. Our daughter not quite 5. She enjoyed seeind the animals/reptiles. Thankfully it was free for us, as I would not have paid. The bathrooms were gross too! I don't know if the outside feature is new, but I didn't see it, possibly cause it was February ;) My friend who was hosting the party made a complaint and got her money back, which was good customer service on Ray's part. For us, it was way over an hour drive, not worth it again to go there for us. I have seen them set up at different events and it was good. Guess to each their own though as with most things! Glad you were honest and shared your experience Erin :)
- Erin
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  Wednesday - 05 / 09 / 2012 Reply
  
  Thanks for sharing your experience Crystal! I hope that they eventually read this and that helps to improve things. xo