The days of folding paper maps and static signage as your primary guest tools are numbered. In 2026, visitors arrive at your gates with a supercomputer in their pocket — and they expect you to use it.
Yet a surprising number of zoos, aquariums, and wildlife parks still rely on printed guides and outdated websites to communicate with guests. The result? Missed animal encounters, frustrated families circling the same paths, and revenue left on the table at every gift shop and concession stand.
The Expectation Gap Is Real
A recent study by the Themed Entertainment Association found that 78% of attraction visitors check their phones at least five times during a visit. They’re looking for showtimes, directions, food options, and animal information. If your attraction doesn’t have an app to answer those questions, guests turn to Google — and the experience feels disjointed.
Compare that to attractions with a dedicated mobile app. Guests open the app on arrival and immediately see a personalized welcome, today’s schedule, and a live map. They know exactly when the penguin feeding starts, how to get there, and where to grab lunch afterward. The entire visit feels curated rather than chaotic.
Revenue You Didn’t Know You Were Missing
Mobile apps don’t just improve satisfaction — they drive spending. Push notifications about a flash sale at the gift shop, a limited-time behind-the-scenes tour, or a discount on afternoon admission can generate thousands in incremental revenue per week.
One mid-sized zoo reported a 23% increase in food and beverage sales within three months of launching their app, simply by sending a well-timed lunch notification when families were near the food court. Another saw membership renewals climb by 15% after adding in-app renewal reminders.
But Building an App Is Expensive... Right?
This is the objection we hear most often. Custom app development can easily cost $150,000 to $300,000 upfront, with $30,000 or more per year in maintenance. For most attractions, that math simply doesn’t work.
That’s exactly why platforms like Attractionator exist. Instead of building from scratch, you get a fully featured, white-labeled mobile app configured to your brand, your map, and your content — at a fraction of the cost. Updates happen instantly from your dashboard. No developers required.
What a Modern Attraction App Should Include
Not all apps are created equal. The features that actually move the needle for guest satisfaction include:
- Interactive wayfinding — turn-by-turn directions through your grounds, not just a static map image
- Real-time schedules — shows, feedings, and events that update automatically when plans change
- Push notifications — timely, relevant messages that enhance rather than interrupt the visit
- Accessibility features — wheelchair-friendly routes, audio descriptions, and multilingual support
- Offline functionality — because cell service inside a concrete aquarium tunnel is never great
The Competitive Advantage
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: your competitors are already doing this. The San Diego Zoo, Georgia Aquarium, and dozens of regional attractions have invested heavily in mobile experiences. Visitors who experience a great app at one attraction will expect the same at yours.
The good news? You don’t need a San Diego Zoo budget to deliver a San Diego Zoo experience. Modern SaaS platforms have democratized access to world-class mobile technology, making it accessible to attractions of every size.
The question isn’t whether your attraction needs a mobile app. It’s how much longer you can afford to wait.