Dolphins In Action, the Brookfield Zoo dolphin show, is offered every day at 11:30am and 2:30pm, and on weekends there is an additional show at 1pm as well. During the summer (roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day), there is also a 4pm show every day, and the 1pm show is offered on Thursdays and Fridays.
The show is typically around 20-25 minutes long and will involve some teaching about dolphin fins and flukes, behaviors, and some acrobatics. Very rarely, when there are young dolphins, the show will be changed into more of a discussion.
The dolphin show costs $6 for adults, $3 for kids (aged 3-11), and $4 for seniors 65 and over. It is the only regular attraction without a member discount (except for unlimited members who go in free). However, many levels of membership do get some free attraction tickets that can be used at the dolphin show.
The dolphin show may be even better than Shedd’s aquatic show—it’s also focused on education and not as professionally produced, but with only the entertaining dolphins there’s more time for fun jumps and tricks. If you’ve been to SeaWorld or something similar, be sure to keep your expectations in check, but it’s a fun event to attend. It’s particularly fun in the winter when the always-hot-and-humid venue becomes a plus, plus there’s something special about seeing the show with a tiny crowd (I’ve been one of twelve before).
Unfortunately, the only accessible seating is in front of the first row, in prime splash area. They do hand out tarps to cover with, but that’s not much of a make-up for the terrible design, particularly since the splashes are intentionally surprising.
There are bathrooms inside the dolphin show area, by both exits. However, these are usually only open before the show, and closed during or after, so at other times you’ll need to either head down to the underwater viewing, or to the lower level of BZ Red Hots.
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