Special Needs

Greater Cleveland Aquarium welcomes groups with special needs. Group rates are available with advance reservation. Group size minimum is 5 people (including clients & paid personal care attendants).

• Must be booked through a school or organization
• We require 1 adult chaperone for every 5 clients/students.

All Ages: $11 per person

Paid Personal Care Attendants: Free up to 1 attendant per person

Additional Caregivers: $11

• Payment must be made in a single transaction 72 hours in advance.
• Credit cards are the only accepted payment type.

Please Note: These rates are only available for groups scheduled in advance. Walk-in groups will be charged general admission rates and allowed entry pending Aquarium capacity. The aquarium has no refund policy on all purchased tickets, annual passes, and experience packages.

• The Aquarium has a small comfort room for private changing or feeding.
• There are three wheelchairs that can be reserved for your group if needed. They are available on first come, first served basis.
• KultureCity sensory bags, weighted lap-pads and strobe glasses are available for check out.

• Click here for an Aquarium Sensory Field Guide.
• Click here for an Aquarium Social Story.
• Click here for an Adaptive Communication Card.
• Get a feel for the Aquarium galleries with this 360-degree tour.

A KultureCity certified Sensory Inclusive organization, we are proud to be part of a program that includes team training, sensory bags and special signage designed to create the best experience possible for guests with sensory needs.

• Trips should be booked at least 72 hours in advance.
• For April & May, availability for 10am-1pm arrival times is limited and indoor lunch space is not available.
• The Aquarium closes at 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.
• We recommend planning 60-90 minutes for self-guided visits.
• The Aquarium is generally less busy in the afternoons and during the months September and October. Mornings at 10am and weekends are generally the busiest.
• Check out our Daily Activities to see what is happening during you visit.
• Use the Request a Trip button to request your trip.
• If emailing or calling, please be prepared to provide all information on request form.
• Your visit is officially scheduled when you receive your tickets.

To book a program, please fill out a request form

Email groups@greaterclevelandaquarium.com for questions or additional information.

Parents and volunteers fall under additional caregiver’s tickets and will be charged $11.00. The free tickets are for paid personal caregiver staff.

If you are unsure of how many clients will be able to attend until closer to the trip, you can adjust your numbers as needed until the payment is made. We recommend requesting for your maximum head count.

Once the payment is made, any additional client tickets will be subject to our general admission fees. Additional paid personal caregivers will be free up to the 1:1 ratio, additional caregivers beyond the 1:1 ratio will also be subject to our general admission fees.  Any unused tickets will not be refunded.

The Aquarium is wheelchair accessible and is located on the lower floor of the building. A single wheelchair capacity lift is available to navigate from the lobby entrance to the Aquarium.

If your group has 5 or more guests using wheelchairs, please let us know at booking. A larger capacity elevator is available in a different area of the building. Additional information on Aquarium accessibly can be found here.

Buses are permitted to park in the rear of the parking lot. Bus parking is free.

The Aquarium has a no refund policy on all purchased tickets. We will be happy to reschedule your entire group’s visit for a future date with advance notice. Visits must be scheduled within 1 year of original visit date. We are not able to reschedule partial groups.

No, to receive the group rate payment must be made in a single transaction, the Aquarium can provide an itemized receipt if needed.

If clients need to pay separately, they will subject to our general admissions fees (Adult: $19.95, Children: $13.95). Paid Personal caregiver will be free up to the 1:1 ratio.

Yes, there is a shared indoor lunch space, with limited seating, subject to availability. Lunch space can be requested during the booking process. Lunches can be stored in this area during your visit, but we do not recommend leaving valuable items in this shared space.

Outdoor picnic-style areas are available on a first-come, first-served basis, weather permitting. The Aquarium does not provide storage space for groups eating outside, lunches should be left on the bus.

The Aquarium’s comfort room is small space that includes 2 chairs, a privacy screen and an adult size changing table/first aid bench.

The group leader should check in at the ticket counter with our Guest Experience team. Please have your tickets and final head count ready. Tickets are emailed prior to the visit and can be either printed or on a phone.

The Aquarium does not offer a secure place to store coats and backpacks. It is recommended that coats and backpacks are left on the bus or in the car if possible. A coat rack is available outside the Aquarium entrance. The Aquarium is not responsible for lost or stolen items.