Subject to change.

GROUP ADMISSION

• K-12 Schools:
  • $8/student
  • $9/adult
  • 1 adult per 10 students is required. These adults are admitted free.

• Non-Schools (Daycares, CLCs, Non-Profits, Colleges, Universities, Senior Groups, Travel Groups, Girl Scout Groups, Boys Scout Groups, etc.):
  • $10/child
  • $14/adult
  • 1 adult per 10 children is required. These adults are admitted free.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING

Onsite programming is currently unavailable. The good news is that we have developed new virtual program offerings. For more details, please visit our Virtual Programs page.

Current Hours (subject to change):

• Monday-Tuesday = Closed
• Wednesday-Friday = 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm
• Saturday-Sunday = 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm

Due to capacity restrictions and to allow for social distancing, all visitors will be limited to a specific time slot and we are no longer able to offer full day visits. All visitors will need to leave the building at the end of their time slot. The building will be closed between 12:00-1:00 for cleaning.

Like many schools, organizations, and businesses, we were heavily impacted by COVID-19 and this impact continues into the new school year. As such, we have an update regarding what Discovery World is able to offer for field trip experiences this school year.

At this time, we will be open to groups Wednesday-Sunday, in a limited capacity, in compliance with the building capacity limits provided by the City of Milwaukee. In addition, the following limitations currently apply for all guests and group visits (subject to change): 

• Due to capacity restrictions and to allow for social distancing, all visitors will be limited to a specific time slot and we are no longer able to offer full day visits. All visitors will need to leave the building at the end of their time slot. The building will be closed between 12:00-1:00 for cleaning. Time slots will be limited to one of the following:
  • • 9:00 – 12:00
    • 9:30 – 12:00
    • 10:00 – 12:00
    • 10:30 – 12:00
    • 1:00 – 4:00
    • 1:30 – 4:00
    • 2:00 – 4:00
    • 2:30 – 4:00
• All onsite programming (labs, movies, theater shows, etc.) is currently unavailable.
• Masks/face coverings will be required for all visitors ages 3+. All masks/face coverings should fully cover your nose and mouth. 
• Due to health restrictions, we are not able to have groups schedule lunch times to eat onsite in our lunch room.
• We are unable to store personal belongings such as coats or bags separately within in the same group. While we can provide a sanitized bin, do not expect to be able to split items up between classes or groups. If it’s important to you to do so, we suggest either bringing labeled garbage bags that chaperones can collect items in before they are placed in the bins or leaving these items on your bus. Students/children are not allowed to carry bags/backpacks or coats through the exhibit floors. 
• Various exhibits and floors will be closed that are high contact areas/points and to help maintain social distancing. Currently, only the following exhibit areas are open: Aquarium, Automation Everywhere, Great Lakes Future, Milwaukee Muscle (Fluid Power portion), Power On, Promenade Wave Tank, The Challenge. The remaining exhibit areas of Discovery World are closed.
• Flow through the building will be one directional.
• All bubblers/water fountains will be turned off. 

The good news is that we are working on a new program offerings to share! This year, we will be offering virtual programs. Check out our Virtual Programs page for more information.

Onsite programming is currently unavailable. The good news is that we have developed new virtual program offerings. For more details, please visit our Virtual Programs page.

To make a reservation, start the reservations process by either filling out a request online using the button link below or by calling the Reservations Department at 414.765.8625. From there, a Reservation Staff Member will review your needs and work with you to book your visit.

All dates and programs are subject to availability. Descriptions, pricing, and program restrictions are subject to change. Please read through the FAQs below for more details.

For all group requests, reservations must be made at least three (3) weeks in advance. No reservations will be accepted without at least three (3) weeks notice.

Onsite Field Trip Reservation Request Form

Fill out the Field Trip Request Form online anytime, or call the Reservations Department at 414.765.8625 (M-F, 8am-4pm). A minimum of three (3) weeks advance notice is required to secure the group rate for field trips and to book activities. Greater notice is recommended if extra programming is desired and/or if you wish to book during our busier seasons. We will not accept reservations made with less than three (3) weeks notice. Group rates are only available for groups of 10 or more people with advance reservations.

To keep your reservation, we will require final headcount and full payment for your visit at least two (2) weeks prior to your visit date. No changes to diminish headcounts will be allowed or accepted after the two (2) week deadline. There will be no refunds or credits given for persons missing or absent on the day of your trip.

Online Reservation Request Form

Reservations must be made at least least three (3) weeks in advance. No reservations will be accepted without at least three (3) weeks notice. Availability is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so advanced booking is highly encouraged.

Capacity restrictions are currently in effect in compliance with the building capacity limits provided by the City of Milwaukee.

Currently, Discovery World is open for group bookings Wednesday-Sunday, but in a limited capacity in compliance with the building capacity limits provided by the City of Milwaukee. We are closed on Monday-Tuesday.

Due to capacity restrictions and to allow for social distancing, all visitors (groups and otherwise) will be limited to a specific time slot and we are currently unable to offer full day visits. Time slots will be limited to between 9-12pm or between 1-4pm. All visitors will need to leave the building at the end of their time slot.

All dates are subject to availability as we do have maximum limits for attendance and programming available each day.

Yes. Like many schools, organizations, and businesses, we were heavily impacted by COVID-19 and this impact continues into the new school year. As such, we have an updates regarding what Discovery World is able to offer for field trip experiences this school year.

At this time, we will be open to groups Wednesday-Sunday, in a limited capacity, in compliance with the building capacity limits provided by the City of Milwaukee. In addition, the following limitations currently apply for all guests and group visits (subject to change): 

• Due to capacity restrictions and to allow for social distancing, all visitors will be limited to a specific time slot and we are no longer able to offer full day visits. Time slots will be limited to between 9-12pm or between 1-4pm. All visitors will need to leave the building at the end of their time slot. 
• Masks/face coverings will be required for all visitors ages 3+. All masks/face coverings should fully cover your nose and mouth. 
• Due to health restrictions, we are no longer able to have groups bring lunches or eat onsite.  
• We are unable to store personal belongings such as coats or bags separately within in the same group. While we can provide a sanitized bin, do not expect to be able to split items up between classes or groups. If it’s important to you to do so, we suggest either bringing labeled garbage bags that chaperones can collect items in before they are placed in the bins or leaving these items on your bus. Students/children are not allowed to carry bags/backpacks or coats through the exhibit floors. 
• Various exhibits and floors will be closed that are high contact areas/points and to help maintain social distancing. Currently, only the following exhibit areas are open: Aquarium, Automation Everywhere, Great Lakes Future, Milwaukee Muscle (Fluid Power portion), Power On, Promenade Wave Tank, The Challenge. The remaining exhibit areas of Discovery World are closed.
• Flow through the building will be one directional.
• We will not be offering any educational labs or theater shows, for at least the first semester. Decisions regarding second semester are pending. 
• All bubblers/water fountains will be turned off. However, bottled water is available for purchase for $1. 

The good news is that we have developed new virtual program offerings. For more details, please visit our Virtual Programs page.

Sadly, not. Currently, only the following exhibit areas are open: Aquarium, Automation Everywhere, Great Lakes Future, Milwaukee Muscle (Fluid Power portion), Power On, Promenade Wave Tank, The Challenge. The remaining exhibit areas of Discovery World are closed due to them being high contact areas/points and to help maintain social distancing.

Yes, masks/face coverings are required for all visitors ages 3+. All masks/face coverings should fully cover your nose and mouth.

Sadly, onsite programming is currently unavailable. However, we have developed new virtual program offerings. For more details, please visit our Virtual Programs page.

Group rates are only available for groups of 10 or more people with advance reservations. Currently, the school group admission rate for certified K-12 schools is $8/student, $9/adult. The rate for non-school groups is $10/child, $14/adult. We give groups one (1) complimentary adult admission for every ten (10) students/children attending.

Adding additional programming to your trip will result in additional fees. All programming is subject to availability.

Group rates and programs are already discounted and are not valid with Discovery World memberships, educator passes, or any other discount or promotion.

Groups must have at least one (1) adult chaperone for every ten (10) students/children attending. An adult constitutes any and all teachers, aides, paraprofessionals, school/organizational staff, nurses, and/or parents that will be in attendance with your group on your visit date. Failure to meet the required number of adults the day of your trip will result in a $25.00 charge for each missing adult, PLUS any programming fees that may apply.

You can bring more adults than the ones required to fulfill our 1:10 ratio. However, those adults do not receive free admission. Only one (1) adult per ten (10) children in attendance will receive free admission to the museum. Any additional adults outside of this 1:10 ratio will be charged an admission fee, PLUS additional fees if you have programming included in your reservation.

Yes. If you have any attendees that need special accommodations, considerations, and/or who have any special needs we should be aware of, please let us know in advance. This would include, but is not limited to, attendees who are in wheelchairs, students with individual aides, anyone who is an English Language Learner and is bringing their own interpreter, and/or attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing that are bringing their own interpreter. Knowing this information in advance helps us prepare better for your group and allows a better experience.

Proper adult chaperoning helps to provide a quality visit for your group and for our other groups, guests, and members. As such, all adult chaperones are required to provide the following support by:

• Actively supervising the students/children assigned to them in all parts of the museum (including the gift shop, café, and program locations.)
• Staying with their assigned students/children at all times and enforcing all of our rules and policies.
• Making sure the students/children in your group stay with their adult chaperones at all times. (Unchaperoned students/children will be detained and unable to explore or experience exhibits without proper supervision, so please keep that in mind.)
• Being solely responsible for the behavior, well-being, and the discipline of their assigned students/children.
• Being responsible for knowing the group’s schedule and getting the group to scheduled lunches or programming at the appropriate times.

It is the group leader’s job to make sure that all of the adults chaperoning are aware of their responsibilities

Discovery World reserves the right to expel any person or group behaving in a manner we deem unfit. In said cases, that person or group will be asked to leave the building immediately and they will not receive any refunds or credits. Persons or groups that are asked to leave may also jeopardize their chances to reserve or attend future visits to Discovery World.

Should you need to cancel or reschedule your visit, you must do so at least two (2) weeks prior to your visit date. Rescheduling requests made before or by this deadline will be allowed and we will work with you to find a mutually agreed upon new visit date. In this case, your payment will be applied to the new visit date.

Cancellations or rescheduling requests made after the two (2) week deadline, or groups that are no shows, will receive no refunds or credits.

Cancellations due to school/organization weather or COVID-19 closures will not be penalized. In said cases, please contact the Reservations Department as soon as possible.

If the reservation has not been cancelled or rescheduled by the two (2) week deadline, all contracts and reservations become valid and enforceable.

Your FINAL headcount must be submitted to the Reservations Department two (2) weeks prior to your visit date.

As admission and programming are timed and have limited capacities, no changes to either increase or decrease headcounts will be accepted after the two (2) week deadline. No changes to programming will be accepted after the two (2) week deadline. Discovery World will not offer a refund if your headcount decreases or if you remove programming after the two (2) week deadline.

Submitting your final headcount is extremely important due to capacity restrictions.

The full payment for your visit must be submitted two (2) weeks prior to your visit date. We reserve the right to cancel your visit if your payment is not received by this due date.

There will be no refunds or credits given for persons missing or absent on the day of your visit. No changes in headcount or programming will be accepted after the two (2) week deadline. Discovery World will not offer a refund if your headcount decreases or if you remove programming after the two (2) week deadline.

To make payment, you may pay with a check (payable to Discovery World), with cash, or with a credit card over the phone by calling the Reservations Department at (414) 765-8625. If paying with a check and sent via the mail, make sure to include your order # on the check and also to allow enough time to submit your payment to your bookkeeper with adequate time for them to process it and to mail it out. As noted above, we reserve the right to cancel your visit if you payment is not received by your indicated due date.

For check payments, please make checks payable to Discovery World. Include your order #. Mail in your payment with your signed reservation contract to:

Discovery World
Attn: Reservations
500 N Harbor Dr
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Discovery World accepts MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover Card payments over the phone by calling the Reservations Department at 414.765.8625 (M-F, 8am-4pm).

No. Group rates and programs are already discounted and are not valid with Discovery World memberships, educator passes, or any other discount or promotion.

The items listed below are our rules of conduct. We require that the group leader share these rules with all the students/children AND adults chaperoning in your group prior to your visit.

• No running, shouting, or horseplay.
• Students/children must stay with adult chaperones at all times. Unchaperoned students/children will be detained and unable to explore or experience exhibits without proper supervision.
• Adult chaperones must stay with their students/children at all times.
• No food, gum, or beverages are allowed on exhibit floors, labs, theaters, etc.
• Respect other groups and individuals in the museum.
• Discovery World is a hands-on, self-guided museum. Exhibits are “user-friendly,” but they can be damaged. Therefore, exercise care in their use and respect museum property.
• Everyone (both students/children AND adults) need a wristband to enter exhibit floors.

These rules are to keep everyone safe and to allow maximum enjoyment of our programs and facilities for your group, other groups in attendance, our Members, and the general public. Discovery World reserves the right to expel any person or group behaving in a manner we deem unfit. In said cases, that person or group will be asked to leave the building immediately and they will not receive any refunds or credits. Persons or groups that are asked to leave may also jeopardize their chances to reserve or attend future visits to Discovery World.

Unless otherwise stated, if you are arriving by bus, buses will need to drop off your group at our Main Entrance. Please remain on your bus(es) until your group is greeted. Should we need your bus to drop you off in a different location, this will be noted in your confirmation materials and listed in your schedule in the meeting place column.

Once greeted, you will enter and Discovery World Staff Member will be waiting to welcome you, collect your actual headcount, give your group a brief, 15 minute orientation, and distribute admission wristbands.

Discovery World does not have bus parking available on-site. Please relay to your bus drivers that they cannot park in our drives or lots or in the surrounding Milwaukee Art Museum drives or lots. The closest bus parking is available in the Veterans Park parking lot, located about a 10-15 minute walk from our building.

Discovery World does have an underground parking garage for standard sized vehicles. However, if you plan to park in our underground parking garage you must pre-purchase a spot. We’re doing this to ensure social distancing in our garage – we want to avoid a crowd of people at the parking ticket payment machine. This will also help keep our Parking Attendant safe.

If the garage is sold out, your vehicle is oversized, or if you prefer to park elsewhere, please visit http://www.parkmilwaukee.com for further information on alternative parking locations and rates.

Timely arrivals are ESSENTIAL.  Please plan in advance and do everything possible to arrive on time. Make sure to allow enough travel time to account for weather, traffic, road conditions, etc.

If your group is going to arrive later than your scheduled arrival time, please contact the Reservations Department at 414.765.8625 as soon as possible. All scheduled programs begin at the time stated on your confirmation and contract. Late arrivals may result in the cancellation of museum activities or scheduled programs without refund regardless to the reason behind the tardiness, even issues with busing. No refunds or credits will be given for missed programming. Program times are firm and cannot be held or pushed back for groups that arrive late.

A few items to note or do before your arrival:

• Make sure to submit your final headcount and payment to the Reservations Department at least two (2) weeks prior to your visit date. No changes to diminish your headcount will be accepted after the two (2) week mark. No refunds or credits will be issued for cancellations or “no shows” with less than two (2) weeks notice. No trip is confirmed until full payment is received. Reservations are subject to cancellation if payment and final headcount are not received by the two (2) week deadline.

• Upon arrival, the first question you will be asked is the ACTUAL count of how many total students and total adults you have in your group. This is the total amount present at that moment, NOT the amount that you submitted to the Reservations Department or have paid for. Having this information will get your group off on the right foot! It is a safety requirement that we know the exact number of people in our building on a particular day, so your orientation and field trip cannot begin until we have those numbers. Please come prepared with this exact count ready to relay to our staff.

• Please assign your students to your adult chaperones BEFORE your arrival at Discovery World and separate groups for programming as indicated in your confirmation materials. Materials and/or space are only prepared or available for the amount of attendees listed on your confirmation and paid for. Please respect this number and split your group up as we have specified in your confirmation materials. Please inform your adult chaperones of group splits and make sure each one knows their group’s schedule for the day. Schedules within the same school/organization may differ.

Coats will be collected in a bin upon arrival at Discovery World and stored in a non-public area. While we can provide a sanitized bin, do not expect to be able to split items up between classes or individual groups. If it’s important to you to do so, we suggest either bringing labeled garbage bags that chaperones can collect items in before they are placed in the bins or leaving these items on your bus. Students/children are not allowed to carry coats through the exhibit floors. 

Discovery World assumes no liability for lost, stolen, or damaged items. Please advise all students and adult chaperones to leave valuable items at home.

No. Student/children backpacks are NOT allowed on the exhibit floors. If possible, do not allow students/children to bring backpacks on your field trip. Any student/child who does bring a backpack will be required to store it with their group’s coats and they will be locked away until departure. Adult chaperone backpacks are permitted, but please remember no food or drinks are allowed on the exhibit floors.

Discovery World assumes no liability for lost, stolen, or damaged items. Please advise all students and adult chaperones to leave valuable items at home.

Our facility is fully handicap accessible. A few wheelchairs are available for free rental with ID.

Yes! Materials and/or space is only prepared or available for the amount of attendees listed on your confirmation and paid for. Please respect this number and split your group up EXACTLY as we have specified. Please assign your students/children to an adult chaperone BEFORE your arrival at Discovery World and separate groups for programming as indicated in your confirmation materials. Please inform your adult chaperones of group splits and make sure each one knows their group’s schedule for the day.

No. Due to health restrictions, we are not currently able to have groups bring lunches or eat onsite.  

Elevators are primarily for individuals and families, the handicapped, elderly, and the staff. For groups, we ask that you please use stairs to move between exhibit floors. If you need to use the elevators in special circumstances, please remind your students/children to not to jump in the elevator. The weight will cause the elevator to become jammed for up to 15 minutes or more, and you will not be compensated for any missed activities. Additionally, you will be invoiced for the service/maintenance fee that occurs from our contractor to have the elevator fixed.

Yes. Discovery World does have a Gift Shop. The Gift Shop offers some Discovery World merchandise and other unique items available for purchase. However, a maximum of 6 people are allowed in the Gift Shop at any one time. As throughout the rest of Discovery World, adult chaperones must stay with their students/children while in the Gift Shop and be actively involved in their supervision. If the Gift Shop is at capacity, you may be asked to wait. Unattended minors will be asked to leave. Groups will be held responsible for any missing or damaged items.