Subject to change.

GROUP ADMISSION

Group Admission rates are available Wednesday-Sunday. To qualify for discounted group rates, you must make a purchase for a minimum of 10 paying individuals.

• K-12 Schools:
  • $8/student
  • $9/adult
    • 1 adult per 10 students is required.
    • We will give groups one (1) complimentary adult for every ten (10) students attending.

• Non-Schools (Daycares, CLCs, Non-Profits, Colleges, Universities, Recreation Centers, Senior Groups, Travel Groups, Girl Scout Groups, Boys Scout Groups, etc.):
  • $10/child
  • $14/adult
    • 1 adult per 10 children is required.
    • We will give groups one (1) complimentary adult for every ten (10) children attending.

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

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING ADD-ONS

A limited number of onsite programming offerings will be available Wednesday-Friday during the academic school year.

All onsite programming is subject to availability and comes at an additional cost. There is a 10 student minimum required to book an onsite program.

• 30 minute programs = $4/student
• 45-60 minute programs = $6/student
• 90 minute programs = $8/student

Subject to change.

• Monday-Tuesday: CLOSED
• Wednesday-Sunday: 9am-4pm

During the academic school year, a limited number of onsite programming offerings will be available Wednesday-Friday at a reduced capacity. (Onsite programming is only available Wednesday-Friday, October through early June. It is not available during the summer months or on weekends.)

All onsite programming is subject to availability and will incur additional fees. There is a 10 student or child minimum required to book an onsite program.

• 30 minute programs = $4/student
• 45-60 minute programs = $6/student
• 90 minute programs = $8/student

Onsite Programming Add-On Options

Full payment and the final headcounts must be submitted two (2) weeks prior to your visit date. We reserve the right to cancel your visit if these items are not received by the  two (2) week deadline.

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. There will be no refunds or credits given for persons missing or absent on the day of your visit.

All payments are due two (2) weeks prior to your visit date. We accept cash, check, and credit card (Master Card, Visa, Discover Card, American Express). We do not accept Purchase Orders.

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

Make sure to allow enough time to submit your payment to your accountant/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.

Credit card payments can be made over the phone by calling the Reservations Department at 414-765-8625 (M-F, 8am-4pm).

Should you need to cancel or reschedule your visit, you must let us know 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 will receive no refunds or credits.

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. There will be no refunds or credits given for persons missing or absent on the day of your visit.

No refunds or credits will be issued for “no show” groups.

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

Late arrivals may result in the cancellation of museum activities or scheduled programs without refund regardless of 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.

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

Our lunchroom is open in a limited capacity. Subject to availability.

You can choose to skip lunch or eat at a location outside of Discovery World. Otherwise, if you plan to have lunch onsite, you must reserve space in our lunchroom, or other assigned space, in advance and bring packed lunches. You can request a 25-minute lunch period. Reservations are required three (3) weeks in advance. Lunch periods are scheduled on the half-hour.

It is a courtesy for us to store lunches and provide a free lunch space for groups. However, to remain so, we do require assistance from each group in regard to containing their lunches and maintaining the cleanliness of the lunchroom or other assigned space.

• We will require that all groups who have reserved a lunch time bring their lunches contained in suitable containers labeled with your group name.
  • Such suitable containers include boxes, coolers, laundry baskets, plastic storage totes, etc. No containers will be provided to you.
  • If your group has been assigned multiple lunch periods, we suggest dividing lunches up by lunch period.
• We will require that all groups who have reserved a lunch time clean their areas before the end of their scheduled lunch period.
• Groups that follow these policies by bringing their lunches in suitable containers and cleaning up their areas will not be penalized. However, if your group fails to comply with either of these policies, we will charge your group a $50 service fee.

Your group may be split into specific groups for onsite programming and/or lunch periods. Indication of any splits will be provided in your confirmation materials. Please respect this number and split your group up EXACTLY as we have specified in your confirmation materials. Materials and/or space are only prepared and available for the amount of attendees listed on your confirmation and paid for.

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. Schedules within the same school/organization may differ.

To All Group Visitors:
Discovery World encourages all guests and visiting groups to wear a mask while inside the building and exploring exhibits, regardless of vaccination status.

For Groups with In-Person Lab Programming:

• If you have lab programming scheduled as part of your visit, due to shared spaces, closer proximity, and extended periods of time inside of an enclosed space, and to provide the safest environment possible for both students and staff, Discovery World requires masks for all students, teachers, and chaperones while participating in or observing an in-lab education program. This requirement, regardless of vaccination status, is in alignment with the CDC’s current guidelines for K-12 learning environments and with the City of Milwaukee Health Department recommendations.
• Groups or individuals who refuse to wear a mask while inside of Discovery World’s lab spaces will be asked to leave and will not receive any refunds or credits.

If your school district or organization is still requiring the use of masks indoors, please follow those guidelines.

Discovery World will continue to monitor community levels and reserves the right to make changes to the mask policy at any time.

Student/child 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.

The items listed below are our rules of conduct. We require that the individual who makes your group’s reservation share these rules with all individuals of your group – students/children AND all adults.

• 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. Wristbands must be worn by students/children and adults at all times.

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.

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, drivers, 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 visit will result in a $25.00 charge for each missing adult, PLUS any programming fees that may apply.

Groups may bring more adults than the ones required to fulfill our 1:10 ratio; however, those adults do not receive free admission or programming. 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.

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, labs and program locations, theater, and lunch areas.)
• 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.

Your confirmation materials will indicate your assigned entry location as either our Main Entrance or our West Pavilion Entrance.

• Main Entrance – If your assigned entry location says Main Entrance, please have your bus drop off your group at our Main Entrance doors which are at the West end of our building. Please remain on your bus(es) until your group is greeted.
• West Pavilion Entrance – If your assigned entry location says West Pavilion Entrance, please have your bus drop off your group at The Pavilion at Discovery World, which lies on the North side of our building. Please remain on your bus(es) until your group is greeted.

Please note, 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.

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 of 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.

Once your bus arrives, please remain on it until your group is greeted by a Discovery World Staff Member.

The main contact or group leader will speak with the Discovery World Staff Member that greets, them to check-in and to submit your group’s actual day of count of how many total students/children and how many total adults are in attendance. 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 cannot begin until we have those numbers. Please come prepared with this exact count ready to relay to our staff upon arrival.

From there, we will:

• Welcome your group and give an orientation prior to entering the museum.
• Collect lunches and store them until reserved/scheduled lunch period(s).
• Collect coats in a bin and store them until your departure.
  • 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. 
• Distribute wristbands. Wristbands must be worn by students/children and adults at all times.

Remember, student/child 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.

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.

The Gift Shop offers some Discovery World merchandise and other unique items available for purchase. 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.

There are public restrooms located throughout the building. For all groups, we ask that an adult chaperone be posted outside the door while their group is using the restrooms. This helps maintain order, safety, and a clean restroom for other visitors. We strongly discourage unsupervised visits to the restroom by individual students/children.

If you have any attendees that require special accommodations, considerations, and/or who have any special needs we should be aware of, please let us know in advance. (Examples include attendees who are in wheelchairs, attendees with individual aides, attendees who are English Language Learners and are bringing an interpreter, attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing that are bringing an interpreter, etc.) We may reach out to you if we have any follow-up questions or need to share any information.

Our facility is fully handicap accessible.

Discovery World does have a Special Needs Restroom located along our Promenade with an adult sized changing table.

If you have any attendees that have severe allergies we should be aware of, please let us know. We may reach out to you if we have any follow-up questions or need to share any information. An inherent risk of exposure to allergens exists in any public place where people are present. By visiting Discovery World, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure of allergens.

If you have any questions as you plan, please contact the Reservations Department line by phone at 414-765-8625 or by email at reservations@discoveryworld.org.