Our family of 5 went New Year's Day. After reading some very negative reviews, some written only days prior, I was concerned about the money we were spending. I went with an open mind, but knew I would be looking to see all those things I had seen criticism of. I absolutely just didn't find any of them. Big crowds, but parking wasn't a problem. Free, too. We purchased our timed tickets on line, so no waiting in line to get in. We found the aquarium to be very lovely, and despite the crowds, it never felt crowded. Lots of space between exhibits. I read reviews about dead fish, bad smells, cloudy tanks. Saw none of that. Saw criticism of poor signage. We had no trouble finding signage that identified everything in each tank. The 3D movie was short, but interesting. The Human Carousel that rotates through various exhibits was fun and informative. We even had some food in the cafe. The food was fine, and the service was prompt and friendly. Yes, a visit to the aquarium is expensive, but we did not leave feeling like we didn't get enough value for the money spent. Go! Enjoy!