General admission at Roars & Rainbows already packs in a full day. So when families see the Plus Pass option at checkout, the natural question is: do we actually need it?
The honest answer is — it depends on your kids. This guide breaks down exactly what the Plus Pass includes, who gets the most out of it, and how to decide before you arrive whether it's worth adding to your visit.

What's Already Included With General Admission

Before getting into the upgrade, it helps to know what every ticket already covers.
With general admission, your family gets:

20+ life-size dinosaurs spread across the farm
20+ life-size unicorns to bring some magic to the event
Interactive exhibits and live encounters throughout the event
60+ farm adventures — slides, play houses, trikes for adults and kids, a ninja course, giant bubbles, a rock climbing wall, low ropes, duck races, tire swings, and more

That's a full day for most families. Kids regularly spend five to six hours on the property without running out of things to do. The Plus Pass adds on top of that — it doesn't replace anything already included.

What the Plus Pass Includes

The Plus Pass adds three specific experiences to your visit:
1. A Dino or Unicorn Ride Kids choose their side — prehistoric or magical — and get a ride that puts them directly in the world they love most. It's a step beyond looking at the life-size installations and one of those moments kids tend to ask about for months afterward.
2. Paintball A hands-on activity that adds a competitive, active element to the day. This one tends to land best with older kids who are ready for something with a little more excitement and agency. Younger kids often enjoy it too, but the appeal is strongest for the 7-and-up crowd.
3. Fossil Mining Kids dig through sand to uncover fossil specimens they get to keep. It's slower-paced than the rest of the day and gives kids who love discovery a genuine "I found something" moment. This one is consistently a hit with curious kids of almost any age.

Who Gets the Most Value From the Plus Pass

The Plus Pass isn't a one-size-fits-all upgrade — it's a better fit for some families than others. Here's how to think about it:

Kids Who Will Love It

The obsessed dinosaur kid. If your child has been talking about dinosaurs for the past two years and is counting down to Roars & Rainbows, the Plus Pass turns a great day into a truly complete one. The ride and fossil mining are made for this kid.
Kids who always want more. Some children max out every activity, ask what's next, and still have energy left at the end of the day. For those kids, the Plus Pass gives the day more layers to work through — and a sense that there was always something else to look forward to.
Older kids who want hands-on involvement. Elementary-aged kids and tweens tend to engage more when they're doing something, not just observing. Paintball, in particular, adds competitive energy that resonates with older kids who might otherwise treat the dino displays as a quick walk-through.

Families Who May Not Need It

Families with very young kids (2–4). Toddlers and younger preschoolers will get more than enough from general admission. The 60+ farm adventures, the open space, and the sheer size of the dinosaurs and unicorns are overwhelming in the best possible way. A paintball component or fossil dig may or may not land depending on the child, and the ride — while fun — may not justify the upgrade cost for the youngest visitors.
Families on a tighter budget. General admission is already strong value. If you're weighing the upgrade against a second visit or another outing later in the summer, it's reasonable to skip it without feeling like you're missing the main event.
Families with a packed schedule. The Plus Pass makes the day longer. If you're working around nap times, early departures, or other commitments on the same day, general admission gives you plenty to fill the hours without pressure.

The Plus Pass vs. Just General Admission: A Quick Comparison

General Admission ($19.95 presale) includes life-size dinosaurs and unicorns, interactive exhibits and live encounters, and 60+ farm adventures — slides, play houses, trikes, a ninja course, giant bubbles, a rock climbing wall, low ropes, duck races, tire swings, and more.
With the Plus Pass ($59.90), you get everything in general admission, plus three additional experiences: a dino or unicorn ride, paintball, and fossil mining.

Both options deliver a full day. The Plus Pass is about depth — it adds more to do for families who want the extended version of the experience.

Common Questions Before You Decide

Does every person in the group need the Plus Pass? No. You can add it selectively — for example, upgrading the kids but not the adults if your goal is to maximize the experience for younger family members.
Is there an age minimum for the Plus Pass activities? Nope! Any age can upgrade to the Plus Pass and do the 3 activities!
What if my kids are in different age groups? If you have one child who will dive headfirst into everything the Plus Pass offers and another who's more likely to spend the whole day on the slides and tire swings, consider upgrading selectively. You know your kids — let their personalities guide the decision.

How to Decide: Three Questions to Ask Yourself

Not sure which way to go? Run through these before you check out:

Will my kids still be running on full energy after two or three hours? If yes, the Plus Pass gives you more to work with in the back half of the day.
Does my child have a strong dinosaur or unicorn fixation? The ride and fossil mining are built for that enthusiasm — they're the kind of add-ons that feel tailor-made for a kid who's already obsessed.
Do I want to minimize any "can we do that?" moments on the day? If you know your children will see paintball and fossil mining and immediately want in, upgrading in advance prevents that conversation at the gate.

Book Early Either Way

Roars & Rainbows runs for six days only across three weekends in June 2026:

June 13 & 14 — Grandparents get in free with a paid child admission
June 20 & 21 — Dads get in free (Father's Day weekend)
June 27 & 28

Gates open at 10am and close at 5pm on all event days. Pre-sale general admission tickets are $19.95 per person — the gate price is $24.95, so buying online saves real money and locks in your spot. Plus Pass tickets are an additional $39.95 per person.

Pro-tip: purchase a family 4-pack of admission for savings!