General admission venues need to do more than sell entrance tickets. Museums, attractions, theme parks and other visitor destinations must manage admission across multiple dates, control daily or timed-entry capacity, accommodate different visitor types and process arrivals efficiently.

FooEvents brings this workflow into WooCommerce, allowing admission tickets to be sold directly from your WordPress website. FooEvents Bookings adds selectable visit dates and entry times, with separate availability for each date and time combination. Each visitor receives an individual ticket that can be presented for scanning at the entrance.

In this guide, we will walk through a recommended configuration for a general admission venue. It covers admission types, daily capacity, timed entry, visitor information, ticket delivery, entrance scanning and on-site sales based on the following requirements:

• Admission tickets for multiple operating dates
• Daily capacity limits
• Optional timed-entry windows
• Adult, child, senior and free infant ticket types
• Individual tickets for families and groups
• Ticket scanning at one or more entrances
• Clearly defined repeat-entry rules
• Optional on-site ticket and merchandise sales

If you are new to FooEvents, we recommend reading the Getting Started guide before continuing.

Plan your general admission setup

Products used

The following products and extensions can be used for this setup:

• WooCommerce
• FooEvents for WooCommerce
• FooEvents Bookings
• FooEvents Custom Attendee Fields, if additional visitor information is required
• FooEvents PDF Tickets, if PDF tickets are required
• FooEvents Ticket Themes
• Free FooEvents Check-ins apps for iOS and Android
• FooEvents POS, if admission tickets or physical products will be sold on-site

Recommended admission structure

FooEvents Bookings manages availability for each booking slot and date combination. This makes it suitable for venues that operate repeatedly and need to control capacity for each visit date or entry time. Learn more about FooEvents Bookings.

Use ticket variations for pricing categories such as Adult, Child and Senior. Use booking stock—not variation stock—as the primary control for daily or timed-entry capacity.

If a tour, animal encounter or other experience has its own schedule and capacity, create it as a separate Bookable event product. This keeps its tickets, availability and check-ins separate from standard admission.

Configure tickets, bookings and capacity

Create the admission product

Create the venue admission product as a Bookable event:

1. Go to Products > Add New in the WordPress dashboard.
2. Enter the venue name, visitor information, opening hours, admission rules and customer-facing imagery.
3. Select Variable product in the Product Data panel if you will offer Adult, Child, Senior or other ticket types.
4. Open the Event Settings tab and enable the option that identifies the product as an event.
5. Select the Bookable event type.
6. Enter the venue, organizer and contact information.
7. Configure the required attendee information and ticket settings.
8. Open the Bookings Settings tab and create the required admission slot or timed-entry slots.
9. Save or publish the product after configuring the booking dates and capacity.

The booking terminology can be customized under Product Data > Event Terminology. For a visitor attraction, useful alternatives include:

• Slot → Entry time
• Date → Visit date
• Booking Details → Admission details

For most admission products, displaying the booking selection on the product page gives customers a clear opportunity to choose their visit date before adding tickets to the cart. If you use the FooEvents Attendee Details Page, configure the booking selection order as Date → Slot.

Configure daily admission

Use this model when a ticket is valid at any time during the selected day and visitors do not need to choose an arrival time.

1. Create one booking slot called General Admission or Open Entry.
2. Leave the slot time disabled if a specific entry time is not required.
3. Select Add Dates to open the Booking Wizard.
4. Select the start date, end date and days of the week on which the venue is open.
5. Set the default stock to the maximum number of visitors allowed on each day.
6. Generate the dates, review them and remove any closed dates or holidays.
7. Adjust the stock for dates with a different capacity.

For example, if the venue may admit 800 visitors on a Saturday, set the booking stock for that Saturday to 800. Each ticket purchased for that date reduces the remaining booking availability.

The Booking Wizard can generate recurring dates in batches. The end date should be no more than six months after the selected start date for each batch. Additional dates can be added later.

Enable booking expiration under Product Data > Event Expiration to hide visit dates after their booking deadline or once the visit time has passed.

Configure timed entry

Timed entry is useful when visitor arrivals need to be spread throughout the day. Instead of one open-entry slot, create a separate booking slot for each arrival window.

For example:

Create the first slot and its dates, then use the copy option to duplicate the slot and update its label and time. Set the booking stock independently for every slot and date combination.

The sum of the timed-entry allocations should remain within the venue’s planned daily admissions. If visitors stay for several hours, also consider how entry windows overlap. Booking stock controls arrivals for each window; it does not calculate how many visitors remain inside the venue at a particular moment.

Clearly state the arrival window, grace period, last-entry time and policy for early or late visitors on the product page and ticket. The selected booking date and slot are included on FooEvents tickets and are available in the Check-ins app.

Create Adult, Child and family ticket options

WooCommerce attributes and variations can be used to offer different admission prices through the same Bookable event product. Learn more about event product variations.

Create an attribute called Admission Type with values such as:

• Adult
• Child
• Senior
• Student
• Infant

Generate the variations and assign the appropriate price and SKU to each ticket type. Define the applicable age ranges and any identification requirements in the product description.

Each person who counts toward venue capacity should receive an individual ticket, including children or infants who enter free of charge. A free ticket can have a zero price while still consuming one booking space.

Avoid selling a single “Family of Four” variation as one ticket when capacity is based on individual visitors. A quantity of one would create one ticket and consume one booking space, even though four people arrive.

For accurate capacity, ask the purchaser to add the required number of Adult and Child tickets. A family discount can be applied through a suitable WooCommerce coupon or pricing workflow, while FooEvents still creates one ticket and reserves one booking space for each person.

Use booking stock as the shared capacity across all admission types. Variation stock can impose an additional overall limit on a particular ticket type, but it does not provide a separate allowance for every visit date.

Capture visitor information

Decide whether tickets need to identify every visitor or whether purchaser information is sufficient for the venue’s operating model.

Useful attendee information could include:

• Visitor first and last name
• Accessibility requirements
• Age confirmation for concession tickets
• Parent or guardian details
• Acceptance of admission terms
• Optional marketing consent

FooEvents Custom Attendee Fields can capture additional information separately for each visitor. Fields may be optional or required. Learn more about Custom Attendee Fields.

Avoid requiring a separate email address for every child. Unless individual ticket delivery is necessary, send the family’s tickets to the purchaser and only collect the visitor information required for admission.

Collect the minimum personal information needed and keep optional marketing consent separate from mandatory venue terms.

Configure ticket generation and delivery

By default, FooEvents generates and sends tickets when a WooCommerce order reaches Completed status. The required status can be changed under FooEvents > Settings > General > Send on order status. Learn more about ticket sending.

For ticket-only admission products, setting the product as Virtual and Downloadable can allow WooCommerce to complete the order after successful payment.

If tickets and physical gift shop products can be purchased in the same order, test the order-status workflow carefully. Physical products may leave the order in Processing, which can delay ticket generation when FooEvents is configured to send only on Completed.

Only configure ticket generation for order statuses that reliably indicate successful payment. Use authenticated SMTP to improve email delivery and test HTML and PDF tickets with several email providers.

The admission ticket should clearly display:

• Venue name and location
• Visit date
• Entry time when timed entry is used
• Admission type
• Barcode or QR code
• Opening hours and last-entry time
• Late-arrival, cancellation and re-entry rules

Prepare and manage visitor entry

Prepare the Check-ins app

The free FooEvents Check-ins app can scan ticket barcodes or QR codes, search for visitors manually and update ticket check-in statuses. Bookable events use dedicated screens that allow staff to work with the relevant booking dates and slots. View the Check-ins app guide.

Before opening admission:

• Update FooEvents and the Check-ins apps to the latest live versions.
• Create dedicated WordPress accounts for entrance staff with only the permissions they require.
• Sign in on every device and load the admission event and tickets.
• Confirm that the relevant booking dates and entry slots appear.
• Test Adult, Child, free, canceled, unpaid and already checked-in tickets.
• Enable Restrict attendee check-ins to the current day where appropriate.
• Enable Auto Check-in when staff should return directly to the scanner after a successful scan.
• Fully charge all devices and provide chargers or power banks.
• Test the entrance Wi-Fi, cellular connection and backup connection.

The current-day restriction displays an alert when the ticket’s booking date does not match the date on the check-in device. Staff may cancel or override the check-in, so the venue should define when an override is allowed. Learn more about current-day restrictions.

For high-volume entrances or difficult lighting conditions, a compatible Bluetooth barcode scanner can improve scan speed and accuracy. View ticket scanning recommendations.

Scan admission tickets

Each visitor should present their individual ticket at the entrance. A successful scan changes the ticket status to Checked In and records the time of admission.

1. Open the Bookable admission event in the Check-ins app.
2. Select the relevant booking date and slot where required.
3. Scan the ticket’s barcode or QR code.
4. Confirm the booking date, entry slot and ticket variation.
5. Check identification or proof of age when required by the admission type.
6. Resolve invalid, canceled, unpaid or already checked-in tickets at a separate customer service point.

Families should normally have one ticket per person. If everyone in a family arrives together, the Check-ins app can check in tickets from the same WooCommerce order simultaneously. This applies only to tickets for the same event and booking slot. Learn more about checking in tickets from the same order.

Only enable group check-in when the venue is comfortable admitting every applicable person in the order at the same time.

Open-entry admission

For open-entry admission, the visit date is the main validation requirement. Staff should confirm that the ticket is valid for the current day and then check in the visitor.

Timed admission

For timed admission, staff should also verify the selected booking slot. Decide in advance whether visitors may enter early, how long the grace period lasts and what should happen when a visitor misses their slot.

The Check-ins app displays the selected booking information, but entrance staff are responsible for applying the venue’s early- and late-arrival policy.

Manage multiple entrances and exceptions

Where possible, keep all entrance devices online. This allows one entrance to see check-in status changes made at another entrance and helps prevent the same ticket from being admitted twice.

A practical entrance layout could include:

• Pre-purchased ticket scanning lanes
• A family or group lane where appropriate
• A customer service lane for incorrect dates, missing tickets or visitor-detail changes
• A separate admissions desk for on-site purchases

Bookings can be viewed and edited under FooEvents > Bookings. If a visitor needs to move to another date or time, first confirm that the alternative slot has capacity, then update the booking and resend the ticket if necessary.

Offline Mode can be used as an emergency backup after the device has downloaded the required attendee data. Multiple offline devices operate independently and cannot see each other’s check-ins until they reconnect, which increases the risk of duplicate admission. Learn more about Check-ins app Offline Mode.

Define repeat-entry rules

Choose and publish a repeat-entry policy before admission tickets go on sale.

No repeat entry

Leave the ticket marked as Checked In after the visitor enters. If the same ticket is presented again, the previous check-in status allows entrance staff to identify that it has already been used.

Same-day repeat entry

If visitors may leave and return, check the visitor out when they exit and check them in again when they return. FooEvents records check-in and check-out times, which can be included in attendee exports. Learn more about tracking arrivals and departures.

All entrances and exits should remain connected so that the latest ticket status is shared. For very high-volume venues, a dated wristband, hand stamp or other physical credential can supplement the electronic ticket after the first successful scan.

State whether repeat entry ends at closing time and whether a ticket may be reused on another date. A standard date-specific booking should not be treated as valid on a different day.

Sell admission and merchandise on-site

Configure FooEvents POS

FooEvents POS can sell Bookable event products and standard WooCommerce products through the same interface. When a Bookable event is added to a POS order, the booking date and slot must be selected for each attendee before checkout can be completed. Learn more about FooEvents POS.

A venue can use FooEvents POS to:

• Sell admission tickets to walk-in visitors
• Select an available visit date and entry time
• Sell Adult, Child, Senior and free ticket variations
• Capture attendee information
• Print tickets and receipts
• Sell gift shop merchandise, guidebooks or other products
• Keep online and on-site orders in the same WooCommerce store

Keep walk-in sales separate from the scanning lanes so payment, ticket selection and attendee data entry do not delay visitors who already have tickets.

Configure the event’s POS Settings to determine which attendee fields are required and whether tickets should be emailed. Organize products into clear categories and pin commonly sold admission products for quick access.

If a ticket sold at the entrance should immediately admit the visitor, FooEvents POS can automatically set the new ticket to Checked In after the order is completed. Learn how to enable automatic POS check-ins.

POS connectivity limitation

Keep the admissions desk online wherever possible. FooEvents POS supports most sales functions in Offline Mode, but ticket generation and printing are not available while offline. Offline ticket orders are only generated and sent after the POS reconnects and synchronizes. Learn more about FooEvents POS Offline Mode.

An offline device may also be working with booking availability that is no longer current. For capacity-controlled admissions, provide a reliable primary connection, a backup connection and a documented process for connectivity failures.

Manage bookings, reporting and final checks

Manage and export admission bookings

Go to FooEvents > Bookings to view and filter bookings by event, booking slot and date. A booking can be opened to update the visitor information or move the ticket to another available date and slot.

FooEvents Reports provides a summary of revenue, tickets sold, available tickets and attendee check-ins for the admission event. Reports are available under FooEvents > Reports. Learn more about Event Reports.

A CSV attendee export can be downloaded from the Event Export tab of the event product. The export can include:

• Ticket numbers
• Purchaser and attendee details
• Admission variations
• Booking dates and slots
• Custom attendee fields
• Check-in and check-out information

Keep exported attendee data secure and only provide staff with the information they require. Learn how to export attendee information.

Final checks before opening sales

Complete a full booking, payment and admission test before opening the product to customers.

Online booking

• Confirm all open dates, closed dates, time slots and time zones.
• Confirm the capacity for every booking date and timed-entry slot.
• Confirm that the total timed-entry allocation matches the venue’s capacity plan.
• Test Adult, Child, Senior and free ticket variations.
• Confirm that every person in a family booking receives an individual ticket and consumes one booking space.
• Confirm required attendee fields cannot be skipped.
• Test ticket-only and ticket-plus-merchandise orders.
• Test every supported payment gateway.
• Confirm booking availability is reduced correctly.
• Confirm tickets are generated at the intended order status.
• Confirm the visit date, entry slot and ticket type appear correctly on the ticket.
• Confirm ticket emails and PDF attachments are delivered.

Entrance operations

• Scan each admission variation.
• Test tickets for the correct and incorrect visit dates.
• Test early, late and correct timed-entry arrivals.
• Test canceled, unpaid and already checked-in tickets.
• Test family or same-order group check-in if it will be enabled.
• Test check-out and re-entry if repeat entry is permitted.
• Test multiple entrance devices simultaneously.
• Test manual visitor search.
• Test Offline Mode and reconnection as an emergency exercise.
• Confirm staff understand date, time, concession and repeat-entry rules.

On-site sales

• Sell a walk-in ticket for an available date and time.
• Sell several admission variations in one family order.
• Confirm booking availability is reduced.
• Print the ticket and receipt.
• Confirm the ticket appears in the Check-ins app.
• Test automatic check-in if enabled.
• Sell and refund a physical product.
• Test payment terminals and printers.
• Confirm the connectivity-failure procedure.

A complete rehearsal using the same devices, network, printers and payment hardware that will be used at the venue is the best way to identify operational problems before visitors arrive.