Showing posts with label Indoor Playground GTA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indoor Playground GTA. Show all posts

Wednesday, 17 February 2016

The Whole World Is Our Playground - Playground Review Playtown Mississauga

It was a very chilly long weekend and the minions were going buggy.  Maybe it was the rush of Valentine's chocolate, or maybe it's that they hadn't been outside in days because it felt like minus 100. Either way it was time to work off some energy, so we decided to venture out to an indoor play centre to work off some much needed energy and sugar.

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds ideally some in Toronto proper (indoor or out or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me at multiplemomstrosity@gmail.com


Playground Name:
Playtown

Location:
2170 Dunwin Drive #6 Mississauga, ON  L5L 5M8 (Erin Mills Pkwy & Dundas Street)


Jack at the fire station

Paging Dr. Molly to the Bunny cages


Parking:
There is free parking in the lot.  This location is a not near a Go Station.


Theme of Park:
Innovative, interactive and imagination based play town for young children.  .

Cost:
$11 per child ages 1-12.  Two adults may accompany any one child and kids under 12 months get in for free. There are annual passes available for purchase for $199.


French Fries, Order up, Large size!

Variety of Equipment for different ages:
There are a number of activities and play are geared towards kids aged 3-8 with some great staple play stations.  There is a small play area focused on infants, so they don't get trampled by older kids running from station to station in this recreation of a small town.

Outside the Beauty Boutique Salon

Best Part(s) of the Park:
This playground featured standard staple play areas that kids love including: a veterinary office, grocery store, restaurant, house, fire station, theatre with dress-up clothes and a stage, and mini roadway with ride-em toy cars.  Innovative play ideas that I haven't seen elsewhere (that the minions really got a kick out of) were the beauty salon complete with brushes, toy scissors, toy, hair dryers, bows, mirrors, and doll busts (like toy versions of the real ones used at beauty schools) to let the kids practice their "craft".  Jack got a big kick out of the scanner at the "grocer" that beeped whenever you ran any groceries over it.  The space has party rooms for birthdays, and a kitchen with a microwave where you can bring (and heat up) your own food.  The people running the centre do a very good job of ensuring that there isn't overcrowding, so kids get to play where they want, when they want,  I'd recommend calling ahead on weekends to reserve your space.
  

Downfalls:
This is more an interactive play centre than playground.  Yes, kids will get a chance to run around and use their imagination, but if your lil one needs monkey bars and climbing to work off their energy this isn't the place to visit.  There isn't a lot for infants or small toddlers to do, and while the vast facility is great for kids, it would be challenging for one guardian trying keep an eye on multiple kids, particularly if one was an infant.

Overall Rating:
I give this indoor playground a 3.5/5 score.  I base this on the satisfaction level of both kids in combination with the price paid.  For Molly who likes more imagination based play, this was a great find, however for a kid like Jack who needs a little more physical play I'd like something with a little more opportunity to climb, run and jump.  The staff was fantastically available, but didn't interfere with playing kids, which was refreshing! Kids who enjoy this playground would get a big kick out of Toronto's Children's Discovery Centre.


The slide beside the fire station

To read my review of Toronto's Children's Discovery Centre click here.

To read my indoor playground review for Balls of Fun in Mississauga click here.

To read my indoor playground review for Lil Monkeys Playground in Burlington click here.


To get access to the newest posts from Multiple Momstrosity and more on Facebook click here and follow today!

Follow Multiple Momstrosity on Twitter @Sarabethbug

Monday, 11 January 2016

Welcome to the Jungle - An Indoor Playground Review - Kidsopolis

Even though we've had a warm winter so far, it's been damp.  We haven't been able to hit the hills for any tobogganing, skating or other outdoor winter activities.  We decided that it was time to check out an indoor playground and work off some energy.   I first heard about this place because of a promotion on Groupon, unfortunately they were all sold out of the deal for weekend play, but we decided we'd check it out anyway.

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds ideally some in Toronto proper (indoor or out or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me:


Playground Name:
Kidsopolis

Location:
Unit 15-16 407 Speers Road ,Oakville



kidsopolis, Yu Kids Play System

Parking:
There is free parking in the lot.  This location is a five minute drive from the Oakville Go Station, or 30 minute walk.


Theme of Park:
Innovative, interactive and safe play for children of all ages.  The design of the playgrounds feels like it's come out of the imagination of Dr. Seuss.

Cost:
$12 for the first child, $10 for any additional siblings.  Two adults may accompany any one child. There are also multi-passes available for purchase.  Anyone who wants to visit between 6PM-8PM Monday to Thursday can take advantage of $6 admission.

 The Minions swinging on the hanging vines that look like candy gumdrops



Variety of Equipment for different ages:
This playground's activities and play are geared towards kids aged 1-6, with the candy coloured Yu Kids Play Structures (all as pictured above) only available for use for kids under 48 inches tall.  The other section of the playground is available for kids of all ages and admission provides kids over 48 inches in height with two laser game tokens (Mission Impossible type game, avoid the lasers and enter the code into a keypad across the room.  I would've liked to have played myself).

Jack in the moving balloons fan room.


Best Part(s) of the Park:
This playground featured ideas I have seen no where else, ever.  The balloon room is a caged room at the top of a play structure with four fans blowing in from all angles, with the addition of a number of fairly durable balloons kids can chase, bump and actually feeling like they're catching bubbles.  Other unique items included a transparent jumping bubble where you can look down at kids below you and exit via an inflatable slide, and the hanging vines which slowly rotate. There was also a more traditional play structure/maze that has slides, tunnels, and interactive games.  The kids played happily for around two hours.  Basic snacks and drinks (think juice and granola bars) are available for sale at reasonable prices.  Molly said her favourite part was "absolutely everything" while Jack was crazy about the "bubble room".

Molly getting ready to take aim on target.

Downfalls:
I witnessed a "Dad Fight" (some dads getting into a very loud "discussion" over a pre-schooler bowling over a toddler in the playground) but it quickly quieted, and both parents left pretty shortly after.  Like any playground my issue generally stems from kids behaving badly and absent parents, although none of these things have anything to do with the playground itself.

Overall Rating:
I give this indoor playground five stars/a near perfect 5/5 score.  I base this on the satisfaction level of the kids in combination with the price paid.  This is a really neat place and I've never seen anything quite like it. Both kids have repeatedly asked if we can go back.  While I wish that Toronto had either some more indoor play options within the city or (even better) free indoor play structures for kids in colder weather, I know we need to usually head west to get to this type of facility and am thrilled this place exists just over a 30 minute drive away.

A part of the all ages play structure


To read my indoor playground review for Balls of Fun in Mississauga click here.

To read my indoor playground review for Lil Monkeys Playground in Burlington click here.


To get access to the newest posts from Multiple Momstrosity and more on Facebook click here and follow today!

Follow Multiple Momstrosity on Twitter @Sarabethbug